I thought it was somewhat appropriate for me to finally re-watch this enchanting musical after finishing the Lolita audio-book. This movie has been sitting in my Netflix instant queue for quite a while, but I found that the premise of a rich older man falling in love with a very young lady bothered me a lot more in my 20s that it did in my pre-adolescent years. Though after enduring the evils of Humbert Humbert (the creepy older man in Lolita), I figured Fred Astaire was sure to be quite the innocent. And so, after 15 years of first watching Daddy Long Legs, I pushed play, and to my delight, really enjoyed this movie all over again.

Fred Astaire plays Jervis Pendleton III – a rich man with a penchant for drums, dance, and international economics. When his car is fatefully lodged into a muddy ditch in rural France, Jervis walks down the road for help, finding only a lonely old orphanage full of happy children and blue gingham fabric. Julie Andre (Leslie Caron) had spent all of her eighteen years at the orphanage, but now lovingly cares for the younger children. Jervis is so taken with her charisma, teaching skills and motherly instincts that he decides to anonymously take her under his care, sending her to a girls' college in the United States and giving her everything she should need for a successful life.

At first, Julie is caught up in the excitement of her new life – trunks full of beautiful new clothes, new American friends, and a college education, all paid for by a mysterious man she calls "Daddy Long Legs." Nothing could be more romantic or exciting for an 18 year old girl. Until loneliness sets in, and though Julie writes letter after letter to her Daddy Long Legs, he never writes back. It's as if he had forgotten she existed. Or did he? :) You will have to watch the movie to find out for yourself.

Oh, don't worry, it's not as mysterious as I make it all seem. Daddy Long Legs is really just a charming musical with an quirky romantic twist. And if you aren't really into musicals, I suggest you give this particular one a shot anyway! The song and dance sequences aren't quite as arbitrary as what you might expect from a musical such as An American in Paris (another Leslie Caron picture). No need for frequent popcorn breaks, I promise! Each scene is quite entertaining in its own right. So, give it a go. And do let me know what you think!

C.C. Baxter is just a poor sap who works as a clerk at a big insurance company, hoping to work his way up with the only leverage he has: his apartment. He spends his nights sleeping on the bench outside his place, in rain or shine, catching colds and sacrificing his own love life to give up his apartment to philandering big wigs from the office. Everything's going well for him, until he has his eyes on the very same girl who has been borrowing his apartment with the bossman.

The whole office set-up is very much like what you see in episodes of Mad Men, what with the secretaries who get more involved than they should, office politics that revolve around flowing skirts, and crazy office parties surrounded by classic midcentury decor. I wish the movie was in color, thought- it would be such a treat for the eyes!

Billy Wilder liked to shoot his movies in black and white, though, and since he is one of my very favorite writers/directors, with his sharp, dark sense of humor, witty screenplays, I will forgive him for the lack of glorious technicolor in this film. Shirley MacLaine, Jack Lemmon, and Fred MacMurray shine in The Apartment, though they have plenty to work with, as this Wilder script rivals his work in Some Like it Hot. It's such a fun movie- an adult plot that still manages to portray a somewhat squeaky clean and playful feeling.

I finally dipped my toes into the world of silent movies! They alwasy intimidated me, because of my short attention span. But I figured Clara Bow would be a good place to start! She has been a fashion icon of mine for a while, but after seeing her act, she's just an everything icon, fashion or otherwise. What a gal!

This particular film is all about the evasive quality known as "it." As in, sex appeal. The ability to be desirable without outwardly seeming as if you know you are appealing. Whatever "it" is, Clara's character, Betty, has got it. She and her other shop girls are smitten with the new manager of the department store, but he has his eye on Betty. The only problem is, he might marry another girl. And it seems that he thinks that Betty is the kind of girl who won't mind sharing her man.

The plot was pretty fast moving, funny, and even heartwarming. I was surprised that it held my attention the entire time, and to be honest, I'm already itching to watch another silent movie soon! Do you have any suggestions for me?

Oh, and if you decide to watch It for the first time, you'll have to look out for the actor playing the newspaper man who stands in Betty's doorway. It was a delightful cameo surprise!