Community Chat

[Oznell]

Nobody was like Fred.  I love his moves, his light humor, the way he sang, the nonchalant style (using a necktie as a belt over his grey flannels, flamboyant socks, open shirts).

This clip shows the very young Fred and Ginger, teasing each other and merging seamlessly into their exuberant, joy-filled dance.  You feel you can sense their real relationship in this number, as opposed to their more polished, formal dances.

I like the way this clip highlights Ginger's prodigious talent too.  They truly were a team made in heaven!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnUfY-URXzA

[corita]

One of my favorite movie stars!!  Loved his movies...so entertaining!   Maybe not the best actor, but what a dancer!! So light on his feet...unbelievable!

[Group 5 minus 1]

Won't you change partners and dance with me?

[golding76]

Such a phenomenal talent!  Talk about "twinkle toes."

[Oznell]

And what I love about the above video is the relaxed quality between Fred and Ginger-- like they've been cavorting and bantering and teasing each other since they were farm kids together, and this dance just grows out of that.   They're definitely "big city" now though!

The little business with the armed services bit, the staccato taps, the saluting, all of it seemingly made up on the spur of the moment--  that's pure Astaire-- with the help of Hermes Pan-- genius, (and I don't throw around that word carelessly), along with so many other ostensibly "spontaneous" moments...

[Vivian]

They were wonderful together...absolutely wonderful. I danced throughout my childhood and now, at 70, I am still dancing, taking four dance classes a week. Fred and Ginger were the best!

[marchingalong123]

FYI......Oznell: Fred Astaire was known above all else, as a first class dancer! His rhythm, perfectionism and partership with Ginger Rogers R what most remember him for.  Acting, yes but not the first thing most think of.

[Alter Ego]

When I was young, ABC always played the Astaire/Rogers movies to ring in the new year. I used to love watching them.

Obviously, he was a great dancer (I especially love the story of how he helped Debbie Reynolds during "Singing in the Rain" production. However, he also has, to me, the quintessential singing versions of some of the best songs - after all, weren't they written for his movies? Perhaps I'm wrong. Nevertheless, nobody compares "They Can't Take That Away From Me" IMO.

[Oznell]

marchingalong123--  That's what I love him for.  That he brought that gift of his, that he had honed in vaudeville for years with his sister Adele as his partner, to the big screen, where more people could see his technique and creativity.

There were a few people in films who were unlike anyone else in their field-- Fred was one.  Other dancers were great, but Fred was just unique!

[Oznell]

Alter Ego, so true!  Was it Gershwin or Cole Porter who wanted Fred to debut their immortal songs.  The same innate rhythms and elegance and "Fredness" that he gave to the dance, he was able to impart to his songs.  He was a "song stylist" of the highest order.

I love this clip where he sings "Cheek to Cheek" to Ginger before they go into their incredible Cheek to Cheek dance.  When Fred sings romantically, it's never icky or effeminate.  It's light, light, and sometimes playful, and always takes you into another realm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq0oO-ylU_Y

Edited to add:   Watching that clip, I'm also struck anew at what an athlete Fred was-- that slim, wiry body was extremely strong, and he was able to bend it almost completely to his will--  another aspect of his many-layered gift...