Movie Reflection: Damsel in Distress (1937)

Damsel in Distress (1937) is a romantic musical comedy film starring Fred Astaire and Joan Fontaine. The film also stars George Burns and Gracie Allen, a husband-wife comedic team used to balance out the more 'serious' aspects of the plot. However, the real focus is upon dancing and the musical production, not upon the storyline, which seems primarily constructed to showcase the various numbers performed by Astaire. Basically, Astaire is the victim of a mistaken identity which eventually results in him wooing the (non-singing) stuffy, romantic British lady aristocrat, despite her family's objections. The film is very much a 'fish out of water' narrative in which the main, homespun American character is thrust into a foreign world not of his own making.

More than the plot of the film, the 'setup' is designed to allow Astaire to showcase his musical talents. For example, in one scene to 'show up' some of the stuffier British characters, he plays the drums while dancing simultaneously. Astaire has a kind of effortless elegance in his tuxedo, but his homespun demeanor and casualness is a distinct contrast with the aloofness of the aristocrats around him. The film suggests that Americans have a kind of enthusiasm about life that their British counterparts lack and could benefit from.

The film ends with Astaire's character marrying the aristocratic lady played by Joan Fontaine, symbolizing how America can bring new life to Europe. This conquest is accomplished by dancing -- in contrast to the staid and mannered dancing of the British, Astaire's classy yet athletic style wins everyone over. I found this interesting given that I had always seen Astaire himself as rather buttoned up in a top hat and tails but the film shows a different side of him.

Perhaps the number which best embodies the film's theme is one entitled "Stiff Upper Lip," with Gracie Allen and George Burns. The lyrics celebrate the British 'stiff upper lip' in the face of adversity. The Americans sing about how a stiff upper lip will get them through 'thick and thin' as they try to emulate the British. The dance number takes place in a funhouse to contrast with the lyrics that celebrate stoicism, however, as the three Americans leap from moving platform to moving platform.

Of course, one conceit of the film that the viewer must accept is the idea that people will spontaneously burst into song or dance at any time. Much more so than words, the film is about communicating with music. Although some of the singing and dancing occur in believable locations such as a ballroom, much of the dancing does not such as in the middle of a street or park. This requires the audience to suspend disbelief and accept a fantasy world where everyone can potentially dance like Fred Astaire at a moment's notice or can leap into a perfectly choreographed dance as a spontaneous part of real life.