The Sky's the Limit

Director: Edward H. Griffith Edward H. Griffith

Overview

In this film, Fred Astaire plays a war hero who sneaks into New York incognito in order to spend a quiet furlough in the city. He meets photojournalist Joan Leslie, who assumes that Astaire is a coward because of his apparent unwillingness to contribute to the war effort.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/19/2012
UPC:	0883316469101
Original Release:	1943
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[B&W]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:30:00
Sales rank:	30,156

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Fred Astaire	Fred Atwell
Joan Leslie	Joan Manion
Robert Benchley	Phil Harriman
Robert Ryan	Reg Fenton
Elizabeth Patterson	Mrs. Fisher
Marjorie Gateson	Canteen Hostess
Clarence Kolb	Harvey J. Sloan
Henri DeSoto	Headwaiter
Dorothy Kelly	Harriman's Secretary
Norma Drury	Mrs. Roskowski
Jerry Mandy	Italian Waiter
Clarence Muse	Doorman
Ida Shoemaker	Flower Woman
Paul Hurst	Stevedore Foreman
Amelita Ward	San Francisco Girl
Rhoda Reese	Powers Model
Neil Hamilton	Naval Commander
Dick Rush	Railway Conductor
Georgia Caine	Charwoman
Ann Summers	Bit
Rita Maritt	Bit
Buck Bucko	Cowboy,Cowboy
Clint Sharp	Cowboy
Edward McNamara	Barman
Joe Bernard	Bartender
Al Murphy	Bartender
Jack Carr	Customer
Ferris Taylor	Keifer, the Chef
Peter Lawford	USAF Officer
Olin Howlin	4-F Man
Victor Potel	Joe, the Bartender
Ella Mae Morse	Singer
Eric Blore	Jackson
Freddie Slack	Freddie Slack
Richard Davies	Lt. Dick Merlin
Joseph Kim	Chinese Official
Frank Melton	Navy Officer
Larry Rio	Dancing Soldier
Al Hill	Sergeant
Johnny Mercer	Composer
Leigh Harline	Composer
Harold Arlen	Composer

Technical Credits

S.K. Lauren

Lynn Root

Frank Fenton

Edward H. Griffith	Director
David Hempstead	Producer
Sherman Todd	Producer
Vernon L. Walker	Special Effects,Special Effects
S.K. Lauren	Screenwriter
Lynn Root	Screenwriter
Frank Fenton	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Coming on the heels of the immensely popular Holiday Inn, Fred Astaire's The Sky's the Limit was deemed something of a letdown. On its own terms, however, it's an engaging and appealing little film and somewhat more insightful than most musicals of the period. Although the dialogue is fairly weak, the script does at least dally with the concept of a career woman and includes a rather tearful finale that is unusual for the genre at the time. Also of interest is the fact that Astaire is essentially playing a traditional Gene Kelly role, that of a persistent male who is a bit overbearing in his pursuit of a female (and is in the armed forces, to boot). There's less music than in most Astaire films (which is one reason why the deficiencies of the script are more apparent), but it does feature two lovely duets with Joan Leslie, as well as Astaire's classic, rowdy bar dance. The score itself features two first rate songs, the haunting "My Shining Hour" and the immortal "One for My Baby," as well as the lesser-known but charming "I've Got a Lot in Common with You." Astaire is in top form throughout, and he and Leslie make a wonderful pair. They have a definite chemistry, and her dancing blends very well with his. Robert Benchley provides solid support, especially with his memorable befuddled monologue. Astaire would follow Sky with the more ambitious but very uneven Yolanda and the Thief.