Kidskycom
It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.
Keeley Coleman
The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;
Marva
It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,
atlasmb
Vera-Ellen plays Angela Bonfils, a straight laced young woman who helps run a welfare house for the Daughters of Right, a group committed to saving souls. She meets worldly ladies' man Charlie Hill (Fred Astaire) and the chemistry is immediate--for him. But it doesn't take long for Angela to come around.If this kind of setup sounds familiar, it would be explored again only three year's later with Sarah Brown and Sky Masterson(in "Guys and Dolls") and ten years later with Marian the librarian and Professor Howard Hill (in "The Music Man").This Technicolor musical is saddled with a story that really doesn't involve much else. However, most of the dancing and some of the singing is a joy. Some of the dancing seems derived from prior Astaire choreography, but it's classy. Those who appreciate the charms of Vera-Ellen will enjoy her "Naughty But Nice" number, which features a stunning costume and reminds me of Cyd Charise's style.Worth mentioning are Marjorie Main, who plays the matronly member of the DOR, and Alice Pearce, who plays Elsie Wilkins, the ditzy member of the troupe, with charm and a comedic flair.This film does not belong among the best musicals of its time, but it contains entertaining elements worth watching.
jfarms1956
The Belle of New York may best be appreciated by baby boomers. Young children 4 to 9 years of age may also enjoy the movie. This is a good movie for grandparents to watch with their grandchildren to maybe show what good entertainment is to their grandchildren. I enjoy these shows within a show. I love to watch the song and dance routines within a show, especially when they are good. With Fred Astaire in the mix, the dance is always good. The songs are fairly good as well. This is an anytime movie when the family can get together and watch a nonviolent movie that is fun. The plots in these kind of movies are simple and predictable. So what. The movie provides light hearted entertainment. Grab the popcorn or bring the pizza. You will enjoy the movie.
MartinHafer
Fred Astaire plays a playboy (an odd job of casting there) and he becomes infatuated with a lady (Vera-Ellen) working in a mission in New York City. So, to impress her, he tries to give up his playboy ways and get an honest job. Can he win her or is he simply out of his league? Despite being filmed in beautiful Technicolor, this is an amazingly sub-par film for Fred Astaire. Despite a lot of songs and dance numbers, none of them stand out--particularly the songs. And, to make matters worse, there really isn't a lot of plot or chemistry in this film. It's a shame, as I adore Astaire films--but this one left me very, very flat. It also didn't help that the film used the traveling matte technique to make people appear to fly. The technique seemed crude and very fake. I'd rather they spent their money writing some better songs than coming up with silly special effects. The only reason the film earns a 5 is that a bad Astaire film STILL is a pretty decent film!
semi-buff
Considering the prodigious talent involved, possibly the worst musical of all time. This embarrassing mess underscores the importance of good writing in places where we might not think about its relevance, such as a musical. Plus the choreography is boring and the songs are awful. I thought it was going to be redeemed by the homely girl getting a guy, but noooo. The costumes were nice, but otherwise a complete waste of a wonderful cast!
