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Shall We Dance (1937 Film)
''Shall We Dance'', released in 1937, is the seventh of the ten Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers musical comedy films. The story follows an American ballet dancer (Astaire) who falls in love with a tap dancer (Rogers); the tabloid press concocts a story of their marriage, after which life imitates art. George Gershwin wrote the symphonic underscore and Ira Gershwin the lyrics, for their second Hollywood musical. Plot Peter P. Peters (Fred Astaire) is an amiable American ballet dancer billed as "Petrov", who cultivates a public image of being a serious, demanding and temperamental Russian, though his employer knows the truth. Peters dances for a ballet company in Paris owned by the bumbling Jeffrey Baird ( Edward Everett Horton), and secretly never wants to blend classical ballet with modern jazz dancing because they think it does not look very professional. When Peters sees a photo of famous tap dancer Linda Keene (Ginger Rogers), he falls in love with her. He contrives to meet her ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mark Sandrich
Mark Sandrich (born Mark Rex Goldstein; October 26, 1900 – March 4, 1945) was an American film director, writer, and producer. Early life Sandrich was born in New York City on October 26, 1900 into a Jewish family. His sister was Ruth Harriet Louise. He was an engineering student at Columbia University when he accidentally fell into the film business. While visiting a friend on a film set, he saw that the director had a problem setting up a shot; Sandrich offered his advice, and it worked. He entered the movie business in the prop department. Career Shorts director Sandrich became a director in 1927, making comedy shorts. His first feature was ''Runaway Girls'', in 1928. In an exciting time in the film business with the arrival of sound, he briefly returned to shorts. In 1933, he directed the Academy Award-winning short '' So This Is Harris!''. Feature films Sandrich returned to directing features with '' Melody Cruise'' (1933). He followed it with '' Cupid in the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Life Imitates Art
Anti-mimesis is a philosophical position that holds the direct opposite of Aristotelian mimesis. Its most notable proponent is Oscar Wilde, who opined in his 1889 essay ''The Decay of Lying'' that, "Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life". In the essay, written as a Platonic dialogue, Wilde holds that anti- mimesis "results not merely from Life's imitative instinct, but from the fact that the self-conscious aim of Life is to find expression, and that Art offers it certain beautiful forms through which it may realise that energy." What is found in life and nature is not what is really there, but is that which artists have taught people to find there, through art. As in an example posited by Wilde, although there has been fog in London for centuries, one notices the beauty and wonder of the fog because "poets and painters have taught the loveliness of such effects...They did not exist till Art had invented them." McGrath places the antimimetic philosophy in a traditi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
European Classical Music
Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical music, as the term "classical music" also applies to non-Western art music. Classical music is often characterized by formality and complexity in its musical form and harmonic organization, particularly with the use of polyphony. Since at least the ninth century it has been primarily a written tradition, spawning a sophisticated notational system, as well as accompanying literature in analytical, critical, historiographical, musicological and philosophical practices. A foundational component of Western Culture, classical music is frequently seen from the perspective of individual or groups of composers, whose compositions, personalities and beliefs have fundamentally shaped its history. Rooted in the patronage of churches and royal courts in Western Europe, surviving ea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major form of musical expression in traditional and popular music. Jazz is characterized by swing and blue notes, complex chords, call and response vocals, polyrhythms and improvisation. Jazz has roots in European harmony and African rhythmic rituals. As jazz spread around the world, it drew on national, regional, and local musical cultures, which gave rise to different styles. New Orleans jazz began in the early 1910s, combining earlier brass band marches, French quadrilles, biguine, ragtime and blues with collective polyphonic improvisation. But jazz did not begin as a single musical tradition in New Orleans or elsewhere. In the 1930s, arranged dance-oriented swing big bands, Kansas City jazz (a hard-swinging, bluesy, improvis ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Charles Coleman (actor)
Charles Pearce Coleman (December 22, 1885 – March 8, 1951) was an Australian-born American character actor of the silent and sound film eras. Early years Coleman was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on December 22, 1885. Career Coleman began his film career in the 1915 silent film, ''The Mummy and the Humming Bird'', which was also the screen debut of Charles Cherry, a noted stage actor. In more than half of his 200 performances in films, he appeared as a butler, doorman/concierge, valet, or waiter. In the 1930s, Coleman appeared in such films as ''Beyond Victory'' (1931), starring Bill Boyd and James Gleason, the Wheeler & Woolsey comedy '' Diplomaniacs'' (1933), 1934's '' Born to Be Bad'' which starred Loretta Young and Cary Grant, the 1934 version of '' Of Human Bondage'' starring Bette Davis and Leslie Howard, the first film to star the pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, '' The Gay Divorcee'' (1935), the first feature-length film to be shot en ... [...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] |
Dudley Dickerson
Dudley Henry Dickerson Jr. (November 27, 1906September 23, 1968) was an American film actor. Born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, he appeared in nearly 160 films between 1932 and 1952, and is best remembered for his roles in several Three Stooges films. Career Given the era in which Dickerson performed, he was usually cast in stereotypical roles that were common in films of the time. His boundless energy can be seen in what are rather restrictive roles, and was a master at what has become known as "scared reaction" comedy. One of his early screen credits was the ''Our Gang'' comedy'' Spooky Hooky'' (1936), as a bemused caretaker. Dickerson also appeared in Soundies musical films with Dorothy Dandridge and Meade Lux Lewis; Big Joe Turner had recorded three numbers for Soundies but was not present for the filming, so Dickerson stood in for him and lip-synced his vocals. Modern viewers will remember Dudley Dickerson for his portrayals of startled cooks, quizzical orderlies, frightened por ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harriet Hoctor
Harriet Hoctor (September 25, 1905 – June 9, 1977) was a ballerina, dancer, actress and instructor. Composer George Gershwin composed a symphonic orchestral piece (Hoctor's Ballet) specifically for Hoctor in the film ''Shall We Dance'' (1937). Biography Harriet Hoctor was born in Hoosick Falls, New York, to Timothy Hoctor and Elizabeth Kearny Hoctor. She was one of four children, the others being Martin Francis ("Frank"), John, and Eloise. Harriet Hoctor never married. Early training Hoctor's maternal aunt, Annie Kearney, was a social secretary to a wealthy woman in Hoosick Falls who took an interest in young Harriet. At the age of twelve she was sent to New York City and placed under the tutelage of Russian ballet master Louis Harvy Chalif of the Normal School of Dancing. Stage By the time she was sixteen, Hoctor was touring in vaudeville on the same bill as the Duncan Sisters. She was asked to join their act and became a key player in their Topsy and Eva show presen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eric Blore
Eric Blore Sr. (23 December 1887 – 2 March 1959) was an English actor and writer. His early stage career, mostly in the West End of London, centred on revue and musical comedy, but also included straight plays. He wrote sketches for and appeared in variety. In the 1930s Blore acted mostly in Broadway productions. He made his last London appearance in 1933 in the Fred Astaire hit '' Gay Divorce''. Between 1930 and 1955 he made more than 60 Hollywood films, becoming particularly well known for playing butlers and other superior domestic servants. He retired in 1956 for health reasons, and died in Hollywood in 1959 at the age of 71. Life and career Early years Blore was born in Finchley, a north-London suburb on 23 December 1887, son of Henry Blore and his wife Mary, ''née'' Newton.Parker, p. 77 He was educated at Mills School, Finchley, and after leaving school he worked for an insurance company."Mr Eric Blore", ''The Times'', London, 3 March 1959, p. 12 He was drawn to a thea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ketti Gallian
Ketti Gallian (25 December 1912 – December 1972) was a French actress. Biography Gallian was born in Nice. She went to Paris at the age of 15 and secured work as a model. She later went back to Nice and appeared in a number of foreign films made by Paramount. Her performance in ''The Ace'', in which she played opposite Raymond Massey on the London stage, resulted in a screen contract from Fox. However, she never became a success while acting in America and returned to France. She died, aged 59, in Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma .... Filmography References External links * 1912 births 1972 deaths French film actresses People from Nice 20th-century French actresses {{France-film-actor-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jerome Cowan
Jerome Palmer Cowan (October 6, 1897 – January 24, 1972) was an American stage, film, and television actor. Early years Cowan was born in New York City, the son of William Cowan, a confectioner of Scottish descent, and Julia Cowan, née Palmer. Stage At 18, Cowan joined a travelling stock company, shortly afterwards enlisting in the United States Navy during World War I. After the war he returned to the stage and became a vaudeville headliner, then gained success on the New York stage. His Broadway debut was in ''We've Got to Have Money'' (1923). His other Broadway credits include ''Frankie and Johnnie'' (1930), ''Just to Remind You'' (1931), ''Rendezvous'' (1932), ''The Little Black Book'' (1932), ''Marathon'' (1933), '' Both Your Houses'' (1933), '' As Thousands Cheer'' (1933), ''Ladies' Money'' (1934), ''Paths of Glory'' (1935), ''Boy Meets Girl'' (1935), '' My Three Angels'' (1953), ''Lunatics and Lovers'' (1954), '' Rumple'' (1957), and '' Say, Darling'' (1958). Film ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tabloid Journalism
Tabloid journalism is a popular style of largely sensationalist journalism (usually dramatized and sometimes unverifiable or even blatantly false), which takes its name from the tabloid newspaper format: a small-sized newspaper also known as half broadsheet. The size became associated with sensationalism, and ''tabloid journalism'' replaced the earlier label of ''yellow journalism'' and ''scandal sheets''. Not all newspapers associated with tabloid journalism are tabloid size, and not all tabloid-size newspapers engage in tabloid journalism; in particular, since around the year 2000 many broadsheet newspapers converted to the more compact tabloid format. In some cases, celebrities have successfully sued for libel, demonstrating that tabloid stories have defamed them. Publications engaging in tabloid journalism are known as rag newspapers or simply rags. Tabloid journalism has changed over the last decade to more online platforms that seek to target and engage youth consu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
