A Damsel in Distress

Play trailer

A Damsel in Distress

1937

1h 38m

Musical

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

66%

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 at Home

Stream Now

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

Steve D

06/09/2023

George and Gracie give it its only spark.

See more

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

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

George Stevens

Director

Fred Astaire

Jerry Halliday

George Burns

George

Joan Fontaine

Lady Alyce Marshmorton

Gracie Allen

Gracie

Reginald Gardiner

Keggs

Swing Time

93%

86%

Swing Time

Watchlist

Roberta

86%

66%

Roberta

Watchlist

Shall We Dance

89%

84%

Shall We Dance

Watchlist

Carefree

57%

76%

Carefree

Watchlist

The Gay Divorcee

92%

82%

The Gay Divorcee

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

R.L. Stine’s Five Favorite Films

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now