A silly plot by P.G. Wodehouse and a set of songs by George and Ira Gershwin form the core of this Fred Astaire vehicle, set in England. He really must have been the busiest actor in Hollywood at the time. "Nice Work If You Can Get It" and "A Foggy Day" became American standards after they were introduced in this film, which shows Astaire dancin' in the streets long before Martha and the Vandellas. George Burns and Gracie Allen provide plenty of comic relief, especially singing and dancing on a rotating platform to "Stiff Upper Lip," the lyrics of which are reminiscent of Wodehouse, who actually participated in the translation of his prose to film. My favorite moment in the entire movie, however, is when Astaire sings and swings "Nice Work" with three fabulous dames. --Musicals on the Silver Screen, American Library Association, 2013
Review of A Damsel in Distress
