The Belle of New York (1952)

Simply A Masterpiece

Sadly Over-hyped

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Blistering performances.

I love classic movies. I love musicals. I love Fred Astaire.That said, this movie was a huge disappointment. The plot was ridiculous (even for a musical) and the only saving grace was most of the dances that Fred Astaire and Vera-Ellen danced together. If this movie was just a movie (and not a musical), I wouldn't have made it past the first 20 minutes.I absolutely loved most of Fred and Vera-Ellen's dances, especially "Oops". That dance was simply wonderful and I ended up watching it three times.I'm not opposed to a bit of fantasy in movies (I adore the 18 minute ballet in An American In Paris, for example), but the 'dancing on air' bit in this movie was just jaw dropping-ly awful. It was a silly gimmick and it was worse every time they utilized it.On a positive note: I thoroughly enjoyed all of the performances by Fred, Vera-Ellen, Marjorie Main, Keenan Wynn and Alice Pierce. They had a poor script to work with, but they did a wonderful job.The other positive aspect of this movie was the costumes. All of Vera-Ellen's gowns were stunning. I especially loved the dusty blue number in "Oops".I am happy I saw this movie. I just don't intend to see it again.

This was not the best movie ever made. If it were much longer than 82 minutes it might have been much less interesting. But it was entertaining and amusing at that length. I also think that Fred Astaire proves once again that the seemingly effortless grace and style and rhythm and yes, even charm, that he displays in "I wanna be a dancing man" places him in the very top echelon of modern day dancers. Bojangles. Fred Astaire. Bob Fosse. And perhaps a dancer who has not yet been discovered. For 82 minutes of inconsequential entertainment you could do much worse than this. And did anyone else notice that the effects presage Mary Poppins some ten years later? I love to laugh.....lol...

This was one of Astaire's few critical and box office losers. The flaws, in hindsight, are obvious. The New York playboy Astaire plays is charming but an emotional light-weight. He finds love eventually and he never loses his charm. Still, he's a shallow guy. The Salvation Army-type lass he falls in love with is played by Vera-Ellen, who was always perky and a supremely proficient dancer. Still, there's something chilly, to my mind, about her dancing. She can do any step Astaire does, but does it with little spontaneity. The smile on her face while she dances never changes. The comedy relief doesn't seem very amusing. The story serves merely as a quick bridge between extended musical numbers. I don't mind this at all, but it does make the story seem like an afterthought. But the good things are fine. The 1880's Currier and Ives look is warm and charming. The Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer songs are easy to listen to. Most of all, there is Astaire and his dancing. The film features, I think I got this right, eight musical sequences, most of them major productions. Astaire is in all but one. The highlights for me are: --"Baby Doll," a sweet. wooing number sung by Astaire to Vera-Ellen and then danced in a relaxed and easy-going style by the two. --"Seeing's Believing" has Astaire singing and dancing around and on the Washington Square Arch. The idea is that love has him floating. The routine uses camera tricks and false backgrounds to create the illusion he's on the top of the arch teetering and tapping. Not for viewers who suffer acrophobia, but this extended Astaire routine is a lot of fun. --"I Wanna Be a Dancin' Man," is a classic. It's just Astaire, a stage and some sand on the floor. Everything works in this number, including the Warren-Mercer song:I wanna be a dancin' man while I can, / Gonna leave my footsteps on the sands of time, / If I never leave a dime. Never be a millionaire, I don't care, / I'll be rich as old King Midas might have been, / Least until the tide comes in. The Belle of New York is a proficient movie, and you don't have to spend much time waiting for the next dance number to arrive.

The mostly negative reviews relating to this movie miss the mark. Although the script and special effects are undeniably weak, the partnered dancing of Fred Astaire and Vera-Ellen has never been equaled. One dance of particular note is the finale to the Currier and Ives number. It's simply breathtaking. Don't worry about the plot when you're watching the two best dancers in the history of Hollywood at the zenith of their powers.