Astaire, Kelly and this Guy , O ‘Connor . All perfect in their different ways . He was definitely underrated though. His “make em laugh “ routine, stunning
I have always loved Donald O’Connor! This routine really highlights how light on his feet he was. His movements are so fluid, his feet look like they are barely touching the ground as he skims across the floor. We miss you Donald! Thankful that this amazingly talented man had a career on the big screen so that we can still watch his fabulous dancing today!
Gene Kelly was full of power as he danced, like a jungle cat. You can see his limbs look like an explosion that was reined in, ready to burst. Donald O'Connor was fun and fast. He seemed to so much enjoy what he was doing, and didn't want to sweat the small stuff. Not that he was sloppy, because he was always on his mark, but he let himself flail around and play while he danced. Fred Astaire was smooth. He glided around and it was as though the air parted to let him through. Kelly seemed to show the discipline of dance and the results of hard work. O'Connor played with dance like it was a toy. But Astaire was dance itself.
@@DanYHKim2I give your comment a 10 out of 10. They all had talent. But you left out Danny Kaye. He was and still is in league with those you mentioned.
I repeatedly watched the move where he's standing on the bench, balances on one leg then lays down on his back in one smooth movement. Absolutely brilliant.
If it is the move at 1:28 secs, it is like a stag stand, arabesque, then into a backward roll on the balance beam. It is not too difficult - the moving leg counterweights the body - but he does do it beautifully smoothly. The way he dances on a wet surface really impresses me. That takes great control. If you haven't seen it, check out his Make 'em Laugh routine from Singing in the Rain. Now THAT is athletic!
Danny Kaye did have his own TV show in the 60's, which ran for several years. It's how I learned about him. Only later did I realize he'd been in movies, too!
Growing up and becoming a ballet dancer I never forgot the inspiration I got from watching Donald O'Connor and Gene Kelly along with Cyd Charise and Leslie Caron. Four of the most amazing dancers in movies.
70 years ago!!!!!! The golden age of the movie musicals and has never been bettered since. Everybody who does any type of movie musicals now has taken and learnt from these remarkable performances.
The great dancers of the era -- Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Ginger Rogers, Cyd Charisse, Donald O'Connor, etc -- were blessed to perform, in their prime, in the golden age of dance movie cinema. And we and future generations are lucky enough to have it preserved for all time.
Very underrated performer. He had grace, power, athleticism, and comedic timing. His voice, in addition, was infinitely superior to that of Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire.
Wow - so graceful and fluid, not to mention the sheer level of control and athleticism required to pull off moves like this - he almost floats - just perfection ! Note hardly any cutaways too, all continuously filmed from a distance so you can actually see what he's doing. Magical.
He is every bit as good as Astaire, Kelly and the wonderful Tommy Rall. How have I never seen this number? It's right up there with his Make 'Em Laugh dance.
A great but underappreciated talent who could do it all. Sing, dance and act. Great stage presence! I thought he was lighter on his feet than Astaire or Kelly. Sorely missed!
How is it that I've never even heard of this movie, let alone seen it? Even Turner Classic Movies doesn't show it, in my experience. What an extraordinary performance indeed. I knew he was a great dancer and could sing, but never realized he had such a lovely voice. Now I've gotta see this movie! (I also love his signature bouncing off the wall.) He makes it look so easy and elegant. And I wish men dressed that way, at least sometimes! Thanks so much for posting!
As a VERY young child, l loved Donald O’Connor in Francis the Talking Mule movies. Then loved him in Singingbin the Rain, and Call Me Madam. Many years latet, l was thrilled to see him playing Cap'n Andy in Showboat, live at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.
Donald O'Connor was my favorite hoofer. I too feel he never got the recognition he deserved because he had the misfortune of alway being compared to Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly who were different but , in my mind, not necessarily better.
More athletic than Astaire, more graceful than Kelly. Loved all three, but for simple enjoyment, I will take O'Conner. Kelly is my least favorite of the three.
Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly & Donald O’Connor (in no particular order), were the holly trinity of male Hollywood dancers. All three, great actors and choreographers too!
In Singing in the Rain, I always found myself watching hi. more than Gene Kelly. His equal in every way. Dancing, singing, timing, everything, and those blue eyes!
He came from a performing family- circus, iirc - and he was in show business since he was a baby. I love his easy charm, great humour and interesting dance numbers.
Yep. Never had formal dance training. He grew up around it, picked it up from pros in theater wings and backstage joints, then put it to the test in front of paying customers at big cities and little hick towns everywhere.
The dancers doing choreography and walking up stairs while seemingly having their eyes closed adds another level of impressive to this already incredible dance routine.
God! this awesome dancer, wasn't " rewarded" as he deserved"; skillful dancer, acrobatic tip-toe movements; s 3:01 sweet singer; all in a " genious"; many time he did his own coreography, what else in one...fantastic; very sad in " make me laught"; h😢❤is life
Magnificent piece of art. Setting is beautiful and creative, Donald O'Connor is as always amazing - dancing, form, poses and aesthetic, flying lightness. Bravo!
This 5 minute performance has more class and style than pretty much any full length feature film today. They literally do NOT make them the way they used to.
Donald O’Conner, Gene Kelley, Fred Astaire, and maybe a couple others were incredible to watch. Their grace, athleticism, skills, just pure talent were so far beyond most of the purely sexualized crap of today that there is no comparison…
The fluidity of his moves is amazing. Sure, all very cheesy and such, but by hearing the footsteps you feel that physical effort it took to look so effortless. Amazing performance of the girls who performed with hardly their eyes opened.
