MusicRomance

Daddy Long Legs

Wealthy American, Jervis Pendleton has a chance encounter at a French orphanage with a cheerful 18-year-old resident, and anonymously pays for her education at a New England college. She writes letters to her mysterious benefactor regularly, but he never writes back. Several years later, he visits her at school, while still concealing his identity, and—despite their large age difference—they soon fall in love.

Release Date : 1955-05-05

Language :EnglishFrench

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : 20th Century Fox

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Jervis Pendleton III

Original Name : Fred Astaire

Gender : Male

Character Name : Julie Andre

Original Name : Leslie Caron

Gender : Female

Character Name : Linda Pendleton

Original Name : Terry Moore

Gender : Female

Character Name : Alicia Pritchard

Original Name : Thelma Ritter

Gender : Female

Character Name : Griggs

Original Name : Fred Clark

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sally McBride

Original Name : Charlotte Austin

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ambassador Alexander Williamson

Original Name : Larry Keating

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gertrude Pendleton

Original Name : Kathryn Givney

Gender : Female

Character Name : Jimmy McBride

Original Name : Kelly Brown

Gender : Male

Character Name : Himself

Original Name : Ray Anthony

Gender : Male

Character Name : Art Gallery Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Gertrude Astor

Gender : Female

Character Name : Blonde dancer (in "International Playboy") (uncredited)

Original Name : Barrie Chase

Gender : Female

Character Name : Extra (uncredited)

Original Name : James Cromwell

Gender : Male

Character Name : College Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Lisa Montell

Gender : Female

Character Name : College Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Leslie Parrish

Gender : Female

Character Name : College Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Pat Sheehan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Pat

Original Name : Sara Shane

Gender : Female

Character Name : Codene, Orphan Girl

Original Name : Evelyn Rudie

Gender : Female

Character Name : College Girl

Original Name : Liliane Montevecchi

Gender : Female

Character Name : College Girl

Original Name : Diane Jergens

Gender : Female

Character Name : Madame Sevanne

Original Name : Ann Codee

Gender : Female

Character Name : Airport Passenger

Original Name : Kenner G. Kemp

Gender : Male

Character Name : Art Gallery Patron

Original Name : Forbes Murray

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hotel Waiter

Original Name : William H. O'Brien

Gender : Male

Character Name : Graduation Attendee

Original Name : Bert Stevens

Gender : Male

Character Name : College Girl

Original Name : Suzanne Alexander

Gender : Female

Character Name : College Dean

Original Name : Helen Van Tuyl

Gender : Female

Character Name : College Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Jean Moorhead

Gender : Female

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-11-24

"Jervis" (Fred Astaire) comes from a distinguished line of American millionaires who is travelling through France one day with his savvy factotum "Griggs" (Fred Clark) when he alights on the orphaned "Julie" (the hugely charming Leslie Caron) who is teaching young kids with a contagious enthusiasm that encourages the wealthy man to facilitate her education at one of the colleges he just about owns in New England. She is excited about the prospect, but in best "Great Expectations" tradition, is unaware of the identity of her benefactor. She's grateful though, and regularly writes to him - letters that "Griggs" files rather than shares. This all becomes even more complicated when the girl becomes frustrated at the lack of responses and when two meet and begin to fall in love. "Something's Gotta Give" is the standard featured here, but there are plenty of other lively and perfectly choreographed numbers from two stars who gel well on screen together. Clark steals the show for me, his curmudgeonly but wily role well complemented by the occasional appearance of Thelma Ritter's "Alicia" and though it is certainly far too slow to get going - and is generally too long as well - the dynamic works well enough to keep a smile on your face for much of this gently simmering love story that has something of the "Cinderella" story to it.