What splits, what footwork, what acrobatics! Gene Nelson never ceases to amaze me. Always a pleasure to watch, in his later career, he took to direction and directed quite a few TV episodes that I was privileged to watch. His best films with some jaw-dropping dance numbers were Tea for Two, She's working her way through college, and Two sailors and a girl in which he co-starred with his current sweetheart at the time, Jane Powell.
Such an amazing and talented man! I read he was both a gymnast and a skater. I can see it! He is very athletic and smooth at the same time. Also, his personality and joy shines through as he dances. This is really rare!
Alas, this is one of the films in which Nelson's voice was dubbed by Hal Derwin. Nelson had a fine singing voice, but for some reason, they dubbed him in a couple of his films. The dancing, though, including that leap to the top of the piano, was all him.
I think people under-rate the singing/dancing stars in these Musicals. As you say, Chiptenor, the talent on show in musicals clips is phenomenal. I am staggered at the expertise of Gene Nelson. 'Amazing! is the only word one can use when watching his dancing. He lived and worked in the shadow of Astaire and Kelly but, for my money, he had a grace and athleticism that neither possessed. The way he performs seems effortless and almost defies gravity. Thanks for sharing your love of these wonderful entertainers of a bygone era.
I agree with you, David. A much under-rated performer .... as this clip shows. Great dancer and engaging personality! Good that we have these films to remind us of the terrific talent in days gone by!
I watched Gene Kelly dance and then watched this video with Gene Nelson. The difference? Kelly is always planted firmly on the ground and you can see him putting effort into his dancing. Nelson seems to float through his dance routines, and everything looks absolutely effortless.
Absolutely, Tam........the mark of a transcendent dancer. In my estimation, Gene was one of the best dancers ever. He had athleticism coupled with grace of movement. A treat to watch and applaud. Thank you for your interesting comment.
he was a very good dancer , singer, he switched to directing movies etc in the 60s and 70s . Saw a interview with him done in NY, a few years before he passed away and he was still a nice looking man, very well spoken and still had that sparkle in his eye you see in his dancing videos from early 50's movies. He is not doing the voice in this one, because back then Hollywood thought if you could dance you couldn't sing
Hal Derwin dubbed Gene's voice in this film. He did his own singing in Tea for Two though. I'll never understand why they didn't let him sing in all of his films, as he had a very nice voice.
When I watch these fantastic numbers I'm grinning from ear to ear but with a tear in my eye at the same time thinking about how something like this will never appear again in film as we just don't have the talent in front of or behind the camera to pull it off.
We do, they just don’t utilize them. Back in the day, great dancers were often huge stars. If Hollywood mounts a musical these days, they hire a big star & train them for a few months and surround them with actual dancers. There’s a few exceptions- “In the Heights” and the recent remake of “West Side Story” - but most musicals emphasize singers, not dancers. And the few you see are not huge stars. Mike Faist, who is an incredible dancer, seems to appear more as an actor than dancer these days.
Shame that this guy never became a huge star. He was more graceful than Kelly and more athletic than Astaire. A better actor than either one. His “Kansas City” routine in “Oklahoma!” really shows how versatile he was!
Astaire was always my idol, but Gene (Nelson) always was my most underrated Hollywood dancer. He was able to blend Astaire's grace with Kelly's athleticism, and flawlessly. I think if he'd worked at MGM, he'd be on the same pedestal we all put Astaire and Kelly. And frankly, some of his moves Fred and Gene might not have been able to do, or do as well. Thank God these clips survive! But, wouldn't it have been wonderful to see what they could have come up with, if he worked with Astaire or Kelly in an MGM film?
Thanks for the 'thumbs-up' Daniel! Pleased to see you praise a performer who was rather overshadowed by Kelly and Astaire. Gene Nelson was a great dancer, too......and had those debonair good looks.
That's not him singing. Dubbed by Hal Derwin. If you want to hear his real voice, you can hear it in the movie musical "Oklahoma". But, those are his feet! 😉
Interesting although you can hear a difference in this between his natural voice and the dubbing. But, he had a perfectly fine singing voice that fit him. I wonder why they chose to dub him. I think Astaire and Kelly were much weaker singers than Nelson, and I don't think they were ever dubbed.
@@mrsjake1828 He had to contend with the same hangup as Eleanor Powell: studio bosses reckoned any dancer that good could not possibly be a decent singer too. Warners was getting its musical mojo working again with these William Jacobs productions, but the tide was starting to run against the genre: TV was breaking up the family audience and costs were spiraling. Moreover, no kind of film needs a permanent cadre of talent and craft more, but antitrust actions were destroying the studio system. Gene Nelson was a melancholy casualty of these destructive forces. Had he been born 10-15 years before, he would have had many more opportunities to display his virility and versatility.
@@esmeephillips5888 I think you are right, but didn't he do a few westerns too in the later 50s? I saw a very good interview with him,a 3 part interview on RUclips , done a few years before he died, still had that sparkle in his eye, its a really good interview
@@califdad4 Gene was highly versatile on and off the boards. He kept busy, even directing a couple of Elvis's 'travelogues'. But watching the King try to dance, surrounded by bumping and grinding MAWs in bikinis, must have been bitter-sweet for Mr Nelson, who had come in on the end of the Golden Age.
@@esmeephillips5888 he did a few other movies also,band TV, said directing he really enjoyed but missed not getting as well known as a actor. He was really good just needed to to have gotten Started earlier but he was only like 28-29 when he did " Tea for Two"
In every way What a Gymnist Nelson was also Shame he never got the Reconition That he deserved from the Hollywood Mongrols May he RTP And is sadly missed By all of his Fans etc.
Check out his Gym Scene from the Movie " She's working her way through College." Here on the tube He was Fantastic & he did that Scene in just one take, As he said in a later on Interview, When asked etc.
and Astaire, he was very good, plus very nice for women to look at I'm sure, he was only about 30-31 making this movie, he was still in prime condition here
In this film (Lullaby of Broadway) she's angry with him because she met him a few days before on a cruise ship. He told her he didn't know how to dance so she tried to teach him. He just stepped all over her feet. He also came on to her and tried to go back to her cabin with her to help her pack. Now she's seeing him again and knows he lied about not knowing how to dance.
Boy, That Man was definitely a DANCER!❤
Wow so hypnotic! Boy he was sensational ✨✨✨
this man was a fantastic dancer and should've received more recognition in his lifetime. fabulous.
What splits, what footwork, what acrobatics! Gene Nelson never ceases to amaze me. Always a pleasure to watch, in his later career, he took to direction and directed quite a few TV episodes that I was privileged to watch. His best films with some jaw-dropping dance numbers were Tea for Two, She's working her way through college, and Two sailors and a girl in which he co-starred with his current sweetheart at the time, Jane Powell.
Also wrote and directed “Kissin Cousins,” a nice Elvis vehicle.
Where are the Gene Nelsons of today? They dont make um like this anymore!😥😘
Rhonda I’ve been wondering the same thing! Would marry a man like him in a heartbeat! 😍
There are a fair number of them on Broadway, but you don't see them in movies because they hardly make movie musicals any more. : (
@@keikekazeAnd often they train a non dancer (who’s a big star) for a few months and call it a day.
Such an amazing and talented man! I read he was both a gymnast and a skater. I can see it! He is very athletic and smooth at the same time. Also, his personality and joy shines through as he dances. This is really rare!
The Astaires of this world, the Nelsons, the Kellys - transforming athleticism into aesthetic delight. Puts footballers to shame . . .
Such a dreamy voice 🥰 amazing singer and amazing dancer!! 🥰
Alas, this is one of the films in which Nelson's voice was dubbed by Hal Derwin. Nelson had a fine singing voice, but for some reason, they dubbed him in a couple of his films. The dancing, though, including that leap to the top of the piano, was all him.
Unbelievable!!! So many of the entertainers of that era were simply TOO MUCH!!! BRAVO!!!
I think people under-rate the singing/dancing stars in these Musicals. As you say, Chiptenor, the talent on show in musicals clips is phenomenal. I am staggered at the expertise of Gene Nelson. 'Amazing! is the only word one can use when watching his dancing. He lived and worked in the shadow of Astaire and Kelly but, for my money, he had a grace and athleticism that neither possessed. The way he performs seems effortless and almost defies gravity. Thanks for sharing your love of these wonderful entertainers of a bygone era.
I agree with you, David. A much under-rated performer .... as this clip shows. Great dancer and engaging personality! Good that we have these films to remind us of the terrific talent in days gone by!
I watched Gene Kelly dance and then watched this video with Gene Nelson. The difference? Kelly is always planted firmly on the ground and you can see him putting effort into his dancing. Nelson seems to float through his dance routines, and everything looks absolutely effortless.
Absolutely, Tam........the mark of a transcendent dancer. In my estimation, Gene was one of the best dancers ever. He had athleticism coupled with grace of movement. A treat to watch and applaud. Thank you for your interesting comment.
he was a very good dancer , singer, he switched to directing movies etc in the 60s and 70s . Saw a interview with him done in NY, a few years before he passed away and he was still a nice looking man, very well spoken and still had that sparkle in his eye you see in his dancing videos from early 50's movies. He is not doing the voice in this one, because back then Hollywood thought if you could dance you couldn't sing
Hal Derwin dubbed Gene's voice in this film. He did his own singing in Tea for Two though. I'll never understand why they didn't let him sing in all of his films, as he had a very nice voice.
And no one has commented on that leap to the top of the piano? I suspect that even Gene Kelly would have had a lot of trouble nailing that!
I think Kelly would have had trouble with it too. Nelson was one of a kind.
And in Tea for Two he leaps from a stair step to the hand rail and nails the landing with Olympic perfection.
@@eleanorhoward9464 Check out the gym scene from She’s Working Her Way Through College. Done in a single take, with a few cameras.
When I watch these fantastic numbers I'm grinning from ear to ear but with a tear in my eye at the same time thinking about how something like this will never appear again in film as we just don't have the talent in front of or behind the camera to pull it off.
We do, they just don’t utilize them. Back in the day, great dancers were often huge stars. If Hollywood mounts a musical these days, they hire a big star & train them for a few months and surround them with actual dancers. There’s a few exceptions- “In the Heights” and the recent remake of “West Side Story” - but most musicals emphasize singers, not dancers. And the few you see are not huge stars. Mike Faist, who is an incredible dancer, seems to appear more as an actor than dancer these days.
My favorite dreams are like these. I'll be transported back to the 50s. They'll be dancing, a handsome man in a suite and always a jazz piano 🥰
Great dancer! And gorgeous ❤️
Shame that this guy never became a huge star. He was more graceful than Kelly and more athletic than Astaire. A better actor than either one. His “Kansas City” routine in “Oklahoma!” really shows how versatile he was!
He is a mix of James Stewart and Gene Kelly! Awesome💖
Great dancer!
This man literally could fly!
Astaire was always my idol, but Gene (Nelson) always was my most underrated Hollywood dancer. He was able to blend Astaire's grace with Kelly's athleticism, and flawlessly. I think if he'd worked at MGM, he'd be on the same pedestal we all put Astaire and Kelly. And frankly, some of his moves Fred and Gene might not have been able to do, or do as well. Thank God these clips survive! But, wouldn't it have been wonderful to see what they could have come up with, if he worked with Astaire or Kelly in an MGM film?
I always loved gene Nelson 's dancing.
Maravilhoso cena de Um rouxinol na Broadway!
Wow! Love him
he's fantasik
Gene Nelson was never given the same status as Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly. Still a great dancer, like Donald O'Connor.
Superbe
With the Page Cavanaugh Trio.
The forgotten man of dance, together with Dan Daley. Pity he had to compete with Kelly, Astaire and O'Connor.
Right on etc.
Yeah ikr he also sings better than any of those 3
@@ryangregorakos5040 Sheesh! You know, folks, it's not a zero sum game.
Fair
A great one in dance numbers, regardless and a better singer than most. But perhaps not his own voice here.
👍🏽🌹❤️
Thanks for the 'thumbs-up' Daniel! Pleased to see you praise a performer who was rather overshadowed by Kelly and Astaire. Gene Nelson was a great dancer, too......and had those debonair good looks.
That's not him singing. Dubbed by Hal Derwin. If you want to hear his real voice, you can hear it in the movie musical "Oklahoma". But, those are his feet! 😉
Interesting although you can hear a difference in this between his natural voice and the dubbing. But, he had a perfectly fine singing voice that fit him. I wonder why they chose to dub him. I think Astaire and Kelly were much weaker singers than Nelson, and I don't think they were ever dubbed.
@@mrsjake1828
He had to contend with the same hangup as Eleanor Powell: studio bosses reckoned any dancer that good could not possibly be a decent singer too.
Warners was getting its musical mojo working again with these William Jacobs productions, but the tide was starting to run against the genre: TV was breaking up the family audience and costs were spiraling. Moreover, no kind of film needs a permanent cadre of talent and craft more, but antitrust actions were destroying the studio system.
Gene Nelson was a melancholy casualty of these destructive forces. Had he been born 10-15 years before, he would have had many more opportunities to display his virility and versatility.
@@esmeephillips5888 I think you are right, but didn't he do a few westerns too in the later 50s? I saw a very good interview with him,a 3 part interview on RUclips , done a few years before he died, still had that sparkle in his eye, its a really good interview
@@califdad4 Gene was highly versatile on and off the boards. He kept busy, even directing a couple of Elvis's 'travelogues'. But watching the King try to dance, surrounded by bumping and grinding MAWs in bikinis, must have been bitter-sweet for Mr Nelson, who had come in on the end of the Golden Age.
@@esmeephillips5888 he did a few other movies also,band TV, said directing he really enjoyed but missed not getting as well known as a actor. He was really good just needed to to have gotten Started earlier but he was only like 28-29 when he did " Tea for Two"
dam, 2:43min took me 30 min to watch it
Haha.....they say 'patience is a virtue' .... Keep enjoying.
@@MinstrelSurfer yeha, been watching Micheal Jackson and Prince for four decades, first saw Gene Nelson 5 min ago.
Seems like he was inspired by the Nicholas Brothers
Better voice, more athletic then Gene Kelly.
In every way What a Gymnist Nelson was also Shame he never got the Reconition That he deserved from the Hollywood Mongrols May he RTP And is sadly missed By all of his Fans etc.
Check out his Gym Scene from the Movie " She's working her way through College." Here on the tube He was Fantastic & he did that Scene in just one take, As he said in a later on Interview, When asked etc.
Plus he is a Gymnist added into his Dancing Routine etc.
Right you are he was with the wrong Studio etc
and Astaire, he was very good, plus very nice for women to look at I'm sure, he was only about 30-31 making this movie, he was still in prime condition here
Triple Threat!
Chill out, Doris. He's got. I mean, can you imagine his thighs?
In this film (Lullaby of Broadway) she's angry with him because she met him a few days before on a cruise ship. He told her he didn't know how to dance so she tried to teach him. He just stepped all over her feet. He also came on to her and tried to go back to her cabin with her to help her pack. Now she's seeing him again and knows he lied about not knowing how to dance.
With you're lips near to mine