You Were Never Lovelier

1942

You Were Never Lovelier (1942)

TOMATOMETER

100%

——

Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

73%

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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.

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)

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…
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…
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Good, but not quite great Astaire vehicle.

Sep 18, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Hayworth is no Rogers, but she makes a lovely partner anyway.

Jan 17, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
San Francisco Examiner
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Audience Reviews for You Were Never Lovelier

"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 Williams
Mason Williams

Super Reviewer

½

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.
Emily B.

Super Reviewer

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