Eleanor Powell and Fred Astaire OWN this routine. No need to compare Eleanor Powell to Ginger Rogers or point out whether or not Fred has better rhythm than Eleanor. This man and woman pair are DIVINE together. What a pleasure to watch.
@@jamesanthony5681 When a reporter to Rudolf Chametowitsch Nurejew once said in an interview, "you are the best dancer in the world ", he replied," no, not me, Fred Astaire is the best dancer in the world ". Mikhail Baryshnikov, also a gifted dancer, expressed his admiration as follows: “I hate him. Nobody dances like him. You just can't measure yourself against him. Just look how I look next to him! "
@@ScaramouchedaVinci Yes, he had his won style. But how does Astaire compare with some of the great African -American dancers? Not that I'd want to invite any kind of comparisons and say he's better than him, etc.; or, say what you're saying, by proclaiming Fred as the greatest in the 20th century. He was great, yes. But the greatest? Why say that? He was great and leave it at that.
@@jamesanthony5681 I don't mean athleticism or strength, some other dancers can keep up. I mean the art, the balance, the harmony. There for me he was the greatest and I never saw somebody equivalent by far.
This’ll live forever, our great great great grandkids will love it. Love those gals at the head, at 57secs what’s the last thing they sing just before they exit stage right? Anyone?
The timing, the flawless execution, the way they make difficult moves look easy and effortless, the two greatest dancers in the history of cinema dancing together as a team. No superlatives can adequately describe the thrill of watching such talent light up a sound stage. We are all gifted that this performance is recorded for the ages. It happened over 80 years ago but it has the energy of occurring only a moment passed. Whenever the term "awesome" is bandied about think of this performance because it is truly awesome!
@@justinchetham-strode5234 Thanks. I'm quite aware of the dazzling Nicholas Brothers, legends of tap. Probably the best team of brother or sister dancers ever to live. Bar none.
@@justinchetham-strode5234 Yes, the Nicholas Brothers routine is great, but this one is greater. Theirs is more athletic, this one is more musical and flowing. The Astaire-Powell dance is simply the top dance on film, period.
@@politicsbyjake Another 46 years have passed, and Sinatra's verdict stands. A masterpiece of Hollywood craftsmanship as the setting for one of the most complex popular songs ever penned, to accompany a display by the two greatest dancers of the past century. Until the cinema got sound, such performances were the stuff of legend. Now we can evaluate them for ourselves, but they must be an oppressive weight on those who have to follow in such footsteps.
@@mja91352 According to the Nicholas Brothers (who should know), she was one of the finest dancers, PERIOD. In my opinion, Fred Astaire (who I love) looks a bit wooden in comparison to how she moves.
@lynnelovesroses4485 that was unusual for fred and he never had close ups of feer or face it alway had to be full shots which was unusual. Still greatest performers of period for me as i was brought up on this amazing dancing.
And can we take a moment to acknowledge the perfection of the camera work? A tracking shot of dance was a special challenge then, and note you never see the camera crew in the reflections. Yeah, it may seem like inside baseball, but I’ve shot dance with lighter cameras today, and what happens here is so smoothe you don’t even think a pot it. It really lets the performance shine.
When I was a young lad I couldn't stand this stuff. I am an old man and I find it astounding. I am grateful to have lived long enough to understand the beauty and grace of those that entertained my parents generation.
Agreed.I saw some of this on TV back in the 50s.Thankfully I have had an opportunity via RUclips to revisit these classics.Astaire was amazing but as good as he was I am really astounded by Eleanor Powell.What a magnificent woman.She "glides" through her moves.Some will say /have said she is the greatest female dancer ever....no she is the best period male or female.You can see here that Fred is dancing as fast as he can and Eleanor is gliding as fast as she wants to.
As close to perfection as two can become. Just outstanding, - never get tired of watching this. Such delicate grace while laying them down hard. That’s work, - made to look easy. Every session they ever did turns into a master class.
o, for sure. Look at what they did then with limited means. Look at what they do now and still get it wrong..... There is no comparison. I would look at a Fred Astaire movie, laughing with Laurel and Hardy, admiring the style of Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, admiring Rita Hayworth and Ava Gardner any time compared to what they do now. Really - it's a joke what they are producing in this day and age compered to that.
Even Fred Astaire was in awe of Eleanor Powell. This dance scene is the greatest duo dance scene on film. The amazing in sync these two dancing is beyond amazing
@@danielbuckner2167 you are lost. 16 thumbs up. I praised this dance duo in this fantastic dance scene. Hello. Even Fred Astaire was in awe of her. There was nothing insulting in my comments. You are delusional.
I agree this is the best ever recorded! Two super talented hoofers! I loved them both! No, there will never be another pair like this or a dance lie this👏👏
Absolutely BRILLIANT, the likes of which will never be seen again. I read that the magnificent Fred Astaire was at first intimidated by Eleanor Powell's amazing tap dancing but then went on record that she was his favorite partner of the many women he danced with over the years. This is by far the best tap dance ever recorded or ever will be.
Well he was very reluctant about picking a favourite but in one interview he kinda puts Ginger as exceptional in all of his partnerships. But either way, I know he was intimidated by Eleanor Powell, it also shows in the clips I've seen. But they're all marvellous, I love them so much, they are just an utter joy to watch. Fred&Ginger will always be my absolute favourites but I love seeing the flawless professional dancing he did together with Eleanor as well.
When it came to tap dancing, they were in perfect sync. Their tapping skills were remarkable, and they seemed identical in their footwork. Fred still gets extra points for elegance and grace, while Eleanor is the champ as far as athleticism and matching any male dancer, step by step. I think she is more comfortable as a soloist, and just as dazzling. Fred was a dream, with or without a partner, but I heard he didn't want to just be part of a team, even though everyone knows about Fred and Ginger. I love to watch their incredible precision!
in spite of previous comments... the thing that set Powell apart from other Astaire partners... She was never dominated by him. They were of similar natures... relaxed, unlike Gene Kelly who was athletic in his dancing, Astaire was loose and relaxed. and Powell was the same. They were co-dominants. She never looked cowed by him. All his other dance partners clearly were.
She looks as if she is out for an afternoon stroll, with the floaty dress and loosely tied hair accentuating that casual, jaunty air. Fred seems to be trying a bit more, but that is the storyline in the film. He is playing a dance hall hoofer getting an unplanned break; she is the Broadway headliner he has idolized.
Anytime I watch a dance number with Astaire and one of his partners, my eyes follow him, except, this number with Eleanor Powell. She was his equal like no other partner had been.
@@YokoshimaOfficial In Portuguese, my first language, number means any kind of performance or presentation. Só It makes perfect sense to me. I Wonder wether It's not clear in English.
@Dusty Grady Not baloney at all Dusty! Fred said himself that he was in awe. I can't recall the quote exactly. Not suggesting she's better and it's not a competition anyway, but you clearly haven't seen her routine with Buddy Rich's drum sticks!! I'll leave it there.
Eleanor Powell danced circles around the men-folk. 🙃 In my humble opinion she's the best dancer, male or female, to have ever enchanted us with her perfection.
@@jamesanthony5681 She was excellent and Fred's equal in this masterpiece but.. better than him...NEVER. In 1928 NY theater critics said he was the best tap dancer in the world.
Raw talent polished to perfection. Legend has it this was done in one take and never repeated. Astaire apparently intimidated to never appear again with Powell. An astounding production I have never seen duplicated (without special effects and computer overlays)
Stop comparing various dance partners of Astaire or any other dancer for that matter People will always have their favourites. How many tap dancers are there today. .???? Virtually none enjoy the past
NO fancy computer graphics, no technical film cutting & splicing - just one take dancing the whole routine. This is talent, when the performers could dance, sing and act. We have had nothing from Hollywood in decades that match these films. I have spent this past year watching movies of the 30s, 40s, & 50s being entertained also discovered a few British series (so damn good). Who needs modern movies (trashy, vulgar, bloody & remakes. NO imagination or talented people.) Just my opinion.
Watch San Francisco (1937). The singing by Jeanette MacDonald is out-of-this-world and the earthquake scenes are very, very good - believable and no CGI.
Each were beyond wonderful - together, magnificent doesn't even come close. How they could concentrate on each note of music, each individual movement and step. Staggering.
It is not only about talent or perfection (we also have in actually tines), it is about grace, elegance, attitude, personality, glamour, soul, real classic and eternal beauty.
The music was written by Cole Porter and is being performed by the Benny Goodman orchestra with Lionel Hampton on the vibraphone. The pinnacle of American culture.
Not Goodman- a studio band souping up Jerry Gray's chart for Artie Shaw. Hampton had popularized vibes, but he is not on here. However, the choice of music testifies to MGM's daring under Louis B Mayer. For a big-budget production's climax, he okayed an arrangement as cool and up to the minute as could be conceived in 1939, trusting that Middle America would buy it. As if the latest in rap or techno was on the soundtrack of 'La La Land'. It was far from Mayer's adoration of what you would hear in a MacDonald-Eddy movie; but he was big enough to accept that two maestri of syncopated hoofing need sounds that fit their moves.
I heard that at that time, the studios were having a hard time finding a male partner for Eleanor Powell. none of the men wanted to dance with her, she was that good.
Not just great music. Not just superb dance. But also an incredible example of black and white cinematography. Maybe the greatest 3 minutes Hollywood ever produced.
Breathtaking. And a lovely picture-- the high quality is so fine, you can see the iridescent glitter on Ms. Powell's already gorgeous dress. And a brilliant execution of black-and white set design, cinematography, and costume. And Fred & Ellie even manage to tip a hat (intentionally or otherwise) to Bill Robinson at 1:52 with the little hand-on-hip travel from right to left. Stunning.
A lovely picture if you don't mind the stretching. They both look a little shorter than they really were; it's called distortion. That's why I give it a thumbs down.
Talent that will live forever to enjoy for all who love film and musicals,just divine a privilege to watch two of the greatest dancers of all time,thanks a million!
I was also underwhelmed by the audience shot. After such perfection by Fred & Eleanor - they cut in a rather bland audience stock reaction. One guy in the audience, on the aisle, was even coughing. ....Rowby
once u have watched it a thousand times just to watch the footwork, try just watching their faces, if that isn't the pure joy of life, I don't know what is ….and to think WWII erupted in 1939,. and this film comes out the very next year,.
Ken Gordon 1 second ago I believe our nation lost its innocence and beauty when musicals died. Movies with fear and terror can never replace those with grace and beauty.
Worth noting, there was only one camera break in the whole routine. No multiple takes or film splicing, just great dancing. Also, as per Fred's instructions, no isolated body shots, just the full body for the whole routine. Magnificent!!
So talented and easy for them it looks as though they don’t even breath hard. Love FRED ASTAIRE, hear him sing “ HEAVEN “. I think he was the greatest entertainer history of film💋‼️‼️😳
When I was in the second grade I started dance lessons in ballet and tap. Tap dancing to me was 100 times harder than ballet. I'm 68 now and I can't do either anymore. These two artists make it look effortless. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rest in peace. I hope you're dancing in heaven. I can't wait to meet the two of you. And the nickel's brothers.
Eleanor Powell and Fred Astaire OWN this routine. No need to compare Eleanor Powell to Ginger Rogers or point out whether or not Fred has better rhythm than Eleanor. This man and woman pair are DIVINE together. What a pleasure to watch.
How to cheer up during the corona virus pandemic: Watch these two dance.
Fred Astaire was the best dancer of the 20th century, maybe even off all time!
The best of the 20th century? Well, that's a bit of a stretch. He was certainly very good and he definitely had his own style.
@@jamesanthony5681
When a reporter to Rudolf Chametowitsch Nurejew once said in an interview, "you are the best dancer in the world ", he replied," no, not me, Fred Astaire is the best dancer in the world ".
Mikhail Baryshnikov, also a gifted dancer, expressed his admiration as follows: “I hate him. Nobody dances like him. You just can't measure yourself against him. Just look how I look next to him! "
@@ScaramouchedaVinci Yes, he had his won style. But how does Astaire compare with some of the great African -American dancers? Not that I'd want to invite any kind of comparisons and say he's better than him, etc.; or, say what you're saying, by proclaiming Fred as the greatest in the 20th century. He was great, yes. But the greatest? Why say that? He was great and leave it at that.
@@jamesanthony5681
I don't mean athleticism or strength, some other dancers can keep up. I mean the art, the balance, the harmony.
There for me he was the greatest and I never saw somebody equivalent by far.
@@ScaramouchedaVinci I know what you mean.
ELEANOR POWELL +
FRED ASTAIRE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING
DANCING!! FANTASTIC!!!
Hello Marian, How are you doing?
Those two could dance!!
Hello Judith, How are you doing?
Love Eleanor and Fred!!!!!!! I also think this tap routine and music is pheunominal
My treasure.No diamond, No gold, No emerald but their dance!
Wow, that was really exciting to watch. :-)
Eleanor Powell was the Fred Astaire of female dancers.
I should also mention the Step brothers for tap.
Excellent.Thanks.🇷🇺
The best
This’ll live forever, our great great great grandkids will love it. Love those gals at the head, at 57secs what’s the last thing they sing just before they exit stage right? Anyone?
we will never sumthing like this ever agen god bluss them this will happen in your life time
9espetacular, me encanta el zapateo americano..!!
Now that's dancing!
Eleanor Powell was and is the finest tap dancer of either gender. The best period.
Include Ann Miller. Ginger Rogers and Rita Hayworth were no slouch either.
@@halo101st9 Ginger Rodgers wasn’t really a tap dancer. She was a ballroom dancer. Neither was Rita Hayworth.
Yes...and you should be tested for faulty DNA
Ginger ballroom dancer ?
You must the downer of the party.
@@davidreidenberg9941and Eleanor was the most graceful of them all.
The timing, the flawless execution, the way they make difficult moves look easy and effortless, the two greatest dancers in the history of cinema dancing together as a team. No superlatives can adequately describe the thrill of watching such talent light up a sound stage. We are all gifted that this performance is recorded for the ages. It happened over 80 years ago but it has the energy of occurring only a moment passed. Whenever the term "awesome" is bandied about think of this performance because it is truly awesome!
You should check out the Nicholas Brothers on RUclips.
@@justinchetham-strode5234 Thanks. I'm quite aware of the dazzling Nicholas Brothers, legends of tap. Probably the best team of brother or sister dancers ever to live. Bar none.
@@justinchetham-strode5234 Yes, the Nicholas Brothers routine is great, but this one is greater. Theirs is more athletic, this one is more musical and flowing. The Astaire-Powell dance is simply the top dance on film, period.
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Totally the best tap routine of their lives. Eleanor and Fred were so great in this great dance routine. Sheer magic.
I have seen a million times this dance and still amazes me how easy looks what these unique artists did almost 80 years ago. absolutely unbeatables!
But you still have to pay to watch it! Ludicrous
Two of the greatest dancers of all times! You will never see their like again.
@@politicsbyjake Another 46 years have passed, and Sinatra's verdict stands. A masterpiece of Hollywood craftsmanship as the setting for one of the most complex popular songs ever penned, to accompany a display by the two greatest dancers of the past century.
Until the cinema got sound, such performances were the stuff of legend. Now we can evaluate them for ourselves, but they must be an oppressive weight on those who have to follow in such footsteps.
One of the all time great dance routines. Eleanor Powell was one of the finest female dancers in the history of the Hollywood musical.
Eleanor was THE finest female dancer in movies.
@@mja91352 According to the Nicholas Brothers (who should know), she was one of the finest dancers, PERIOD. In my opinion, Fred Astaire (who I love) looks a bit wooden in comparison to how she moves.
Astaire they said was a hard taskmaster, as constant practices until the routine was, in his mind, flawless . . .
Not one of the finest female dancers, but THE finest dancer, period.
@@michaelmcevoy7769 Correct 100%
No cuts. No retakes. Just one perfect dance routine - complete and unbroken. Astonishing.
There is one cut at 3.11 before they go into the spin section.
@lynnelovesroses4485 that was unusual for fred and he never had close ups of feer or face it alway had to be full shots which was unusual. Still greatest performers of period for me as i was brought up on this amazing dancing.
And can we take a moment to acknowledge the perfection of the camera work? A tracking shot of dance was a special challenge then, and note you never see the camera crew in the reflections. Yeah, it may seem like inside baseball, but I’ve shot dance with lighter cameras today, and what happens here is so smoothe you don’t even think a pot it. It really lets the performance shine.
Nobody, absolutely, nobody better than these two. Never before, ever since….they will always be the BEST……
You have to give the Nicholas bros we’re right up there. A different style of dancing but equal
I’m ashamed to say I hadn’t seen this before. My existence has been made better in watching this. The pinnacle of culture!
When I was a young lad I couldn't stand this stuff. I am an old man and I find it astounding. I am grateful to have lived long enough to understand the beauty and grace of those that entertained my parents generation.
Agree, my thoughts exactly.
Agreed.I saw some of this on TV back in the 50s.Thankfully I have had an opportunity via RUclips to revisit these classics.Astaire was amazing but as good as he was I am really astounded by Eleanor Powell.What a magnificent woman.She "glides" through her moves.Some will say /have said she is the greatest female dancer ever....no she is the best period male or female.You can see here that Fred is dancing as fast as he can and Eleanor is gliding as fast as she wants to.
i'm from '51. Fred Astaire's geniousness and the whole 'Astaire-school' later on struck me from the first moment. Must have been 10 or 12 years old.
docsmithdc p
I *
The best dance routine ever put on film and done by the two best dancers.
Absolutely incredible..No other words for it..🙂
Perfection, from beginning to end, in every way. Astaire's expression at 1:57 is marvelous. This is for the ages.
OMG ! She’s better than he is
In my view, this is most likely the best and greatest tap number ever in the history of tap!
The Nicholas bros I think hold that distinction. No rehearsal one take
Don’t forget the Nicholas bros
As close to perfection as two can become. Just outstanding, - never get tired of watching this. Such delicate grace while laying them down hard. That’s work, - made to look easy. Every session they ever did turns into a master class.
from a time when talent was talent and not manufactured, outstanding.............the golden age was the greatest era
o, for sure. Look at what they did then with limited means. Look at what they do now and still get it wrong..... There is no comparison. I would look at a Fred Astaire movie, laughing with Laurel and Hardy, admiring the style of Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, admiring Rita Hayworth and Ava Gardner any time compared to what they do now. Really - it's a joke what they are producing in this day and age compered to that.
Two insanely talented entertainers who probably rehearsed for hundreds of hours preparing for this scene.
I think this routine was the most iconic...a shiney black floor and dancers dressed in white...who can do that today????
Even Fred Astaire was in awe of Eleanor Powell. This dance scene is the greatest duo dance scene on film. The amazing in sync these two dancing is beyond amazing
@@danielbuckner2167 you are lost. 16 thumbs up. I praised this dance duo in this fantastic dance scene. Hello. Even Fred Astaire was in awe of her. There was nothing insulting in my comments. You are delusional.
@@hankgolfer1 somehow youtube put my reply on YOUR comment... it was made in reference to someone elses comment... stand by...
OK, fixed! Either a youtube gliche or a firefox update gliche in how the page loads and where links were.
I read Mr. Fred was jealous of Ms. Powell 😮
@AnnHardy-v9j I have not read about being him being jealous. I have read that he loved her dancing and that he was intimidated by her dancing.
I agree this is the best ever recorded! Two super talented hoofers! I loved them both! No, there will never be another pair like this or a dance lie this👏👏
Absolutely BRILLIANT, the likes of which will never be seen again. I read that the magnificent Fred Astaire was at first intimidated by Eleanor Powell's amazing tap dancing but then went on record that she was his favorite partner of the many women he danced with over the years. This is by far the best tap dance ever recorded or ever will be.
agree!!!!
@@vibra64 you my friend, have never watched the Nicholas Brothers have you?
The best
Well he was very reluctant about picking a favourite but in one interview he kinda puts Ginger as exceptional in all of his partnerships.
But either way, I know he was intimidated by Eleanor Powell, it also shows in the clips I've seen. But they're all marvellous, I love them so much, they are just an utter joy to watch.
Fred&Ginger will always be my absolute favourites but I love seeing the flawless professional dancing he did together with Eleanor as well.
Actually he saidit was Rita Hayworth that was his favorite dance partner. I believe this was in his autobiography.
Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell - the BEST dancing I have ever seen!
The Greatest!
That's because this IS the best dancing there ever has been 😄
When it came to tap dancing, they were in perfect sync. Their tapping skills were remarkable, and they
seemed identical in their footwork.
Fred still gets extra points for elegance and grace, while Eleanor is
the champ as far as athleticism and matching any male dancer, step by step. I think she is more comfortable as a soloist, and just as dazzling. Fred was a dream, with or without a partner, but I heard he didn't want to just be part of a team, even though everyone knows about Fred and Ginger. I love to watch their incredible precision!
Fred met his match in Ellie.
Wow!!! Fred had to keep on his toes to stay up with Eleanor! That was awesome.
in spite of previous comments... the thing that set Powell apart from other Astaire partners... She was never dominated by him. They were of similar natures... relaxed, unlike Gene Kelly who was athletic in his dancing, Astaire was loose and relaxed. and Powell was the same. They were co-dominants. She never looked cowed by him. All his other dance partners clearly were.
She looks as if she is out for an afternoon stroll, with the floaty dress and loosely tied hair accentuating that casual, jaunty air. Fred seems to be trying a bit more, but that is the storyline in the film. He is playing a dance hall hoofer getting an unplanned break; she is the Broadway headliner he has idolized.
Back when woman dressed like ladies on the stage and the dancing was the focus. Pure raw talent, pure class.
they were naked during that time too. a video doesn’t detour that.
@@alazjaw.8968your point?
@@AuntieMamie use that head of yours and figure it out auntie
Amazing to know this movie was the only one they made together. I read that he was intimidated by her because she was so good. But he admired her too.
The problem wasn't that she was too good, it was that she was too tall for him.
Hard to believe that anybody had that much talent . I'm glad there films of it so we can remember what it looks like
my God, YES indeed , and it's not CGI or photoshopped !!! ... It's REAL and unedited LIVE !!!
Agreed!
Jaw, meet floor...
Anytime I watch a dance number with Astaire and one of his partners, my eyes follow him, except, this number with Eleanor Powell. She was his equal like no other partner had been.
I'm searching around what this person meant by number ; - ; I would LOVE learning such terminology... does mean tap dancers/partners together?
Have you seen him with Ginger Rogers? I have to disagree, she’s incredible.
@@YokoshimaOfficial In Portuguese, my first language, number means any kind of performance or presentation. Só It makes perfect sense to me. I Wonder wether It's not clear in English.
His best partner EVER was Ginger Rogers. They made many movies, all of them were magnificent, great dancing pair.
@Dusty Grady Not baloney at all Dusty! Fred said himself that he was in awe. I can't recall the quote exactly. Not suggesting she's better and it's not a competition anyway, but you clearly haven't seen her routine with Buddy Rich's drum sticks!! I'll leave it there.
l love Eleanor Powell and Fred and Ginger, Astaire was a genius
this is brill,listen to the timing,split second precision,-unbelievable timing,im watcing it again ,and again.coz im old fashiond,and proud of it.
Fred Wood the most amazing number. I've watched it a hundred times
Everything about this video is awesome.
Eleanor Powell danced circles around the men-folk. 🙃 In my humble opinion she's the best dancer, male or female, to have ever enchanted us with her perfection.
Their hands, their arms, their heads, their smiles, and those talented feet! Perfection🤩
Frank Sinatra: “You will never see the likes of this again.”
El Hombre hn
Still the best dance routine ever recorded by the two best dancers ever. It's 15 minutes of perfection
Fred Astaire's genius besides his stylistic "style" was in his ability to make a demanding tap routine look absolutely effortless.
He combined dancing grace with pure athleticism like nobody else. Ever.
Fantastic, Looked so
Natural
Well, she's pretty good herself, if not better. And she's doing it on heels.
@@jamesanthony5681 She was excellent and Fred's equal in this masterpiece but.. better than him...NEVER. In 1928 NY theater critics said he was the best tap dancer in the world.
Only Eleanor could so close approach the unter perfection and beauty of Astaire. But being that close is just other worldly in itself
Raw talent polished to perfection. Legend has it this was done in one take and never repeated. Astaire apparently intimidated to never appear again with Powell. An astounding production I have never seen duplicated (without special effects and computer overlays)
Stop comparing various dance partners of Astaire or any other dancer for that matter People will always have their favourites. How many tap dancers are there today. .???? Virtually none enjoy the past
NO fancy computer graphics, no technical film cutting & splicing - just one take dancing the whole routine. This is talent, when the performers could dance, sing and act. We have had nothing from Hollywood in decades that match these films. I have spent this past year watching movies of the 30s, 40s, & 50s being entertained also discovered a few British series (so damn good). Who needs modern movies (trashy, vulgar, bloody & remakes. NO imagination or talented people.) Just my opinion.
Watch San Francisco (1937). The singing by Jeanette MacDonald is out-of-this-world and the earthquake scenes are very, very good - believable and no CGI.
In the days when movies did not have numbers after their titles.
Never get tired of these two.
This will never be surpassed. Absolutely the greatest ever.
Each were beyond wonderful - together, magnificent doesn't even come close. How they could concentrate on each note of music, each individual movement and step. Staggering.
Mesmerising. How can anyone give it a thumbs down. They work as one. Sheer talent.
You can wait around and hope but, folks, you'll
never see the likes of this again.
Exactly what Frank Sinatra said in 'That's Entertainment!'. Happy Thanksgiving.
not the same but..go watch billy springs on guitar....
No as we have rappers today sad to say.
ENCORE! ENCORE!
How in the world they can tap THAT fast is beyond me. Just love seeing this clips from classic movies. Thanks!
Dedication is why. To their craft
It is not only about talent or perfection (we also have in actually tines), it is about grace, elegance, attitude, personality, glamour, soul, real classic and eternal beauty.
The Best!
One would never dare to call any work of art unsurpassable of its kind. All I know is, it's 82 years and counting...
I think Ms Powell was the only dance partner of Fred Astair to equal his talent in tap, specifically.
Rita Hayworth can dance as well . . . .
Nobody was equal to Fred Astaire.
I agree. She was very athletic compared to the other dancers.
And if you mean Powell was the best female dancer, look Ginger Rogers: ruclips.net/video/mxPgplMujzQ/видео.html
No Rita
The music was written by Cole Porter and is being performed by the Benny Goodman orchestra with Lionel Hampton on the vibraphone. The pinnacle of American culture.
Not Goodman- a studio band souping up Jerry Gray's chart for Artie Shaw. Hampton had popularized vibes, but he is not on here.
However, the choice of music testifies to MGM's daring under Louis B Mayer. For a big-budget production's climax, he okayed an arrangement as cool and up to the minute as could be conceived in 1939, trusting that Middle America would buy it. As if the latest in rap or techno was on the soundtrack of 'La La Land'.
It was far from Mayer's adoration of what you would hear in a MacDonald-Eddy movie; but he was big enough to accept that two maestri of syncopated hoofing need sounds that fit their moves.
@@esmeephillips5888 Thank you - I was making a semi-educated guess.
Wrong band bob crosby I believe
My goodness. Makes me want to see all those fabulous song and dance routines again. Just stunning talent - from inception to execution.
Yeah, but Fred floated, Eleanor danced like Gene..
One camera until 3:10. Then one camera to the end. One camera. Amazing.
Eleanor was every inch as good, if not better than Fred..I could watch her all night and all day!!! - She was definitely too good for Glenn Ford!!
That's when Hollywood made us LOVE America !
I heard that at that time, the studios were having a hard time finding a male partner for Eleanor Powell. none of the men wanted to dance with her, she was that good.
Not just great music. Not just superb dance. But also an incredible example of black and white cinematography. Maybe the greatest 3 minutes Hollywood ever produced.
Breathtaking. And a lovely picture-- the high quality is so fine, you can see the iridescent glitter on Ms. Powell's already gorgeous dress. And a brilliant execution of black-and white set design, cinematography, and costume. And Fred & Ellie even manage to tip a hat (intentionally or otherwise) to Bill Robinson at 1:52 with the little hand-on-hip travel from right to left. Stunning.
A lovely picture if you don't mind the stretching. They both look
a little shorter than they really were; it's called distortion. That's
why I give it a thumbs down.
Talent that will live forever to enjoy for all who love film and musicals,just divine a privilege to watch two of the greatest dancers of all time,thanks a million!
How in the world do you choreograph something like that? Amazing!
Ask Ellie when you get upstairs she created most if not all of both
That was excellent. They should have made more films together
Cole Porter ----- I Love You !!! Eleanor And Fred Too !!!
Greatest American dance duo of all time. What a pleasure to behold.
Pure Bliss and absolute Heaven
I'm somewhat shocked by the audience reaction here, shouldn't this kind of outstanding once in a lifetime performance warrant a standing ovation? 😎
It was probably a stock audience shot that was kept on file and that they used over and over again for their musical films.
I was also underwhelmed by the audience shot. After such perfection by Fred & Eleanor - they cut in a rather bland audience stock reaction. One guy in the audience, on the aisle, was even coughing. ....Rowby
They were too in awe to move.
*Such astounding talent wedded to perfectionism. a great GREAT bygone Era.*
How do you say you either have class or you don't they have it and some billionaires don't. A W
Best dance duo EVER!
WOW
Pure magic!
Absolutely fantastic
Hypnotic, awesome.
Watch carefully young people. Pure genius at work.
Breathtaking video showcasing breathtaking talent! Many thanks for sharing this treasure.
Wow. Superb!! Best couples dance ever. Perfect synchronization!!
once u have watched it a thousand times just to watch the footwork, try just watching their faces, if that isn't the pure joy of life, I don't know what is ….and to think WWII erupted in 1939,. and this film comes out the very next year,.
this is elegant ancient. What happened. Dancing with the stars is nothing but gymnastics. Not classify dancing
WOW!!!! I have finally someone who shares my sentiments about these modern so called "Dances"
OMG, Yes !!!
I can't keep my eyes off Eleanor. What a talent. 😍
Love how at 2:39 she glances down at Fred's feet with pursed lips as if judging him. Poor Fred, he met his Waterloo after six years schooling Ginger.
That was amazing. My Mother said Fred couldn’t keep up with her. She makes it look easy
9
Perdón,pero no estoy de acuerdo
If I could dance like that, I’d want to do take after take just so I could keep dancing like that!
Fred was the best that ever lived,sorry gene Kelly but have to take second place,god bless you both
Ken Gordon
1 second ago
I believe our nation lost its innocence and beauty when musicals died. Movies with fear and terror can never replace those with grace and beauty.
Worth noting, there was only one camera break in the whole routine. No multiple takes or film splicing, just great dancing. Also, as per Fred's instructions, no isolated body shots, just the full body for the whole routine. Magnificent!!
Just let the camera document what great athletic dancers we really are.
So talented and easy for them it looks as though they don’t even breath hard. Love FRED ASTAIRE, hear him sing “ HEAVEN “. I think he was the greatest entertainer history of film💋‼️‼️😳
When I was in the second grade I started dance lessons in ballet and tap. Tap dancing to me was 100 times harder than ballet. I'm 68 now and I can't do either anymore. These two artists make it look effortless. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rest in peace. I hope you're dancing in heaven. I can't wait to meet the two of you. And the nickel's brothers.
I agree, I studied many dance forms and tap was, for me, the hardest! (BTW, it's the Nicholas Brothers.)
Back then talent was real. Today it is all phony.