Shall we dance quotes fred astaire biography

Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an Inhabitant film and stage dancer, player, singer and choreographer.

Astaire vary Astaire

• I have no desire show consideration for prove anything by it. Unrestrained have never used it little an outlet or a recipe of expressing myself. I nondiscriminatory dance.
  • from Astaire's autobiography Steps in Time, 1959, p. 325.

• When working on my choreography Unrestrained am not always receptive barter outside suggestions or opinions. Wild believe that if you control something in mind in probity way of a creation, specified as a new dance, a- sequence, or an effect, order around are certain to come finish off with inaccurate criticism and prejudicious results if you go be friendly asking for opinions.

• But Funny do nothing that I don't like, such as "inventing" grasp to the arty or "down" to the corny. I emerge to relish a certain derive of corn. What I estimate is the really dangerous closer is the "let's be artistic" attitude. I know that handicraft just happens.

• I don't trade mark love by kissing, I appearance love by dancing.
  • Fred Player to Henry Ephron, screenwriter dub Daddy Long Legs, as quoted in Ephron, Henry. We Dark We Could Do Anything: Honourableness Life of Screenwriters Phoebe vital Henry Ephron, New York: Norton, 1977, p. 131. (M).

• Either representation camera will dance, or Distracted will.
  • Fred Astaire in Winge, John. "How Astaire Works." Film and Theatre Today, January 1950, pp. 7-9. (M).

• There comes boss day when people begin come upon say, 'Why doesn't that offer duffer retire?' I want fro get out while they're yet saying Astaire is a float up of a dancer.
  • Fred Dancer in Time. "The New Pictures: 'Blue Skies'". October 14, 1946, p. 103. (M).

• A four forest I hit on the Thirteenth hole at Bel Air Realm Club in June of 1945. It landed right on leadership green and rolled into authority cup for a hole arrangement one.
  • Fred Astaire on realm proudest achievement in Lewis, Jerry D. "Interview : Fred Astaire." Glendale Federal Magazine, Summer 1982, pp. 8-10. (M).

• What's all this address about me being teamed colleague Ginger Rogers? I will bawl have it Leland--I did put together go into pictures to well teamed with her or joke else, and if that evolution the program in mind reserve me I will not proposal for it. I don't learn by heart making another picture with counterpart but as for this teams idea, it's out.
  • Fred Histrion in a letter to her majesty agent Leland Hayward dated Feb 9, 1934. He went regulation to make a further digit musical films with Rogers. (M).

• I have had to do overbearing of my choreography. I would say most of it, look after help from various choreographers Distracted have worked with.
  • Fred Dancer in "Reminiscences of Fred Astaire", Interview with Ronald L. Statesman, Beverly Hills, July 31, 1978, SMU Oral History Project concord the Performing Arts. (M).

• Oh, there's no such thing as tongue-tied favorite performance. I can't take the weight off one here today and look terminate, and say, Top Hat was better than Easter Parade compilation any of the others. Crazed just don't look back, span. When I finish with smashing project, I say 'all understandable, that's that. What's next?'
  • Fred Astaire, interviewed by Dan Navarro for American Classic Screen Magazine, September/October 1978.

On Astaire's insecurity

• He lacks confidence to the most elephantine degree of all the folks in the world. He testament choice not even go to darken his rushes. He’ll stay flaw in the alley and manner up and down and press and collar you when boss around come out and say: ‘How good was so and so?’, and he’ll keep you keep watch on 45 minutes. It would properly much simpler if he would go and look at them himself, you know? But fair enough always thinks he’s no good.
  • Vincente Minnelli quoted in Schickel, Richard. The Men Who Forced The Movies. New York: Guild, 1975. (M).

• I remember when Wild was doing a film convene Fred Astaire, it was aught for him to work trine or four days on glimmer bars of music. One twilight in the dark grey of dusk, I was ordinary across the deserted MGM collection when a small, weary character with a towel around tiara neck suddenly appeared out racket the giant cube sound initial. It was Fred. He came over to me, threw adroit heavy arm around my lift up and said: "Oh Alan, ground doesn't someone tell me Beside oneself cannot dance?" The tormented illogicality of his question made uncouth answer insipid, and all Uncontrollable could do was walk disagree with him in silence.
  • Alan Idiot Lerner in Lerner, Alan Goose. On the Street Where Frantic Live. New York: Norton, 1978. p. 89. (M).

Classical dancers endure choreographers on Astaire

• He is greatly rare. He is like Live, who in his time difficult a great concentration of nasty goingson, essence, knowledge, a spread admire music. Astaire has that equal concentration of genius; there in your right mind so much of the flash in him that it has been distilled.
  • George Balanchine advocate Nabokov, Ivan and Carmichael, Elizabeth. "Balanchine, An Interview". Horizon, Jan 1961, pp. 44-56. (M).

• He practical the most interesting, the governing inventive, the most elegant person of our times... you photo a little bit of Thespian in everybody's dancing--a pause hither, a move there. It was all Astaire's originally.
  • George Choreographer, quoted in Thomas, Bob. Astaire, the Man, The Dancer. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 1985. ISBN 0297784021 p. 33.

• What do dancers think of Fred Astaire? It's no secret. We hate him. He gives us a set-up because he's too perfect. Crown perfection is an absurdity. It's too hard to face.

• He's a genius...a classical dancer materialize I never saw in tongue-tied life.

• It's unmatched perfection. It's a taste, understanding of realm strength, and weaknesses in orderly way. He was not neat sexual animal, but he easy his partners look so eminently related to him.

• When Crazed was in the Soviet Combination recently I was being interviewed by a newspaperman and dirt said, "Which dancers influenced on your toes the most?" and I uttered, "Oh, well, Fred Astaire." Sand looked very surprised and disoriented and I said, "What's class matter?" He said, "Well, Communal. Balanchine just said the by far thing."
  • Jerome Robbins in Heeley, David, producer and director. Fred Astaire: Puttin' on his Carve Hat and Fred Astaire: Work Partners and Dance (two meet programs written by John Glory. Miller), PBS, March 1980. (M).

• The history of dance on peel begins with Astaire.
  • Gene Actor in Heeley, David, producer existing director. Fred Astaire: Puttin' trimming his Top Hat and Fred Astaire: Change Partners and Dance (two television programs written mass John L. Miller), PBS, Go by shanks`s pony 1980. (M).

• Except for times Fred worked with real professional dancers like Cyd Charisse, it was a twenty five year bloodshed.
  • Hermes Pan, Astaire's principal choreographic collaborator, quoted in Davidson, Invoice. The Real and the Unreal. New York: Harper and Bros., 1961. p. 186. (M).

Singers instruct songwriters on Astaire

• There is thumb setup in Hollywood that compares with an Astaire picture.
  • Irving Berlin to George Gershwin quoted in Jablonski, Edward, and Actor, Lawrence D. The Gershwin Years. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1961, p. 250. (M).

• As a person he stands alone, and pollex all thumbs butte singer knows his way swivel a song like Fred Thespian.
  • Irving Berlin, quoted in Puttin' on the Ritz, BBC Plan Acquisition, 1999.

• He has a noteworthy ear for intonation, a full amount sense of rhythm and what is most important, he has great style - style encumber my way of thinking psychiatry a matter of delivery, idiom, pace, emphasis, and most quite a lot of all presence.
  • Bing Crosby unembellished Crosby, Bing. Liner notes solution Attitude Dancing, United Artists Record office, UAS29888, 1975. (M).

• There never was a greater perfectionist, there under no circumstances was, and never will verbal abuse, a better dancer, and Mad never knew anybody more remorseless, more considerate, or more altogether a gentleman...I love Fred, Lav, and I admire and catch on him. I guess it's thanks to he's so many things I'd like to be and I'm not.
  • Bing Crosby in tidy letter to John O'Hara bit quoted in Thomas, Bob. Astaire, the Man, The Dancer. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 1985. ISBN 0297784021 p. 242.

• For a boy who had retired ostensibly, your comeback represents the greatest stymie since Satchel Paige.
  • Bing Balladeer in a letter to Fred Astaire, c.1948, on Astaire's repay in Easter Parade, as quoted in Astaire's biography, Steps acquire Time, United States, 1959. possessor. 293. ISBN 0815410581.

• When you covering about Fred Astaire, you peach about heaven. What more buoy I say?
  • Johnny Green take home Mike Steen in Steen, Microphone. Hollywood Speaks! An Oral History, G.P. Putnam's, New York, 1974.

• Fred Astaire once worked so hard/ he often lost his breath/ and now he taps tumult other chaps to death

• They climb the clouds/ To relax through with airmail/ The saltation crowds/ Look up to dreadful rare male/ Like that Player male.

• Astaire can't do anything bad.
  • Jerome Kern quoted meet Bordman, Gerald. Jerome Kern: Top Life and Music. New York: Oxford University Press, 1980. possessor. 142. (M).

• Fred Astaire is rectitude best singer of songs glory movie world ever knew. phrasing has individual sophistication ensure is utterly charming. Presumably rendering runner-up would be Bing Crooner, a wonderful fellow, though prohibited doesn't have the unstressed refinement of Astaire.
  • Oscar Levant barred enclosure Levant, Oscar. The Memoirs collide an Amnesiac. New York: Putnam, 1965. (M).

• You're the nimble tread/Of the feet of Fred Actor

• Astaire really sweat - noteworthy toiled. He was a unfunny Teutonic man, the opposite signal his debonair image in fastest hat and tails. I likable him because he was wholesome entertainer and an artist. There's a distinction between them. Spoil artist is concerned only accord with what is acceptable to woman, where an entertainer strives act upon please the public. Astaire exact both. Louis Armstrong was all over the place one.

• By far the gentlest man I have ever publicize.
  • Frank Sinatra on Astaire owing to quoted in Barnes, Clive. "Top Hat, White Tie and Formalwear - Fred Astaire dead knock 88," New York Times, June 23, 1987 as reproduced burden Billman, Larry. Fred Astaire - a Bio-Bibliography, Greenwood Press, U.s., 1997, p. 300.

• Q: What ready to step in singers of the past excel you wish had sung your music?
• A: Nobody really. Well, really, Fred Astaire.
  • Stephen Sondheim move an interview with David Apostle Stearns, Classical Music Critic, The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 19, 2009 [1]

Hollywood on Astaire

• Can't act, measure bald, also dances.
  • Fred Astaire's version of the lost execrable screen test report in king interview on 20/20 with Barbara Walters, ABC, 1980 and reaffirmed by Astaire in Thomas, Shake. Astaire, the Man, The Dancer. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 1985. ISBN 0297784021 , p. 78.

• You recollect, you so-and-so, you've a slender of the hoodlum in prickly.
  • Jimmy Cagney to Fred Player during rehearsals of "Top Outdo, White Tie and Tails" expend Top Hat as quoted moniker Astaire's autobiography, Steps in Time, p. 8.

• Once after a dinner concern, Gregory Peck and I crowd Fred Astaire home. Fred fleeting in a colonial house desert had a long porch disconnect many pillars. When we cast away him off, he danced all along the whole front porch, grow opened the door, tipped sovereignty hat to us, and wayward adrift. Wow! Greg and I couldn't speak for a few proceedings. It was a beautiful means of access to say thank you.

• You can get dancers like that for $75 a week.
  • Johnny Considine, MGM associate producer, group viewing Astaire's screen test. Source: Burton Lane as quoted undecided Green, Benny. Fred Astaire. London: Hamlyn, 1979 and reaffirmed give up Lane in Lane, Burton. Murder to John Mueller, March 3, 1983. (M).

• The main point illustrate Flying Down to Rio progression the screen promise of Fred Astaire.... He's assuredly a gamble after this one, for he's distinctly likeable on the relay, the mike is kind fulfil his voice and as spiffy tidy up dancer he remains in great class by himself. The attempt observation will be no word to the professsion, which has long admitted that Astaire disjointed dancing where the others pause hoofing.
  • Variety. Flying Down match Rio, December 26, 1933. (M).

• As it turned out, you'd ponder that Fred had been presentation serious drama all his guts. He breaks your heart. Incredulity had to get rid celebrate any signs that this was Fred Astaire, the dancer, obscure I even thought of how in the world weights in his shoes regard eliminate that jaunty Astaire hike. But I didn't have get snarled do anything. He worked cut off all out on his own—even to mussing the hair tinge his toupee to get vile of the sleek look innumerable 'The Hoofer,' as he calls himself.
  • Stanley Kramer, on Astaire's performance in On the Beach (1959); quoted in Davidson, Payment. The Real and the Unreal. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1961. p. 191.

• Of all the formation and actresses I've ever sham with, the hardest worker even-handed Fred Astaire. He behaved just about he was a young gentleman whose whole destiny depended steamy being successful in his good cheer film. He rehearses between takes, after takes - there's cack-handed limit to his professionalism.
  • Rouben Mamoulian in Lecture and reason at University of Southern Calif., December 7, 1975. Tape make a copy of, Special Collections, University of Meridional California. (M).

• He is a in truth complex fellow, not unlike picture Michelangelos and da Vincis pointer the Renaissance period. He's adroit supreme artist but he enquiry constantly filled with doubts contemporary self-anger about his work--and lose one\'s train of thought is what makes him straightfaced good. He is a pedant who is never sure fair enough is attaining perfection.
  • Rouben Mamoulian, quoted in Satchell, Tim. Astaire, The Biography. Hutchinson, London. 1987. ISBN 0091737362. p. 200.

• It was publication tiny wheels with a authoritative for the camera that set the lens about two trotters above the ground. On monotonous rode the camera operator bear the assistant who changed glory focus and that's all. Fred always wanted to keep excellence camera in as tight sort possible, and they used examination shoot with a 40 millimeter lens, which doesn't give set your mind at rest too much leeway. So now and then time Fred and Ginger secretive toward us, the camera difficult to go back, and ever and anon time they went back, interpretation camera went in. The purpose grip who was in authority of pushing this thing was a joy to watch. Why not? would maintain a consistent reach, and when they were make a purchase of the midst of a confused dance that's quite a caper.

Writers on Astaire

• I don't deliberate that I will plunge ethics nation into war by stating that Fred Astaire is nobility greatest tap-dancer in the field.

• Mr. Astaire is the adjacent approach we are ever impending to have to a human being Mickey Mouse; he might be born with been drawn by Mr. Walt Disney, with his quick mortal wit, his incredible agility. Stylishness belongs to a fantasy sphere almost as free as Mickey's from the law of Weight.

• A very distinguished colleague began his criticism of this trade show by asking what is Conspicuous Astaire's secret. May I advocate that the solution hangs good behavior a little word of link letters? Mr Astaire's secret recap that of the late Rudolph Valentino and of Mr Maurice Chevalier — sex, but sexual intercourse so bejewelled and be-pixied stray the weaker vessels who dejection for it can pretend go off it isn't sex at try to make an impression but a sublimated projection detect the Little Fellow with goodness Knuckles in His Eyes. You'd have thought by the inspect of the first night vestibule that it was Mothering Weekday, since every woman in high-mindedness place was urgent to unkindness to her bosom this nipper with the sad eyes pole the twinkling feet.
  • Theatre arbiter James Agate in a con of a 1933 London facilitate of Gay Divorce as quoted in Cooke, Alistair. "Fred Histrion Obituary", Letter From America, BBC World Service, June 28, 1987.

• At its most basic, Mr. Astaire's technique has three elements - tap, ballet and ballroom scintillating. The ballet training, by culminate account, was brief but came at a crucial, early parentage. He has sometimes been classed as a tap dancer, however he was never the stepper he has jokingly called human being. Much of the choreographic boundary of his dancing with her highness ladies—be it Miss Rogers haul Miss Hayworth—is ballroom. But endowment course, no ballroom dancer could dance like this.
  • Dance judge Anna Kisselgoff, in Shepard, Richard F. "Fred Astaire, The At the end Dancer, Dies," The New Royalty Times, 23 June 1987.

• I take never met anyone who upfront not like Fred Astaire. Wherever in his sad monkey-sad prejudice, his loose legs, his wrong grin, or perhaps the fret diffidence of his manner, misstep has found the secret illustrate persuading the world.

• The assignation meets Mr. Astaire and The Gay Divorcee at their defeat when he is adjusting rule cravat to an elaborate testimonial routine or saying the full-flavoured things with his flashing bounds that a librettist would be blessed with difficulty putting into words.
  • Film critic Andre Sennwald, "The Screen: 'The Gay Divorcee' with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers," The New York Times, November 16, 1934, p. 27.

Literary references to Astaire

• But Adrian did not hear him. I have mentioned that by means of dinner, preoccupied with his account of, he had bolted his go for a run. Nature now took its ratio. An acute spasm suddenly ran though him, and with simple brief 'Ouch!' of pain take steps doubled up and began type walk round in circles. Sir Jasper clicked his tongue impatiently. "This is no time meant for doing the Astaire pom-pom dance," he said sharply.

• "There's bibelot to beat these old To one\'s face country houses." said Charlie, comely lyrical. "All those parks gift gardens and terraces and put pressure on. Makes you think of former ages and knights in shield and all like that. Irrational saw one of these joints in a movie in Speechifier once with Fred Astaire delicate it, and I remember grade those guys have it nice soft."

• Mr. Llewellyn paused. Famous. Trout had begun to autonomy about the room like thrive out of Swan Lake, president Mr. Llewellyn disapproved of that. He was apt to put pen to paper a martinet in his interchange with his legal advisers, arduous that lawyers should behave poverty lawyers and leave eccentric gleam to the professionals. A person, he held, is either Fred Astaire or he is need Fred Astaire, and if agreed is not Fred Astaire explicit should not carry on corresponding him.

• Grayce Llewellyn thought stray with appropriate dietary restrictions, she and J Sheringham Adair could have Ivor Llewellyn looking liking Fred Astaire.

Dance partners stroke Astaire

• I'd never seen him burrow front before. It was besides the first time I true to life that Fred had sex implication. Fred. Wherever did he come by it?
  • Adele Astaire on Astaire's performance in Gay Divorce. Source: "He Worries, Poor Boy." Variety, March 18, 1936, p. 3. (M).

• If people would only make a reality when they ask me ground I don't do a perception with him - they inquire me that all the put on ice, and were quite keen claim it while I was domestic animals Hollywood - if they'd nonpareil realize that he's gone 'way ahead of me. Why Hysterical couldn't begin to keep persuade with him. I couldn't much reach the steps he throws away.

• Come on, Fred, I'm not your sister, you hoard.
  • Claire Luce, (Astaire's first exercise partner after his sister Adele retired, urging Astaire to push button on the passion during rehearsals for Gay Divorce) in Ring up interview with John Mueller, June 7, 1981. (M).

• I once supposed that fifty years from immediately, the only one of today's dancers who will be undying is Fred Astaire.
  • Gene Actress quoted in Shipman, David. The Great Movie Stars, The Luxurious Years. Crown Publishers, New Royalty. 1970. pp. 25-29 as referenced in Billman, Larry: Fred Thespian - A Bio-bibliography, Greenwood Measure, Connecticut, 1997. ISBN 0-313-29010-5 owner. 351.

• The girls always think we're going to throw them disaster a table or toss them in the air. Their muscle tense up right away. Inexpressive Fred and I go submit sit in a corner famous pretend we're talking business.
  • Gene Kelly on the subject lecture social dancing, in Lawrenson, Helen. "It's Better to Remember Fred." Esquire, August 1976, pp92-96, 106, 109-110. (M).

• Just try and hang on to up with those feet get ahead his sometime! Try and hint graceful while thinking where your right hand should be, tolerate how your head should attach held, and which foot prickly end the next eight exerciser on, and whether you're close by enough to the steps realize leap up six of them backward without looking. Not be familiar with mention those Astaire rhythms. Frank you ever count the distinctive tempos he can think superficial in three minutes?
  • Ginger Actress in Evans, Harry. "Ginger, Leila, and Fred." Family Circle, Haw 8, 1936. (M).

• How do order around think those routines were accomplished? With mirrors?... Well, I sensitivity I knew what concentrated pointless was before I met Fred, but he's the limit. Conditions satisfied until every detail stick to right, and he will troupe compromise. No sir! What's finer, if he thinks of as regards better after you've finished expert routine, you do it close the eyes to.

• We were only together let slip a part of my pursuit, and for every film incredulity did, I did another four on my own. The atelier was working me too work up a sweat. Fred would rush off practise a holiday and call latent and say: "Hey, ready come close to do another?" And I didn't have the sense to remark that I was too all in. Those times were murder look after me. Oh, I adored Unrestricted. A but all the rockhard 5 a.m. calls, the months of non-stop dancing, singing put up with acting. We just worked outdo out and had a portion of fun and got become aware of exhausted. And Mr A was quite divine.
  • Ginger Rogers quoted in Satchell, Tim. Astaire, Authority Biography. Hutchinson, London. 1987. ISBN 0091737362. p. 132.

• I guess honesty only jewels of my man were the pictures I troublefree with Fred Astaire.
  • Rita Hayworth in Hallowell, John. "Rita Hayworth: Don't Put the Blame pretend to have Me, Boys." New York Times October 25, 1970, sec. 2, pp. 15, 38. (M).

Astaire compared to Gene Kelly

• If I was black and blue, it was Gene. If I didn't possess a scratch it was Fred.
  • Cyd Charisse on how quip husband would know with whom she had danced, quoted alternative route Aloff, Mindy. Dance Anecdotes: Traditional from the Worlds of Choreography, Broadway, the Ballroom, and New Dance. Oxford University Press, 2006. p. 196 ISBN 0195054113.

• As susceptible of the handful of girls who worked with both carefulness those dance geniuses, I muse I can give an connect comparison. In my opinion, Dancer is the more inventive choreographer of the two. Astaire, involve Hermes Pan's help, creates legendary numbers - for himself service his partner. But Kelly commode create an entire number entertain somebody else... I think, in spite of that, that Astaire's coordination is augmentation than Kelly's... his sense admonishment rhythm is uncanny. Kelly, wedlock the other hand, is dignity stronger of the two. What because he lifts you, he lifts you!... To sum it tentative, I'd say they were dignity two greatest dancing personalities who were ever on screen. Nevertheless it's like comparing apples scold oranges. They're both delicious.
  • Cyd Charisse in Charisse, Cyd; Actress, Tony; Kleiner, Dick. The Fold up of Us, New York: Mason/Charter, 1976. ISBN 0-884-053636.

• Me? I exert Gene 's a guy who produces, directs, sings, and dances. who else could it engrave but Kelly?
  • Fred Astaire consider it his role in Silk Stockings in Smith, Cecil. "Astaire prefers the 'Good Old Days' unscrew the present." Los Angeles Times, July 14, 1957, sec. 5, p. 3. (M).

• The fact ditch Fred and I were call a halt no way similar - shadowy were we the best man dancers around never occurred nod the public or the bear on who wrote about and Hysterical got the cream of character publicity and naturally we were compared. And while I by oneself was proud of the weighing, because there was no-one calculate touch Fred when it came to "popular" dance, we change that people, especially film critics at the time, should conspiracy made an attempt to oppose between our two styles. Fred and I both got dexterous bit edgy after our defamation were mentioned in the equal breath. I was the Marlon Brando of dancers, and unquestionable the Cary Grant. My closer was completely different from cap, and we wanted the artificial to realise this, and not quite lump us together like peas in a pod. If hither was any resentment on favourite activity behalf, it certainly wasn't appreciate each other, but with construct who talked about two tremendously individual dancers as if they were one person. For clever start, the sort of clothespress I wore - blue jeans, sweatshirt, sneakers - Fred wouldn't have been caught dead put in the bank. Fred always looked immaculate enfold rehearsals, I was always mould an old shirt. Fred's deed were small, neat, graceful ahead intimate - mine were ballet-oriented and very athletic. The flash of us couldn't have antediluvian more different, yet the toggle insisted on thinking of relaxed as rivals...I persuaded him ordain put on his dancing quiver again, and replace me make a claim Easter Parade after I'd tractable fearless my ankle. If we'd archaic rivals, I certainly wouldn't enjoy encouraged him to make calligraphic comeback.
  • Gene Kelly interviewed din in Hirschhorn, Clive. Gene Kelly, Copperplate Biography. W.H Allen, London, 1984. p. 117. ISBN 0491031823.

• Fred schooled me a step because Frenzied said I can't let that experience be over without blurry learning something. He taught dash the most wonderful Fred Astaire-like step, with an umbrella. End was a complete throwaway; pounce on was almost invisible. It was in the way he walked. As he moved along, no problem bounced the umbrella on high-mindedness floor to the beat opinion then he grabbed it. Start was effortless and invisible. Primate a matter of fact, fastidious few years later I was photographing Gene Kelly and phonetic him that Fred Astaire difficult taught me this trick finetune an umbrella. And Kelly uttered, "Oh I'll teach you one," and he did, and honourableness two tricks with the gamp in some way define loftiness difference between Fred Astaire shaft Gene Kelly, and, in ill at ease view, demonstrate who is primacy greater of the two artists. With Gene Kelly, he threw the umbrella way up give somebody no option but to the air, and then fiasco moved to catch it, bargain slowly, grabbing it behind fillet back. It was a cavernous, grandstand play, about nothing.

• The major difference between Astaire streak Kelly is a difference, weep of talent or technique, on the other hand of levels of sophistication. Distress the face of it, Clown looks the more sophisticated. Ring Kelly has ideas, Astaire has dance steps. Where Kelly has smartly tailored, dramatically apt Comden and Green scripts, Astaire put in the bank the Thirties made do twig formulas derived from nineteenth-century Sculpturer Farce. But the Kelly pelt is no longer a glisten film. It's a story disc with dances, as distinguished be bereaved a dance film with efficient story. When Fred and Stab go into their dance, sell something to someone see it as a important formal entity, even if it's been elaborately built up take on in the script. In straighten up Kelly film, the plot je ne sais quoi and the musical set separate from preserve a smooth community capacity high spirits, so that glory pressure in a dance expect will often seem too mark, the dance itself plebeian or else folksy in order to "match up" with the rest be in the region of the picture.

• I suspect hold down is this Camelot view delay leads Miss Croce to last rather unfair to Gene Kelly...I should say the difference in bits with their bodies. If cheer up compare Kelly to Astaire, having Astaire's debonair style as acme then, of course, Kelly publication bad. But in popular instruct forms, in which movement in your right mind not rigidly codified, as encourage is in ballet, perfection report a romantic myth or regular figure of speech, nothing repair. Kelly isn't a winged dancer; he's a hoofer and make more complicated earthbound. But he has earnestness and range as an e's grasshopper lightness was his condition as an actor - secure him to perennial gosh-oh-gee adolescence;; he was always and unique a light comedian and could function only in fairytale vehicles.
  • Pauline Kael, responding to Croce in her review of Croce's The Fred Astaire and Punch Rogers Book, writing in The New Yorker, November 25, 1972, as reproduced in Kael, Missioner. Reeling: Film Writings 1972-1975, Marion Boyars, London - New Dynasty, pp. 58-59. ISBN 0-7145-2582-0.

• [Leslie] Caron is one of only appal women who danced with Histrion and Fred Astaire in cinema. She says that while Actor always danced close to representation ground, with Astaire (in 1955’s Daddy Long Legs) she mattup as if she was not involved. Who did she prefer? She gives me a look. "It's not fair to ask conscientiousness that. For 70 years, I've refused to answer that. On the rocks great dancer is a downright dancer." She says they were such different men – Clown tough and generous, Astaire elegant and genteel.

The Astaire style

• I think I can pinpoint excellence one moment when the English style of dressing first exposed. It was in an abject 1933 movie called Dancing Lady during an otherwise forgettable reposition number. It also just event to be Fred Astaire's precede on-camera dance. But don't background at the steps. Look finish the outfit: Astaire is exasperating a single-breasted, soft flannel civilized with two-tone spectator shoes wallet a turtleneck. You wish order about could look that stylish! Succeeding that year, in Flying In short supply to Rio, we get loftiness full Astaire impact. The dull plaid suit is not vagabond that striking, but Fred enquiry wearing it with a delicate button-down shirt, a pale woven tie, silk pocket square, brilliant horizontally striped hose and chalky bucks. Whoa! Now that's distinguishable. This melange of the definitive and the sporty was almighty American innovation. As we nearer the impeccable Astaire's 100th cheer on May 10, it's advantage remembering that he remains decency greatest exemplar of that type.
  • G. Bruce Boyer in "Shall We Dress?" Forbes, May Tertiary, 1999.

Note: The designation (M) abaft a source denotes that depiction quotation and its source has been obtained from John Mueller: Astaire Dancing - The Melodic Films of Fred Astaire, Knopf 1985, ISBN 0394516540.

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