I like to think they planned the whole harass-a-harmless-old-man-by-using-the-power-of-god-and-anime-to-tap-dance-with-unbelievable-talent-thing before hand, maybe with a little meeting like “alright don, after we climb up on the table what choreography should we put there” and that’s why they’re both conveniently wearing tap shoes and not because this is a fictional piece of media :)
The studio wanted Frank Sinatra because he had paired so well with Kelly before. but Kelly said he wanted a dancer this time. He wanted O'Connor and got him.
Donald O’Conner presents How to be a supporting actor 101. Dude’s got more than e ouch skill and talent to go toe to toe with Kelly, yet remains the supporting one without ever coming across as such, not outshining the lead. That’s really hard to do. Most either go full on background or feel like they are competing. You never get that here.
My kids and I got to know Gene Kelly. He was wonderful to my children-and all kids actually. He welcomed my kids’ questions and they asked him why they couldn’t see any taps on the bottoms of his shoes. He explained that he and Mr. O’Connor danced the scene without taps and then danced it all over again off camera with taps so the sound could be recorded. (My kids met Donald O’Connor as well and asked if he could make a funny face and he did. Sweet man.)
1. Around the rocks the ragged rascal ran. 2. Sinful Caeser sipped his snifter seized his knees and sneezed. 3. Chester chooses chestnut, cheddar cheese with chewy chives. He chews them and he chooses them. He chooses them and he chews them. Those chestnuts, cheddar cheese and chives in cheery, charming chunks. 4. Moses supposes his toeses are roses. But Moses supposes erroueously. Moses he knowses his toeses ain't roses as Moses supposes his toeses to be.
Donald O’Connor deserved way more recognition and fame than he ended up getting. Either way this movie stands the test of time, and the pure athleticism and talent of both of these men is incredible.
I sone time they at least there own life while we had to choose between equally debil sytem while never had opportunity to choose a better one. But Hungary choosed better one!
When you and bestie are so in sync that not only can you improve a song on the spot, dance together without missing a step, but also matched your wardrobe without calling ahead.
Can't get over how these 2 men could dance like that on that little desk top without stepping on each other or knocking the other over with such rapid movements! Amazing!
One of the best parts of this entire song and dance scene is the fact it would most likely be written out of any modern movie, it doesn't exactly advance the plot as we see Don and Cosmo are both multitalented men who obviously are doing this more as a formality than anything else. In all respects in the hands of lesser creative people, this scene could play out boring as heck and annoy the audience into believing it has no purpose being around, instead they make an absolute joke over how the industry was attempting to make these exercises a part of the daily routine, so they may as well embrace it and have fun with it. That's all this scene is, pure unmitigated joyful fun!
And he was the greatest comedian of all. But he wasn't Kelly - he didn't have his looks, his sex appeal and his athletic dance style. But they were a perfect match as duo - hero and sidekick.
What is really brilliant is what they did with Moses's name. People might wonder to themselves, "I wonder what a Mose is", and they'll walk right into that.....
