Daddy Long Legs (1955)

While in France on a visit for the State department, a millionaire (Fred Astaire) comes across an orphanage where he discovers an 18 year old girl (Leslie Caron), who has spent her entire life at the orphanage. Charmed by her, he arranges for her to be educated in the U.S. under a scholarship. He forgets about her until he meets her a couple of years later and a May-December romance blossoms. Previously made in 1919 with Mary Pickford and 1931 with Janet Gaynor, the film starts off rather dicey, what with singing French orphans and Caron at her most gamin. But once the action moves to America, we're treated to some marvelous Johnny Mercer songs including the Oscar nominated standard Something's Gotta Give and the lovely romantic ballad, Dream. Not to mention some marvelous dancing by Astaire and Caron. This was Astaire's first wide screen (CinemaScope) film and doing his own choreography, he (and his assistant Dave Robel) take advantage of the screen's shape to allow for more breadth of movement. In addition, there's a marvelous 12 minute ballet choreographed by Roland Petit for Caron and composed by Alex North. Plus, unlike some of his other pairings with younger leading ladies, the film actually focuses on and addresses the age difference. Directed by Jean Negulesco in the full bloom of his CinemaScope period at Fox. With Terry Moore, Thelma Ritter, Fred Clark, Kathryn Givney, Larry Keating, Ann Codee, Ray Anthony, Sara Shane and Barrie Chase.