You Were Never Lovelier

1942

You Were Never Lovelier

Critics Consensus

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You Were Never Lovelier Photos

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Movie Info

The second and last of the Fred Astaire-Rita Hayworth vehicles, You Were Never Lovelier takes place in Argentina (courtesy of the Columbia Pictures art-direction department). Fred plays an American dancer whose fondness for betting on horse races has left him broke. Rita is the daughter of wealthy Argentinian nightclub owner Adolphe Menjou, who has vowed that his daughters will marry in the order of their ages-and since older sister Leslie Brooks is about to walk to the altar, Rita is next in line. To encourage his daughter to seek out an eligible husband, Menjou sends Rita unsigned love notes so that she'll think she has a secret admirer. Through a series of misunderstandings that could only happen in the movies, Rita becomes convinced that Fred is the man who's been plying her with notes and gifts. Menjou hires the impoverished Astaire as a potential son-in-law. Fred bridles at the thought of being a "bought spouse", but changes his mind when he falls in love with Rita on his own.

Rating:

NR (nothing objectionable)
Genre:

Classics, Comedy, Musical & Performing Arts
Directed By:

William A. Seiter
Written By:

Delmer Daves, Ernest Pagano, Michael Fessier
In Theaters:

Jan 1, 1942 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

May 25, 2004
Runtime:

98 minutes
Studio:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Cast

Fred Astaire
as Bob Davis

Rita Hayworth
as Maria Acuna

Adolphe Menjou
as Eduardo Acuna

Leslie Brooks
as Cecy Acuna

Xavier Cugat
as Himself

Adele Mara
as Lita Acuna

Isobel Elsom
as Mrs. Maria Castro

Gus Schilling
as Fernando

Barbara Brown
as Mrs. Delfina Acuna

Douglas Leavitt
as Juan Castro

Catherine Craig
as Julia Acuna

Kathleen Howard
as Grandmother Acuna

Mary Field
as Louise

Larry Parks
as Tony

Stanley Brown
as Roddy

Kirk Alyn
as Groom

Adele Mann

George Bunny
as Flower Man

Ralph Peters
as Chauffeur

Lina Romay
as Singer

Miguelito Valdés
as Band Singer

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Critic Reviews for You Were Never Lovelier

All Critics (6) | Fresh (6)

Rita Hayworth proves to be a good partner for Fred Asatire in this enjoyable, Oscar-nominated musical, with good songs and numbers (Dearly Beloved by Jerome Kern).

Aug 16, 2012 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
A good Astaire romantic musical after life with Ginger, with a beautiful 24-year-old Rita Hayworth as Ginger's replacement.

Apr 4, 2009 | Rating: B | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Good, but not quite great Astaire vehicle.

Sep 18, 2003 | Rating: 4/5

Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Hayworth is no Rogers, but she makes a lovely partner anyway.

Jan 17, 2003 | Rating: 4/5

Jeffrey M. Anderson
San Francisco Examiner

View All Critic Reviews (6)

Audience Reviews for You Were Never Lovelier

Jun 01, 2009

"You Were Never Lovelier" from 1042 starring the very taletned dancer Fred Astaire and the beautiful Rita Hayworth. This musical comedy centers in South America where a wealthy businessman whom owns a hotel is looking to marry off his next in line daughter (Hayworth). This will be done by him posing as a suiter and sending lovely letters and flowers and then enters the dancer (Astaire) whom is looking to get a job at the nightclub in the hotel and then poses as the letter writer....a lovely musical score and dance numbers for a sweet film.

Mason W Super Reviewer
Jan 29, 2009

OK, so the plot is kind of meh, but I'll add on an extra half star just for the dancing of Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth. Fred and Rita always struck me as a slightly odd pairing when you put them together, but Rita was Fred's favourite dancing partner and their chemistry and the great choreography make the film. I just want to mention Gus Shilling who played the slighty camp secretary, who was the most hilarious aspect between the musical numbers.

Emily B Super Reviewer