Cyd Charisse, 1922-2008

I’ve been on vacation lately, so I was not able to post when I heard of the death of the lovely and talented Cyd Charisse on June 17. Cyd radiated such beauty and grace that I always loved watching her dance with Gene – or with Fred Astaire or any other man!

Cyd and I shared a birthday, March 8. She was born in 1922 (dates vary in books and reports, but according to the 1930 U.S. Federal Census it is 1922) as Tula Ellice Finklea. She gained the nickname “Sid” when her brother couldn’t pronounce “Sis”, and gained the more glamorous “Cyd” after moving to Hollywood. She studied ballet as a young girl, and married her dance teacher, Nico Charisse, in 1948. They had a son, Nicky, in 1942, but the couple later divorced. Cyd married singer Tony Martin in 1949 and had another son, Tony, Jr., in 1950.

After performing in minor dancing roles in the movies, including some uncredited parts, Cyd’s “big break” came with her appearance in Gene Kelly’s Singin’ in the Rain. Her role was strictly a dancing part as the “vamp” in a dream-ballet sequence, but her sultry performance stole the show. Never before had a dancer exuded such eroticism on screen!

Audiences were hooked! In 1953 she gained the starring role in The Band Wagon opposite Fred Astaire. Although another actress was dubbed for the singing, Cyd’s performance was fantastic. “The Girl Hunt” ballet, slightly reminiscent of the SITR “Broadway Ballet” number, is still considered to be one of the best screen performances in a musical.

Cyd went on to star in a few other movies, including Brigadoon and It’s Always Fair Weather with Gene, and Silk Stockings with Fred. Because of her vast experience working and dancing with both men, I have always appreciated her much-quoted comment when asked which one was the better dancer. Her response: “It’s like comparing apples and oranges; they’re both delicious.”

Cyd’s career didn’t end with her last musical screen performance in Silk Stockings! She appeared in many television and movies specials over the years, as well as a nightclub act with her husband, Tony Martin. Cyd even made her Broadway debut in 1992 at the age of 70 in Grand Hotel.

Her beauty was stunning even as she aged; her dancing, timeless. She will be greatly missed. Fortunately, her art will live forever. Future generations will surely remember her as one of the greats.

For more information on Cyd Charisse:

• The Official Cyd Charisse Site
• Legs: A Tribute
• New York Times obituary, June 18, 2008
• My efforts to confirm her age and other genealogical facts
  

Gene Kelly and Dean Martin

Here's a wonderful clip of two greats, doing what they did best. I think it's from one of Dean Martin's specials with Gene Kelly as the guest star, but I am not sure. If anyone knows, please leave a comment! The best line? "Bye-bye booze?" Enjoy! Both are no longer with us, but they are still bringing us joy!

Gene's sister, Louise Kelly Bailey, dies at age 93

I received word today that Gene's sister, Louise Kelly Bailey, has passed away. She died on Friday in Dothan, Alabama, at age 93 and was the last of the Kelly brother and sisters. In the words of her niece, "What a dancing good time they must be having in heaven!" The "Five Kelly's" are shown above - from left to right, Jay, James, Gene, Louise, and Fred.

According to her obituary in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "While Gene -- and younger brother Fred, who became a New York producer -- had more fame, it was Mrs. Bailey who kept the family dance tradition alive in Pittsburgh. For nearly 50 years she ran the dance studio that the Kelly family founded."

"Slaughter" Slaughters the Competition

The polls have closed (no, not those polls...) and we have another winner. While not nearly as many folks voted as last time, your voices were loud and clear. I admit, this wasn't exactly a fair contest. But, I needed a new post and wrote in a hurry. The topic posed: "Aside from the popular all-time favorites, my favorite less-celebrated dance is..." The results: 29 votes total, with 16 (55%) for the "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" number from Words and Music, 6 votes (20%) for Serafin's "Nina" from The Pirate, 5 votes (17%) for "I Like Myself" from It's Always Fair Weather, 2 votes (6%) for "The Hat My Dear Old Father Wore" from Take Me Out to the Ballgame, and an amazing zero votes for a number I like a lot, "Why Am I So Gone About That Girl?" from Les Girls. More on the loser later, but for now, let's find out more about our winning number.

Again, this wasn't a fair competition, because "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" actually is a popular all-time favorite. As part of the 1948 film Words and Music, it created the only exciting part of the entire Rodgers and Hart biopic as one of their numbers performed on stage. The number was originally written by Rodgers for Broadway in 1937 as the ballet-finale for a musical called On Your Toes. Unlike Gene Kelly's rendition, the original was a comedic ballet choreographed by George Balanchine, and it featured Ray Bolger, as any comedic dance routine should. For the film, Gene shortened the piece by about four minutes, and he changed the tone considerably. The number you see is far from comedic...

Set in a sleazy New York neighborhood, Kelly's Dancer encounters the wonderful Vera-Ellen as The Blonde. The couple dance seductively, and their mutual interest seems to grow as the music changes to a breezy, cheerful melody. Together they enter a saloon that seems to be populated by the city's finest gangsters and prostitutes. The music grows jazzy...the couple is smitten with each other. Vera-Ellen is the epitome of sensuality with her short skirt and seductive manner. Gene is equally seductive in what could possibly be his sexiest outfit as he dances a very masculine "ballet" to win the girl over. But, a rival cuts in...a fight breaks out! All does not end well for this couple in one of the most innovative dance routines ever to grace the screen. It's only seven minutes long, but Gene and Vera manage to convey a wealth of emotion in that short time, all through dance. No words, but plenty of acting through dance. It's a creative celebration of the music, and it shows how effective dance can be at presenting emotion.

And now, join me in watching the masterpiece... And please comment on your vote in the poll! Why do you love this number or not like the others as much?

We Miss You, Gene!

Today is the 12th anniversary of Gene Kelly's death. His legacy lives on through the magic of his movies, and today there are just as many fans who love him and his work as there were back when he was making movies. To honor Gene today, I offer a poem that he wrote. This was printed on the "thank you" notes sent to everyone who offered words of sympathy after his death.

Streets

Some streets wind crookedly between long rows
Of dingy, dirty houses
That frown upon them with their lank, long faces.
Some streets flow gracefully along, bordered by stately trees
And calm, palatial mansions
That smile at them in silent, tranquil peace.
One street I know climbs roughly up a rugged hill,
Surmounting many huge, impeding boulders
Until it gains the top;
And then slopes gently down the other side,
Finally merging into the cool mist
Of a blossomed, green-turfed valley.
A man I know is like that street,
Who having climbed the rough and rugged hill and reached the summit,
Now steps upon the springy, carpet-grass and steadily makes his way down into the valley;
There to pause, a-wearied of his tiresome, toilsome trek,
And lying down upon the moist loam, allow the cool, damp mist to cover him
And he will sleep.

Gene Kelly
1929, age 16

Singin' in the Rain and The Pirate at Movies Til Dawn

Today let's take a tour through blogosphere for good posts about Gene Kelly's movies! Over at Movies Til Dawn, Raymond De Felitta has two great posts on our favorite musical, Singin' in the Rain. The first, "Singin' in the Rain": Backstage at a Backstage Story, focuses on the CD soundtrack to the movie and the sheer magnitude of what was involved with making movies, specifically the music. Part II is called Singin' in the Rain Pt. 2: The Mystery of Jimmy Thompson, in which the question is asked: "Who the hell was/is Jimmy Thompson?" As GK fans know (or maybe they don't if they're too busy paying attention to Gene), Jimmy is the dorky guy in SITR who sings the "Beautiful Girl" number. He also appeared as Charlie in Brigadoon and as one of the players in Summer Stock. Which was a surprise to me, actually - I never noticed that it was the same guy. Raymond asks a good question, and although it's suggested that Jimmy was some sort of protege of Gene, I have not found any good evidence of that in what I've read. I wouldn't mind knowing more about Mr. Thompson myself - is he still alive? The name is too common to find out on the web.

While you're over at the Movies Til Dawn site, there are also two interesting posts on another of our favorites, The Pirate. The first post highlights just how great the underrated movie is, and the second focuses on Judy Garland and how she was "on fire" in that film with sexual energy. Interestingly, in the same way I talked about how you can tell how much Gene loved Judy by how they appear on screen in the movie, Raymond's post discusses how much her husband, Vincent Minelli, was in love with her "through the lens" by the way he shot the film.

Gene Kelly and Judy Garland

Over on the Gene Scene message board, fans were excited with Renata's new video of Gene and Judy clips (see below). Well, I wanted to present that video as our "featured video clip" so it inspired me to do this post on...what else? Gene and Judy!

Gene Kelly and Judy Garland appeared in only three films together: For Me and My Gal (1942), The Pirate (1948), and Summer Stock (1950). Ironically, their first film together marks Gene's screen debut, and their last is Judy's final film for MGM. All three films feature a brash male character (is this a trend for Gene?) in the entertainment "business" pursuing Judy's more wholesome gal.

I was never a huge Judy Garland fan, but I just have to admit that she's wildly talented and I like her more each time I see the films. What is most evident in the montage of clips from these three films is the real-life relationship between Judy and Gene. And no, the word "relationship" used here does not imply a sexual or romantic one.

According to biographies, the pair met when Gene was performing in Pal Joey on Broadway. Judy, already a huge movie star, attended one of his performances and requested to meet. Gene accompanied Judy and her entourage, which included her mother and several press agents, to dinner. The group went to the Copacabana club for singing and dancing until 3 am. Judy asked her mother if she and Gene could walk around the city for a while. Permission granted, Gene took her for a walk through Central Park, walking and talking about the future possibilities of a movie together until 5 am.

That dream became a reality in For Me and My Gal. Gene appears somewhat star-struck as if he can't believe he's on screen with a big star like Judy! He always gave her credit for helping him learn how to dance for the film camera as opposed to dancing on stage for an audience. While Gene was a "newbie" when it came to acting in front of a camera, when it came time to dance the pair were well matched! By The Pirate, the mutual affection is evident in their performances. And in Summer Stock, the tables were nearly turned in that it was suddenly Judy who appeared lost at times. Despite her experience in the movies, her medical condition was precarious due to the "prescriptions" provided by the studio. In this film, Gene takes the lead to help her through it. Cast members reported that they waited, and waited, and waited for Judy to be emotionally ready to work or perform. Gene was patient, and he brought out the best in her as a result. Considering he's decribed by other co-stars as a "slave-driver", the fact that he was so patient during the filming of Summer Stock proves just how much he cared. The patience paid off, and Judy looks fabulous in her "Get Happy" finale, filmed months after the rest of the movie.

What I see in their on-screen appearances together is a mutual love, respect, and admiration. And so, I present our Featured Video Clip... Many thanks to Renata for her love of Gene and her talent at making videos!

A Gene Kelly Christmas

To get in the mood for the wonderful season of Christmas, here is a great photo of Gene Kelly and his daughter Bridget that comes from the December1962 issue of McCall's magazine. In that issue, editors asked several celebrities the question: "What was your most memorable Christmas?" Here is Gene's answer:

"It was the Christmas when I was six and my brother was seven. We sneaked downstairs early Christmas morning while my parents were asleep. Under the tree, we found two air rifles. We started to shoot the decorations off the tree. When my parents finally came down, the tree was a shambles. Yet, because it was Christmas, my parents didn't take the guns away from us; but that was the last time we ever shot in the house."

There is also a Christmas-related story in Gene's biography, Gene Kelly by Clive Hirschhorn: "But the biggest, most exciting holiday of all was Christmas. "We'd all go to bed on Christmas eve, " Jay [Gene's sister] recalled, "and when we came down at five-thirty, on our way to Mass, the living-room would be transformed. From nowhere there would be an enormous tree laden with presents and decorated from top to bottom with tinsel and paper bells. This was always a thrilling moment for us."

Kurt Browning Skates in the Rain

Not to be outdone by Usher's recent performance, Canadian figure skater Kurt Browning did an amazing "Singin' in the Rain" tribute on his television special in 1994. Kurt's admiration of Gene Kelly really shines through. He's even said that it's his favorite performance ever. Considering he's skated in competitions and shows hundreds of times, including various World Championships and the Olympics, that's amazing. Of course, Gene Kelly used to enjoy ice skating himself - we can only wonder what he thought of this creative tribute. Enjoy!

Movies Rock: Usher's Singin' in the Rain Like Gene Kelly

As I mentioned in my November 21st post, there is a special airing on CBS tomorrow night called "Movies Rock" celebrating the role of music in the movies. The live event was held in LA last weekend. This article from the International Herald Tribune called the event a "collision between the Grammys and the Oscars" as present-day stars of music and film paid tribute to the former legends and songs of the silver screen.

As reported, Usher dances to "Singin' in the Rain" and after reading the praise about the number (a standing ovation?) I can't wait to see it. You can see a brief glimpse of Usher doing a Gene Kelly move (in Don Lockwood attire) at the preview video on the Movies Rock website, http://www.moviesrock2007.com/.

Dancing with the Stars: How Would Gene Kelly Vote?

Tonight is the dance-off finale for "Dancing with the Stars". Wait...what does that have to do with Gene Kelly? He's not exactly on the show! Well, any fan of Gene is probably a fan of dance, and dance fans are definitely watching the show. If Gene were still around, wouldn't you love to be able to see him as a "Guest Judge"? Too bad the show didn't exist back when most of the dancers from cinema's classic musicals were still around to enjoy it with us.

So, how would Gene rate this season's three finalists? First, there's Marie Osmond, who has been entertaining long enough to overlap careers with Gene's. Watching Marie perform this season is a lot like watching Judy Garland in "Summer Stock" - she starts out rather plump in "Portland Fancy" and ends the movie looking svelte in "Get Happy". Marie's had a similar shrinking-effect! Gene would give her credit for working hard, putting some showmanship and enthusiasm in the steps, and because he'd remind her a little bit of Judy.



Next is Helio Castroneves. Since Helio's a race-car driver and not a dancer or entertainer, he's had quite a challenge. But, he's Brazilian and rhythm must be genetic because he has steadily improved and is now quite good. What would Gene say about Helio? I think Gene would be thrilled with Helio's performances because he dances in a masculine way similar to Gene's routines. He's a man's man, but he knows how to partner with the ladies. Also, Helio's smile is about as bright as Gene's in his happy hoofer mood! I think Gene would be proud of what Helio has been able to do.

The third finalist is "Spice Girl" Melanie Brown. Although Mel's not a professional dancer, she is a professional performer who's probably had a bit of dance training. I think Gene would be most impressed by her natural ability to quickly pick up a routine and dance it well. Her timing has been nearly perfect, and Gene would love the sultry sexiness that Mel brings to her dances.

So, if Gene were judge, who would he pick to win? Each "star" has great qualities about their dancing or they would not have made it this far through votes from both the judges and the fans. Would Gene favor the long-time trouper Marie, the smiling guy's guy Helio, or sleek and sexy Mel? Hmm...who's to say? I think he'd pick Mel with her Cyd Charisse-like lines. We'll never know what Gene would think, or if he'd even like the show at all. But, I think he'd appreciate the fact that America is watching dancing - we sure don't get to watch it in the movies anymore (High School Musical doesn't count).

Marjorie Morningstar vs. Dirty Dancing

“Nobody puts Marjorie in the corner…”

The movie Dirty Dancing has been back in the news recently for its 20th anniversary, and also for being compared to High School Musical 2. But for a true comparison, has anyone else realized that it’s a happier, more lighthearted, more musical version of Gene Kelly’s Marjorie Morningstar? If you’ve never thought about it before, consider the following:

- The main character for both movies is a naïve, good Jewish girl (Natalie Wood as Marjorie in MM and Jennifer Grey as Baby in DD).

- Marjorie works at a camp in the Catskills. Baby visits a camp in the Catskills.

- Marjorie falls for the cocky bad-boy entertainment director, Noel (Gene Kelly). Baby falls for the cocky bad-boy dance instructor, Johnny (Patrick Swayze).

- Marjorie’s parents disapprove of the relationship because he’s not Jewish and he has no ambition. Baby’s parents disapprove of the relationship because he’s not Jewish and he’s the hired help.

- Noel teaches Marjorie how to perform. Johnny teaches Baby how to dance. Side note: DD’s choreographer, Kenny Ortega, is a huge Gene Kelly fan and worked with him on “Xanadu”.

This is where the two stories begin to differ drastically. Unfortunately for Marjorie, MM is the more serious and dramatic movie that focuses on the relationship of Noel and Marjorie. Simply, Noel is a loser. He can’t handle the stability that Marjorie offers and he can’t handle not being successful in the “real world”. In the end, Marjorie winds up with Wally, Noel’s assistant who is now a successful Broadway playwright. Is it me, or does anyone else think that if Marjorie didn’t listen to Wally in the end that maybe, just maybe, she and Noel would have worked things out? Anyway, DD has a much happier ending for Baby and Johnny. Of course, don’t forget that MM was a dramatic adaptation of an award-winning novel. DD was merely a happy musical that skirted some serious social issues. Any attempt at drama didn’t work because of the now-infamous pitiful dialogue that will induce laughter in all but pre-teens who think it’s the best movie ever.

But, let’s continue with our comparison with the differences…

- The “good guy” assistant Wally is the … well, the good guy in the end (except he convinces Marjorie to stay away from Noel…hmm, maybe he is the bad guy after all). The “good guy” waiter Robbie is the bad guy all along, but he’s revealed at the end.

- MM’s “A Very Precious Love” was nominated for an Academy Award for “Best Song” in 1958. DD’s “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” actually won the Academy Award for “Best Song” in 1987.

- MM’s happy couple end happily separated, never to reunite because Noel’s a jerk. DD’s happy couple ends happily together – and Baby’s father might actually be warming up to him.

- Dare we compare the stars of the two films? Let’s face it, MM may not have been Gene’s best dramatic role, but he handled it well. What would be truly refreshing? Gene Kelly starring in Dirty Dancing! Or would it be funnier to see Patrick Swayze in Marjorie Morningstar?

Trivia Challenge: Gene Kelly and Patrick Swayze were co-stars in --------?