I absolutely love Fred Astaire: his amazing skill set, his graceful talents, his dedication to his craft. But why can't I take my eyes off Eleanor Powell? She was simply the best ever.
Da questo video si può vedere come Eleanor fosse anche più agile del grande Fred, però ho l'impressione che lui fosse parecchio più avanti con l'età. Cmq vederli ballare è strabiliante.
To my mind this is what ultimately lifts Eleanor above every other dancer on screen. The closest to technical flawlessness, the richest choreographic imagination... but all crowned by the carefree enjoyment of moving your body around, which we all have as young kids but which most of us soon lose. Innocent genius.
The greatest piece of tap dancing I have ever seen. This clip is included in the 1974 film "That's Entertainment". Frank Sinatra was co-host who introduced this wonderful movie clip. He said, "I'll tell you, you can wait around a long time but you'll never see the likes of this again". Frank was spot on.
Back when performers actually had talent. I don't know much about the subject, but I've seen Eleanor Powell rated as one of the greatest tap dancers of all time.
believed to be equalled only by Fred Astaire in terms of dancing talent. In 1965, she was named the World’s Greatest Tap Dancer by the Dance Masters of America.
I don`t know if this is a true fact, but I read that Eleanor powell could tap more steps than the machine guns of WW2 could fire bullets, and seeing this i would be inclined to believe it.
No way to compare a female dancer to a male dancer, or Eleanor Powell to Fred Astaire. That said, she was several years his junior and her sheer joy and the effortless appearance of her dancing flight is mesmerizing. She was also beautiful and sexy in a way that was subtle and almost unintentional and innocent for a woman her age. I find her performances captivating.
Same here. She often dressed like a man and was criticized by some at the time for dancing 'mannishly', but who would ever have mistaken EP for a male? Her femininity and how she fooled around with it, teasing her fans (e.g. by hiding her fabulous legs in baggy pants) are extraordinarily modern. When even her 'strong woman' counterparts in acting, such as Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn, needed a matinee idol to play against, and Fred needed a love interest, Ellie's autonomy and androgyny in performance single her out as a child of feminism and one who instinctively understood the 'ludic' qualities of the musical, the most stylized of major genres. Her romantic leanings and erotic potential seemed aimed at the audience more than her leading men. In private she was a chaste, Bible-reading doer of good works. Her wild side was channeled into movement. Ellie stared down the camera's gaze, or seduced spectators with the smile that broke out from an often playfully forbidding expression. In her later movies she often looks as if signaling her knowledge of her brilliance and defying moviegoers to take their eyes off her. But it was all done so light-heartedly, and with such enjoyment in being able to move as she did, that there is nothing arrogant about it. She draws us in where another virtuoso might leave us admiring but cold. I can think of no other film performer, even Fred, who set up a rapport of that sort with the unseen audience. Nor do any of the half-dozen other great woman hoofers of her time generate quite the same thrill. She had something beyond virtuosity- call it divine inspiration if you will. The trappings of her films have dated, but the excitement has not dimmed. This clip is Peak Hollywood, a historic meeting of the two greatest dancers ever filmed. It is a shame that we so seldom get the chance to see these Golden Age musicals as they were meant to be seen: in the dark, on a huge screen with resonant sound, immersing one in the sorcery.
@@rangersasc Eleanor said Jukebox Dance was her favorite of all her numbers on film. Can't help thinking this might be partly because it shows her character schooling Fred's. She is cast as the Broadway headliner, he as the novice trying to get in with her. Those who worked on BM40 said it captured the atmosphere of initial mutual wariness whch gave way to collaborative tranquility when Ellie broke the ice. But in 'Begin the Beguine' there is still an element of the traditional tappers' 'challenge dance'. The pair must have known they were laying their reputations on the line by appearing side by side, mirroring moves. No need to deplore this, because it was standard practice to pit stars against one another, hoping both would raise their game. It certainly worked here. Neither was a prima donna. They accepted the test. Nevertheless, there is an old military saw that the winner is the one left in possession of the battlefield. Ellie wanted another picture with Fred; he didn't. After so many years with Adele and Ginger, he wanted undisputed top billing. Then the young pretender, Gene Kelly, did three months of planning and rehearsal before fleeing. There were no other male dancers worthy of partnering Miss Powell, so her later masterpieces were solos, as Fred had predicted.
@@esmeephillips5888 Totally. Good pointers, she was truly a Master-class a wonderful Lady and i completely agree with you on no other male dancer was worthy to stand beside her.
@sasc The Jukebox Dance was another number they did in this same movie. Ms. Powell did say it was her favorite, but the Begin the Beguine number was a masterpiece. Fred Astaire was no novice in Broadway Melody of 1940.
The best dance routine ever filmed. All in one shot! Others have said it but I just want to say....you will never see the likes of this again so enjoy the absolute artistry that once was.
+Susanna22 K If you think this is amazing check out her dance in "I Dood It" she tap dances while flawlessly doing rope tricks, all one take, on the first try!
Still one of the best (if not the best) tap routines I've ever seen. Both Eleanor and Fred were spectacular. When they both passed away, part of the art of tapping went with them.
Probably bound to happen, because tapping was so closely related to the rise of jazz, with its off-beat syncopations, after WW1 on Broadway. Talkies brought the new sound to Hollywood. When swing came in during the late 1930s, with its smoother rhythms to facilitate ballroom dancing, tap began to fade. Foxtrotting was a lot easier to imitate if you were a social dancer. Fred Astaire's gradual evolution towards ballet- when he quit RKO and Ginger for Metro and an assortment of partners such as Rita Hayworth- was part of it. Jitterbugging, the wilder end of tapping, was not for mature performers except as a gag (e.g. with Paulette Goddard in 'Second Chorus'), while post-war bebop finished off jazz as a dance accompaniment. Cyd Charisse, Vera-Ellen and Leslie Caron were ballerinas, so when Fred came out of retirement in 1948 he was more into what he had once scorned as 'toe-dancing'. He injected his creative magic and modernity into classical cliches. Eleanor Powell was thinking of quitting after Fred and Gene Kelly ran away from starring with her, and these musical changes did nothing to discourage her. She was first and foremost a jazz baby.
Fred was intimidated by her, but, damn, she and he reached the top in this sequence. One of the greatest performances ever. Those who think Ginger was his equal ("she danced backwards",,etc.) should watch this!
Amen. 'Fascinating Rhythm's first three minutes is a single shot in which not one move, gesture or expression is repeated... building to a crescendo resolved in the incredible acrobatics of the last minute. The greatest tour de force solo dance ever filmed, and Ellie choreographed it herself.
I've probably seen this number...what?...a thousand times now? It is still an astonishing piece of work. I hope this gets a Blu-ray release soon...would love to see this in Hi Def.
I am older, so I have been watching Fred, Gene, Eleanor, Ginger, my whole life. Also, I'm a Turner Classic Movies fan! These dancers and this era, touch me in a way that no one else does. My heart just melts...Is it the innocent, naive, belief that we can all be happy and talented? I'm not sure I even understand my own feelings about these movies, actors and motivations. Maybe it doesn't matter... my soul just sings with joy when I see this...
Eleanor Powell was primarily a solo performer yet she blends absolutely seamlessly with Fred Astaire. Two incredibly talented dancers at the top of their craft!
Fans had been clamoring for a matchup since 1936. Eleanor had told the press she thought it would never happen bc their styles were way different: ballet v. ballroom, soloist v. partner. But when Ginger left Fred and Fred left RKO he could not, as the driven perfectionist he was, duck the challenge of collaborating with the star he would later call 'the best woman dancer probably in history'. And Ellie was willing to modify her lone-female, powerful ways to accomodate the Master. The resulting meeting of minds yielded the most electrifying duets- not romantic but unique in Hollywood's long record of male and female partnerships for their cheerful competitiveness.
Both are incredible. Ginger Rogers was an actress who was a talented actress. Eleanor Powell was an incredible dancer who could act, but her effortless dancing skills matched Fred Astaire’s step for step.
“Eleanor Powell was one of the very greatest, period, bar none,” said Fayard Nicholas of the Nicholas Brothers dance team, who understood greatness. “Not one of the greatest woman-one of the greatest, period.” Dynamic and versatile, Powell danced with a melodist’s sensitivity to the essential musicality of tap. “She was a musician,” Nicholas said, using the word tap dancers tend to reserve for their highest praise.
Cole Porter at his best, the incomparable Fred Astaire, the superb Eleanor Powell, MGM polish and voila - simply magnificent! My single favorite number of the pre-War era.
Often overlooked amid acclaim for the dancing is the up-to-dateness of the studio arrangement. Porter wrote it as a torch song for a musical which flopped. Artie Shaw made it swing, and this version cribs from his clarinet lead while adding vibraphone, the new sound on the block popularized by Lionel Hampton. Not sure whom we have to thank, but Roger Edens, Alfred Newman (titular head of the music department) and Charles Henderson (who was only briefly engaged) are credited, as is Merrill Pye, Ellie's onetime fiance and constant collaborator. I suspect Edens deserves the palm- he was in rapport with Eleanor and wrote her delightful solo 'All Ashore'. 'Begin the Beguine' is said to be the most structurally complex hit pop song ever written, which may be why the variations stand up so well in the loooong sequence of which this is the climax.
I've lost count of how many times I've seen this performance. I first saw it on the big screen in THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT (1974), and the big screen is the best frame for it, but I can watch it anywhere and become mesmerized again. After watching this again, I love to watch Eleanor Powell as an elegant gray-haired lady contributing to the AFI Tribute to Fred Astaire.
I heard Eleanor Powell had ballet training before she became a tap dance pro! When I see her dance I do see a semblance of ballet in her movements. I don't know how Fred Astaire became such an elegant dancer, but we are blessed to be able to see him and Eleanor Powell dance together!
Kirsten I. Russell yes, she did. She also had no intention ever being in films. They approached her and she asked for what she thought was too much money because she really didn't want to do movies and they said ok so she went ahead and we are fortunately left with her great dancing on film.
As a child Eleanor Powell was trained by Mikhail Fokine of the Ballets Russes, among others. She loved gymnastics as well, and was talent-spotted by a producer of kiddy shows when turning cartwheels on a beach at Atlantic City, aged 11. That diverted her from classical ballet towards Broadway. Tap was the last skill she learned.
Eleanor was not only the greatest all-around dancer but also one of the ten greatest female athletes in American history. What separated her from all the rest was the elements of ballet and gymnastics she includes. Factor in her beauty and effortless grace and you have the perfect performer.
@@looppool5047 It was a special set with mirrors and a bakelite floor which cost thousands. This is the last of a three-part sequence, among the longest and most complex since Fred's and Ginger's 'The Continental'.
Historical paring: 40-year old Fred Astaire, fresh from 9 RKO films with Ginger Rogers, and 28-year old Eleanor Powell, queen of tap at MGM, almost always solo in her dances, but a match made in Heaven (of sorts) with Astaire in pure tap- no seductive dancing for these two, but when this glittering finale (white suits, black floors, mirrors, starry night lights) goes from the Artie Shaw big band sparkle to the a' Capella 49-second challenge tap, something wicked this way comes. A phenomenal duet.
omg, when I watch Astaire and Rogers's dance, I always stick my eyes to Astaire. For the pair of Astaire and Hayworth or Astaire and Charisse, I love both of them moving effortless. But truly in this, I cant take my eyes of Powell. Her tapping was just above perfect...
Yes, that was her secret weapon. Normally she looks quite somber or suspicious; then she relaxes and that radiance floods the screen. For example, in the big close-ups of her solos, she would advance almost threateningly on the camera, then disarm the audience with that glorious smile. Nothing contrived about it- unlike Fred, whom Adele christened 'Moaning Minnie', Ellie was carefree. She reveled in her job, letting anyone passing the sound stage come in and watch her. Fred banned rubberneckers.
I remember first seeing this on "That's Entertainment" pt 1 I had to be about 8yrs old and this is one of my favorite dance sequences with Fred Astaire.
I too first saw this number in That’s Entertainment in 1974 when I was in high school . I was so amazed and impressed that not only did I go see this movie 10 times at the movies (we didn’t have DVD’s or videotapes then) , but I took tap classes after I watched this . It literally changed my life .
It is so lovely to see them both, on top form,revelling in their talent. Youthful and full of joy. Thank God people like them exist to give us all so much pleasure. As Frank Sinatra says in a clip " you can wait around and hope, but you'll never see the likes of this again"
BTW, the full "Begin the Beguine" number is almost 10 minutes long. What's shown here is only the second half. Preceding this tap dance, there are two separate vocals (not by Astaire or Powell), and Astaire and Powell do a more traditional balletic dance together to the same tune, but to a different tempo. Equally good.
Eleanor Powell, considered by many to be the best tap dancer to appear in a Hollywood movie, and possibly the only women who could tap as good or better than Astaire.
Any time of sadness if I will watch these dancers, I forget everything. God and Goddess - that's all I can say about both in this particular dance. We all are grateful for the fact they ever lived!!!
Fred Astaire is and always was my ultimate idol. I grew up watching his films with my dad and as a result I appreciated from a young age what ture natural talant was all about. Its clear that I grew up watching the very very best. I loved every dance Astaire ever performed and see perfection in all he did, and even I have to say he was never as good as he was in this scene...and Miss Powell....she sure could dance up a storm. Two performers so sadly missed.
Marilyn Jess There's no doubt that Astaire spent many days rehearsing this number. It was that grueling rehearsal schedule that eventually caused Ginger Rogers to quit their partnership (this was Astaire's first film following her departure.) Course Powell was a far better tapper than Rogers.
Astaire and Powell were top athletic dancers - and their greatest art was to make it all seem to be done so easy. Take your hats off and your thumbs up !
The genius of this pair of troupers lay in their God given talent and theri sheer professinalism in that they rehearsed and rehearsed until they achieved this level of perfection. Sheer genius.
You will never live long enough to see the sheer class and brilliance of the likes of this again, this only ever happens once, as near to perfection as you will ever see. Truly wonderful, as tou will have gathered I like this.
Astaire is by far the smoothest dancer I have ever seen. But its like Powell is on air here. Quite unbelievable how incredibly great she was. No one comes close.
Only the much-maligned Hollywood star system could have given us such memorable movies. For ll it faults, and there were many, we will never see the likes of this again. These people worked so hard to make their art effortless - this is pure magic. I hope they're still dancing together somewhere in heaven.
She's the best lady tap dancer, ever! It was said that Astaire could not keep up with Eleanor Powell. She was a professional tapper (taught by Vaudeville greats) and meticulous in her dancing - no one can match her. Although, Ann Miller comes pretty close.
Masterfully put, sincerity packed dancing and entertainment epitome of all time. I first saw this in That's Entertainment Part 1, perhaps, but now RUclips can show this to anyone in the world. It is 70 years since they danced for this film, but I feel as if I were entertained right now in front of this screen. Thanks a lot, Ellie and Fred!
What impresses me about Eleanor Powell is the how equally she dances with Astaire. She dances forward -- there is no "Dancing backward in heals" as with Ginger Rodgers (who was also an awesome dancer, btw). She is muscular and athletic, yet graceful and beautiful. She is one of the greatest tap dancers ever.
Eleanor Powell was Fred's BEST tap partner, hands down. I love this clip!!!!!! He said she "tapped like a man". They are so good tapping together, the same way he was so good with Cyd Charisse in the more balletic dances. Just wonderful!
Fred Astaire never elected to be paired with Eleanor Powell again. He later said it was not to his benefit, she was just too great, but they were both great. Frank Sinatra said we will not see the likes of this again. I think he was correct! Eleanor Powell is fully clothed with a dress below her knees, and in high heels, sadly a bygone era of true beauty, civility and grace. 1. They are not rolling around on the floor. 2. The year: 1940 (76 years ago) 3. The narrator is Frank Sinatra. 4. It was filmed in ONE unedited Black & White camera shot! Amazing!
+Ann TwoShoes Powell was the better tap dancer. The genius of Fred Astaire is that there were always people who could've outdanced him in a strict comparison of tap, or ballet, but he took so many elements of those styles, added ballroom, and his own inimitable individual qualities-plus the choreograhic genius of Hermes Pan, who understood Astaire and his style thoroughly-and came up with something which transcended all of it.
This is likely the best-informed and most insightful comment on this thread. It takes nothing away from Powell while discusses Astaire in complete context. If only all RUclips comments brought this much to the table. Well done.
@@googlefan7409 In his autobiography, “Steps in Time,” he said, “She put ‘em down like a man, no ricky-ticky-sissy stuff with Ellie. She really knocked out a tap dance in a class by herself.”
Normally, I watch Astaire any time he would dance. In this routine, I catch myself watching Powell since she held her own with Astaire. They make it look so effortless.
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After 75 years, this scene still rocks.
Juliaflo True.
And after 77 it is still great
Amen. It is timeless.
Juliaflo 80 years as at now in 2020...such movies will never age.
@@osocool1too They will just get better with age.
Stay safe, and may God go with you.
I absolutely love Fred Astaire: his amazing skill set, his graceful talents, his dedication to his craft. But why can't I take my eyes off Eleanor Powell? She was simply the best ever.
Apparently Fred said that she was the only female dancer that terrified him. Skill wise and it shows that here.
Da questo video si può vedere come Eleanor fosse anche più agile del grande Fred, però ho l'impressione che lui fosse parecchio più avanti con l'età.
Cmq vederli ballare è strabiliante.
That’s why he wouldn’t dance with her again and Kelly never did. Egomaniacs
The World will never see a dance performance like this again. Imagine the rehearsal and hard work that went in to that.....in one take !
@John Sharp *I HATE this LIFE!!!!*
*I BeLieve in JeHoVah GOD!!!! & Eleanor WILL BE there!!!!*
*I am SoRRy to Hear that reMark about RIta!!!!*
@John Sharp I concur.
She always looked like she was having fun. Even in the midst of some complex moves.
To my mind this is what ultimately lifts Eleanor above every other dancer on screen. The closest to technical flawlessness, the richest choreographic imagination... but all crowned by the carefree enjoyment of moving your body around, which we all have as young kids but which most of us soon lose. Innocent genius.
The greatest piece of tap dancing I have ever seen. This clip is included in the 1974 film "That's Entertainment". Frank Sinatra was co-host who introduced this wonderful movie clip. He said, "I'll tell you, you can wait around a long time but you'll never see the likes of this again". Frank was spot on.
Back when performers actually had talent. I don't know much about the subject, but I've seen Eleanor Powell rated as one of the greatest tap dancers of all time.
believed to be equalled only by Fred Astaire in terms of dancing talent. In 1965, she was named the World’s Greatest Tap Dancer by the Dance Masters of America.
Absolutely. Nothing fake or CG about Fred and Eleanor.
@@daviton34 I think the Nicholas brothers were the best Harold literally ran up a wall and did a backflip
@@shizueleighhicks6174 I didn't realize that I liked tap dancing since I started watching videos of them. They are precise.
I don`t know if this is a true fact, but I read that Eleanor powell could tap more steps than the machine guns of WW2 could fire bullets, and seeing this i would be inclined to believe it.
No way to compare a female dancer to a male dancer, or Eleanor Powell to Fred Astaire. That said, she was several years his junior and her sheer joy and the effortless appearance of her dancing flight is mesmerizing. She was also beautiful and sexy in a way that was subtle and almost unintentional and innocent for a woman her age. I find her performances captivating.
Same here. She often dressed like a man and was criticized by some at the time for dancing 'mannishly', but who would ever have mistaken EP for a male?
Her femininity and how she fooled around with it, teasing her fans (e.g. by hiding her fabulous legs in baggy pants) are extraordinarily modern. When even her 'strong woman' counterparts in acting, such as Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn, needed a matinee idol to play against, and Fred needed a love interest, Ellie's autonomy and androgyny in performance single her out as a child of feminism and one who instinctively understood the 'ludic' qualities of the musical, the most stylized of major genres.
Her romantic leanings and erotic potential seemed aimed at the audience more than her leading men. In private she was a chaste, Bible-reading doer of good works. Her wild side was channeled into movement.
Ellie stared down the camera's gaze, or seduced spectators with the smile that broke out from an often playfully forbidding expression. In her later movies she often looks as if signaling her knowledge of her brilliance and defying moviegoers to take their eyes off her. But it was all done so light-heartedly, and with such enjoyment in being able to move as she did, that there is nothing arrogant about it. She draws us in where another virtuoso might leave us admiring but cold.
I can think of no other film performer, even Fred, who set up a rapport of that sort with the unseen audience. Nor do any of the half-dozen other great woman hoofers of her time generate quite the same thrill. She had something beyond virtuosity- call it divine inspiration if you will. The trappings of her films have dated, but the excitement has not dimmed.
This clip is Peak Hollywood, a historic meeting of the two greatest dancers ever filmed. It is a shame that we so seldom get the chance to see these Golden Age musicals as they were meant to be seen: in the dark, on a huge screen with resonant sound, immersing one in the sorcery.
Enjoy it folks. The two greatest tap dancers that ever lived and the only time they ever performed together. It doesn't get any better than this.
+RTFord What about Jukebox Dance
@@rangersasc Eleanor said Jukebox Dance was her favorite of all her numbers on film. Can't help thinking this might be partly because it shows her character schooling Fred's. She is cast as the Broadway headliner, he as the novice trying to get in with her.
Those who worked on BM40 said it captured the atmosphere of initial mutual wariness whch gave way to collaborative tranquility when Ellie broke the ice. But in 'Begin the Beguine' there is still an element of the traditional tappers' 'challenge dance'.
The pair must have known they were laying their reputations on the line by appearing side by side, mirroring moves. No need to deplore this, because it was standard practice to pit stars against one another, hoping both would raise their game. It certainly worked here. Neither was a prima donna. They accepted the test.
Nevertheless, there is an old military saw that the winner is the one left in possession of the battlefield. Ellie wanted another picture with Fred; he didn't. After so many years with Adele and Ginger, he wanted undisputed top billing.
Then the young pretender, Gene Kelly, did three months of planning and rehearsal before fleeing. There were no other male dancers worthy of partnering Miss Powell, so her later masterpieces were solos, as Fred had predicted.
@@esmeephillips5888 Totally. Good pointers, she was truly a Master-class a wonderful Lady and i completely agree with you on no other male dancer was worthy to stand beside her.
You forget the Nicholas bros. They were better than Fred but not Powell
@sasc The Jukebox Dance was another number they did in this same movie. Ms. Powell did say it was her favorite, but the Begin the Beguine number was a masterpiece. Fred Astaire was no novice in Broadway Melody of 1940.
The best dance routine ever filmed. All in one shot! Others have said it but I just want to say....you will never see the likes of this again so enjoy the absolute artistry that once was.
+Susanna22 K If you think this is amazing check out her dance in "I Dood It" she tap dances while flawlessly doing rope tricks, all one take, on the first try!
+Dani P She was the best of them all
You forgot the Nicholas bros. No rehearsal one take
This is hands down, the most magnificent tap performance ever recorded, the likes of which we will never see again.
So glad I am not alone in that assessment! An old fashioned word, Divine.
Thus sayeth "Ol' Blue Eyes"
No it might have to be the Nicholas Bros
Extra..ordinaire..
You forget the Nicholas bros
Still one of the best (if not the best) tap routines I've ever seen. Both Eleanor and Fred were spectacular. When they both passed away, part of the art of tapping went with them.
+Paul Blask They make it look effortless.
What theater is it? is it beautiful and with which cameras were filmed? wow
Probably bound to happen, because tapping was so closely related to the rise of jazz, with its off-beat syncopations, after WW1 on Broadway. Talkies brought the new sound to Hollywood. When swing came in during the late 1930s, with its smoother rhythms to facilitate ballroom dancing, tap began to fade. Foxtrotting was a lot easier to imitate if you were a social dancer.
Fred Astaire's gradual evolution towards ballet- when he quit RKO and Ginger for Metro and an assortment of partners such as Rita Hayworth- was part of it. Jitterbugging, the wilder end of tapping, was not for mature performers except as a gag (e.g. with Paulette Goddard in 'Second Chorus'), while post-war bebop finished off jazz as a dance accompaniment. Cyd Charisse, Vera-Ellen and Leslie Caron were ballerinas, so when Fred came out of retirement in 1948 he was more into what he had once scorned as 'toe-dancing'. He injected his creative magic and modernity into classical cliches.
Eleanor Powell was thinking of quitting after Fred and Gene Kelly ran away from starring with her, and these musical changes did nothing to discourage her. She was first and foremost a jazz baby.
Fred was intimidated by her, but, damn, she and he reached the top in this sequence. One of the greatest performances ever. Those who think Ginger was his equal ("she danced backwards",,etc.) should watch this!
The thing I love about these old dance scenes is that they're obviously just having so much fun.
Best lady dancer of all time. Take a look at all her clips. especially Fascinating Rhythm.
Amen. 'Fascinating Rhythm's first three minutes is a single shot in which not one move, gesture or expression is repeated... building to a crescendo resolved in the incredible acrobatics of the last minute. The greatest tour de force solo dance ever filmed, and Ellie choreographed it herself.
Eleanor Powell’s relaxed body movements, beyond her tap dancing, is what sets her apart. Absolutely effortless!
I've probably seen this number...what?...a thousand times now? It is still an astonishing piece of work. I hope this gets a Blu-ray release soon...would love to see this in Hi Def.
I am older, so I have been watching Fred, Gene, Eleanor, Ginger, my whole life. Also, I'm a Turner Classic Movies fan! These dancers and this era, touch me in a way that no one else does. My heart just melts...Is it the innocent, naive, belief that we can all be happy and talented? I'm not sure I even understand my own feelings about these movies, actors and motivations. Maybe it doesn't matter... my soul just sings with joy when I see this...
I never get tired of watching this. The best dance routine ever.
Eleanor Powell was primarily a solo performer yet she blends absolutely seamlessly with Fred Astaire. Two incredibly talented dancers at the top of their craft!
Fans had been clamoring for a matchup since 1936. Eleanor had told the press she thought it would never happen bc their styles were way different: ballet v. ballroom, soloist v. partner. But when Ginger left Fred and Fred left RKO he could not, as the driven perfectionist he was, duck the challenge of collaborating with the star he would later call 'the best woman dancer probably in history'. And Ellie was willing to modify her lone-female, powerful ways to accomodate the Master.
The resulting meeting of minds yielded the most electrifying duets- not romantic but unique in Hollywood's long record of male and female partnerships for their cheerful competitiveness.
Both are incredible. Ginger Rogers was an actress who was a talented actress. Eleanor Powell was an incredible dancer who could act, but her effortless dancing skills matched Fred Astaire’s step for step.
“Eleanor Powell was one of the very greatest, period, bar none,” said Fayard Nicholas of the Nicholas Brothers dance team, who understood greatness. “Not one of the greatest woman-one of the greatest, period.” Dynamic and versatile, Powell danced with a melodist’s sensitivity to the essential musicality of tap. “She was a musician,” Nicholas said, using the word tap dancers tend to reserve for their highest praise.
I love Fred Astaire, but I can't take my eyes off Eleanor Powell. She is a goddess!!
Three of the best minutes of film Hollywood ever made!
The routine was pure magic ❤RIP 🙏 🪦
My favorite dance number from any movie ever made.
Fabulous beyond words. It makes me cry. The kids today haven't a clue.
Oh I do. Eleanor, Cyd, vera Ellen, Donald o Connor, Astaire 💙💙💙
Cole Porter at his best, the incomparable Fred Astaire, the superb Eleanor Powell, MGM polish and voila - simply magnificent! My single favorite number of the pre-War era.
Often overlooked amid acclaim for the dancing is the up-to-dateness of the studio arrangement. Porter wrote it as a torch song for a musical which flopped. Artie Shaw made it swing, and this version cribs from his clarinet lead while adding vibraphone, the new sound on the block popularized by Lionel Hampton.
Not sure whom we have to thank, but Roger Edens, Alfred Newman (titular head of the music department) and Charles Henderson (who was only briefly engaged) are credited, as is Merrill Pye, Ellie's onetime fiance and constant collaborator. I suspect Edens deserves the palm- he was in rapport with Eleanor and wrote her delightful solo 'All Ashore'.
'Begin the Beguine' is said to be the most structurally complex hit pop song ever written, which may be why the variations stand up so well in the loooong sequence of which this is the climax.
I've lost count of how many times I've seen this performance. I first saw it on the big screen in THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT (1974), and the big screen is the best frame for it, but I can watch it anywhere and become mesmerized again. After watching this again, I love to watch Eleanor Powell as an elegant gray-haired lady contributing to the AFI Tribute to Fred Astaire.
Sinatra was right"You know..you can wait around and hope..but..I'll tell you..You'll never see anything like this again".
I heard Eleanor Powell had ballet training before she became a tap dance pro! When I see her dance I do see a semblance of ballet in her movements. I don't know how Fred Astaire became such an elegant dancer, but we are blessed to be able to see him and Eleanor Powell dance together!
Kirsten I. Russell yes, she did. She also had no intention ever being in films. They approached her and she asked for what she thought was too much money because she really didn't want to do movies and they said ok so she went ahead and we are fortunately left with her great dancing on film.
As a child Eleanor Powell was trained by Mikhail Fokine of the Ballets Russes, among others. She loved gymnastics as well, and was talent-spotted by a producer of kiddy shows when turning cartwheels on a beach at Atlantic City, aged 11. That diverted her from classical ballet towards Broadway. Tap was the last skill she learned.
Eleanor was not only the greatest all-around dancer but also one of the ten greatest female athletes in American history. What separated her from all the rest was the elements of ballet and gymnastics she includes. Factor in her beauty and effortless grace and you have the perfect performer.
Pure magic - music, choreography, and of course that stunning routine by such an unforgettable pair of dancers! A wonderful tribute to both of them.
Eleanor Powell was gorgeous!
+Joe Schmoe
I... what?
MR.rashed MR.rashed she was married to actor Glenn Ford
What theater is it? is it beautiful and with which cameras were filmed? wow
@@looppool5047 It was a special set with mirrors and a bakelite floor which cost thousands. This is the last of a three-part sequence, among the longest and most complex since Fred's and Ginger's 'The Continental'.
This isn't anything but stratovarius rare perfection. As rare as that wood. It was a brief period where it was just that good
Oh, the hours of practice that went into making this appear so effortless!
One of the greatest dance routines every filmed.
A wonderful tap dance routine, performed by Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell. You will not see something great like this today.
Historical paring: 40-year old Fred Astaire, fresh from 9 RKO films with Ginger Rogers, and 28-year old Eleanor Powell, queen of tap at MGM, almost always solo in her dances, but a match made in Heaven (of sorts) with Astaire in pure tap- no seductive dancing for these two, but when this glittering finale (white suits, black floors, mirrors, starry night lights) goes from the Artie Shaw big band sparkle to the a' Capella 49-second challenge tap, something wicked this way comes. A phenomenal duet.
They should pay tribute to these two on Dancing With The Stars! I love the pros on there, but they would all be in awe of this! The best ever!!
You notice no one taps on that show! Because they cant
omg, when I watch Astaire and Rogers's dance, I always stick my eyes to Astaire. For the pair of Astaire and Hayworth or Astaire and Charisse, I love both of them moving effortless. But truly in this, I cant take my eyes of Powell. Her tapping was just above perfect...
Superb, boy could these two dance, entertainment of the highest quality, thank god for RUclips because you won't see this talent ever again.
She has the greatest smile I've ever seen. Her entire face lights up. This is probably my favorite dance routine either of them ever did.
Yes, that was her secret weapon. Normally she looks quite somber or suspicious; then she relaxes and that radiance floods the screen.
For example, in the big close-ups of her solos, she would advance almost threateningly on the camera, then disarm the audience with that glorious smile. Nothing contrived about it- unlike Fred, whom Adele christened 'Moaning Minnie', Ellie was carefree. She reveled in her job, letting anyone passing the sound stage come in and watch her. Fred banned rubberneckers.
Now THAT, my friend, is entertainment!!
I remember first seeing this on "That's Entertainment" pt 1 I had to be about 8yrs old and this is one of my favorite dance sequences with Fred Astaire.
Man , look at her go .
One of my favorite dance routines ever!
I first saw this on Thats Entertainment and was memorised. Wonderful to watch.
I too first saw this number in That’s Entertainment in 1974 when I was in high school .
I was so amazed and impressed that not only did I go see this movie 10 times at the movies (we didn’t have DVD’s or videotapes then) , but I took tap classes after I watched this . It literally changed my life .
Wow, this is absolutely FANTASTIC.
these two are amazing. they make it look so easy. these were two perfectionists that could easily keep up with eachother. its just awsome to watch.
I will never tire of watching this routine. I remain speechless as this kind of
talent does not exist anymore. I Love Fred and Eleanore!!!!!!
Eleanor Powell--beyond awesome
Fred Astaire. Eleanor Powell. 'Nuff said. I am a sucker for old movies that have dance numbers. Thanks for the upload. Blessings
Amazing...I got my cadio workout just from watching this!
Watching Fred Astaire and his partner (Eleanor Powell in this clip) dance is good for one's mental health and well-being! Watch it; you'll get it!
im 23 and i have loved older movies froma very young age, this does something that no movie today could ever do, I could watch this forever
It is so lovely to see them both, on top form,revelling in their talent. Youthful and full of joy.
Thank God people like them exist to give us all so much pleasure.
As Frank Sinatra says in a clip " you can wait around and hope, but you'll never see the likes of this again"
Perfection!
BTW, the full "Begin the Beguine" number is almost 10 minutes long. What's shown here is only the second half. Preceding this tap dance, there are two separate vocals (not by Astaire or Powell), and Astaire and Powell do a more traditional balletic dance together to the same tune, but to a different tempo. Equally good.
On a glass floor too
I have to watch this at least once a week! They're incredible, to say the very least!
Eleanor Powell, considered by many to be the best tap dancer to appear in a Hollywood movie, and possibly the only women who could tap as good or better than Astaire.
Better. He admitted it.
Must be wonderful to be one of the 2 best and dance with the other best....Don't know who is happiest...Astaire, Powell, or me watching them. WOW!
Any time of sadness if I will watch these dancers, I forget everything. God and Goddess - that's all I can say about both in this particular dance. We all are grateful for the fact they ever lived!!!
That was INSANELY GOOD!
Fred Astaire is and always was my ultimate idol. I grew up watching his films with my dad and as a result I appreciated from a young age what ture natural talant was all about. Its clear that I grew up watching the very very best. I loved every dance Astaire ever performed and see perfection in all he did, and even I have to say he was never as good as he was in this scene...and Miss Powell....she sure could dance up a storm. Two performers so sadly missed.
THIS is dancing....MAGIC!!!
Incredible. The two best tappers EVER in their most endearing dance together. Love it.
You know Astaire did all his routines with no cuts.....one take from start to finish. Watch it again. That makes it even more astounding.
Can't imagine all the rehearsal this routine took!
Marilyn Jess There's no doubt that Astaire spent many days rehearsing this number. It was that grueling rehearsal schedule that eventually caused Ginger Rogers to quit their partnership (this was Astaire's first film following her departure.) Course Powell was a far better tapper than Rogers.
Astaire and Powell were top athletic dancers - and their greatest art was to make it all seem to be done so easy. Take your hats off and your thumbs up !
I always enjoy watching it.
Друзья, Фред Эстер, он неподражаемый, лучший танцор всех времён и народов, таких как он больше не будет, даже в СССР его чтили
The genius of this pair of troupers lay in their God given talent and theri sheer professinalism in that they rehearsed and rehearsed until they achieved this level of perfection.
Sheer genius.
You will never live long enough to see the sheer class and brilliance of the likes of this again, this only ever happens once, as near to perfection as you will ever see.
Truly wonderful, as tou will have gathered I like this.
Astaire is by far the smoothest dancer I have ever seen. But its like Powell is on air here. Quite unbelievable how incredibly great she was. No one comes close.
IF this is not THE BEST dance number in History...I don,t know what it may be!!. Pure and simple another example of FINE ART!!. Matt
BEAUTIFUL!!! Could it be more perfect? Loved it!
Just about as good as it gets. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.
Only the much-maligned Hollywood star system could have given us such memorable movies. For ll it faults, and there were many, we will never see the likes of this again. These people worked so hard to make their art effortless - this is pure magic. I hope they're still dancing together somewhere in heaven.
She's the best lady tap dancer, ever! It was said that Astaire could not keep up with Eleanor Powell. She was a professional tapper (taught by Vaudeville greats) and meticulous in her dancing - no one can match her. Although, Ann Miller comes pretty close.
Nope
Not on your life. Miller didn’t choreographer her own numbers
one of my secret passions as been the films of Fred & Ginger who were the epitome of class, BUT after seeing this, well its just fantastic
no matter how many times i watch this
i an still amazed at how wonderful they
are...i
Masterfully put, sincerity packed dancing and entertainment epitome of all time. I first saw this in That's Entertainment Part 1, perhaps, but now RUclips can show this to anyone in the world. It is 70 years since they danced for this film, but I feel as if I were entertained right now in front of this screen. Thanks a lot, Ellie and Fred!
This is how human beings express joy - at their best! Love it.
Thank you, Gleb! For preserving one of the greatest dances of all time. There is no end to this great enjoyment. AGAIN! Thank you.
Excellent quality! A joy to watch and listen to.
What impresses me about Eleanor Powell is the how equally she dances with Astaire. She dances forward -- there is no "Dancing backward in heals" as with Ginger Rodgers (who was also an awesome dancer, btw). She is muscular and athletic, yet graceful and beautiful. She is one of the greatest tap dancers ever.
The best tap number ever filmed. Eleanor Powell was easily Fred's equal
I have waited for so long to find a proper quality clip of this! Thank you SO MUCH!
I'm breathless!!! WOWZA!
Eleanor Powell was Fred's BEST tap partner, hands down. I love this clip!!!!!!
He said she "tapped like a man".
They are so good tapping together, the same way he was so good with Cyd Charisse in the more balletic dances.
Just wonderful!
Fred Astaire never elected to be paired with Eleanor Powell again. He later said it was not to his benefit, she was just too great, but they were both great.
Frank Sinatra said we will not see the likes of this again. I think he was correct!
Eleanor Powell is fully clothed with a dress below her knees, and in high heels, sadly a bygone era of true beauty, civility and grace.
1. They are not rolling around on the floor.
2. The year: 1940 (76 years ago)
3. The narrator is Frank Sinatra.
4. It was filmed in ONE unedited Black & White camera shot! Amazing!
+B Ambrose I have to say that I think she is the better dancer- and that's really saying something!
+Ann TwoShoes Powell was the better tap dancer. The genius of Fred Astaire is that there were always people who could've outdanced him in a strict comparison of tap, or ballet, but he took so many elements of those styles, added ballroom, and his own inimitable individual qualities-plus the choreograhic genius of Hermes Pan, who understood Astaire and his style thoroughly-and came up with something which transcended all of it.
This is likely the best-informed and most insightful comment on this thread. It takes nothing away from Powell while discusses Astaire in complete context. If only all RUclips comments brought this much to the table. Well done.
I tend to think the male dancers like Astaire and Kelly preferred to dance with partners as pairs instead of two individuals
well said , one take wonders c: classic
Can you imagine what it was like to just work in a studio & see this live ?
Thanks for HQ uploading!
I can't stop watching this video clip, & each time I view it, it just seems to be more amazing. Great Stuff !!!
best tap duo ever!
The only time you look at Fred Astaire's dance partner rather than him.
Eleanor Powell was the greatest.
He said the highest praise he could give her was that she danced like a man...
@@francleland1651 now where did he say that
@@googlefan7409 In his autobiography, “Steps in Time,” he said, “She put ‘em down like a man, no ricky-ticky-sissy stuff with Ellie. She really knocked out a tap dance in a class by herself.”
Yes sir. That was ENTERTAINMENT
Stunning, classy.
Love the finish!
Thank you for posting this.
Wow! This is really great. Both so gifted.
Two of the best. She is every bit as good as him. Can’t stop watching this.
Wonderful and lovely Eleanor ... Bravo !!!
Normally, I watch Astaire any time he would dance. In this routine, I catch myself watching Powell since she held her own with Astaire. They make it look so effortless.
Best thing Sinatra ever said. So glad to have this on my "That's Entertainment" dvd along with so much more great stuff.