During World War II, Flying Tiger Fred Atwell (Fred Astaire) decides to go incognito in New York City during leave. While there, he falls in love with photographer Joan (Joan Leslie) and must decide whether to tell her who he really is.
One of Fred's lesser known films, this marked his return to his old home studio of RKO. It's definitely a darker film than of his musicals. Joan Leslie is a capable if uninspired partner for Astaire, but one feels that it would have been a better film with another partner. Robert Benchley gets a good comedy sequence, while you get the unlikely sight of Robert Ryan in a musical.
The score, by Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen, is excellent. "My Shining Hour" earned an Oscar nomination and is spotlighted with an alright dance sequence with Fred and Leslie. "A Lot in Common with You" provides a much better dance sequence for them.
Johnny Mercer was a capable lyricist, though not of the level of Berlin or Porter. However, he wrote two stunning songs, one of which, "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)", is the undeniable highlight of the film. Astaire's dance sequence is justly famous. It's probably the darkest dance sequence of his career, with him performing an excellent sequence on top of a bar before smashing the glasses.
Overall, The Sky's the Limit is an average, if entertaining, entry in Astaire's filmography.
One of Fred's lesser known films, this marked his return to his old home studio of RKO. It's definitely a darker film than of his musicals. Joan Leslie is a capable if uninspired partner for Astaire, but one feels that it would have been a better film with another partner. Robert Benchley gets a good comedy sequence, while you get the unlikely sight of Robert Ryan in a musical.
The score, by Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen, is excellent. "My Shining Hour" earned an Oscar nomination and is spotlighted with an alright dance sequence with Fred and Leslie. "A Lot in Common with You" provides a much better dance sequence for them.
Johnny Mercer was a capable lyricist, though not of the level of Berlin or Porter. However, he wrote two stunning songs, one of which, "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)", is the undeniable highlight of the film. Astaire's dance sequence is justly famous. It's probably the darkest dance sequence of his career, with him performing an excellent sequence on top of a bar before smashing the glasses.
Overall, The Sky's the Limit is an average, if entertaining, entry in Astaire's filmography.