Comments on: Donald O’Connor, dancing up a storm

By: Daniel in Brookline

Daniel in Brookline — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 19:57:35 +0000

In re “Make ‘Em Laugh” — I read somewhere once that the scene took three days to film, and Donald O’Connor was utterly, physically exhausted afterwards (i.e. bedridden for a couple of days).

Then the film negatives were somehow damaged… and somebody had to go to Donald and ask him to do it all over again. So he swallowed hard and said “Sure”.

By: Bob N

Bob N — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 12:25:18 +0000

Thanks for acknowledging Donald O’Connor. He is one of my family’s favorites.

Each time we watch “Make ‘Em Laugh” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SND3v0i9uhE) the entire family is rolling on the floor. How did he do it?

By: Beverly

Beverly — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 06:48:46 +0000

Ah, I love old movies.

And the sweeter world they came from. Yes, really.

By: huxley

huxley — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 16:57:35 +0000

Comparing photos of Kaye and O’Connor now, I see they have similar fox-like faces — high foreheads, strong cheekbones, pointed chins and beak-like noses.

Unless I put in some study time, I’m not sure I could reliably pick one from the other in a group of small b&w photos.

By: Susanamantha

Susanamantha — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 21:52:36 +0000

Funny, I always pictured him as a redhead also. He was given second banana roles. He definitely didn’t have the “leading man” chops.

By: huxley

huxley — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 18:51:49 +0000

He has a tiny bit of a Danny Kaye vibe.

neo: Indeed! I was surprised to see in the video above that O’Connor had brown hair. In my memory his hair is red. I’m sure that’s the Danny Kaye vibe.

I even went back to the “Make’em Laugh” bit from “Singin’ in the Rain” and Donald O’Connor’s hair is still brown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTkKLWW_myw

By: Rich

Rich — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 16:51:42 +0000

The man could MOVE !

(also BTW : if Rosa Kleb could use her feet like that, the whole Bond series would have ended after From Russia with Love).

By: CV

CV — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 15:46:39 +0000

It always seemed to me that Donald O’Connor was a very acrobatic dancer. His circus background certainly explains it. Here he is in Make Em Laugh from Singin in the Rain, one of my favorite O’Connor performances. See if you can watch this without smiling:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SND3v0i9uhE

Also, somewhat related, it looks like Ringling Bros. circus is shutting down after nearly 150 years. PETA partly to blame:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_RINGLING_BROS_CLOSING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-01-14-22-14-17

By: George

George — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 02:54:38 +0000

This reminds me of radio legend Chuck Cecil who had a show called “The Swingin’ Years” interview Harry James who grew up with the carnival and who as soon as he could walk became an acrobat and contortionist but had to take up the trumpet because of some fall or accident. “…So there I was a ten year old out-of-work contortionist…”

By: neo-neocon

neo-neocon — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 01:19:49 +0000

Oops! From Russia With Love.

Will fix.