We've featured the memorable partnership of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers on several occasions. I couldn't stand to watch their films when I was younger but have grown to appreciate the artistry and beauty of their dance scenes. Their films also featured many classics from the Great American Songbook, most of them introduced to audiences for the first time. Below are my nine favorites, arranged chronologically.
The Continental, composed by Herb Magidson & Con Conrad. From The Gay Divorcee (1934).
Night & Day, composed by Cole Porter. The Gay Divorcee.
Cheek To Cheek, composed by Irving Berlin. From Top Hat (1935).
I Won't Dance, composed by Jerome Kern & Dorothy Fields. From Roberta (1935).
The Way You Look Tonight, composed by Jerome Kern & Dorothy Fields. From Swing Time (1936)
Extra added bonus version from Tony Bennett!
Let's Face The Music And Dance, composed by Irving Berlin. From Follow The Fleet (1936). My favorite of their music and dance sequences.
They Can't Take That Away From Me, composed by George & Ira Gershwin. From Shall We Dance (1937).
They All Laughed, composed by the Gershwins. Shall We Dance.
Let's Call The Whole Thing Off, composed by the Gershwins. Shall We Dance.
Showing posts with label Ginger Rogers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ginger Rogers. Show all posts
Friday, December 22, 2017
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Let's Face The Music And Dance
What a pleasure to watch. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers from Follow The Fleet (1936). The song was composed by Irving Berlin for the film. The clip below supplies the full set up and context for the song and dance which THC found quite surprising. It's worth watching the whole thing (and you'll see young Lucille Ball looking over Fred's right shoulder in the opening sequence) but if you want to start when Ginger Rogers makes her first appearance go to 2:30. THC doesn't know much about dancing technique but thinks anyone with a heart will find the nearly three minute sequence with no cuts to be breathtaking, beautiful and moving. Along with Fred & Ginger notice the third character, Ginger's dress and the legs it encases. How did they do that?
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