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Fred Astaire's Solo And Partnered Dances
This is a comprehensive guide to over one hundred and fifty of Fred Astaire's solo and partnered dances compiled from his thirty-one Hollywood musical comedy films produced between 1933 and 1968, his four television specials and his television appearances on ''The Hollywood Palace'' and ''Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre'' which cover the period from 1958 to 1968. Further information on the dance routines may be obtained, where available, by clicking on the film links. While Fred Astaire remains the most prolific and influential dancer in cinema history, his corpus is also valued for its inventiveness, virtuosity and precision of execution, indeed a hallmark of Astaire was his determination never to repeat himself. ''Roberta'' (1935) was the last film where the taps were all recorded live; after this, virtually all of Fred Astaire's taps were re-recorded by him in post production. While this was common practice in Hollywood musicals of the time - for example, Ginger Rogers' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Astaire In Second Chorus
Astaire may refer to: People * Adele Astaire (1896–1981), American dancer and entertainer * Fred Astaire (1899–1987), American dancer, singer, and actor * Jarvis Astaire (1923–2021), British boxing promoter and film producer * Simon Astaire Simon Jack Astaire (born 1961) is a novelist, screenwriter, media advisor, film producer. Early life Astaire is the son of stockbroker Edgar Astaire and his former wife interior designer Lesley (née Berman), who was subsequently the first wife ... (born 1961), British novelist, screenwriter, media advisor, and film producer Other uses * Astaire (horse), a racehorse * Astaire, now Blondfire, a Brazilian-American band See also * Astar (other) * Astair Airlines, a defunct Russian airline {{disambiguation, surname ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Slap That Bass
"Slap That Bass" is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, introduced by Fred Astaire and Dudley Dickerson in the 1937 film '' Shall We Dance''. The song refers to the slap style of double bass playing that was popular at the time. Notable recordings *Uri Caine, on album ''Rhapsody in Blue'' (2013) * Georgia Brown - ''Georgia Brown Sings Gershwin/Georgia Brown'' (2003) *Ella Fitzgerald - ''Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook'' (1959) *Susannah McCorkle Susannah McCorkle (January 1, 1946 – May 19, 2001) was an American jazz singer. Life and career A native of Berkeley, California, McCorkle studied Italian literature at the University of California at Berkeley before dropping out to move to ... - ''How Do You Keep the Music Playing'' (1985) * Chris Connor - ''Chris Connor Sings the George Gershwin Almanac of Song'' (1957) Notes and references Songs with music by George Gershwin Songs with lyrics by Ira Gershwin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Funny Face (musical)
''Funny Face'' is a 1927 musical composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and book by Fred Thompson and Paul Gerard Smith. When it opened on Broadway on November 22, 1927, as the first show performed in the newly built Alvin Theatre, it starred Fred Astaire and his sister Adele Astaire. It was in this show that Astaire first danced in evening clothes and a top hat.The Oxford Companion to American Theatre: ''Funny Face'' (1927) Linked 2013-05-18 Originally called ''Smarty'', it first opened in Philadelphia on October 11, 1927, to poor reviews. This led to major rewrites and caused critic-humorist , who had contributed to the sc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Three Little Words (film)
''Three Little Words'' is a 1950 American musical film biography of the Tin Pan Alley songwriting partnership of Kalmar and Ruby. It stars Fred Astaire as lyricist Bert Kalmar and Red Skelton as composer Harry Ruby, along with Vera-Ellen and Arlene Dahl as their wives, with Debbie Reynolds in a small but notable role as singer Helen Kane and Gloria DeHaven as her own mother, Mrs. Carter DeHaven. The film, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, was written by Academy-Award-winning screenwriter George Wells, directed by Richard Thorpe and produced by Jack Cummings. Harry Ruby served as a consultant on the project, and he appears in a cameo role as a baseball catcher. The third in a series of MGM biopics about Broadway composers, it was preceded by ''Till the Clouds Roll By'' (Jerome Kern, 1946) and '' Words and Music'' (Rodgers and Hart, 1948) and followed by '' Deep in My Heart'' (Sigmund Romberg, 1954). Plot Cast * Fred Astaire as Bert Kalmar * Red Skelton as Harry Ruby * Vera-Elle ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
You Were Never Lovelier
''You Were Never Lovelier'' is a 1942 American musical romantic comedy film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth. The supporting cast also features Adolphe Menjou, Xavier Cugat and Adele Mara. The music was composed by Jerome Kern and the lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The picture was released by Columbia Pictures and includes the elaborate "Shorty George" song and dance sequence. The film, a Hollywood remake of the 1941 Argentine romantic comedy ''Los martes, orquídeas'' (''On Tuesdays, Orchids''), is set in Buenos Aires. Plot Robert "Bob" Davis (Fred Astaire) is a well-known American dancer with a weakness for betting on the horses. After he loses his money gambling in Buenos Aires, he goes looking for a job with Eduardo Acuña, the wealthy owner of a nightclub. Acuña, however, does not wish to see him. Bob's friend, bandleader Xavier Cugat, invites him to perform at the wedding of Acuña's eldest daughter, Julia, Acuña insists his daughters mus ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
A Damsel In Distress (1937 Film)
A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes''. It is similar in shape to the Ancient Greek letter alpha, from which it derives. The uppercase version consists of the two slanting sides of a triangle, crossed in the middle by a horizontal bar. The lowercase version can be written in two forms: the double-storey a and single-storey ɑ. The latter is commonly used in handwriting and fonts based on it, especially fonts intended to be read by children, and is also found in italic type. In English grammar, " a", and its variant " an", are indefinite articles. History The earliest certain ancestor of "A" is aleph (also written 'aleph), the first letter of the Phoenician alphabet, which consisted entirely of consonants (for that reason, it is also called an abjad to distinguish it fro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
I Can't Be Bothered Now
"I Can't Be Bothered Now" is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, written for the 1937 film '' A Damsel In Distress'', where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. Notable recordings *Ella Fitzgerald - ''Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook ''Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book'' is a box set by American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald that contains songs by George and Ira Gershwin with arrangements by Nelson Riddle. It was produced by Norman Granz, Fitzgerald' ...'' (1959) References Songs written for films Songs with music by George Gershwin Songs with lyrics by Ira Gershwin Fred Astaire songs Ella Fitzgerald songs 1937 songs {{Show-tune-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Top Hat, White Tie And Tails
"Top Hat, White Tie and Tails" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin for the 1935 film ''Top Hat'', where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. The song title refers to the formal wear required on a party invitation: top hat, white tie, and a tailcoat. Popular recordings in 1935 were by Fred Astaire and by Ray Noble and his Orchestra (vocal by Al Bowlly and The Freshmen). Other notable recordings *The Boswell Sisters recorded the song on October 8, 1935 for Decca Records. *Carroll Gibbons with the Savoy Orpheans (1935) *Fred Astaire included the song in the album ''The Astaire Story'' (1952) *Mel Tormé included the song in the album ''Mel Tormé Sings Fred Astaire'' (1956) *Louis Armstrong - for his album ''Louis Under the Stars'' (1958) *Ella Fitzgerald – ''Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook'' (1958) *Fred Astaire recorded the song again in 1975 and it can be found on the album ''The Complete London Sessions''. *Tony Bennett - '' Steppin' Out'' (1993) *Cherry ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Belle Of New York (1952 Film)
''The Belle of New York'' is a 1952 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Hollywood musical comedy film set in New York City circa 1900 and stars Fred Astaire, Vera-Ellen, Alice Pearce, Marjorie Main, Gale Robbins, and Keenan Wynn, with music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The film was directed by Charles Walters. This whimsical (even by Astaire's standards) musical failed at the box office and impressed few critics at the time, mainly due to the nature of the plot which empowers lovers to float free of the influence of gravity - a conceit reprised in the 1999 film '' Simply Irresistible''. Astaire was reluctant to take the project - he was originally supposed to play the role in 1946 but had avoided it through retirement. Clearly stung by its failure, Astaire later claimed that the dance routines - of which there are more than usual - are of a particularly high standard - a rare verdict from such a notoriously self-critical artist. Vera-Ellen is generally viewed as one of Astaire' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Blue Skies (1946 Film)
''Blue Skies'' is a 1946 American musical comedy film directed by Stuart Heisler and starring Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and Joan Caulfield. Based on a story by Irving Berlin, the film is about a dancer who loves a showgirl who loves a compulsive nightclub-opener who can't stay committed to anything in life for very long. Produced by Sol C. Siegel, ''Blue Skies'' was filmed in Technicolor and released by Paramount Pictures. The music, lyrics, and story were written by Irving Berlin, with most of the songs recycled from earlier works. As in ''Holiday Inn'' (1942), the film is designed to showcase Berlin's songs. The plot, which is presented in a series of flashbacks with Astaire as narrator, follows a similar formula of Crosby beating Astaire for the affections of a leading lady. Comedy is principally provided by Billy De Wolfe, and several musical numbers are performed by Olga San Juan. Joan Caulfield was the protégé of Mark Sandrich, who directed many of the Astaire-Ginger Rog ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Heat Wave (Irving Berlin Song)
"Heat Wave" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin for the 1933 musical ''As Thousands Cheer'', and introduced in the show by Ethel Waters. Film appearances *1938: The song was featured in the film ''Alexander's Ragtime Band'', where it was performed by Ethel Merman. *1946: It was also featured in the film '' Blue Skies'', where it was performed by Olga San Juan. *1954: ''There's No Business Like Show Business'', where it was performed by Marilyn Monroe. (Note: based on the lyrics alone, the Marilyn song is different, and within the film's narrative, Monroe's version is a sexier variant of the original that's "stolen" from Ethel Merman's character). *1954: A snippet of the song can be heard in a medley in the film '' White Christmas'', sung by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. *1981: Miss Piggy sings it in The Muppets Go to the Movies. *1993: A snippet of the song can be heard in the film '' Grumpy Old Men'', sung by Ella Fitzgerald. Notable recordings There were three chart hi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Sky's The Limit (1943 Film)
''The Sky's The Limit'' is a 1943 romantic musical comedy film starring Fred Astaire and Joan Leslie, with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The film was directed by Edward H. Griffith, and released by RKO Radio Pictures. Astaire plays a Flying Tiger pilot on leave. Robert T. Smith, a real former Flying Tiger pilot on leave before joining the Army Air Forces, was the technical adviser on the film. The comedy is provided by Robert Benchley — his second appearance in an Astaire picture — and Eric Blore, a stalwart from the early Astaire-Rogers pictures. The film was an unusual departure for Astaire, one which caused some consternation among film critics and fans at the time, though not enough to prevent the film from doing well. Aside from the dancing – which contains the famous solo performance to the standard "One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)", described by Astaire as "the best song specially written for me" – the script provided him with h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
