If you like this video, be sure to also check out our list of the Top 10 Iconic Fred Astaire Dance Scenes: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-IQFamAFNALE.html
My step mother worked for the movie studio. She was eating lunch one day when a frustrated Gene Melly walked in. He complained his leading lady could not learn a dance he was sure he could teach anyone in 5 minutes. He picked my step mother out and she had the joy of dancing with him. Yah, she nailed it.
@@kookiemonster6035 possibly. She was 18 or 19 during production of Singing in the Rain and had never danced before. For being that young and inexperienced, I think she did well.
The only person I've seen anywhere remotely close to Gene Kelly is Vincent Rodriguez lll from Crazy Ex Girlfriend (check the live version of him sing "Head in the Clouds/Angry Mad', you won't be disappointed. He's not the best actor in the show, but his voice and dance chops makes up for it imo :)
Actually you mean they don't make dancer's like him anymore. Gene Kelly was first and foremost a dancer before anything else. He's just a dancer who stared in movies about dancing.
Overjoyed to see the Garland-Kelly movies getting some love. Surprised you chose Be a Clown over The Pirate Ballet though. Kelly loved working with Judy Garland more than any other actress and he kept trying to get MGM to put them together more often. Easter Parade, for example, was supposed to be Gene and Judy. But Gene got hurt in rehearsal for another film and asked Astaire to take his place so Judy could still make the movie. He took care of Garland unlike any other professional. Gene was known for being a harsh task-master when it came to teaching his partners his choreography and he demanded perfection, rehearsing over and over until it was flawless. But with Judy, Gene was gentle, undemanding, and would work at her pace. He adored Garland. Thanks for this list.
Thanks for your words. I hate the way Hollywood treated Judy Garland. It's nice to know someone looked out for her. My cousin was one of her backup musicians when she toured. Both Gene and Judy were among my favorites.
Which is because Judy had to learn rather quickly about dance and did have a big background of her dancing history prior to these films. Not just fro wizard of oz but just working so hard it gave her the experience. It is good though that when Gene got hurt he put his good companion and co-actor of many films, Fred Astaire, by her side. Because they all radiated talent. And Gene did have his harsh moments. One of the ones I know that stands out is how cruel and harsh he was to Debbie Reynolds throughout the filming of Singing in the Rain. She was only a 19 year old girl who had never worked in such a huge project like this. She didn't have dance experience and yet for her to buck up as much as she did and take all the crap that Kelly threw at her was incredibly brave for a young woman in the 1950's. She would have to dance and dance until her feet bled! She is a 1950's movie star with boldness. She also hadn't experienced as much in life like Kelly did, so when he French and slobber kissed her for the doorstep shot in singing in the rain, she was not expecting that at all and was completely grossed out. I don't blame her because even though at that time in 1952 when it was all about making out and shoving tongues down throats kinds of relationships among younger people, some girls still were not ready for that and actually were still innocent and uneducated about the values and meanings of life and love.
Actually, not to nitpick, but Kelly didn't leave Easter Parade because he got hurt rehearsing for another film -- it was actually because he broke his ankle playing touch-football in a backyard game at his house! His attachment to Garland goes back to the way she shepherded him through his film debut, For Me and My Gal, after he made his name playing Pal Joey on Broadway. His second picture with her, The Pirate, flopped at the box office but didn't deserve to -- it was based on a wonderful play by S.N. Behrman, and as a movie it was way ahead of its time. His final movie with Judy, Summer Stock, was done as a favor to her when her career was crashing, and though he was afraid it wouldn't give him the scope for any innovative choreography, he managed to do the number on this list, You Wonderful You Reprise, which was groundbreaking and appears deceptively simple, and the astonishing Portland Fancy, with Garland. And yes, he was gentle with Judy -- but as for nursing her along in dance rehearsals, it wasn't necessary. Both Kelly and Astaire said that she was an amazing study who could watch a stand-in dance her part once and then get up and do it perfectly, without rehearsal. She was a highly underrated dancer.
I'm just listening to the audiobook Get Happy. I'm not too far in, but after I finish I plan to read one on some of the other old Hollywood stars. I do love Fred and Gene and Judy. I'm just mesmerized by their captivating talent.
I'm surprised that they didn't mention that Gene Kelly was sick as a dog when he filmed the "Singin' in the Rain" scene. I think I heard he had a bad cold with a high fever.
He was really sick when performing the famous scene in Singing In The Rain. It took over three days to film it and he had a 103 degree fever to boot! Despite all that he nailed that scene! What a true professional!
I love Fred Astaire, but Gene Kelly was the better dancer, in my opinion. He utilized his whole body (and props) and made you want to dance with him. He was so wonderful.
He was such a powerful dancer that he had to slow down for Fred Astaire. Even as he got older, like in Zanadu, he was still able to do things that some modern dancers cannot achieve now. Gene Kelly inspired me, as a dancer. I always strove to be this amazing. There will never be another like him. I think this list should have also included his performance as Pinkie Benson in What a way to go. Because the 'Get Acquainted' number with the salt tap dance was stellar.
I have always admired Gene Kelly and found his acting and dancing far superior to that of Fred Astaire. He was an exciting and inspirational dancer and I don't think we will see his like again.
Singing in the Rain is my favourite Gene Kelly film, and as much as I agree that the scene is incredible, I personally think the "Moses Supposes" dance routine he does with Donald O'Connor is better
I just KNEW Singin' in the Rain would be #1, but as good as it was, the #2 entry really surprised and delighted me, as I'd never seen it before! WOW!! What a sense of _balance_ that man had! Tap-dancing on roller skates was impressive enough, but balletic leaps with wheels on your feet seems almost impossible. Thanks, MsMojo.
Fun fact: the famous dance with Gene and Jerry the mouse in Anchors Aweigh was originally supposed to be with Mickey mouse, but Disney wanted too much money to loan out. So they went with Jerry instead.
IMHO I think Jerry made it seem happier than Mickey would've. I read a lot of comic books when I was a kid, O so long ago, and was never a big Mickey fan. About half the time the story was some gangster/spy/adventure thing, with Mickey holding an _automatic pistol_ in his fist.
A true classic, Gene Kelly. His kind will never be seen again in my lifetime because Hollywood frankly doesn’t make these type of films any longer and doesn’t encourage this type of talent any longer.
I love Gene Kelly and even his dancing too, it always put a smile on my face. I'm so happy they put two movies that I like, which is Singin in The rain and On The Town.
@@garretindall2820 yup in also don't forget when micheal was dancing in an alley in one of his videos he got that from gene when he did cover girl 1944
I love his dancing. Fred Astaire was great too, but Gene had that smile and a joy in dancing that sets high above everyone else. Probably the most muscular of dancers in the movies, he had power and grace in all his moves. 'Singin in the Rain', is probably my favorite musical, funniest musical of all time and wonderful dancing.
He was the best dancer who ever lived as far as I'm concerned, with Donald O'Conner a close second. But not only was he an amazing dancer, but he was absolutely gorgeous in every way.
Well narrated, great commentary! Too bad they don't make many great musical dance numbers like they did during the 1930s and 40s, the Golden Age of Hollywood, a wonderful great distraction from the Great Depression and from WW2 and VERY dangerous FASCISM! Thanks for sharing....grew up on these...Baby Boomer born in 1948! BTW, Gene's brother Fred had a dance studio in my hometown and one of his dance students was actor/dancer John Travolta!
This made my heart so happy!!! Thank you for giving this legend a special video! I've been a fan of his since I was 5 years old...he inspired me at that young age to dance. He was also my first crush. 😊😉 Love that you guys truly went all over his career.
I love Gene Kelly..... And, I REALLY Love WatchMojo. Your Lists are so great. Many RU-vid Channels specialize in a specific topic. Y'all cover everything. So Informational and Educational.
Today’s musical are too Hollywood, I love watching the classic musical movies. 🎵I’m singing in the rain, just singing in the rain what glorious feeling and I’m happy again 🎵
Karen Lee, great story about your Stepmom. How thrilling for her. Gene Kelly was always a Hollywood favorite of mine. His Dancing was superb!! One of his leading ladies. Told him he was a taskmaster. He did alot of movies back in the day. I was always happy to see them. Fred Astire also a favorite of mine, Donald O'Connor, too, Danny Kaye ,Wow! just so many great dancers back in that era. Lots of great lady dancers too. The Golden Age of Hollywood era. Fantastic. Glad tons of these great movies are on DVDs now. White Christmas, my all time favorite holiday movie. Yes, I'm a Senior Citizen now, I seem really enjoy seeing these Wonderful movie, over and over again They bring such joy to watch. 😍🤩👣👏
I've always been aware of this, but I particularly realised it with this Top 10, how qualitative MsMojo's commentaries are. We are not just given a bunch of good Gene Kelly dance numbers in random order; there's a real thought process behind this countdown based on well-phrased arguments. I mean as much as I adore Gene Kelly's dancing, I don't think I could find quite so many different ways to describe his footwork or his incredible routines. So kuddos to you MsMojo for bringing us such well crafted content!
I really enjoy this video of Gene Kelly oh my. You do a very good job on the videos. I love this video!❤️I love all of Gene's dances. Gene is my favorite 😍❤️. Gene Kelly was one of a kind . There will never be another Gene Kelly. I will always be in love with you Gene 🙂❤️
Don't forget, when he was doing the Singing In the Rain number he had a 102 degree F fever yet still managed to perform one of the greatest dance solos in film ever made.
I absolutely agree with this list love gene Kelly so much u can just tell that he loved what he did and that he was a fun man to be with I wanna be like him when I'm older he's one of my idols and my friends call me Kelly coz my name's kelvin and it's short for that but I like it because I think of it as a homage to honour him as he's my hero for musicals and every time it rains and I'm happy I sing the song and do the dance like he does because he's just so amazing R.I.P gene Kelly ur a legend and we love u xx
My school did Singin' in the Rain back in May and my best friend played Gene Kelly. And honestly while I was watching this all I could think was "Singin' in the Rain better get first"
I was born too late for my famous dance man. I always thought he was so handsome. I so miss you Gene! So sad I could have been your granddaughter:( They just don't make films like his or actors like him and the others. RIP!
