Royal Wedding/The Belle Of New York DVD

 ASTAIRE TIME
Two very under-rated films in the Astaire canon, long overdue for DVD. We always wonder why it took so long for MGM to realize that Fred Astaire and Vera-Ellen were made for each other. Both were technical perfectionists, she could do anything Astaire and their choreographers demanded of them, and they had a real rapport on screen. Although "Belle is very weak in the screenplay department, it at least two numbers that rank with the best things Astaire ever committed to film. The "Currier and Ives" montage has a tap duo finale that is really extraordinary. "I Wanna be a Dancin' Man" needs no praise from me except to say: You'll want to watch it again immediately after you see it the first time. (If you like the movie and you crave more Fred and Vera, you should run out and buy "Three Little Words", too.) "Royal Wedding" is even better. It has a tinge of autobiography as the plot revolves a brother-and-sister act, which Astaire new a few things about. (He spent his vaudeville and Broadway years partnered with his sister Adele.) Although Jane Powell isn't a great dancer, she has that good old Metro verve and is a good partner for Astaire. The pretty silly number "How Can You Believe Me When I Say I Love You (When You Know You've Been a Liar All My Life)?" still makes me laugh when I watch it, after all these years. Fred Astaire's name on any DVD box is a guarantee of solid entertainment. I can't think of a single other movie star who has given me as much pleasure.
Submitted by dce1249 (Cambridge, MA, USA)
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