Sadly Over-hyped

Highly Overrated But Still Good

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

It could be one of many romantic films from the period. the lead obstacle are Rita Hayworth, Fred Astaire and, especially,Adolphe Menjou. the last, for me, is the key of a lovely sentimental comedy, his performance as the father looking for the perfect boy for the daughter , the rule of mariage in Latino-American societies and the move from the bitter rich man to the sensitive friend of a not comfortable American dancer are more than good points. sure, the moments Hayworth- Astaire are great. but predictable. the small detail remains, off course, for me, the adorable work of AdolpheMenjou.

Too bad this picture wasn't in color. I think it would have enhanced the overall effect, this being a Hollywood musical. It might also have papered over the flimsy storyline, which has been done in similar fashion many times before. Boy meets girl, girl's father dislikes boy, boy persists. Throw in numerous plot contrivances and convenient circumstances and, voila! A cookie-cutter musical.But this one had Rita Hayworth, who was breathtaking and, true to my headline, never looked better. It also had Adolphe Menjou, who by his professional presence lent badly needed substance to the picture. It also had an old chestnut in "I'm Old-Fashioned", which I thought was the best number in the show. Astaire and Hayworth worked and danced well together and the movie was just long enough at 97 minutes. It could have been a more attractive production in color, but it was wartime and the same could be said about many pictures made during this period.

Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth only wade two films together. While "You'll Never Get Rich" was a disappointment, here in "You Were Never Lovelier", you can see their full potential as a team. Sure, Hayworth was much younger than Astaire, but they had terrific chemistry and danced together BETTER than Astaire and Rogers. This is because, unlike Rogers, Rita was at heart a dancer and was a professional dancer long before she came to Hollywood. As a result, her moves have impeccable grace and their dance scenes together are just stunning.The film is set in Argentina--which isn't much of a surprise, as during WWII many films were set there. Adolph Menjou plays Mr. Acuña--a very wealthy and very controlling man. After his oldest daughter weds, he's decided his next daughter (Rita) MUST marry before her sisters--and they have fiancés and are raring to go. But Rita is a cold fish and has no apparent interest in guys. So, in a VERY manipulative (and creepy) move, he decides to concoct a secret admirer who will send her love letters. But, he writes them himself (SUPER creepy) and runs into a problem....who will play this Romeo? By a strange coincidence, Rita THINKS that her admirer is Fred--but her father hates him! So, the father and Fred are forced to work together. But what's to happen next? See this very cute film and you'll see for yourself.While the story turned out to be quite good, the best thing about the movie is the dancing. Menjou also was excellent--very funny and he added great color to this film. As for the singing, it's generally good (and Rita lip sync's quite well), but the musical numbers sung by Xavier Cugat's band were pretty distracting. It's because of this the film just barely manages to miss scoring a 9--but even then, it's an absolute must for Astaire fans and fans of classic Hollywood song and dance films. Well worth seeing and full of charm and class.

Fred Astaire does his most varied dancing with an American Beauty, Rita Hayworth in Buenos Aires in this wartime film. Two highlights of the film for dance aficionados are a Celtic wedding out of Brittany and a brilliant pairing of Astaire and Hayworth in a "tour De force" dance on a penthouse ballroom to the Jerome Kern song I'm Old Fashioned. Rita even sings the song beautifully before they really start to cut up the floor. The latter gave Jerome Robbins the idea for one of his most unusual ballets for the NY City Ballet company, I'm Old Fashioned, The Astaire Variations. He starts it with the clip from the film, You Were Never Lovelier, and the variations that follow are of the company and principals learning the steps, especially an infectious rocking back and forth and then moving forward pattern. The finale is of the entire cast of Principals and company dancers dancing the same steps as in the film in tuxes and ballroom gowns. This is a movie you want to see again and again as well as the Robbins ballet it gave rise to.