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Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz, May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, actor, singer, musician, choreographer, and presenter, whose career in stage, film, and television spanned 76 years. He is widely regarded as the "greatest popular-music dancer of all time". He received an Academy Honorary Award, Honorary Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, three Primetime Emmy Awards, Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy Award. As a dancer, he was known for his uncanny sense of rhythm, creativity, effortless presentation, and tireless perfectionism, which was sometimes a burden to co-workers. His dancing showed elegance, grace, originality, and precision. He drew influences from many sources, including tap, classical dance, and the elevated style of Vernon and Irene Castle. His trademark style greatly influenced the American Smooth style of ballroom dance. He called his eclectic approach "outlaw style", a following of an unpredictable and instinctive muse. Hi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha ( ) is the List of cities in Nebraska, most populous city in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States along the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's List of United States cities by population, 41st-most-populous city, Omaha had a population of 486,051 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The eight-county Omaha–Council Bluffs metropolitan area, which extends into Iowa, has approximately 1 million residents and is the Metropolitan statistical area#United States, 55th-largest metro area in the United States. Omaha is the county seat of Douglas County, Nebraska, Douglas County. Omaha's pioneer period began in 1854, when the city was founded by speculators from neighboring Council Bluffs, Iowa. The city was founded along the Missouri River, and a crossing called Lone Tree Ferry earned the city its nickname, the "Gateway to the West". Omaha introduced this new West to the world in 1898, when it ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ballroom Dance
Ballroom dance is a set of European partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world, mostly because of its performance and entertainment aspects. Ballroom dancing is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television. ''Ballroom dance'' may refer, at its widest definition, to almost any recreational dance with a partner. However, with the emergence of dance competition (now known as Dancesport), two principal schools have emerged and the term is used more narrowly to refer to the dances recognized by those schools. The International School, originally developed in EnglandFranks A.H. 1963. ''Social dance: a short history''. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London. and now regulated by the World Dance Council (WDC) and the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF), is most prevalent in Europe. It encompasses two categories, Standard and Latin, each of which consist of five dances—International Waltz, International Tango, International Viennese Waltz, Intern ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Towering Inferno
''The Towering Inferno'' is a 1974 American disaster film directed by John Guillermin and produced by Irwin Allen, featuring an ensemble cast led by Paul Newman and Steve McQueen. It was adapted by Stirling Silliphant from the novels '' The Tower'' by Richard Martin Stern and '' The Glass Inferno'' by Thomas N. Scortia and Frank M. Robinson. In addition to McQueen and Newman, the cast includes William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire, Susan Blakely, Richard Chamberlain, O. J. Simpson, Robert Vaughn, Robert Wagner, Susan Flannery, Gregory Sierra, Dabney Coleman and Jennifer Jones in her final role. ''The Towering Inferno'' was released theatrically December 16, 1974. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, and earned around $203.3 million, making it the highest-grossing film of 1974. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, winning three: Best Song, Best Cinematography and Best Editing. Plot Architect Doug Robe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Guillermin
Yvon Jean Guillermin (11 November 192527 September 2015), known as John Guillermin, was an English film director, writer and producer. Working both in the United Kingdom and the United States, he was most active in big-budget, action-adventure films throughout his lengthy career. His better-known films include ''I Was Monty's Double (film), I Was Monty's Double'' (1958), ''Tarzan's Greatest Adventure'' (1959), ''Never Let Go (1960 film), Never Let Go'' (1960), ''Tarzan Goes to India'' (1962), ''Waltz of the Toreadors (film), Waltz of the Toreadors'' (1962), ''The Blue Max'' (1966), ''The Bridge at Remagen'' (1969), ''The Towering Inferno'' (1974), ''King Kong (1976 film), King Kong'' (1976), ''Death on the Nile (1978 film), Death on the Nile'' (1978), ''Sheena (film), Sheena'' (1984) and ''King Kong Lives'' (1986). In the 1980s, he worked on much less prestigious projects, and his final films consisted of lower-budgeted theatrical releases and TV movies. According to one obituar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Irwin Allen
Irwin Allen (born Irwin O. Cohen; June 12, 1916 – November 2, 1991) was an American film and television producer and director, known for his work in science fiction, then later as the "Master of Disaster" for his work in the disaster film genre. His most successful productions were ''The Poseidon Adventure (1972 film), The Poseidon Adventure'' (1972) and ''The Towering Inferno'' (1974). He also created and produced the popular 1960s science fiction on television, science-fiction television series ''Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (TV series), Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'', ''Lost in Space'', ''The Time Tunnel'', and ''Land of the Giants''. Biography Early life Irwin Allen was born in New York City, the son of poor Russian Jews, Jewish immigrants (Joseph Cohen and Eva Davis) from Russia. He majored in journalism and advertising at Columbia University after attending City College of New York for a year. He left college because of financial difficulties caused by the Great D ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Silk Stockings (1957 Film)
''Silk Stockings'' is a 1957 American Musical film, musical romantic comedy film directed by Rouben Mamoulian and starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. It is based on the 1955 Silk Stockings, stage musical of the same name, which had been adapted from the film ''Ninotchka'' (1939). The film received Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Film and Best Actress (Charisse) in the Comedy/Musical category. The score was embellished with the new song "The Ritz Roll and Rock", a parody of the emerging rock and roll music genre. The number ends with Astaire symbolically smashing his top hat, considered one of his trademarks, signaling the retirement from movie musicals that he announced following the film's release. Plot In Paris, American producer Steve Canfield wants Russian composer Peter Ilyitch Boroff to compose the score for his next picture. Three Soviet commissars Brankov, Bibinski, and Ivanov attempt to escort the composer back to Russia. To keep Boroff in Paris, Steve co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Funny Face
''Funny Face'' is a 1957 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Stanley Donen and written by Leonard Gershe, containing assorted songs by George and Ira Gershwin. Although having the same title as the 1927 Broadway musical ''Funny Face'' by the Gershwin brothers, and featuring the same male star (Fred Astaire), the plot is completely different and only four of the songs from the stage musical are included. Alongside Astaire, the film stars Audrey Hepburn and Kay Thompson. Plot Maggie Prescott, a fashion magazine publisher and editor for ''Quality'' magazine, is looking for the next big fashion trend. She wants a new look which is to be both "beautiful" and "intellectual". She and top fashion photographer Dick Avery want models who can "think as well as they look." The two brainstorm and come up with the idea to use a book store in Greenwich Village as backdrop. They find what they want in "Embryo Concepts", which is being run by the shy shop assistant and amateur ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Band Wagon
''The Band Wagon'' is a 1953 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Vincente Minnelli, starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. The plot follows an aging musical star who hopes a Broadway show will revive his career, but the play's director envisions a pretentious retelling of '' Faust'' and brings in a '' prima ballerina'' who clashes with the star. Although initially a box-office disappointment, the film is now regarded among the finest Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musicals, alongside '' An American in Paris'' (1951) and '' Singin' in the Rain'' (1952). Prolific Hollywood composer Arthur Schwartz and lyricist Howard Dietz wrote the songs, with orchestrations by Conrad Salinger, and dance and musical numbers staged by Michael Kidd. Schwartz and Dietz adapted parts of the score from their 1931 Broadway revue ''The Band Wagon'', starring siblings Fred and Adele Astaire. The song " Dancing in the Dark", from the original Broadway production, is considered part of the G ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Easter Parade (film)
''Easter Parade'' is a 1948 American Technicolor musical film directed by Charles Walters, written by Sidney Sheldon, Frances Goodrich, and Albert Hackett from a story by Goodrich and Hackett, and starring Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Peter Lawford, and Ann Miller. The film contains some of Astaire's and Garland's best-known songs, including " Easter Parade", " Steppin' Out with My Baby", and " A Couple of Swells", all by Irving Berlin. Gene Kelly was originally cast opposite Garland, but broke his ankle. The part was then offered to Astaire, who had retired two years earlier. Very eager to work again, Astaire consulted Kelly about the offer, and Kelly supported his decision to take the role. Garland and Astaire were a successful team, and Astaire was restored to his status as a top MGM star. A critical and commercial success, ''Easter Parade'' was the highest-grossing musical film of 1948, and the second-highest grossing MGM musical of the 1940s, after '' Meet Me in St ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Holiday Inn (film)
''Holiday Inn'' is a 1942 American musical film starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, with Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale, and Walter Abel. It was directed by Mark Sandrich with music by Irving Berlin. The composer wrote twelve songs specifically for the film, the best known being "White Christmas (song), White Christmas". The film features a complete reuse of the song "Easter Parade (song), Easter Parade", written by Berlin for the 1933 Broadway revue ''As Thousands Cheer'' and used as a highlight of the 1948 film ''Easter Parade (film), Easter Parade,'' starring Astaire and Judy Garland. The film's choreography was by Danny Dare.Bookbinder 1977, p. 125. The film received a 1943 Academy Award for Best Original Song (Berlin's "White Christmas"), as well as Academy Award nominations for Academy Award for Best Original Score, Best Score (Robert Emmett Dolan) and Academy Award for Best Story, Best Original Story (Irving Berlin). Plot Jim Hardy, Ted Hanover, and Lila Dixon have ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shall We Dance (1937 Film)
''Shall We Dance'' is a 1937 American musical comedy film directed by Mark Sandrich. It is the seventh of the ten Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers films. The story follows a Russian-imposter 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 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. Baird secretly never wants to blend classical ballet with modern jazz dancing because he thinks it does not look very professional. When Peters sees a photo of famous tap dancer Linda Keene, he falls in love with her. He contrives to meet her (as "Petr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Swing Time (film)
''Swing Time'' is a 1936 American musical comedy film, the sixth of ten starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Directed by George Stevens for RKO, it features Helen Broderick, Victor Moore, Betty Furness, Eric Blore and Georges Metaxa, with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Set mainly in New York City, the film follows a gambler and dancer, "Lucky" (Astaire), who is trying to raise money to secure his marriage when he meets a dance instructor, Penny (Rogers), and begins dancing with her; the two soon fall in love and are forced to reconcile their feelings. Noted dance critic Arlene Croce considers ''Swing Time'' to be Astaire and Rogers's best dance musical,Croce, pp.98-115 a view shared by John MuellerMueller, pp.100-113 and Hannah Hyam. It features four dance routines that are each regarded as masterpieces. According to ''The Oxford Companion to the American Musical'', ''Swing Time'' is "a strong candidate for the best of the Fred Astaire and Ginger R ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
