Is this good?

It's not one of Astaire's best, but in my opinion it is still worth seeing. It's one of those beautiful-to-look-at Vincente Minnelli/technicolor deals, it has one of the earliest "dream ballets" in the movies, and Lucille Bremer proves herself a very good dancer in the "Coffee Time" number. The story is as silly as they get, but there are some touching moments if you suspend your disbelief. My favorite part of the movie is a tender song Astaire sings to Bremer (not the greatest lyrics, but he puts it over with pure feeling) and then dances to around a harp. That's not really his harp-playing, but he sure makes it LOOK convincing (and he has such nice hands)!

In the tranditional musical era at mid 40s, this movie lacks emotional reality to the audience. But as a Minnelli musical, it was a tried of surreal musical and later becomes the cult. Dance number 'Will You Marry Me' as Fred Astaire danced in Lucille Bremer's dream is the most beautiful dream ballet presented in a theatrical way I ever seen. 'Coffee Time' is great as well but I think the opening of the dream ballet sequences is more magical.

Astaire and Bremer's numbers in Ziegfeld Follies are also the best example for telling stories through dancing without dialoug. Shoot and danced in regular speed even seen better without slow-motion camera. These two movies are real musical gems for me, any time.

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Maybe I saw Yolanda and the Thief at the right time. I've seen plenty of Fred Astaire's musicals to know the plot for this film was going to be silly (and it really, REALLY was). I've seen enough of Vincente Minnelli's films to know that he always creates his own world, his own atmosphere in his works. I just had to sit back and let the magic happen. While this film was no where near the best of Astaire or Minnelli, there's still plenty of things to watch here. The musical numbers were fine, especially Coffee Time. I wish there were a few more numbers put in the film. I believe the first dance number doesn't begin for about 45 minutes! It's a Vincente Minnelli film, so it's going to be a visual sensation.

The clumsy script really does Yolanda in. I already knew, as stated, that the story was going to be a bit absurd, but it felt like no one really put much effort in the writing. The supporting cast, as with most of Astaire's films, thankfully shines. Mildred Natwick, Leon Ames, and the always dependable Frank Morgan do really good jobs here.

If one just sits back and enjoy, I think you can see some nice things in Yolanda and the Thief. No, it ain't Swing Time, Top Hat, or The Band Wagon, but this is worth a watch. It's in its own world, Minnelli tried something different, and overall the film works.

"Now what kind of man are YOU dude?"

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