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You Were Never Lovelier (1942) is the second pairing of Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth, and it is a very good musical filled with Jerome Kern's songs. Astaire and Hayworth starred together in You'll Never Get Rich the previous year, and, while I prefer this earlier film, both Astaire-Hayworth musicals are highly entertaining. Astaire plays the American dancer who is contracted by a South American millionaire to woo his lovely daughter (Hayworth). The father intends for Astaire to shatter his daughter's idealistic view of romance by failing to meet her knight-on-white-horse expectations so she will marry a reasonable suitor, but his plans are disrupted when Astaire and Hayworth fall in love. While Ginger Rogers remains Astaire's best onscreen partner, Hayworth performs admirably, looks amazing, and dances delightfully. The dance numbers steal the film. The movie's comedy is somewhat dull and mainly concerns a put-upon male secretary and Hayworth's two sisters hoping their older sister will marry so they can do the same. There's not much to the story, either, but it effectively creates situations in which Hayworth and Astaire to shine.Read full review
If you like classic golden age of Hollywood movies and enjoy dancing and light hearted romantic comedies -- then you'll love this movie. It's fun and glamor in one package. Rita Hayworth was a very talented dancer and was paired well with the King of Dance, Fred Astaire. This is a fun movie and I found it very entertaining. It was packaged well and arrived promptly. Thank you.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I saw this movie back in the early 60s on TV, liked it very much, and thought I should have it on my shelves to see again at any time. Astaire and Hayworth are the lead actors, but Adolph Menjou plays a significant role and cannot be overlooked. As the father in the movie, anxious to get his daughter married, he invents a suitor for his reluctant daughter. Fred turns out to be the flesh and blood suitor. The stratagem gives rise to the tuneful Dearly Beloved song. Anyway, Fred is Fred, elegant, graceful, and charming as always; and Rita truly is lovely, maybe indeed worthy of the film title considering all her screen appearances. Fred and Rita dance very well together. Recommended for sentimental souls.
Like many people I am only familiar with Rita Hayworth from 'Gilda' which I also recently purchased. Also like many people I was not aware Rita could dance. Her grandfather and father were dancers and her mother was a Ziegfield girl so show business was in her blood and she started dancing at an early age. This is the second of two movies Fred Astair and Rita Hayworth danced together. Off the record Fred said Rita was his favorite partner which is surprising since his name is so associated with Ginger Rogers. Ginger had the grace and style for Fred but Rita had the explosiveness for Fred; however in this movie Rita shows she has the grace style and explosiveness for Fred. 'I'm Old Fashioned' shows Rita as the graceful 'Shorty George' shows Rita as the explosive the reprise of 'You We're Never Lovelier' at the end where Fred and Rita dance off together shows Rita as graceful and explosive. Unlike 'Gilda' where Rita plays a hard seductress here Rita is a sweet charming eldest sister to two younger sisters who want to get married but can't until Rita does but Rita is in no hurry. The father cooks up a scheme to get Rita married that Fred gets unknowingly caught up in but in the end well I already talked about that. To make this movie even more enjoyable is the music of Jerome Kern with lyrics by Johnny Mercer and dance club scenes with the Xavier Cugat orchestra. Rita has gone on record as saying this is the favorite of all her films after 'You'll Never Get Rich' the other film she danced with Fred. This is one of those 'they don't make them like this anymore" films. Read full review
Verified purchase: No
A well acted, well cast, well written romantic musical comedy from Hollywood's golden age. Fred Astaire & Rita Hayworth work well together, but I think what makes this movie work is Adolphe Menjou's character. I have grown to become a huge fan of his in the comedic roles he's played.