He's pure legend. Such a talented man. I really love him in every routine with every Ginger movie. It's truely elegant, lovely and romantic. But seriously, I can't decide which one is my favorite. Every Fred's dance routines are the best!
I fell in love with Fred at about the age of 9 or 10. He is widely considered the greatest most unique and impossibly graceful film dancer of all time...31 musical films with a variety of dance partners as well as his sock-it-to-em solo routines. As Gene Kelly once said "he was a unique talent and there will never be another like him". In addition... he was a talented musician..piano...drums...etc. as well as a very good actor...'On the Beach' .. 'Towering Inferno..to name a few. I found his autobiography 'Steps in Time' very interesting and highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn.more about him. .
So was Gene Kelly. Though Gene was much stricter and "meaner" and even more of a perfecrionist taskmaster than Fred. Gene would redub/re-tap over his and his co-star's tap steps to get the sounds just right.
I love him and Gene Kelly. He is effortlessly graceful, while Kelly is magnetically energetic, but both are a delight to watch. Their dances in Ziegfeld Follies, as well as their individual duets with Cyd Charisse are my favorites.
You need some eyeglasses. Fred starred in 31 musical films and is widely considered by professional dancers as well the general public to be the greatest film.dancer of all time. 'Don Lockwood' was a wonderful dancer in Singing in the Rain and an accomplished director Gene Kelly was Gene Kelly
Cyd Charisse ! when she 's there that's the moment I forgot about watching the master... Dancing in the dark in the Band Wagon, her moves are so flawless ,effortless,stops magically to a pose .Stunningly beautiful woman too
Fred Astaire was such an oustanding star that I easily thought of at least five dance scenes that I thought abcolutely HAD to be on the top 20 that simply didn't make it, but are so very iconic nonetheless. This video could have been the top 100 instead of 20.
I love both your video and your narration. I may be in the minority but my very favorite Fred Astaire dance is "Isn't It a Lovely Day" from Top Hat. I like it because their acting, comedy, romanticism, and dancing are on full display in one really great, hogh-energy number.
Delighted to see Swing Time, my favorite Fred & Ginger movie BY FAR, at the number one spot. However, while "Pick Yourself Up" is a great number, their finale "Never Gonna Dance" is the most perfect balance of mournful and sexy ever shown on camera. It definitely should have had a place on this list.
Im glad to see that my favorite ALMOST made the pedestal. I think Holiday Inn is one of the all time musicals, and his performance is one if the reasons why
Fred Astaire was honestly my first crush! I was about 4 when I first saw Holiday Inn. My poor parents! I demanded tap shoes and had to get knee surgery at age 19. But I've probably watched "Let's say it with firecrackers 100 times!
Let's give a shout out to those composers of the Great American Songbook -- Berlin, Porter, Gershwin, Rodgers, and others who gave voice to a country in need of joy and hope...and dancing! Kudos also to Hermes Pan, who choreographed many of these iconic numbers. Trivia: The dance on skates took Astaire/Rogers about 150 takes. When they appear slightly uncomfortable getting up off the lawn, it's because both were bruised by more than 15 earlier takes -- what pros!
Correction...Hermes Pan was Fred's assistant...Fred was involved in the creation of all of his musical numbers but being the class act he was...made sure Hermes got the correography credit. They worked well together and had similar tastes.
Correction..Fred was the chief creator.of his dance routines...Hermes Pan worked well with Fred as they had very similar tastes in dance. The Studio gave Hermes the screne credit as cooreagrapher.
I was only five years old when my parents took my sister and me to see "That's Entertainment" at the theater in 1974. Even then, the "Begin the Beguine" number captured my imagination. "You can wait around and hope, but I tell you, you'll never see the likes of this again," Frank Sinatra says while introducing the number. All the more reason to be thankful for film's ability to preserve such moments. I fell in love with musicals then, and I haven't looked back.
Very good choices. You asked, so I would have had a little less of the "gimmic dances", definitely not both drum dances, and I would have added "Fancy Free" for his incredibly charming ending playing Sandman for Ginger. As to "gimmicks" which he was GREAT at, I definitely would have added Bojangles of Harlem, his first great one. But then he has SO many great dances, any time you pick 20 you leave 10 great dances off the list, a no-win situation. So, great job, thank you.
Swing Time is my fave film of his and while I LOVE Pick Yourself Up, the one that does it for me is The Final Dance I think it’s called. She’s in a gorgeous sleeveless gown with crystals that outline the bust and become straps that cross in back. It’s so romantic. He’s pleading with her in the dance. She responds, matching him, then backs away. He pleads to her again. They dance, splitting to dance up the stairs to come together again, only to have her leave him alone. It’s like he’s asking forgiveness. She wants to forgive, almost does, but pulls away. It’s stunning
Fred Astaire is pure gold. No one is smoother but for athleticism, Eleanor Powell is his equal. IMHO, she shares the greatest tap dancer of all time sharing the title with Astaire.
It surprised me to find that even for the old days, Fred was a humble and private person. Giving credit to his sister, Adele, after winning the Lifetime Achievement Oscar, not wanting any movies made about him, hobbies such as golf and skateboarding (Yes, skateboarding).
Not to mention when he and Adele worked in London in the 20s, the future Edward VIII was one of their biggest fans due to his love of dance and Fred received a compliment from the Bertie (the future George VI) about his fashion choices.
I'm always amazed when Fred and Gene are compared as dancers...without realizing that Fred was 14 years older than Gene (ie Fred born1899, Gene born 1913) and it didn't matter one bit. Fred was dancing into his 60's on television with Barrie Chase...while Gene was done dancing by his late 40's. Gene Kelly was a handsome man and a very good dancer and director...but pound for pound...in my humble opinion ...Fred will always be considered the greatest film dancer of all time.
Kelly never got over the injury he sustained in 1958, skiing in Switzerland. He gamely tried in movies such as 'Xanadu', but he was already in his mid-forties when he did his knee in, and the stiffness that comes with age was accentuated. Besides, Kelly's muscular style put more strains on his physiognomy than Fred Astaire's ethereal one. Fred could still float in 'Silk Stockings' when he was nearly 60.
Simplesmente um ator FANTàstico ! Nunca houve em tempo algum , um dançarino , com um sapateado inigualável !!! È uma lástima que na atualidade não temos artistas desse naipe !!
Damn!! What a legend. I can’t WAIT to see tom holland in body him with his amazing dancing skills. I hope they do justice choosing the director and the rest of the crew!
He was in the second list, for stars exhibitors deemed not as popular as they had been rather than UNpopular. 'Carefree' and the Castles biopic had lost money and Ginger had gone solo; Fred was nearly 40, a veteran as hoofers went. It was understandable that cinema managers might suspect he was washed up. Fred shared their fears, especially after he left RKO and Hermes Pan. It seems strange now, but his box office was never assured in the war years, and in 1946 he announced his retirement.
You missed three if my favorites - Shoes with Wings On, Please Don't Monkey with Broadway, and my all time favorite - So Near and Yet So Far, with Rita Hayworth in You'll Never Get Rich
There was a clause in his will that no biopics can be made about his life or can be portrayed, so depends on how strong his will is nowadays! They should respect his wishes tho!
His biopic will ruin his iron-clad legacy. Astaire’s iconic moves and persona cannot be done justice by Holland, unless he trains for about 5 years straight..
Although Fred never wanted a movie made about his life...I believe as a former public figure in life... and so many years since his death...I don't think this film can be prevented. I do hope they do him justice...it would be horrible if they didn't.
Met him in Beverly Hills in the 80’s. I’d been acting in Peter O’Toole’s Macbeth at The Old Vic Theatre London, and had a letter of introduction from movie director Bryan Forbes. Fred had a set of drums in his bedroom, it was his hobby. When we parted, he extended his right hand to shake hands and his left raised backwards above his head just like a dance move. He was such a nice, ordinary modest man. I was 25. Also became friends with Vincent Minnelli, another great guy. He lived near the Beverly Hills hotel. He served me tea in his upstairs green room, saying “I’ll be mother”, as he poured. I was so fortunate, as you’ll never see greats like this again. Google, Macbeth Theatricalia for verification.
I love these scenes of pure skill and harmony But I hate it when the commentator's voice is superimposed on the scene. After a while I was forced to finish the vision. Horrible
Did Michael Jackson use a scene from one of Fred Astaire musical videos to make his music video with actor chris tucker - “You rock my world” and it reminds me of another Michael Jackson video called -smooth Criminal
Nothing from Sky's The Limit? Several clips reference admittedly lesser known numbers and movies. How the heck are you defining "iconic"? If it is lesser known, how can it be iconic? Dancing on the ceiling and the One More For The Road scenes are the very definition of iconic. This is a great collection of clips, because Astaire is amazing. But your lack of criteria for ranking anything makes it almost annoying to watch
Watching Fred Astaire dance cannot do anything but make one happy. Such huge talent! I never get tired of it.
I grew up watching older movies with Fred Astaire, and Bing Crosby and also Gene Kelley. Love these kind of movies
She (Rita) was his favorite.
P)p
0p
He's pure legend. Such a talented man. I really love him in every routine with every Ginger movie. It's truely elegant, lovely and romantic.
But seriously, I can't decide which one is my favorite. Every Fred's dance routines are the best!
Yep!
I fell in love with Fred at about the age of 9 or 10. He is widely considered the greatest most unique and impossibly graceful film dancer of all time...31 musical films with a variety of dance partners as well as his sock-it-to-em solo routines.
As Gene Kelly once said "he was a unique talent and there will never be another like him". In addition... he was a talented musician..piano...drums...etc. as well as a very good actor...'On the Beach' .. 'Towering Inferno..to name a few.
I found his autobiography 'Steps in Time' very interesting and highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn.more about him.
.
He was addicted to perfection! He would practice endlessly just to make it appear effortless!
So was Gene Kelly. Though Gene was much stricter and "meaner" and even more of a perfecrionist taskmaster than Fred. Gene would redub/re-tap over his and his co-star's tap steps to get the sounds just right.
My dad was an old movie buff, I grew up on Fred Astaire. What an absolutely delightful list, bringing up some of the absolute best dance routines.
Fred was one of a kind.
I love him and Gene Kelly. He is effortlessly graceful, while Kelly is magnetically energetic, but both are a delight to watch. Their dances in Ziegfeld Follies, as well as their individual duets with Cyd Charisse are my favorites.
Gene Kelly could not only dance but he was also gorgeous to look at, and he could sing and act too. Astaire was a one trick pony
You need some eyeglasses.
Fred starred in 31 musical films and is widely considered by professional dancers as well the general public to be the greatest film.dancer of all time.
'Don Lockwood' was a wonderful dancer in Singing in the Rain and an accomplished director Gene Kelly was
Gene Kelly
But most professional.dancers consider Fred Astaire's 31 musical films to top Gene Kelly.
Cyd Charisse ! when she 's there that's the moment I forgot about watching the master... Dancing in the dark in the Band Wagon, her moves are so flawless ,effortless,stops magically to a pose .Stunningly beautiful woman too
Fred Astaire can dance to anything
Yep...he was an accomplished.musician and music certainly was a big part of his talent.
Fred Astaire is one of my favorite dancers in the entertainment industry, I wanna be like him growing up and dance like him!!
would be cool if these routines came back - more graceful, funny, storytelling etc. - not these todays epileptic fast twitching
"The Shorty George' dance number with Rita Hayworth is mind-blowing. So good, just so, so good.
Him and ginger rogers are so fun to watch they were a perfect duo one of the best duos in film history
Fred Astaire was such an oustanding star that I easily thought of at least five dance scenes that I thought abcolutely HAD to be on the top 20 that simply didn't make it, but are so very iconic nonetheless. This video could have been the top 100 instead of 20.
Great selection. Cheek to cheek in my number one. Everything is iconic in that number
Thank you for a fantastic review of the great work of Fred Astaire (and partners!)
Gene Kelly is an AMAZING dancer but for me (IMHO) Fred Astaire is THE MASTER!!!!! 🥰😍😘
I love both your video and your narration. I may be in the minority but my very favorite Fred Astaire dance is "Isn't It a Lovely Day" from Top Hat. I like it because their acting, comedy, romanticism, and dancing are on full display in one really great, hogh-energy number.
Delighted to see Swing Time, my favorite Fred & Ginger movie BY FAR, at the number one spot. However, while "Pick Yourself Up" is a great number, their finale "Never Gonna Dance" is the most perfect balance of mournful and sexy ever shown on camera. It definitely should have had a place on this list.
Agree. Never gonna dance is perfection.
Im glad to see that my favorite ALMOST made the pedestal. I think Holiday Inn is one of the all time musicals, and his performance is one if the reasons why
Fred Astaire was honestly my first crush! I was about 4 when I first saw Holiday Inn. My poor parents! I demanded tap shoes and had to get knee surgery at age 19. But I've probably watched "Let's say it with firecrackers 100 times!
Let's give a shout out to those composers of the Great American Songbook -- Berlin, Porter, Gershwin, Rodgers, and others who gave voice to a country in need of joy and hope...and dancing!
Kudos also to Hermes Pan, who choreographed many of these iconic numbers.
Trivia: The dance on skates took Astaire/Rogers about 150 takes. When they appear slightly uncomfortable getting up off the lawn, it's because both were bruised by more than 15 earlier takes -- what pros!
Correction...Hermes Pan was Fred's assistant...Fred was involved in the creation of all of his musical numbers
but being the class act he was...made sure Hermes got the correography credit. They worked well together and had similar tastes.
Correction..Fred was the chief creator.of his dance routines...Hermes Pan worked well with Fred as they had very similar tastes in dance. The Studio gave Hermes the screne credit as cooreagrapher.
This was so fun to watch!
Daddy Long Legs, the dance number that was a dream sequence with Leslie Caron, he was her guardian angel
What a legend
As much as I love Pick Yourself Up, the real masterpiece of the Fred and Ginger pairing was the Waltz in Swing Time, the most romantic of them all!
Thanks for including several of my overlooked favs of his, even if I would've had them in a different order!
I was only five years old when my parents took my sister and me to see "That's Entertainment" at the theater in 1974. Even then, the "Begin the Beguine" number captured my imagination. "You can wait around and hope, but I tell you, you'll never see the likes of this again," Frank Sinatra says while introducing the number. All the more reason to be thankful for film's ability to preserve such moments.
I fell in love with musicals then, and I haven't looked back.
Thank you for taking the time to make such a beautiful ranking of his dances. I can tell you have a passion for his work.
Very good choices. You asked, so I would have had a little less of the "gimmic dances", definitely not both drum dances, and I would have added "Fancy Free" for his incredibly charming ending playing Sandman for Ginger. As to "gimmicks" which he was GREAT at, I definitely would have added Bojangles of Harlem, his first great one. But then he has SO many great dances, any time you pick 20 you leave 10 great dances off the list, a no-win situation. So, great job, thank you.
I love all the classic MGM musicals
Swing Time is my fave film of his and while I LOVE Pick Yourself Up, the one that does it for me is The Final Dance I think it’s called. She’s in a gorgeous sleeveless gown with crystals that outline the bust and become straps that cross in back. It’s so romantic. He’s pleading with her in the dance. She responds, matching him, then backs away. He pleads to her again. They dance, splitting to dance up the stairs to come together again, only to have her leave him alone. It’s like he’s asking forgiveness. She wants to forgive, almost does, but pulls away. It’s stunning
Astaire and Rita Hayworth were the perfect match for me. I loved her fire and dynamic in combination with the elegant and classy Fred Astaire.
I agree with your pick, but you forgot: "shine on your shoes" and "steppin out with my baby.".
Fred Astaire is pure gold. No one is smoother but for athleticism, Eleanor Powell is his equal. IMHO, she shares the greatest tap dancer of all time sharing the title with Astaire.
Beautiful ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Awesome 😎
Classic actor/dancer. 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀
Love his work. I even go to the franchise's studio to learn ballroom
Never Gonna Dance from Swingtime. Best ever.
It surprised me to find that even for the old days, Fred was a humble and private person. Giving credit to his sister, Adele, after winning the Lifetime Achievement Oscar, not wanting any movies made about him, hobbies such as golf and skateboarding (Yes, skateboarding).
Not to mention when he and Adele worked in London in the 20s, the future Edward VIII was one of their biggest fans due to his love of dance and Fred received a compliment from the Bertie (the future George VI) about his fashion choices.
Ty Miss Mojo! This is magnificent of all these past stars.
MJ, Prince and Bruno Mars…❤
I'm always amazed when Fred and Gene are compared as dancers...without realizing that Fred was 14 years older than Gene (ie Fred born1899, Gene born 1913) and it didn't matter one bit.
Fred was dancing into his 60's on television with Barrie Chase...while Gene was done dancing by his late 40's.
Gene Kelly was a handsome man and a very good dancer and director...but pound for pound...in my humble opinion
...Fred will always be considered the greatest film dancer of all time.
Kelly never got over the injury he sustained in 1958, skiing in Switzerland. He gamely tried in movies such as 'Xanadu', but he was already in his mid-forties when he did his knee in, and the stiffness that comes with age was accentuated. Besides, Kelly's muscular style put more strains on his physiognomy than Fred Astaire's ethereal one. Fred could still float in 'Silk Stockings' when he was nearly 60.
FABULOUS VIDEO!!!!!!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️
You destroyed all with your no stopping endless never ending talking!
"Never Gonna Dance" is my favorite, surprised it's not in the top 5!
Honestly i think i can see Astarie and Rogers nailing it and wining it if Dancing with the stars existed back in the 1930s 9:52
Though Fred and Ginger were both talented and light on their feet, imagine that Ginger was doing those numbers in heels.
Im 45 and I love this man and his legs. 😍. Why does that remind me of smooth criminal by Michael Jackson
Probably bcuz MJ was inspired by him..? 😉
Because Astaire was born first- seems like Jackson studied FRED & his moves
@@hawaiigirl8089 I'm a huge of Michael and I didn't know that ty from the info 😉
Michael Jackson stated he got inspired by this sequence for ‘smooth criminal’
@@Naijella86 I must have missed that
Sometimes you just need to sit back and allow yourself to be swept away to a time when things were simple .
My favourite is “Let’s Kiss & Make Up” in the courtyard from Funny Face!
You are awesome 😎
Daddy Long Legs (1955) - Sluefoot - Leslie Caron & Fred Astaire
Do Gene Kelly next or Bob Fossee
Ann Miller or Eleanor Powell would be good too…
The Easter Parade scene is nothing less than brilliant
The Astaire’s and the Hayworth’s were friends back in the Vaudeville days
Simplesmente um ator FANTàstico ! Nunca houve em tempo algum , um dançarino , com um sapateado inigualável !!! È uma lástima que na atualidade não temos artistas desse naipe !!
Who clicked on this just to see number 15, the inspiration for Michael Jackson’s ‘Smooth Criminal’?
Excelente!!!👌👌👌❤️❤️👏👏👏👏👏
My favorite Fred Astaire movie 🍿 is A Dansel in distress
“I’m Old Fashioned” with Rita Hayworth. I believe their chemistry together was the best of all of his partners.
Wonderful . . .. apart from the very intrusive commentary!
I would have put your #3 at #1, but other than that, good cross-section of his best dance.
What about his scenes with Audrey Hepburn??
Well, my two favorites came in at #1 & #9!
Thank you for this ❤️ I try watch all this 50'/40' movies before delete from HBO MAX ( end of July it's last day)
Damn!! What a legend. I can’t WAIT to see tom holland in body him with his amazing dancing skills. I hope they do justice choosing the director and the rest of the crew!
He's the master of Dance
I don't get why he was labeled "Box Office Poison" in the late 1930s! He was AWESOME!
He was in the second list, for stars exhibitors deemed not as popular as they had been rather than UNpopular. 'Carefree' and the Castles biopic had lost money and Ginger had gone solo; Fred was nearly 40, a veteran as hoofers went. It was understandable that cinema managers might suspect he was washed up. Fred shared their fears, especially after he left RKO and Hermes Pan. It seems strange now, but his box office was never assured in the war years, and in 1946 he announced his retirement.
Fred Astaire also does some dancing in Santa Claus is coming to town.
Loved him and Leslie Caron in Daddy Long Legs doing Sluefoot.
Fred Astaire plays the piano in Follow the Fleet too ….
Now i know where mj got his inspiration for smooth criminal
You missed three if my favorites - Shoes with Wings On, Please Don't Monkey with Broadway, and my all time favorite - So Near and Yet So Far, with Rita Hayworth in You'll Never Get Rich
Tom Holland, Spiderman himself, is playing Fred Astaire in an upcoming biopic.
And he will ruin it like he ruins everything he does!🤮. He such an overrated actor!
Fred Astaire deserves better!😤
In astaire's will, he said he wanted no biopics made about him
There was a clause in his will that no biopics can be made about his life or can be portrayed, so depends on how strong his will is nowadays! They should respect his wishes tho!
His biopic will ruin his iron-clad legacy. Astaire’s iconic moves and persona cannot be done justice by Holland, unless he trains for about 5 years straight..
Although Fred never wanted a movie made about his life...I believe as a former public figure in life... and so many years since his death...I don't think this film can be prevented. I do hope they do him justice...it would be horrible if they didn't.
A quote attributed to Ginger: I did everything Fred did, just backwards and in heels! Yup!
Nope.
I’m sad my favorite was number 15. It’s on my top 5 :)
Keep in mind all the movies of him you showed in color he was in his late forty's early fifty
Control your apostrophes. Geez.
@@leonoranicolaysen2784 Sorry I write fast
He was a one of a kind!!!! Did he have children & if so did they go into dance too?
One stepson, a son and daughter. All non-pros.
Met him in Beverly Hills in the 80’s. I’d been acting in Peter O’Toole’s Macbeth at The Old Vic Theatre London, and had a letter of introduction from movie director Bryan Forbes. Fred had a set of drums in his bedroom, it was his hobby. When we parted, he extended his right hand to shake hands and his left raised backwards above his head just like a dance move. He was such a nice, ordinary modest man. I was 25. Also became friends with Vincent Minnelli, another great guy. He lived near the Beverly Hills hotel. He served me tea in his upstairs green room, saying “I’ll be mother”, as he poured. I was so fortunate, as you’ll never see greats like this again.
Google, Macbeth Theatricalia for verification.
These video compliations would be great if the "narrator" would just shut up and let us hear the music!
Night and Day or The Continental from The Gay Divorcee (1934) and Let's Face the Music and Dance from Follow the Fleet (1936) are noteworthy as well.
Now top 20 Gene Kelly iconic dance scenes? 🙏
Can you now do a Gene Kelly video?
I love these scenes of pure skill and harmony But I hate it when the commentator's voice is superimposed on the scene. After a while I was forced to finish the vision. Horrible
You need to do a search on UA-cam for the original clips. This channel always overlays the narrative so you can get the information in a short time.
i only know fred astaire from his role in santa claus is comin to town
That's too bad... but it's never too late.
TCM frequently features some of his films.
Eleanor Parker is not out danced by ANYONE including Astaire ever.
Powell.
What do you mean by "routine"? This appears in every sentence. Dance?
Did Michael Jackson use a scene from one of Fred Astaire musical videos to make his music video with actor chris tucker - “You rock my world” and it reminds me of another Michael Jackson video called -smooth Criminal
How about Fred and Jane Powell?
MJ’s inspiration #2
#1 is James Brown
_"White people can't dance."_
Fred Astaire: _"Yo, Ginger..."_
Eleonor Powell is a better tap dancer than Fred Astaire and Fred was good.
🥇 first
Nothing from Sky's The Limit? Several clips reference admittedly lesser known numbers and movies. How the heck are you defining "iconic"? If it is lesser known, how can it be iconic? Dancing on the ceiling and the One More For The Road scenes are the very definition of iconic. This is a great collection of clips, because Astaire is amazing. But your lack of criteria for ranking anything makes it almost annoying to watch
Só traduzir.
Podia ser em português.
Dancimg IS being a peorcussionist, wih your body ac an instrument, for goodness sake do some reaserch please.
You only named 10 Gene Kelly dances. You owe Gene 10 more.
HABLAS MUCHO Y NO SE UEDE VER Y ESCUCHAR PORQUE ESTÁS HABLANDO
WAY too much commentary.