Royal Wedding was released on March 23rd, 1951. It is directed by Stanley Donen and features songs by Burton Lane (music) and Alan Jay Lerner (lyrics). The film stars Fred Astaire as Tom Bowen, a Broadway star who, along with with his sister (Jane Powell), takes their show to London to capitalize on the imminent wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten.
Like the Astaire musical I reviewed last year this film focuses on rootless, cosmopolitan entertainers, portrayed here by Astaire and Powell, who are at first completely opposed to getting married but, in the end, find a more lasting happiness through marriage. Powell pursues an increasingly affectionate relationship with Peter Lawford's playboy, Lord John Brindale while Astaire falls for Sarah Churchill's Anne Ashmond, one of the chorus girls in his show who is engaged to a man living in America. Perhaps it is not insignificant that they make their decision amidst the old fashioned grandeur of the royal wedding.
The story took inspiration from Astaire's early career singing and dancing on Broadway with his sister, Adele Astaire. In any case the plot is almost incidental in this film, serving as a vehicle to display the song and dance numbers. This becomes increasingly obvious as the film's treatment of both relationships is rather perfunctory and the film spends as little time with it as possible. Certainly, this is the films biggest weakness and it leads to some erratic pacing. Nonetheless, the singing and dancing are Royal Wedding's raison d'etre and they are consistently great.
"How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Love You When You Know I've Been a Liar All My Life", which has the longest title of any MGM musical, is the standout, with its witty lyrics and the wonderful, vaudeville style antics between Astaire and Powell. The films opening number, "Ev'ry Night At Seven", is quite good as well, and nicely sets the tone for the rest of the picture. On the other hand, "I Left My Hat in Haiti", which is the films "big money" number, really pales in comparison despite its impressive set design.
The dance choreography, by Nick Castle, is some of the most impressive of Astaire's career. "Sunday Jumps" is a magnificent display of Astaire's talent, particularly his ability to animate the inanimate, as the actor dances around on the ship's gym using the various gym accoutrements as his partner in lieu of Powell, who has neglected to show up for practice. This was inspired, in part, by real events, as Astaire's sister Adele often became annoyed with her brother's obsessive rehearsal habits. "Open Your Eyes" wherein Astaire and Powell fly around below deck as the ship is buffeted by the waves, was also inspired by a real life episode between Fred and Adele. Though technically impressive, this is just a warmup for "You're All the World to Me" where, in a now iconic scene, Astaire literally dances up the walls and on the ceiling.
Astaire has good chemistry with Powell and with Sarah Churchill (who, by the way, was the daughter of Winston Churchill). His interactions with Albert Sharpe (who plays Churchill's father) are especially endearing. Jane Powell and Peter Lawford are also quite good together. Meanwhile, Keenan Wynn gets all the laughs in his duel role of Irving Klinger, Astaire and Powell's agent, and his English twin brother Edgar.
Though Royal Wedding has a bit of a rushed story, it almost doesn't matter. The songs are swell, the cast is having a wonderful time, and Astaire was never in better form.
Score: 8/10
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