Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

A Damsel in Distress

Play trailer Poster for A Damsel in Distress 1937 1h 38m Musical Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
71% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
The staff at Tottney Castle are taking bets on whom the young lady of the manor, Alyce Marshmorton (Joan Fontaine), will wed. When she meets American song-and-dance man Jerry Halliday (Fred Astaire), footman Albert (Harry Watson) schemes to make the mismatched pair fall in love so he'll win the bet. A romantic farce written by British humorist P.G. Wodehouse and based on his novel, the film features the last songs written for the screen by George Gershwin, who died during filming.
Watch on Fandango Stream Now

Where to Watch

A Damsel in Distress

Critics Reviews

View More
Variety Staff Variety 03/26/2009
Astaire and his vet terp aide, Hermes Pan, have devised four corking dance routines which director George Stevens has expertly envisioned and mounted. Go to Full Review Tom Milne Time Out 01/26/2006
Nicely directed but a bit on the twee side with its Wodehouse plot and mock Englishisms, the result would be questionable but for a rich Gershwin score. Go to Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 01/01/2000
Burns and Allen were imported to balance her lack of humor; their presence is certainly welcome, and their work with Astaire is surprisingly effective. Go to Full Review Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine 07/23/2019
Bright and lively and well worth seeing, even if Mr. Astaire is deprived of Ginger Rogers as a dancing partner. Go to Full Review Basil Wright The Spectator 06/27/2018
The inspired lunacy of the Wodehouse prose style cannot, however, survive the change of medium, and the director has failed to capture the typical Blandings atmosphere. Go to Full Review TV Guide 11/13/2007
3/4
Burns and Allen are reliably funny and display more than passing hoofing abilities, and Montague Love and Reginald Gardiner are properly pompous in their aristocratic roles. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Steve D @RT35616104 06/09/2023 George and Gracie give it its only spark. See more Thomas M @TMProofreader 01/31/2019 The best musical movie ever made! See more s r @ScottR 07/07/2015 Besides the young annoying butler with the bad English accent, this is a fun feel good romantic comedy musical. Great dancing, singing and cute story. A little cheesy of course, but the witty scenes in the fun house and the drum dancing make it enjoyable. See more 02/02/2015 It's always nice to watch Fred dance. See more 01/27/2015 Amiable Fred Astaire musical (his first starring role sans Ginger Rogers) is backed up with comedy from Burns & Allen, and a wonderful Gershwin score which includes "A Foggy Day," "Nice Work If You Can Get It," "I Can't Be Bothered Now," and "Stiff Upper Lip," which won an Oscar for its dance production. See more 02/10/2014 Gracie Allen stands out the most in this lackluster movie. See more Read all reviews
A Damsel in Distress

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

George Stevens

Director

Fred Astaire

Jerry Halliday

George Burns

George

Joan Fontaine

Lady Alyce Marshmorton

Gracie Allen

Gracie

Reginald Gardiner

Keggs

More Like This

View All
Swing Time 96% 86% Swing Time Watchlist Roberta 86% 65% Roberta Watchlist Shall We Dance 89% 84% Shall We Dance Watchlist Carefree 57% 75% Carefree Watchlist The Gay Divorcee 93% 82% The Gay Divorcee Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

A Damsel in Distress

A Damsel in Distress (1937) A Damsel in Distress (1937) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis The staff at Tottney Castle are taking bets on whom the young lady of the manor, Alyce Marshmorton (Joan Fontaine), will wed. When she meets American song-and-dance man Jerry Halliday (Fred Astaire), footman Albert (Harry Watson) schemes to make the mismatched pair fall in love so he'll win the bet. A romantic farce written by British humorist P.G. Wodehouse and based on his novel, the film features the last songs written for the screen by George Gershwin, who died during filming.
Director
George Stevens
Producer
Pandro S. Berman
Screenwriter
P.G. Wodehouse, Ernest Pagano, S.K. Lauren
Production Co
RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Genre
Musical, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 19, 1937, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 25, 2008
Runtime
1h 38m
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings