TQOTD: Movie Stars

[pat]

The report on this Hollywood star's first screen test was pretty damning: "Can't act. Can't sing. Balding. Can dance a little."

Who was the star?



Fred Astaire. Good thing it didn't stop him from becoming the most elegant dancer ever to grace the silver screen. Source: IMdB.com.

I was thinking about Astaire recently, because I was rereading Connie Willis's "Remake". (Which is a marvelous SF book for people like me who love the old MGM musicals.) In it the love interest of the protagonist prefers Fred Astaire over Gene Kelly because he's so easy and elegant that he makes what he does on the screen look almost casual.

Comments

[kayre]

Come on, give us a hard one next time!

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

Well, you know, it could have been Gene Kelly.....

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

Yay! I got one! Fred Astaire, of course!

the protagonist prefers Fred Astaire over Gene Kelly because he's so easy and elegant that he makes what he does on the screen look almost casual

And of course don't forget Ginger Rogers--who did it all backwards and in high heels! ;^)

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

Fred wasn't just elegant on screen. He also was an excellent tap-dancer on records. I used to have a two record (and I do mean record, LP, Platter) compilation of all the fred astaire singles and there are dance breaks on a number of them.

Anyone can tap dance in a hollywood musical but how many people can do it on record? That's as good as Edgar Bergan's radio show. I wonder how come no magicians ever made it big on radio or record...

Didja know that Fred never Kissed Ginger?

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

Actually, my favorite Fred Astaire partner was Eleanor Powell in "Broadway Melody of 1940". That tap number where all the lights are reflected in the floor, and Eleanor goes tap for tap with the master... (If you have read "Remake" by Connie Willis, it's that number that Alys is so obsessed with.) It's an incredible display of terpsichorean virtuosity.

Pity Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire never did more than one movie together (well, other than the "That's Entertainment!" series.) I may have a question about that in the future.

And I'm sure the answer is out there, but do you think Edgar Bergen actually used the dummies for the radio show? I guess he would have if there was a studio audience....

Re:

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there was a studio audience. So he had to actually use the dummies.

I've never seen broadway melody of 1940 but I'll definately keep my eyes open for it.

My favorite musical still has to be Stormy Weather though. Less plot, more swinging. And the tap dancing is amazing. Admittedly the really crazy dancers don't do any acting but Bill Robinson, certainly knew his way around his shoes.