You Were Never Lovelier (1942): Cast & Plot
You Were Never Lovelier is a 1942 romantic comedy directed by William A. Seiter, starring Fred Astaire as Robert Davis, Adolphe Menjou and Adele Mara. It runs 1 hour 37 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 37m (97 min)
- Director
- William A. Seiter
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is You Were Never Lovelier About?
The premise of You Were Never Lovelier without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Showcasing Hayworth’s radiant beauty and Astaire’s dazzling rhythm, the film pairs their star power with Jerome Kern’s most memorable score since Show Boat. The plot follows an Argentine heiress who becomes convinced that a broke American dancer is her secret admirer, sparking a lively romantic mix‑up.
You Were Never Lovelier Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- song
- singer
- singing
- song in title
- story indebted to shakespeare
- deception
- fake suitor
- american dancer
- south america music
- evergreen popular music
- unemployed dancer
- at liberty dancer
+38 more Show fewer
- wedding ceremony
- father of the bride
- bridesmaid
- chauffeur
- unworthy suitor
- spring wedding
- wedding guest
- desperation
- betting on a horse
- cameo appearance
- tapping feet
- singing a duet
- tapping fingers
- female singer
- signet ring
- wedding
- surrounded by suitors
- reference to napoleon bonaparte
- looking through a keyhole
- floor clock
- chiming clock
- tap dancing
- flintlock pistol
- pushed into a fountain
- knight in armor
- falling off a horse
- classic musical
- astaire and hayworth
- heiress
- dancer
- musical comedy
- four sisters
- argentina
- dance audition
- nightclub band leader
- martial arts comedy
- slight comedy
- jazz music
You Were Never Lovelier Cast & Characters
Fred Astaire leads the cast as Robert Davis, with Adolphe Menjou as Eduardo Acuña and Adele Mara as Lita Acuña. Directed by William A. Seiter; 32 actors are credited in all.
- Director William A. Seiter
-
Fred Astaire as Robert Davis -
Adolphe Menjou as Eduardo Acuña - Adele Mara as Lita Acuña
- Kathleen Howard as Grandmother Acuña (uncredited)
Also Starring in You Were Never Lovelier
· 28 more- Leslie Brooks Cecy Acuña
- Xavier Cugat Xavier Cugat
- Catherine Craig Julia Acuña - the Bride (uncredited)
- Rita Hayworth Maria Acuña
- Barbara Brown Delfina Acuña
- Isobel Elsom Maria Castro
- Douglas Leavitt Juan Castro
- Edmund Mortimer Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Cosmo Sardo Chorus Boy (uncredited)
- Dick Gordon Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Frank McLure Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Mary Field Louise - the Acuña Maid (uncredited)
- Herschel Graham Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- George Ford Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Ellinor Vanderveer Horse Race Spectator (uncredited)
- Barry Norton One of Maria's Suitors (uncredited)
Show all 32 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Hans Moebus Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Dave Willock Hotel Acuña Bellboy (uncredited)
- Ralph Peters Chauffeur (uncredited)
- Rudy Germane Chorus Boy (uncredited)
- Stanley Brown Roddy - Cecy's Boyfriend (uncredited)
- Gus Schilling Fernando
- Kirk Alyn Julia's Groom (uncredited)
- Larry Parks Tony - Lita's Boyfriend (uncredited)
- George Bunny Flower Man (uncredited)
- James Ford One of Maria's Suitors (uncredited)
- Larry Arnold Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Frank McClure Wedding Guest (uncredited)
More from William A. Seiter
More films directed by William A. Seiter, best-rated first: Roberta, Make Haste to Live, Dear Brat and Borderline.
You Were Never Lovelier Plot Summary
What happens in You Were Never Lovelier from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Robert “Bob” Davis, Fred Astaire, is a celebrated American dancer with a fondness for horse racing. After losing his money gambling in Buenos Aires, he goes looking for work with Eduardo Acuña, Adolphe Menjou, the wealthy nightclub owner who would rather not see him at all. Bob’s friend, bandleader and globe-trotting facilitator Xavier Cugat, invites him to perform at the wedding of Acuña’s eldest daughter, Julia Catherine Craig. The upcoming ceremony is not just a family affair but a carefully arranged social rite, because Eduardo insists his daughters must wed in order of age—from oldest to youngest.
Full summary
The whole story of You Were Never Lovelier, scene by scene
You Were Never Lovelier Trailers & Videos
The trailer of You Were Never Lovelier.
How Well Do You Know You Were Never Lovelier?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which character is a celebrated American dancer who loves horse racing?
Cars in You Were Never Lovelier
1 car on screen: the unknown.
-
unknown Background role
You Were Never Lovelier Also Known As
14 alternative titles, including “O toi ma charmante” and “Non sei mai stata così bella”.
- Also known as
-
- O toi ma charmante
- Non sei mai stata così bella
- Ô toi ma charmante
- Bailando nace el amor
- Du warst nie berückender
- Bonita Como Nunca
- אתה מעולם לא היית נחמד
- Ты никогда не была восхитительнее
- Ismeretlen imádó
- 现在的你最可爱
- Ballant neix l’amor
- Bröllop i Buenos Aires
+2 more Show fewer
- Krásnější než sen
- 現在的你最可愛
Seen You Were Never Lovelier?
Movies Like You Were Never Lovelier
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Lovely to Look At, Shall We Dance and Dancing Lady.
You Were Never Lovelier FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of You Were Never Lovelier, each answered in a sentence.
How long is You Were Never Lovelier?
You Were Never Lovelier runs 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).
When was You Were Never Lovelier released?
You Were Never Lovelier was released on November 19, 1942.
Who directed You Were Never Lovelier?
You Were Never Lovelier was directed by William A. Seiter.
More films by William A. Seiter Who is in the cast of You Were Never Lovelier?
You Were Never Lovelier stars Fred Astaire as Robert Davis, Adolphe Menjou as Eduardo Acuña and Adele Mara as Lita Acuña, among 32 credited actors.
Does You Were Never Lovelier have a post-credit scene?
No. You Were Never Lovelier has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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