Lee Roy Reams, of the stage musical "42nd Street," serenades the film's original star Ruby Keeler with "I Only Have Eyes For You" in this rare 1984 TV appearance.
Tears in my eyes... This was sublime and so poignant :'( You can tell the genuine emotion in Ruby's face. Such a beautiful tribute to her! I recently re-watched "Dames", made exactly 50 years before this, and the lovely expression in her gorgeous eyes hasn't changed all that much. I've been adoring Ruby since I first saw "42nd Street" back in 2003, and still am a huge fan of hers, and always will.
Ruby Keeler is most wonderful, everything about her, her beauty, charm, sweet and pure spirit, and her buck n wing tap dancing, and yes, to me, even her singing was beautiful in her way. I've seen and own all her films, and my very favorite is "Dames", and she was so beautiful in "I only have eyes for you". Her other films are an extremely close second in my love for them; 42nd street, Foot light parade, Gold-diggers 33, Flirtation walk, Coleen, Get into your dance, and Ready, willing, and abled, she's wonderful in all of them. I've also seen her amazing comeback in No, no Nanette. Ruby still was beautiful here in 1984 and I could see the emotions in her with Lee Roy singing to her, and it completely seems that she had very similar feelings hit her here that she had when Dick Powell sang the same song in the same way to her half a century earlier. I love you Ruby Keeler. I know that you are now an angel in heaven
Fantastic! One of the most moving and poignant tributes to a wonderful and extremely modest icon of early 1930s musical films. For those familiar with Ruby Keeler in the 1934 musical film, "Dames," you can actually see her returning to the character she played with Dick Powell when Lee Roy Reams sang to her in this clip over 50 years after. It's really quite remarkable. Ruby Keeler was always quite dismissive of her talents in later years, comparing herself to the likes of contemporaries like Gingers Rogers and Fred Astaire, but had such an inimitable star quality all her own. Thank you for sharing this lovely clip.
Ruby was lovely and sweet. I agree that she was very touched by Lee Roy Reams singing "I Only Have Eyes For You" which no doubt brought back memories of Dick Powell and their films together. It's possible that there was more between them than a working relationship at one point; either way, they were a great team.
He is a real pro. I saw him as Roger DeBris in the national tour of THE PRODUCERS a few years ago. He was hilarious and nearly stole the show, which was no small feat with such a strong cast!
Unfortunately, Jolson could be a major jerk at times, and he really didn't treat Ruby very well. If he had, she would have gladly stayed with him for the rest of his life! Thankfully, she found genuine happiness later with a man who DID treat her as she deserved to be treated!
I am a huge fan of American musicals of the 30s. Now I'm watching this performance of Lee Roy Reams and must confess, he sings this song better than Dick Powell, with all due respect to Dick.
