I've known of Yolanda and the Thief (1945) as a batshit crazy fever dream musical for a while now. I got the idea that it wasn't that good, but was weird, which of course piqued my interest. It wasn't that easy to come by, so when I saw it at the library (they got a Warners Archive copy), I rented it. Surprisingly, Ms. Spenser, not an Astaire fan, voted to watch.
It takes place in an imaginary country, Patria. It is a colorful country, full of painted backdrops, peasant children and llamas. Lucille Bremer is Yolanda, a naive and devout convent school student who has just turned 18. (One of the writers also wrote the Madeline books, so convent schools were a speciality.)
Bremer will be leaving to the convent to take over her family business, which owns pretty much the whole country. But she has no head for business or desire for wealth, and is not looking forward to outside life. She needs a guardian angel.
Also in Patria are conmen Fred Astaire and Frank Morgan, who set out to fleece Yolanda. When Astaire tries to climb the wall of their estate, he hears her praying to a guardian angel, asking for help with managing all her responsibilities. He comes up with a plan: He will pretend to be her guardian angel, and relieve her of her money problems by taking her money.
Although Frank Morgan is appalled, the plan works well. But there's another conman luring around, one with an honest face, Leon Ames (I bet he doesn't get that a lot - doesn't he play mostly villains?). Plus the constant problem - love.
This movie is mostly famed for its two extended dance scenes. First is a dream ballet, where Fred is tempted to marry Bremer, but his past, represented by four color-coded floozies and their rough companions. The dance takes place on a surrealistic plane, with simplistic sets. The second takes place during carnival, and is set to an odd song - "Coffee Time". There's a weird op-art dance floor, and an folkloric rhythm and melody that turns into jazz. I have to say, neither the songs nor the dancing are really top notch. Astaire seranades Bremer on the harp (he's an angel, see), with a jazzy number very reminiscent of Harpo.
This is also a comedy where most of the jokes fall flat. So, weak jokes, songs, dances - Astaire is unappealing and Bremer not that charismatic. What is there to like? Vincent Minelli's direction. I am not much of a fan - I find him slick and garish most of the time. But the colors and abstract compositions make this story work. I can see why som many love him. Both Ms. Spenser and I had a great time.
In conclusion, Mildred Natwick as Yolanda's batty aunt is a lot of fun too.
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