A Damsel in Distress

Released Nov 19, 1937

1 hr. 38 min.

Musical

Comedy

List

71%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

66%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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Steve D

George and Gracie give it its only spark.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The best musical movie ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

s r

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.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's always nice to watch Fred dance.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Gracie Allen stands out the most in this lackluster movie.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

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George Stevens

Director

Fred Astaire

Jerry Halliday

George Burns

George

Joan Fontaine

Lady Alyce Marshmorton

Gracie Allen

Gracie

Reginald Gardiner

Keggs

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Variety Staff

Variety

Astaire and his vet terp aide, Hermes Pan, have devised four corking dance routines which director George Stevens has expertly envisioned and mounted.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Tom Milne

Time Out

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.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Burns and Allen were imported to balance her lack of humor; their presence is certainly welcome, and their work with Astaire is surprisingly effective.

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

Bright and lively and well worth seeing, even if Mr. Astaire is deprived of Ginger Rogers as a dancing partner.

Jul 23, 2019

Full Review

Basil Wright

The Spectator

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.

Jun 27, 2018

Full Review

TV Guide

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.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 13, 2007

Full Review

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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
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

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