i read that jessie matthew be approach and turn down co star with fred astaire in damsel in distress . jessie matthew in her prime never leave her side of the pond to do any american musical film . if they have team for this film it would have be a once in a lifetime event . it a pity because damsel in distress have everything else go for it . fred astaire and story and adapt to screen by author p. g. wodehouse and burn and allen for comedy and and song by the gershwin brother . in answer to the question pose by the nice work if you can get it and there isn not much you could ask more for this film . except a lead lady . though ginger rogers make several film away from fred astaire and damsel in distress be the only film astaire make without rogers while they be a team . young joan fontaine be cast in this opposite astaire . her character have none of the bite that ginger rogers part do in these film . all she basically have to do be act sweet and demure . she also doesn not contribute anything musically . and if i have to rate all the dance partner of fred astaire and joan fontaine would come out at the bottom . the poor woman be just horrible in the thing be look up number . when she co star later on in a musical with bing crosby and the emperor waltz and it no accident that fontaine be give nothing musical to do . the version i have be a colorized one and in this case i think it actually do some good . the idyllic lush green english countryside of p. g. wodehouse be really bring out in this vhs copy . especially in that number i mention before with astaire and fontaine which do take place in the garden . burn and allen on the other hand a a couple of old vaudeville trooper complement astaire in grand style in the stiff upper lip number . the surreal fun house sequence be marvelously stag . p. g. wodehouse aristocracy run the gamut with constance collier at her haughty best and for once montagu love a fontaine father a a nice man on film . the big hit out of a damsel in distress be a foggy day maybe the best know song about the british capital city since london bridge be fall down . do in the best simple elegant manner by fred astaire and it one of those song that will endure as long a london endures and even after . overlook the young and inexperienced joan fontaine and a damsel in distress rate a a classic and classic score and classic dancing and classic comedy . who could ask for anything more .