Comments on: Astaire vs. Kelly

By: TRA

TRA — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 05:19:15 +0000

I forgot to say in the above comment –

Mr. John Woo made + directed the film, “Hard Boiled”.

By: TRA

TRA — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 05:12:34 +0000

The director of the Hong Kong film, Hard Boiled [tm], had something like this to say about Gene Kelly’s dancing:

(Paraphrased) – “When Gene Kelly Dances, he moves like a PANTHER!”
…

…

(Warning- Gene Kelly’s films, like Singing in the Rain, are suitable for all ages of kids + other people, aka he did, “rated G”, types of films.

“Hard Boiled” is a VERY violent, action film… and in my view, should probably only be seen by people 17 years old + older.

In other words, when Mr. Kelly, + Mr. Woo, made films- those films were in VERY different genres.) 🙂

By: FunkyPhD

FunkyPhD — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 12:26:53 +0000

“The Babbitt and the Bromide” is a Gershwin brothers song, originally written for and performed by Fred and Adele Astaire in the Broadway musical “Funny Face” (1927). Fred and Adele later recorded the song: https://youtu.be/Ki-QKxhbtbs.

For a real treat from Astaire, here’s Fred performing another Gershwin song (from a different show), with none other than George Gershwin himself playing the piano: https://youtu.be/-t9ak-8Gtfk

Can you imagine it? Fred Astaire and George Gershwin in the same room? A hydrogen bomb of talent.

By: Paul Snively

Paul Snively — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 01:40:05 +0000

Christopher Walken on Gene Kelly

By: huxley

huxley — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 00:35:22 +0000

Kelly’s leap @ 54 seconds is simply Gold Medal, Olympic caliber athleticism. Perfect control, perfect judgement.

Geoffrey Britain:

That was amazing. I just think about protecting my generals.

By: J.J.

J.J. — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 00:06:55 +0000

II loved the dancing of both Fred and Gene. However, I identified more with Kelly because his dancing seemed more attainable for someone like me. Astaire was so elegant, so smooth, so light on his feet that his dancing seemed almost surreal to me.

Gene Kelly, on the other hand, was more masculine and muscular. Traits I could identify with. He made a film, “The Pirate,” in 1948. It was schlocky, but entertaining. Kelly’s dance scenes in that one were muscular and acrobatic, but also done with tongue-in-cheek humor. I had two left feet when it came to dancing, but my best friend and I spent some fun time trying to emulate some of Kelly’s moves from that movie. With little success but much laughter.

I gladly wen to see the movies of both men, but Gene Kelly was my favorite of the two.

By: FOAF

FOAF — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 00:04:37 +0000

also Simon and Garfunkel, Im sure you’ll get to that too neo

By: avi

avi — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 22:59:16 +0000

In Astaire’s later years he did a few roles such as The Towering Inferno and Ghost Story.
while he was past his shelf life as a dancer, I thought he was quite good in those roles and was sad that he didn’t do more later life acting roles.

By: avi

avi — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 22:54:43 +0000

Not being a dance expert like you Neo or having your eye, I do appreciate your columns on dancing.
I remember in 1992 , the governor Anne Richards made the comment that Ginger Rodgers did everything Fred Astaire did, but in high heels.
Years later I saw this wonderful scene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOILZ_D3aRg
from ” Shall We Dance.
and while they were both great, Fred clearly seems more comfortable and graceful on skates.

By: neo

neo — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 22:31:36 +0000

FOAF:

I plan to write tomorrow about the Everly Brothers. They were fabulous and inspired the Bee Gees and the Beatles, among others.