Royal Wedding

Royal Wedding


MGM, 1951, Color, 93 minutes, ***½

Released March, 1951



A fun film starring Jane Powell and Fred Astaire as brother and sister stage musical stars. They take their show to England just in time for the wedding of Queen Elizabeth II. And, yes, Sarah Churchill is the daughter of Winston Churchill. A cut scene featuring a song and dance routine by Peter Lawford and Jane Powell has survived and can sometimes be seen on TCM. Musical highlights include "Open Your Eyes," sung by Jane and danced by Jane and Fred on a rolling ship during a storm and "The Liar Song," sung and danced by Jane and Fred. This is the film that features Fred dancing on the ceiling and walls of his hotel room.


Produced by: Arthur Freed

Directed by: Stanley Donen

Story and Screen Play by: Alan Jay Lerner

Music by: Burton Lane

Lyrics by: Alan Jay Lerner

Musical Direction: Johnny Green

Orchestrations: Conrad Salinger and Skip Martin

Dances by: Nick Castle

Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Jack Martin Smith

Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis

Associate: Alfred E. Spencer

Hair Styles Designed by: Sydney Guilaroff

Make-Up Created by: William J. Tuttle

Recording Supervisor: Douglas Shearer

Director of Photography: Robert Planck

Special Effects: Warren Newcombe

Color by Technicolor

Technicolor Color Consultants: Henri Jaffa, James Gooch

Film Editor: Albert Akst



Awards: Nominated for Best Song Academy Award ("Too Late Now")



Cast: Fred Astaire [Tom Bowen], Jane Powell [Ellen Bowen], Peter Lawford [Lord John Brindale], Sarah Churchill [Anne Ashmond], Keenan Wynn [Irving Klinger / Edgar Klinger], Albert Sharpe [James Ashmond], Viola Roache [Sarah Ashmond], Henri Letondal [Purser], James Finlayson [Cabby], Alex Frazer [Chester], Jack Reilly [Pete Cumberly], William Cabanne [Dick], John Hedloe [Billy], Francis Bethancourt [Charles Gordon], Andre Charisse [Steward], Bess Flowers [Woman Guest], Dee Turnell [Dancer], Mae Clarke [Telephone Operator]



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture: "You're All the World to Me" / "Too Late Now" (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:01] Every Night at Seven (sung by Fred Astaire and Chorus, danced by Fred Astaire and Jane Powell); [0:16] Sunday Jumps (instrumental arrangement played by Orchestra, danced by Fred Astaire with a metronome and a hat rack); [0:21] Open Your Eyes (sung by Jane Powell, danced by Jane Powell and Fred Astaire sliding around on the floor as the ship rocks in a storm); [0:30] Every Night at Seven (instrumental, danced by Sarah Churchill, joined by Fred Astaire); [0:44] The Happiest Day of My Life (sung by Jane Powell); [0:50] How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Loved You When You Know I've Been a Liar All My Life? (aka "The Liar Song," sung and danced by Fred Astaire and Jane Powell -- really great number!); [0:57] Too Late Now (sung by Jane Powell, nominated for Best Song Academy Award); [1:05] You're All the World to Me (sung and danced by Fred Astaire, dancing on walls and ceiling of his room); [1:14] I Left My Hat in Haiti (sung by Fred Astaire and Chorus, danced by Fred Astaire, Jane Powell and Chorus; Dee Turnell is said to be one of the dancers in this number); [1:28] What a Lovely Day for a Wedding (sung by Childrens Chorus, then by Keenan Wynn as he walks the streets of London); [1:32] Too Late Now (instumental reprise at end of movie)