“The
Sky's the Limit” is a Musical Romantic Comedy, screenplay by Frank Fenton and
Lynn Root and Directed by Edward
H. Griffith.
Flying
Tiger Fred Atwell (Fred Astaire) and his squadron are on a coast to coast
personal appearance tour, but he is tired and bored with all the attention and he knows he only
has two weeks to have fun so
he sneaks away from his famous squadron's train and goes in search of a few
days leave away from the spotlight.
He
travels incognito for a day or so in the guise of a carefree drifter until he
goes to a Cabaret and meets photographer Joan Manion (Joan Leslie) and quickly
falls for her.
Initially she gives him the brush off, but
eventually she takes pity on him and tries to get him a job but he is
resistant, but he was only interested in being with her but eventually his time
runs out and he has to leave, without her knowing his true identity.
Her boss sends her to do a story on the Flying
Tigers, and she is still aware until the last moment that Fred is one of them,
and they have a big kiss good bye before he jumps on the plane.
Astaire and Leslie have a wonderful chemistry, in
this very under-rated film even though many critics consider it to be one of
Fred's worst movies, personally I don't understand why.
In addition, Robert Benchley puts in one of his
best, patented befuddled speaker routines.
So take my advice don't listen to the critics,
watch the movie for yourself, it has wit, romance, good music, and trademark
dance routines; I promise you will not be disappointed.
