Royal Wedding

After their act is broken up in New York, a brother/sister tap dance team (Fred Astaire and Jane Powell) travel to England and immediately fall in love with new acquaintances. Powell goes after royalty in the form of Peter Lawford and Astaire sets his eyes on Sarah Churchill. Which will win out in the end, their old dance routine or their new romantic interests? Pure Hollywood fluff here, but enjoyable for the time period nonetheless. One of the more under-rated musicals of the early-1950s. Astaire, getting up in years here, still shows amazing athleticism through the dance sequences. Not a bad time passer. 4 stars out of 5.

Typical Fred Astaire,in other words great entertainment.Over the years the listing of favorite Astaire numbers has become a favorite pastime of many. This movie contains more than found in any other single show. The dance with clothes tree and using the wall and ceiling are precious. However there is another that is never mentioned that is on my list that delights me no end. How could you believe me when I said I loved you when you know I've been a liar all my life is one of the gems of American entertainment. To borrow an opinion from George Burns. the American musical composers and the theater and movie industry in which they showed their wares is America's greatest contribution to world culture.Royal Wedding is so typical of years of magnificent productions.

Jane Powell (as Ellen Bowen) was a surprisingly adept partner for Fred Astaire for those of us who know her best as a brilliant soprano songstress. She kept up with him, step for step. She's probably best known for her fabulous voice as showcased in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, but she brought in the wonderful tune, "Too Late Now," here in ROYAL WEDDING. Astaire was his typical debonair self, and his role is reminiscent of that in THREE LITTLE WORDS.

The plot of ROYAL WEDDING is easy to follow and serves as a great backdrop for Astaire and Powell and their respective musical talents. And yes, Sarah Churchill is Winston's daughter. Worth seeing more than once.

Of course, there is Fred Astaire's delightful, legendary, innovative dance on the ceiling and his dance with a hatrack in the gym, both of which are great. But then there are also his delightful partnerings with Jane Powell, playing his Adele Astaire-esque sister and dancing partner. These include the opening number, "Every Night At Seven," their cute little attempt to dance aboard a rocky boat, and the dynamite "How Could You Believe Me, etc." AND "I Left My Hat in Haiti." Powell, known mostly for her operetic soprano that never quite seems to match her speaking voice, (and which can also be heard in a few forgettable songs here) rivals Ginger Rogers in her ability to keep up with Astaire and match him every step of the way. Not to be missed if you love musicals, dancing in musicals, and/or Fred Astaire dancing in musicals.

As for the rest of the film, the plot is thin as expected but breezes along smoothly. The characterizations of the English are silly caricatures. (Alan Jay Lerner wrote the screenplay and lyrics, but remember, this was five years before "My Fair Lady") Keenan Wynn does okay with the double role of an American agent and his British twin counterpart, though. Peter Lawford is Powell's English honey bun. (In real life, Adele Astaire did leave dancing when she married an English lord) And yes, that is Sarah Churchill, Winston's daughter, as about the only romantic partner of Fred's on film that was his own age.

The Royal Wedding is one of my family's favourite Astaire movies, next to Easter Parade. Jane Powell, as his sister, does a wonderful job with her beautiful operatic voice. Many people do not realize that she was also a singer, not just a dancer, until they watch Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, which she also starred in. Peter Lawford does his usual job as playboy-royale, but thankfully does not sing. Astaire's dancing feat of climbing all over his hotel room is unparralled. No one else could do it and still look good! A great family film.