The Belle of New York (1952 film)

In New York at the dawn of the 20th century, Angela Collins is known as the "Belle of New York" and attracts attention for her beauty and singing. Her wealthy matron Mrs. Phineas Hill believes that Angela's singing is a distraction. Mrs. Hill's playboy nephew Charlie is engaged to sharpshooter Dixie "Deadshot" McCoy, although he does not want to marry her.

Charlie falls in love with Angela, but she tells him that if he were really in love, he would walk on air. He imagines himself dancing in midair and later on top of the Washington Square Arch. The next morning, Dixie storms into the Hills' mansion, distraught that Charlie did not arrive at his wedding. Mrs. Hill writes Dixie a $10,000 check to keep her quiet.

Charlie arrives at Angela's office and asks to join her temperance movement. Angela is skeptical and asks him to complete an honest day's work before joining. Charlie is unsuccessful at keeping a job, as he is fired every time that he sees Angela in her office. By nighttime, Charlie works as a streetcar driver, and at the end of the day, he offers Angela a ride to the streetcar depot. He observes that her feet have left the ground and returns home to inform his aunt that he is love with Angela. Delighted at the news, Mrs. Hill agrees to pay for the wedding.

The night before the wedding, Angela's friend Elsie Wilkins holds rehearsals while decorations are being made. Elsewhere, Charlie holds to his sobriety, refusing to drink a toast for his upcoming wedding before finally indulging. When he awakens the next morning, he realizes that he is about to miss the wedding. He returns home to find Angela in her wedding gown. He apologizes and cancels the wedding, believing that she deserves a better man. Angela insists on proceeding with the wedding, but when she kisses Charlie, she does not levitate.

Charlie later approaches Elsie during a temperance march. Angela hides while Charlie inquires about her location. Elsie lies, claiming that Angela has left the movement. When Charlie leaves, Elsie suggests to Angela that she should reunite with him. The women visit a casino where Charlie works as a singing waiter. After Charlie performs a number, a male diner asks him to hand Angela a note. Angela reads the note and leaves, and Charlie then reads it and punches the diner. A brawl erupts just as Mrs. Hill arrives. As they attempt to sneak away, Charlie confronts Angela, and as they are walking outside, they begin to levitate again. A crowd gathers outside and cheers, and Charlie and Angela marry and dance in midair.

• Fred Astaire as Charlie Hill
• Vera-Ellen as Angela Bonfils
• Marjorie Main as Mrs. Phineas Hill
• Keenan Wynn as Max Ferris
• Alice Pearce as Elsie Wilkins
• Clinton Sundberg as Gilford Spivak
• Gale Robbins as Dixie 'Deadshot' McCoy

The film had been in development since 1943. In 1945, production was scheduled to begin with Fred Astaire and Judy Garland in the lead roles, but Garland's busy schedule forced her to withdraw. Mae West and Beatrice Lillie were considered for the role of Mrs. Hill. Astaire was reluctant to take the role.^[3]

Producer Arthur Freed had first asked Rodgers and Hammerstein to write the music.

• "When I'm Out with the Belle of New York": The film's signature waltz is delivered by a male chorus outside Vera-Ellen's window.
• "Who Wants to Kiss the Bridegroom": Astaire sings and dances with seven women in sequence, finishing the routine on a table.
• "Let a Little Love Come In": Alice Pearce and Vera-Ellen (dubbed by Anita Ellis) each sing the song.
• "Seeing's Believing": Astaire sings and dances atop a replica of the Washington Square Arch.
• "Baby Doll": This romantic duet with gentle comic overtones is sung by Astaire and danced by Astaire and Vera-Ellen.
• "Oops": This comic dance duet is sung by Astaire in and around a moving horse-drawn streetcar.
• "A Bride's Wedding-Day Song (Thank You Mister Currier, Thank You Mister Ives)": Astaire and Vera-Ellen sing the song as a duet.
• "Naughty but Nice": Vera-Ellen sings (dubbed by Ellis) and dances.
• "I Wanna Be a Dancin' Man": Astaire's second solo routine is a song and sand dance.