Joan Fontaine was so delightful. To think she lived until just a few months ago is incredible. Do watch" The Constant Nymph" ...locked in a vault all these years, and finally available on TCM.
They say she was terrified and overwhelmed by Fred and his talent. He modified many things to help her but you wouldn't see it. Gentleman as always. But, to be truthful, she was no slouch at this. A different kind to Ginger, delicate and ladylike.
Hi, Heather! Beautiful sunny day here, I hope yours is too. Ms. Fontaine was only 19 years old when this movie was made and she needed to learn to dance for this number. I love the movie. George Burns and Gracie Allen are also in the film. Thank you so much for watching it! Jim
Wonderful, Jim! What a special number! The Gershwins and Fred Astaire are a fabulous team...I haven't seen this movie yet (I'll be looking for it now!), and don't think I've ever seen Joan Fontaine dance. Thanks so much for sharing and brightening my day! I hope you've got a sunny day there :))
I was a good friend of Joan's as we met when I was 16 in summer stock in Fayettevilkle, NY. When we visited Joan in Carmel she was talking about an interview she saw with Fred Astaire. joan said, "He was asked who the best dancing partner he ever had when he was in the movies and he replied I can't really say who the best was as there were so many, but I will say Joan Fontaine was the worst". Joan thought it was funny. She also said, " I am not a dancer and it took the whole day to film that scene, my feet were actually bleeding when we finished" Personally, I thought she was a delight in the movie and a dear friend.
She was sweet, unmemorable, bloodless: an 'English rose' without the core of steel that distinguished her sister. Compare any of Joan's early attempts at emotional acting with Olivia as Maid Marian or Melanie. She got better and won an Oscar for 'Suspicion', but who would say she was Hitchcock's best actress compared, say, with Tippi Hedren in 'Marnie'? If only Fred had got Jessie Matthews over for this English subject. She would have given him a game. The part of Alice was ideal for her. Happily, putting George and Gracie into the film saved it, permitting Fred to give vent to the comic side of his matchless charm.
In her autobiography, she said she was tripping over fences and stepping-stones until she got it right. I think she did OK since a flat solid surface would have been much friendlier to non-dancer.
Actually, Jim-- Joan Fontaine had been an amateur dancer and ballerina in her teen years and had some dance experience. Nothing to compete with Astaire, of course, but she was able to dance when learning this number. That being said, this dance number is hardly anything really difficult. It looks like toddler time compared to the regular Fred and Ginger numbers.
I saw an Ann Miller interview where she says Ms Fontaine came to her worried since she was not a dancer at all. Ms Miller said not to worry that Fred Astaire and Hermes Pan would have her dance and that Fred Astaire led her and physically carried her like a malleable rag doll into dancing.
You can see that Fred Astaire, too, has to make some unplanned steps after he comes out of the turnstile and into those leaves and up those stepping stones. At one point he has to move back from Joan Fontaine to keep his balance. The terrain is just too unpredictable, even for Fred Astaire.
I read a few facts about where they filmed sequences but I'd love to know where this outdoor dance was filmed. I believe it was a terrible day in a hot summer and there was bushfire smoke everywhere.
He's THE man.
J, adore fred astaire et surtout joan fontaine
Some of the most wonderful lyrics that speak about the giddiness of falling in love. And then expressing that through dance. Wonderful sequence!
truly wonderful!!!
Joan Fontaine was so delightful. To think she lived until just a few months ago
is incredible. Do watch" The Constant Nymph" ...locked in a vault all these years, and finally available on TCM.
They say she was terrified and overwhelmed by Fred and his talent. He modified many things to help her but you wouldn't see it. Gentleman as always. But, to be truthful, she was no slouch at this. A different kind to Ginger, delicate and ladylike.
I've never seen this.
Brandibb Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
Jim
Brandibb me neither
Romântico e deslumbrante.
Wow! I never saw this one before. Love the song and it's quite a charming video too. Thanks for posting it.
You are very welcome. Thank you so much for watching it.
Jim
Hi, Heather! Beautiful sunny day here, I hope yours is too. Ms. Fontaine was only 19 years old when this movie was made and she needed to learn to dance for this number. I love the movie. George Burns and Gracie Allen are also in the film. Thank you so much for watching it!
Jim
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 beautiful 💝🌷
I think we need a little romance today .
Wonderful!
Wonderful, Jim! What a special number! The Gershwins and Fred Astaire are a fabulous team...I haven't seen this movie yet (I'll be looking for it now!), and don't think I've ever seen Joan Fontaine dance. Thanks so much for sharing and brightening my day! I hope you've got a sunny day there :))
She said she couldn't dance a step and therefore, why did they pick her. But, something must have worked. Fred loved all things British.
Gershwin.
I was a good friend of Joan's as we met when I was 16 in summer stock in Fayettevilkle, NY. When we visited Joan in Carmel she was talking about an interview she saw with Fred Astaire. joan said, "He was asked who the best dancing partner he ever had when he was in the movies and he replied I can't really say who the best was as there were so many, but I will say Joan Fontaine was the worst". Joan thought it was funny. She also said, " I am not a dancer and it took the whole day to film that scene, my feet were actually bleeding when we finished" Personally, I thought she was a delight in the movie and a dear friend.
She was sweet, unmemorable, bloodless: an 'English rose' without the core of steel that distinguished her sister. Compare any of Joan's early attempts at emotional acting with Olivia as Maid Marian or Melanie. She got better and won an Oscar for 'Suspicion', but who would say she was Hitchcock's best actress compared, say, with Tippi Hedren in 'Marnie'?
If only Fred had got Jessie Matthews over for this English subject. She would have given him a game. The part of Alice was ideal for her. Happily, putting George and Gracie into the film saved it, permitting Fred to give vent to the comic side of his matchless charm.
I loved this ❤ thank you!
In her autobiography, she said she was tripping over fences and stepping-stones until she got it right. I think she did OK since a flat solid surface would have been much friendlier to non-dancer.
At 3:44 it looks like she takes a header right into the lake.
Deslumbrante
I thought it was "Terribly Charming" too, Marie. I'm so glad that you did! Thank you so much for watching it, my Friend! Kisses right back to You.
Jim
Actually, Jim-- Joan Fontaine had been an amateur dancer and ballerina in her teen years and had some dance experience. Nothing to compete with Astaire, of course, but she was able to dance when learning this number. That being said, this dance number is hardly anything really difficult. It looks like toddler time compared to the regular Fred and Ginger numbers.
I saw an Ann Miller interview where she says Ms Fontaine came to her worried since she was not a dancer at all. Ms Miller said not to worry that Fred Astaire and Hermes Pan would have her dance and that Fred Astaire led her and physically carried her like a malleable rag doll into dancing.
@@margaretlegris4423 Esatto
Terribly Charming Jim :-)) thank you so much for this share! kisses Marie
You can see that Fred Astaire, too, has to make some unplanned steps after he comes out of the turnstile and into those leaves and up those stepping stones. At one point he has to move back from Joan Fontaine to keep his balance. The terrain is just too unpredictable, even for Fred Astaire.
Ah shucks, Fred! She loves ya!
I read a few facts about where they filmed sequences but I'd love to know where this outdoor dance was filmed. I believe it was a terrible day in a hot summer and there was bushfire smoke everywhere.
They make a very sweet couple. Anyway, she's not meant to be a hoofer, she's a Lady.
Delizioso
Definitely not a dancer
Who cares,are you.
More a skipper.
I thought it was "Terribly Charming" too, Marie. I'm so glad that you did! Thank you so much for watching it, my Friend! Kisses right back to You.
Jim
I thought it was "Terribly Charming" too, Marie. I'm so glad that you did! Thank you so much for watching it, my Friend! Kisses right back to You.
Jim
I thought it was "Terribly Charming" too, Marie. I'm so glad that you did! Thank you so much for watching it, my Friend! Kisses right back to You.
Jim