Classic Film : Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

There have been so many produced since the beginning of the sound era. These are just a few of my favorites. I have always loved the best of the Busby Berkeley choreographed musicals, which for me literally helped shape the landscape of film with shot/sequences designed like these in The Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933) and 42nd Street (1933):




I also love the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers films that added a more balletic approach to the medium, as in Swing Time (1936):



Of course, I can't forget Astaire and Rita Hayworth, who were superbly elegant together in You Were Never Lovelier (1942):



Or Rita by herself as Gilda (1946) ("Put the Blame on Mame")



Or Gene Kelly with Leslie Caron in An American in Paris (1951):



and, finally, the Sharks, Jets, and Rita Moreno in the musical masterpiece, West Side Story (1961):



Your thoughts, favorites, etc. There are so many to choose from.

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

Mambo in West Side Story

Mambo

👍

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

Absolutely!

"Life is tough. Get a helmet." – Candace Owens
"Not today, Satan!" – Blaire White

The Red Shoes

One of the all time great beauties. 👍👍

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

Okay, at the risk of losing friends, I was never that much of a fan of Fred Astaire. I much preferred Gene Kelly. I also realize they're totally different in terms of their approach and style. Astaire is more the gentleman's dancer, gliding across the floor, floating. Whereas Kelly is the working-man, the athletic, buff, powerful and strong.

No pun, but Astaire is a little too ginger.



"Life is tough. Get a helmet." – Candace Owens
"Not today, Satan!" – Blaire White

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

PS: My favourite



His posture is PERFECT at all times. His body mechanics are pristine, and I do mean, pristine. Immaculate. The attention to detail, perfection.

"Life is tough. Get a helmet." – Candace Owens
"Not today, Satan!" – Blaire White

Agreed!

nm

Gene Kelly

👍👍

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

Back when pins were vogue, I had a button that read that pinned onto my denim jacket!

"Life is tough. Get a helmet." – Candace Owens
"Not today, Satan!" – Blaire White

Love this!!

And, oh, so true!!

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

James Cagney knew how to twinkle his toes…

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

In that gif, the technique of his pirouette turn is incorrect. Maybe he meant to do it that way for that scene.

Anyway, James Cagney studied the dance. He started out on Broadway. The dance was his first love. But he gained more recognition with his tough guy mobster characters.

Yankee Doodle Dandy..

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

Sometimes it takes more talent to do something not quite right.

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

That's why I said already that he probably meant to do that.

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

Quite true! For an example, just look at the clowns that skate on ice. They're constantly making it look like they're tripping and falling over. It's incredibly difficult to do.

"Life is tough. Get a helmet." – Candace Owens
"Not today, Satan!" – Blaire White

Yankee Doodle Dandy

Great clip, alpha, filled with Cagney's great dancing, and director Michael Curtiz's great visual style. A film that's hard not to love.

Love this clip, Stammerhead.

Cagney never ceased to amaze me. 😊

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

Rita was a goddess



Confucius

Jennifer and Mango

Silly but fun. Thanks. Don't know Mango, but do know and love Jo-Lo, who to me is Jennifer. And, yes, Rita was a goddess. But a regular woman, too. Recommend the American Masters film about her, if you can find it. Around 2003, I think.

Jennifer and Mango

Thank you for the recommendation. Her daughter, Princess Yasmin inherited her mother's beauty

I have read about Rita's life, somewhat, and she was a survivor

Confucius

Rita

Yes, a survivor indeed. Broke my heart when toward the end she said, "No sad songs for me."

Rita

Such a gorgeous woman

Confucius

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

Fap Dance of course


Melting down over top boy

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

👍

"Life is tough. Get a helmet." – Candace Owens
"Not today, Satan!" – Blaire White

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Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not



You asked a pretty question; I've given you the ugly answer.
Fasten Your Seatbelts….
It's Going To Be A Bumpy Night!

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

I'm so glad you remembered that one! I love it! (I love the whole movie, but that's my dirty little secret!)

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

Just remember. Nobody puts Baby in a corner!

You asked a pretty question; I've given you the ugly answer.
Fasten Your Seatbelts….
It's Going To Be A Bumpy Night!

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

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Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

I'm starting ballet this week, again.

Blog
Christina Barrett
½ American ½ European-Asian

Ballet

Good luck with that. I envy you. I know it's a lot of hard work, but it's also filled with beauty.

Ballet

Yes, it must be very hard. I still have it in my muscles.

Blog
Christina Barrett
½ American ½ European-Asian

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Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not





Confucius

Two great ones

They bring back so many memories. What amazing talents those men were, to say nothing of young Shirley. Thanks for the post.

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

I'll probably feel a few rotten tomatoes hurled at me, but I like this!





You asked a pretty question; I've given you the ugly answer.
Fasten Your Seatbelts….
It's Going To Be A Bumpy Night!

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

20th Century Fox doesn’t want me to watch that.

I don’t mind Titanic and the only complaint I really have is that the How To Use An Axe lesson went on far too long.

Titanic

Couldn't agree more. It went on way too long! I didn't see the whole film, because I kept moving back and forth between different screens in the cineplex. Saw all the beginning and the end of it, but have to judge the rest of the it by guesswork. Blasphemy, I know.

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

Does this one count?



Confucius

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

I say yes!
We did that play in my junior year of high school. I had a bit part as one of the crazed teenage girls

You asked a pretty question; I've given you the ugly answer.
Fasten Your Seatbelts….
It's Going To Be A Bumpy Night!

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

How fun! I never was in the play but went to see a high school kid in the play

Confucius

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

How did it go? We had a lot of fun and the leads in our production were really good.
I loved the movie. The whole cast was just great.

You asked a pretty question; I've given you the ugly answer.
Fasten Your Seatbelts….
It's Going To Be A Bumpy Night!

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

I enjoyed it

I'm a fan of the movie too and a Bobby Rydell fan, great voice

Confucius

Re: Favorite classic dance scenes/sequences - musicals or not

Awww… Bobby was such a cutie. I agree. He really was a great singer.

You asked a pretty question; I've given you the ugly answer.
Fasten Your Seatbelts….
It's Going To Be A Bumpy Night!

Bye Bye Birdie

Never saw the film, but enjoyed the clip. Thanks.

Bye Bye Birdie

You're welcome

Just a funny musical

Confucius
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