You Were Never Lovelier
Encyclopedia
You Were Never Lovelier (Columbia Pictures
) is a 1942 Hollywood musical
comedy film
, set in Buenos Aires
. It starred Fred Astaire
, Rita Hayworth
, Adolphe Menjou
and Xavier Cugat
, with music by Jerome Kern
and lyrics by Johnny Mercer
. The film was directed by William A. Seiter
.
This, the second of Astaire's outings with Hayworth, avoids wartime themes, and benefits from lavish production values – a consequence of the box-office success of the earlier You'll Never Get Rich
. Kern here created a memorable standard
with "I'm Old Fashioned
", and there is a faultless trio of classic dance routines. Initially, Kern was unhappy about the selection of Cugat and his orchestra; however, when production was complete, he was so pleased with the band's performance that he presented him with a silver baton. Although Hayworth had a fine voice, Harry Cohn
insisted on her singing being dubbed throughout by Nan Wynn
.
The film follows the usual conventions established by Astaire in his earlier musicals, such as an anti-romantic first meeting between the two leads, a virtuoso dance solo for Astaire, a playful dance duet and a romantic dance duet.
) is an American
dancer who is looking for a job in Buenos Aires
after gambling away his money. Bob's friend, bandleader Xavier Cugat
, invites him to perform at a wedding in order to catch the eye of the bride's father, Eduardo Acuña (Adolphe Menjou
), the owner of a local nightclub. Acuña's four daughters prepare for the wedding of the eldest. According to family tradition, the sisters must wed from oldest to youngest. The beautiful Maria (Rita Hayworth
), who is next in line, is notoriously picky with her suitors, much to the dismay of her two younger siblings.
During the reception, Bob tries to catch Maria's attention, but his advances are rebuffed. While in conversation with Acuña, Bob remarks that Maria's personality is like "the inside of a refrigerator," quickly losing favor with his potential employer.
Acuña decides to address Maria's relationship woes and begins sending orchids and love notes to her from an unknown suitor, with the hope that she will eventually find a beloved. One day, Bob delivers the note and flower. Maria, who has become enamored with her secret admirer, sees Bob leaving and concludes that he is her suitor. Maria asks her father to introduce them, and Acuña reluctantly agrees. He makes a deal with Bob: in exchange for performing at the club, Bob will play the part of the suitor and repel Maria with his "obnoxious" personality.
Despite Bob's efforts to disillusion Maria, she grows attracted to him, and the two quickly fall in love. With his plan gone awry, Acuña orders Bob to leave Buenos Aires and composes a farewell love note on his behalf. Acuña's wife sees him writing the note and suspects him of cheating on her, drawing the whole family in with her discovery. Bob is forced to reveal the truth in front of Maria, who feels shocked and betrayed. Impressed by Bob's behavior, Acuña grants him permission to court Maria. After a series of romantic gestures, Maria finally forgives Bob, and the two reconcile.
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
) is a 1942 Hollywood musical
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
, set in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. It starred Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
, Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth was an American film actress and dancer who attained fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars...
, Adolphe Menjou
Adolphe Menjou
Adolphe Jean Menjou was an American actor. His career spanned both silent films and talkies, appearing in such films as The Sheik, A Woman of Paris, Morocco, and A Star is Born...
and Xavier Cugat
Xavier Cugat
Xavier Cugat was a Spanish-American bandleader who spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba. A trained violinist and arranger, he was a key personality in the spread of Latin music in United States popular music. He was also a cartoonist and a successful businessman...
, with music by Jerome Kern
Jerome Kern
Jerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A...
and lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Johnny Mercer
John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others...
. The film was directed by William A. Seiter
William A. Seiter
William A. Seiter was an American film director. He was born in New York City. After attending Hudson River Military Academy, Seiter broke into films in 1915 as a bit player at Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios, doubling a cowboy...
.
This, the second of Astaire's outings with Hayworth, avoids wartime themes, and benefits from lavish production values – a consequence of the box-office success of the earlier You'll Never Get Rich
You'll Never Get Rich
You'll Never Get Rich is a 1941 Hollywood musical comedy film with a wartime theme starring Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth, Robert Benchley, Cliff Nazarro, with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The film was directed by Sidney Lanfield...
. Kern here created a memorable standard
Great American Songbook
The Great American Songbook is a hypothetical construct that seeks to represent the best American songs of the 20th century principally from Broadway theatre, musical theatre, and Hollywood musicals, from the 1920s to 1960, including dozens of songs of enduring popularity...
with "I'm Old Fashioned
I'm Old Fashioned
"I'm Old Fashioned" is a 1942 song composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics written by Johnny Mercer.It was written for the film You Were Never Lovelier , where it was introduced by Nan Wynn who dubbed for Rita Hayworth as part of a song and dance routine with Fred Astaire.According to Mueller:...
", and there is a faultless trio of classic dance routines. Initially, Kern was unhappy about the selection of Cugat and his orchestra; however, when production was complete, he was so pleased with the band's performance that he presented him with a silver baton. Although Hayworth had a fine voice, Harry Cohn
Harry Cohn
Harry Cohn was the American president and production director of Columbia Pictures.-Career:Cohn was born to a working-class German-Jewish family in New York City. In later years, he appears to have disparaged his heritage...
insisted on her singing being dubbed throughout by Nan Wynn
Nan Wynn
Nan Wynn was an American big-band singer and actress from Wheeling, West Virginia.She recorded with well-known orchestras, including those of Teddy Wilson, Freddie Rich, Raymond Scott and Hal Kemp.-Films:...
.
The film follows the usual conventions established by Astaire in his earlier musicals, such as an anti-romantic first meeting between the two leads, a virtuoso dance solo for Astaire, a playful dance duet and a romantic dance duet.
Synopsis
Robert "Bob" Davis (Fred AstaireFred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
dancer who is looking for a job in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
after gambling away his money. Bob's friend, bandleader Xavier Cugat
Xavier Cugat
Xavier Cugat was a Spanish-American bandleader who spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba. A trained violinist and arranger, he was a key personality in the spread of Latin music in United States popular music. He was also a cartoonist and a successful businessman...
, invites him to perform at a wedding in order to catch the eye of the bride's father, Eduardo Acuña (Adolphe Menjou
Adolphe Menjou
Adolphe Jean Menjou was an American actor. His career spanned both silent films and talkies, appearing in such films as The Sheik, A Woman of Paris, Morocco, and A Star is Born...
), the owner of a local nightclub. Acuña's four daughters prepare for the wedding of the eldest. According to family tradition, the sisters must wed from oldest to youngest. The beautiful Maria (Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth was an American film actress and dancer who attained fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars...
), who is next in line, is notoriously picky with her suitors, much to the dismay of her two younger siblings.
During the reception, Bob tries to catch Maria's attention, but his advances are rebuffed. While in conversation with Acuña, Bob remarks that Maria's personality is like "the inside of a refrigerator," quickly losing favor with his potential employer.
Acuña decides to address Maria's relationship woes and begins sending orchids and love notes to her from an unknown suitor, with the hope that she will eventually find a beloved. One day, Bob delivers the note and flower. Maria, who has become enamored with her secret admirer, sees Bob leaving and concludes that he is her suitor. Maria asks her father to introduce them, and Acuña reluctantly agrees. He makes a deal with Bob: in exchange for performing at the club, Bob will play the part of the suitor and repel Maria with his "obnoxious" personality.
Despite Bob's efforts to disillusion Maria, she grows attracted to him, and the two quickly fall in love. With his plan gone awry, Acuña orders Bob to leave Buenos Aires and composes a farewell love note on his behalf. Acuña's wife sees him writing the note and suspects him of cheating on her, drawing the whole family in with her discovery. Bob is forced to reveal the truth in front of Maria, who feels shocked and betrayed. Impressed by Bob's behavior, Acuña grants him permission to court Maria. After a series of romantic gestures, Maria finally forgives Bob, and the two reconcile.
Cast
- Fred AstaireFred AstaireFred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
as Robert "Bob" Davis - Rita HayworthRita HayworthRita Hayworth was an American film actress and dancer who attained fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars...
as Maria Acuña - Adolphe MenjouAdolphe MenjouAdolphe Jean Menjou was an American actor. His career spanned both silent films and talkies, appearing in such films as The Sheik, A Woman of Paris, Morocco, and A Star is Born...
as Eduardo Acuña - Isobel ElsomIsobel ElsomIsobel Elsom was an English screen, stage, and television actress.-Career:Born as Isobel Jeannette Reed in Cambridge, England, Elsom usually was cast as an aristocratic lady of the upper class. Over the course of three decades she appeared in 17 Broadway productions, beginning with The Ghost Train...
as Maria Castro - Leslie Brooks as Cecy Acuña
- Adele MaraAdele MaraAdele Mara , born Adelaide Delgado, was an American actress, singer and dancer who appeared in films during the 1940s and 1950s. During the 1940s, the blond actress was also a popular pinup girl....
as Lita Acuña - Xavier CugatXavier CugatXavier Cugat was a Spanish-American bandleader who spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba. A trained violinist and arranger, he was a key personality in the spread of Latin music in United States popular music. He was also a cartoonist and a successful businessman...
as Himself - Gus SchillingGus SchillingAugust "Gus" Schilling was an American film actor. A former burlesque comedian, the New York-born Schilling usually played nervous comic roles, often unbilled.-Career:...
as Fernando 'Fernie', Acuña's Secretary - Barbara Brown as Mrs. Delfina Acuña
- Douglas Leavitt as Juan Castro
Key songs/dance routines
Dance director was Val Raset, the only time he collaborated with Astaire, and his choreographic input into the film is unclear. According to Astaire’s biography, he worked out all the numbers with Hayworth while rehearsing above a funeral parlour. Although the setting is a Latin one, Kern felt unable to compose in this style, but Astaire was determined to continue his exploration of Latin dance, which he did with the help of special arrangements by Cugat and Murphy, and the inspiration provided by the enthusiastic and talented Hayworth. This became an important counterbalance to Kern’s tendency to compose sweet, occasionally saccharine, melodies. Hayworth's performance here establishes her claim as one of Astaire’s foremost dance partners.- "Chiu Chiu": Cugat’s band performs this showpiece sambaSambaSamba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
with music and lyrics by Nicanor Molinare sung and danced by Lina Romay, Miguelito ValdésMiguelito ValdésMiguelito Valdés, born Miguel Ángel Eugenio Lázaro Zacarias Izquierdo Valdés Hernández , also called Mr. Babalú, was a Cuban popular singer of high quality...
and chorus in front of Astaire.
- "Dearly Beloved": Kern’s balladBalladA ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
became a major hit for Astaire – who sings it here – and it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original SongAcademy Award for Best Original SongThe Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . It is presented to the songwriters who have composed the best original song written specifically for a film...
. Shortly after, Hayworth (singing dubbed by Nan WynnNan WynnNan Wynn was an American big-band singer and actress from Wheeling, West Virginia.She recorded with well-known orchestras, including those of Teddy Wilson, Freddie Rich, Raymond Scott and Hal Kemp.-Films:...
) reprises the song with a brief but erotic dance, alone in her bedroom.
- "Audition Dance": "One of my best solos" was Astaire's verdict on his first solo routine on the theme of Latin dance, celebrated for its comic inventiveness and dexterity. Astaire’s number also inspired Jerome RobbinsJerome RobbinsJerome Robbins was an American theater producer, director, and choreographer known primarily for Broadway Theater and Ballet/Dance, but who also occasionally directed films and directed/produced for television. His work has included everything from classical ballet to contemporary musical theater...
’ solo Latin dance in the latter’s first balletBalletBallet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
Fancy Free, created in 1944.
- "I'm Old FashionedI'm Old Fashioned"I'm Old Fashioned" is a 1942 song composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics written by Johnny Mercer.It was written for the film You Were Never Lovelier , where it was introduced by Nan Wynn who dubbed for Rita Hayworth as part of a song and dance routine with Fred Astaire.According to Mueller:...
": A Kern melody, with Mercer’s lyrics mimed by Hayworth, inspires Astaire’s second Latin romantic partnered dance, and one of his best known. This dance was chosen by Jerome Robbins as the centerpiece to his ballet of the same name, created by him for the New York City BalletNew York City BalletNew York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
in 1983, as a tribute to Astaire.
- "The Shorty George": Required more rehearsal time than all other dances together. A synthesis of American SwingSwing (genre)Swing music, also known as swing jazz or simply swing, is a form of jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and became a distinctive style by 1935 in the United States...
or JiveJive (dance)In Ballroom dancing, Jive is a dance style in 4/4 time that originated in the United States from African-Americans in the early 1930s. It was originally presented to the public as 'Jive' in 1934 by Cab Calloway. It is a lively and uninhibited variation of the Jitterbug, a form of Swing dance...
, and virtuoso tap dancingTap danceTap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the...
by Astaire and Hayworth, both in top form and exuding a sense of fun in an arrangement by Lyle "Spud" Murphy. The title refers to a popular dance step of the time, attributed to George "Shorty" Snowdon a champion African-American dancer at Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom and reputed inventor of the Lindy HopLindy HopThe Lindy Hop is an American social dance, from the swing dance family. It evolved in Harlem, New York City in the 1920s and '30s and originally evolved with the jazz music of that time. Lindy was a fusion of many dances that preceded it or were popular during its development but is mainly based...
or Jitterbug dance styles. Here, as in the "Pick Yourself UpPick Yourself Up"Pick Yourself Up" is a popular song composed in 1936 by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Dorothy Fields. It has a verse and chorus, as well as a third section, though the third section is often omitted in recordings...
" and "Bojangles of Harlem" numbers from Swing TimeSwing TimeSwing Time is a 1936 RKO musical comedy film set mainly in New York City and stars Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Helen Broderick, Victor Moore, Eric Blore and Georges Metaxa, with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Dorothy Fields...
, Kern belied his claim that he couldn't write in the Swing styleSwing (genre)Swing music, also known as swing jazz or simply swing, is a form of jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and became a distinctive style by 1935 in the United States...
.
- "Wedding in the Spring": Overly sweet and soppy number performed tongue-in-cheek by Cugat’s band.
- "You Were Never Lovelier": A Kern melody, sung by Astaire to Hayworth, with a celebratory dance reprise at the film’s end, initiated by an armour-suited Astaire falling off a horse, and shedding his knight’s armour, only to reveal himself in white tie and tails. According to Astaire, the original dance number that followed the song was cut from the film after the preview as the studio felt it "held up the story".
- "These Orchids": Cugat's band provides an orchestral serenade in rumbaCuban RumbaIn Cuban music, Rumba is a generic term covering a variety of musical rhythms and associated dances. The rumba has its influences in the music brought to Cuba by Africans brought to Cuba as slaves as well as Spanish colonizers...
style to Hayworth outside her bedroom window with this Kern melody.
Awards
The film was nominated for three Academy Awards:- Music (Scoring of a Musical Picture)
- Music (Song)
- Sound Recording (John Livadary)