Movies:
Rich, Young and Pretty |
- Rating:
- Genre: Musical
- Director: Norman Taurog
- Main Cast: Jane Powell, Danielle Darrieux, Wendell Corey, Vic Damone, Fernando Lamas
- Release Year: 1951
- Country: US
- Run Time: 95 minutes
Plot
Rich, Young and Pretty succinctly describes Jane Powell, the heroine of this frothy MGM musical. Vacationing in Paris with her father, Jim Stauton Rogers (Wendell Corey) -- a cattle baron-turned-politician, Elizabeth Rogers (Powell) falls in love with handsome Andre Milan (Vic Damone, in his film debut). She also learns to her surprise that her Gallic mother, Marie (Danielle Darrieux), is not dead as she's been led to believe, but very much alive and very much involved with suave South American Paul Sarnac (Fernando Lamas). The plot is merely there to provide breathing space for the film's ten -- count 'em, ten -- musical numbers. If Rich, Young and Pretty resembles a Deanna Durbin picture at times, it may because it was produced by Durbin's discoverer, Joseph Pasternak. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie GuideReview
They don't make musicals like Rich, Young and Pretty anymore, and how one interprets that comment is a clue as to whether one will fall for the film's charms or find it an annoying contrivance. Certainly, no one can argue that Rich has much going for it in the way of a screenplay, as it is chock-full of plot contrivances, silly dialogue, and characters with little in the way of depth. However, Rich is a very musical musical, with a new number coming every few minutes; if the songs themselves are not really anything to write home about, they are all tuneful and quite pleasant. They also are well-delivered by the performers, with Jane Powell in peak voice, Vic Damone sounding appropriately crooner-ish, and Fernando Lamas employing his fine baritone to good effect. The luscious Danielle Darrieux also gets the chance to use her Gallic pipes in her very special manner, which is hard to resist. Powell is perky fun throughout, and if Damone's acting is stiff, it doesn't damage things too much. The whole enterprise is wrapped up with some yummy costumes and attractive sets. It's all much ado about nothing, of course, but for those who just love movie musicals, Rich, Young and Pretty will be a very agreeable little diversion. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie GuideCast
- Jane Powell - Elizabeth Rogers
- Danielle Darrieux - Marie Devarone
- Wendell Corey - Jim Stauton Rogers
- Vic Damone - Andre Milan
- Fernando Lamas - Paul Sarnac
Marcel Dalio - Claude Duval; Una Merkel - Glynnie; Richard Anderson - Bob Lennart; Jean Murat - Mons. Henri Milan; Duci de Kerekjailo - Gypsy Leader; Hans Conried - Jean the Maitre D'; Monique Chantal - Maid; Four Freshman Quartet - Four Musicians; George and Katrin Tatar - Hungarian Dancers
