THE BELLE OF NEW YORK

The Belle of New York
MGM, 1952, Color, 82 minutes, ***½
Released February, 1952

Fun flight of fancy that features Fred Astaire as a turn-of-the-century playboy set on romancing mission girl Vera-Ellen. Delightful duets through the clouds above remain a highlight. Marjorie Main, Keenan Wynn, Alice Pearce co-star. Songs include "Oops," "I Wanna Be a Dancin' Man" and "Bachelor's Dinner Song."

Produced by: Arthur Freed
Directed by: Charles Walters
Screen Play by: Robert O'Brien and Irving Elinson
Adapted for the Screen by: Chester Erskine
From the Play by: Hugh Morton
Songs: Music by Harry Warren, Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Musical Direction: Adolph Deutsch
Orchestrations by: Conrad Salinger and Maurice DePackh
Musical Numbers Staged and Directed by: Robert Alton
Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Jack Martin Smith
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis, Richard Pefferle
Special Effects: Warren Newcombe, Irving G. Ries
Women's Costumes Designed by: Helen Rose
Men's Costumes Designed by: Gile Steele
Hair Styles Designed by: Sydney Guilaroff
Make-Up Created by: William Tuttle
Recording Supervisor: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: Robert Planck
Color by Technicolor
Technicolor Color Consultants: Henri Jaffa, James Gooch
Film Editor: Albert Akst

Cast: Fred Astaire [Charlie Hill], Vera-Ellen [Angela Bonfils], Marjorie Main [Mrs. Phineas Hill], Keenan Wynn [Max Ferris], Alice Pearce [Elsie Wilkins], Clinton Sundberg [Gilfred Spivak], Gale Robbins [Dixie McCoy], Lisa Ferraday [Frenchie], Henry Slate [Clancy], Carol Brewster, Meredith Leeds, Lyn Wilde [Frenchie's Girls], Buddy Roosevelt [Cab Driver], Roger Davis [Judkins], Dick Wessel, Percy Helton, Tom Dugan [Bowery Bums], Anita Ellis [singing voice of Vera-Ellen]

Musical Program: [0:00] When You're Out with the Belle of New York (sung by Chorus behind titles); [0:07] Who Wants to Kiss the Bridegroom? (sung and danced by Fred Astaire and his girlfriends, one of whom is Lyn Wilde); [0:11] Let a Little Love Come In (sung by Alice Pearce, then sung by Anita Ellis dubbing for Vera-Ellen); [0:15] Seeing's Believing (sung and danced by Fred Astaire walking on air and atop the Washington Arch in Washington Square - great f/x!); [0:26] Baby Doll (sung by Fred Astaire, danced by Fred Astaire and Vera-Ellen); [0:33] Oops (sung by Fred Astaire, danced by Fred Astaire and Vera-Ellen on trolley - cute number!); [0:42] A Bride's Wedding Day Song (Currier and Ives) (sung by Anita Ellis dubbing for Vera-Ellen, danced by Fred Astaire and Vera-Ellen with Ensemble - beautiful number!); [1:02] Naughty But Nice (sung and danced by Vera-Ellen, dubbed by Anita Ellis; then sung and danced by Alice Pearce); [1:08] Baby Doll (reprised by barbershop quartet of waiters, including Fred Astaire as one of the four); [1:12] I Wanna Be a Dancin' Man (sung and danced by Fred Astaire); [1:19] When You're Out with the Belle of New York (reprised by Chorus at end of film)