They got that one right; it IS a pleasure to be in Fred Astaires' company for the playing time of this movie. The very first time we see him he walks away from camera and that is more than enough to tell us that we are in for an hour or so of pure Style, laced with Charm and oozing with Class and that is just what Astaire brings to this pure escapist fare that defines sophistication. The setting and the characters are unashamedly carriage trade, the San Francisco equivalent of the Main Line with a nod to The Philadelphia Story inasmuch as it revolves around a tony wedding in danger of being derailed by a catalyst in the shape of Astaire. Apart from Lili Palmer no one on screen comes near to Astaire and Gary Merrill especially struggles to inhabit the role of Mr. Gotrocks but no matter, Astaire carries the whole thing effortlessly.
Review of The Pleasure of His Company
