Fred Astaire & Elanor Powell - "Begin to beguine"

[pm13502]

Don't know where that conversation is headed. As to the video: great dancing, unfortunately the images of Fred and Eleanor are fuzzy. 

[amymack1954]

The correct name of the song is "Begin The Beguine." FYI.

[MsPokeyman]

This is OLD AMERICA - One that WE NEED TO GET BACK!!!!

[clearlogicify]

@MsPokeyman When communism was the enemy, blacks still segregated and censorship at full strength.... good for you

[zontar3x23]

@clearlogicify She meant this in the best, most positive way. It must be a terrible burden to be so afflicted with leftist political correctness.

[clearlogicify]

@zontar3x23 love the use of "leftist"

Sadly that metal lock (similar to religious people) rarely comes undone.

[zontar3x23]

@clearlogicify Happy to oblige. Perhaps you'd prefer "liberal." So would I--except that the hard left has supplanted them all. No more Hubert Humphreys or JFKs.

Oh. Were you trying to say "mental lock?"

[MsPokeyman]

Hello! This is The BEST OF THE BEST!!

[corfan99]

Stunning.

Love the finish.

[MsPokeyman]

There will never be a CLASS ACT like these two ever in the WHOLE WILD WORLD

[MsPokeyman]

@MsPokeyman THIS IS A ONE HELL OF A CLASS ACT - NOT THE GARBAGE THAT IS GOING ON NOW!!!!!

[zolluuu]

Why aren't there any movie stars with this kind of talent today?  Seriously? I don't even mean that they have to do this exact thing. Just that they're unbelievably good at something that requires extreme technical skill.

[MsPokeyman]

@zolluuu BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL INTO THEMSELVES AND WILL NOT MAKE A MOVIE LIKE THIS d'OH homer

[MsPokeyman]

THERE ARE NO CLASS ACTS LIKE THE OLD DAYS ANYMORE - IT IS ALL ABOUT FIGHTS - WAR - SEX AND THAT IS ALL LOOK ON TV = WITH ALL THE REALITY. I WATCH THE OLD SHOWS - MR ED ANDY GRIFFITH AND ALL THE SHOWS FROM THE OLD DAYS - ALL THAT IS ON TV ARE SO CALLED "REALITY PEOPLE" I AM SICK OF THE NEW TV SHOWS!~!!!!!

[nique9898]

Astonishing....♥♥♥♥

[Olc71]

IM-PRE-SIO-NAN-TE

[kevinastraw]

For me this is America at its peak - all the style and grace of the old world with all the freedom and energy of the new.

[MsPokeyman]

@kevinastraw I Agree with you.

[jkenny313]

Why not correct your spelling of Eleanor ?

[ghtsw11]

I recommend reading the great film critic, David Thomson on the subject of Eleanor Powell and this film. In "Have You Seen?" and "The New Biographical History of Film". He says that, if he had just one sequence of film to look at for the rest of his life, this would be it. He especially mentions the moment at the end of the dance when EP stops and her skirt makes another half-turn, as one other person has mentioned here. I agree totally with his comment. Absolutely magical.

[jonibaloney2003]

Eleanor Powell said in the 1981 AFI tribute to Fred Astaire that they worked for two weeks together just on synchronizing their arm movements in this number, and if someone hadn't yelled "Print it!" they'd still be rehearsing "One more time!". A couple of pros, indeed.

[lotzsplotz]

That footwork is insane!

[Agorante]

I saw this a week or so ago on TCM I think. I wish the whole sequence were shown. This is just the coda.

BTW Ginger Rogers was a triple threat: singing, dancing and acting - but Powell was a better dancer.

[preciousbash]

Love me some real foot work. handle your biz kids!!!

[Gryphonalia]

Eleanor is great, but competence on the dance floor clearly isn't the same as showmanship. Ginger rules.

[maudlataupe]

Yes he was the one who was creating his own performance !!!

[priscilla363]

est-ce que c'est lui qui faisait les chorégraphies ? Oh, Fred, comme vous nous manquez ! .... (:-))

[footman61]

I mean King of tap.

[footman61]

Never ever see two People.ones a Queen and the others a Queen, dance like that again on screen or anywhere else...and to think we can watch it anytime we want.

[tubemagpie]

@footman61 He certainly wasn't a Queen!

[cliffb43]

Until I saw this georgeous lady dance my interest in this wonderful era was purely the big band sound. Now Ican't get enough of this talented lady's dancing.

CliffB

[cliffb43]

Until I saw this georgeous lady dance my interest in this wonderful era was purely the big band sound. Now Ican't get enough of this talented lady's dancing

[valentinewali]

They are just wonderfull!!! The talent, the grace, the elégance of both of them is magic! Thank you for this marvelous vidéo!

[eddie123e]

We will certainly never see their like again - this is sheer perfection!

[westphillybob]

She could really hold her own to him......great moment in time

[BelleVue1969]

Astaire said he wouldn't dance with EP ever again because she was a better dancer than him!!

[valentinewali]

The best ! Mister Fred Astaire you were fantastic!!! And your partener too !!! Waouhhh dancing like that is really something !!!!!!

[Slywoody48]

Awesome!! Ellie rocks!!! 

[155altair]

yeah!! great drumssolo!!!!!

[violethill]

Wow!

[masefu0]

Only 2 genious can perform like that!!

Where are the great performers??? Must we stay with Madonna´s, Beyon´ce, Lady Gaga??? bua, bua bua.....

Like I say to my grandson...."If you saw it, you are lucky!!!"

[pinkhighway]

Didn't I read that Eleanor Powell was the only partner Fred Astaire ever had whose dancing intimidated him? Yes, I believe so. This is why.

Fantastic!!!

[JohnnyContagious]

Powell was the greatest female tap dancer who ever lived, no question, but not even she can live with the mastery of Fred Astaire; his grace, his style, his charm. Powell seems to be all about the technique, which is extraordinary, but it somehow lacks finish for the screen... As if you're watching a thoroughbred desperate to get out of the trap. She must have been sensational on stage. Fred, on the other hand, illuminates the screen and threatens to burn a hole in it. That's the difference.

[pimple22]

To be honest he's far better with a standard lamp, I thought he always looked awkward on is feet, and is timing was a bit iffy,it was like he needed to practice more because there was a lot of room for improvement, poor show really.

[LittlPussi]

Fred's best dance-partner this side of Ginger Rogers. :)

[GUILDENSTERNSGAL]

This is the dance version of an epic guitar solo!

[poisonandantidote]

I think it should be Begin THE Beguine

[johnabenford]

"The only woman I couldn't out-dance" - Fred Astaire

[onebaud]

Fred Astaire is the greatest male dancer that ever lived or will live, but how good is Elanor Powell, who had to do the same thing backwards and in heels.

[theminime11]

@onebaud

this is a quote about ginger rogers-did everything fred did but backwards and in heels

[TheLenny1414]

This is so great!  What talent..

[hajune]

They first part of this dance is not seen here. Ellie and Fred had to work together to do choreography since both did their own. Because Ellie could do things no other tapper could do they figured out how to incorporate them into the routine. Fred did not come in until 2:40 while Ellie performed her patented unique moves. When Fred did come in he spun her 4 times and was a prop while she spun. She learned those moves in ballet and incorporated in tap. NOBODY before or after has ever done them.

[horse18pasture]

And she has on heels.........



[hajune]

Fred came from RKO & was offered the opportunity to dance with MGM's super star Eleanor Powell. The last 2 RKO movies were losers while Ellie had saved MGM from bankruptcy. He bravely but nervously took the challenge knowing he was no match for her unchallenged dancing. The first ever $1000000 musical was the result. Since both choregraphed there own numbers it would be a problem that needed to be solved. Watch Eleanor Powell at the Variety Arts Theatre to find out. It's interesting ( 9 parts.)

[lindz1986]

OMG AMAZING!!!!

[JSDJerry]

still wonderful after all these years

[dorotYinLove]

hahaha ese peyote asesino si trae buenas rekomendaciones ;)

[BCboy65]

WOW!

[Ezrateach]

Perfect song, perfect dancing.

[Mamasan41]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hajune]

Ellie and Fred when rehearsing ,would always say," Could we do it just one more time." As Ellie said when honoring Fred for his lifetime acheivement award, "We would still be their now 1940 to 1981 had somebody not said ,Its just fine now print it." She went on. "But Mr Astaire I wish we could do it just one more time." What a speech! This amazing routine go's down in history as the greatest and most skillful performance of all time between a couple. We are the better off witnessing it.

[brianlud]

fab great never seen anything like as good as this before

[bartonside]

This astonishing dance number was included in the MGM anthology That's Entertainment. Introducing it in commentary, Frank Sinatra said words to the effect "take a good look at this - you will not see its like again". How right he was!

[TheJazzlady40]

great

[hajune]

Just had lunch with my group of basketball scouts I once worked with. I played the whole dance scene for them. They were in total awe of the dance and especially Ellie. It was easy for us to see that she had to slow her spins down for Fred. Truth is they were amazing together. It was the first $ million dance movie and the studio made a lot of money though seeing the 2 great ones dance together. The king of rhythm and the queen of tap will never be duplicated. They were in a class by themselves.

[MsPokeyman]

what beautiful Dancing there was in the day!

[critchley3819]

This talent makes my heart leap and my eyes weep

[DavidWDNO]

I LOVE Eleanor Powell's tap dancing! She is so mezmerizing to watch....excellent precision and rhythm...WOW!

[libbettrich]

one of the all time most amazing tap duets ................they were so well matched Eleanor and Fred ..............she would be the drone and would be the drone for her while they each spun out .........awesome

[pensacola321]

Powell was terrific but she did not seem to have Astaire's style. In any event a truly amazing performance. I wonder how much practice it took to get it right. Many hours, I am sure.

[crcanassr]

Astair was a hard worker and perfectionist and what seems easy on the screen actually required lots and lots of practice

[RachH888]

She started dancing when she was six, and at tap lessons when she was 16 they strapped sandbags to her waist to make her tap loud and close to the floor.

[FlyingSquarePancakes]

I could watch this over and over again. This is one of my most favorite tap numbers ever.

[hajune]

It will be a long time before this will be ever equaled and only if you believe in reincarnation.

[Juliaflo]

@hajune This sequence appeared in the 1974 tribute 'That's Entertainment', and Francis Albert Sinatra said, "you can wait around and hope, but I tell you, you'll never see the likes of this again".

[hajune]

@Juliaflo Ellie was afraid to go to the preview. She thought the public forgot about her but went the 2nd day to see how they presented her.The public found out she was there and gave her a standing ovation. Fred was coming off 2 box office flops with Ginger but MGM believed the 41 year old still had it. Ellie was there star and saved them from bankruptcy twice. She got the first 2:40 to herself in the part not seen.

[slownoman]

@Juliaflo Frank had it right. Astaire and Powell made the impossible look effortless. So much for the meme that no one could dance like Fred- Eleanor does, and maybe then some.

[summerwmonika]

Oh: I WISH I COULD DANCE: they look so wonderful and casual, as though it is effortless! The fabulous begin the beguine just makes it all the more beautiful!!! I'm only 16, but already its too late to learn to tap dance I think: I'm not sure but i guess you have to start quite young. Thank you for posting: wish they still made films like this with good music and dancing rather than rubbish like high school musical!

[hajune]

Ellie did not learn how to tap until she was 16. By 17 she was coined the Queen Of Tap and performed at Carneigie Hall. If you have a dream go for it. It is never to late. However; you will regret not having tried. What ever you dream about is what you should be doing. I encourage you to go for it and have fun doing it.

[sunnyballet]

it is not too late to begin to learn tap. It is so fun.

[hajune]

How good was Ellie, Fred did not come in until 2:40 in the full version. Fayard Nicholas often woud come to Ellie to learn new combination steps. He often proclaimed her the best ever, just like Fred. Ellie created about 100 complicated multi steps. She was the master at that just as Bill Robinson was the master creating single steps.The number of dancers who proclaimed Ellie to be the best is countless. The more I see her the more in awe I am of her. As Sammy Davis said ,she was the very best.

[myusername618]

lol reminds me of happy feet ( :

[babyycat]

I read one time that she had a sore on foot that filled her shoe with blood after the shot here. It was done in one take.. Perhaps the best in the two person dance scene ever!

[mrspogadaeus]

Oh my goodness! First time I've ever seen this. WONDERFUL!

[Redhairedlady65]

Eleanor Powell had such a masculine style. I'm sorry, but it looks to me like Fred dancing with a man. Think, he was much better with Ginger Rogers.

[blkchk]

Two different styles of dancing. Eleanor Powell was more than Astaire's equal in tap dancing, as shown by this video (my favorite of them). But as for classical, ballroom style dancing, that was all Ginger.

[hajune]

blkchk You are absolutely right. Ginger was a ballroom dancer. When watching her the male hormones worked overtime. As for Ellie you watched her because she was the best at her trade but not necessarily for her seducted charm.Though Ellie was very feminine Ginger had that magic that allurded the typical male.We watched Fred dance and we simply just watched Ginger. Fred and Ginger's Cheek to Cheek dance is like watching Da Vinci painting the Mona Lisa.When watching F&E you see the very best.

[hommefriday]

Unbelievable! Anybody know where I could buy this video? I agree with sleedolfine15 - alas.

[bandgeekmike]

It's available anywhere that sells Warner Home Videos. It's just the Broadway Melody of 1940. It's been available on DVD since 2003.

[Katebart86]

I am just amazed at Astaire and Powells footwork. Not only because there abundant tapping but how they managed to remain in absolute unison. They were two of a kind, why they did they not star together again is a wonder.

[RachH888]

@Katebart86 they did not star together because they outshone one another. Both were so strong. MGM wanted Ginger with him b/c niether one could outshine one another. Truthfully MGM could never pair a man with Eleanor because she would always outshine him. Most of her best moments were staged alone.

[slownoman]

@RachH888 Astaire himself said no one could out-dance Eleanor Powell. No. One.

[bad2bone]

@Katebart86 it's said that Powell intimidated Astair- And other male performers at that time! she was/ is the best of the best of the best, and to perform with her often proved to be a huge challenge.

but you're right- they're absolutely perfect together! can't imagine a better mach!

[KamokuChan]

@Katebart86 I read an old interview with Astaire about a year and a half ago, and one line of it stuck in my memory. He said something like, Powell was the only woman who ever scared him. That might explain why they didn't work together much. =) I agree, it's a shame.

[catch2370]

@Katebart86 yes, i agree. nothing like this has come round to match the combined screen force and talent of these two...unless, you count Ben Affleck and J-Lo's chemistry in Gigli.

[sleedolfine15]

Great dancers. I wonder why Powell and Astaire never made another film together?

[hajune]

@sleedolfine15 Though Fred and Ellie were the best of friends Fred was terrified to dance with Ellie.He advised her to do solos. In his autobiography he said this of Ellie. " She put em down like a man. No ricky ticky sissy stuff with Ellie. She danced in a class by herself ,male or female. both Ellie and Fred were workaholics. Ellie danced 12 hours a day. Fred would map out the whole routine demanding absolute perfection. They would have practiced this dance for a year if given a chance.

[blkchk]

I can imagine why he was terrified. She was a tap dancer par excellence! He had to raise his tap dancing game to keep up with her. She was some dancer and fearless on the floor IMO.

[sunnyballet]

any tappers know if they are doing shuffle ball change at 1:27??

[aprilsvintage]

@sunnyballet pretty sure it's a step on the left and riffle on the right, and repeat. you're almost hopping on the left, but ever so slightly.

[0000romano]

bravino.

[TheHarleyQuinnzelle]

Genious! We need to bring tap back!

[Thirtiesguy]

@TheHarleyQuinnzelle Tap is still around, just in much smaller numbers.

[BlueMoonLightDreams]

@TheHarleyQuinnzelle i use to live in NYC go there and go to the SUBWAYS you will find one or two ppl doing that :D

[Mamasan41]

@TheHarleyQuinnzelle YES!!!!

[gingertwinnumber2]

@TheHarleyQuinnzelle We need to bring swing back! :D

[MrPhysicalGraffiti]

@TheHarleyQuinnzelle Tap never left:)

[TheHarleyQuinnzelle]

Genious! We need to bring tap back to life!

[odysseetheater]

what a genius what a song what a dance...... fantastic still after decades SOOOOO GREAT !!!!

[butterfliesinsidemj]

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!! Thanks for posting and thanks YT for not messing with the soundtrack!

[hajune]

The song "Begin The Beguine "was part of a Broadway Musical called Jubilee backed by MGM's Louis Meyer. It was a flop. It was given to Artie Shaw in 1939 and the rest is history. It is the cornerstone of Big Band music. The number between the " Queen Of Tap' the great Eleanor Powell and dancing's biggest mega star Fred Astaire cemented the deal. It was MGM's biggest and most expensive and challening setting ever at that point. Thank you Cole Porter, Artie, Fred and Ellie for your brillance.

[silvershields]

oh thanks for the info :D

[NewTypexvii]

THANKS FOR UPLOAD!

[IantoCross]

Thanks for sharing it, Eliizzza! By the way, the correct title of the song is "Begin THE Beguine", by the famous composer Cole Porter. The Beguine is a Caribbean dance similar to a slow rumba. Of course, Astaire and Powell aren't doing the Beguine, but it's awesome dancing!

[145FREE]

Even when Astaire suddenly stops still, it seems like he is still moving. Eleanor Powell is fantastic, too!

[Big10]

GREAT dancing! It's funny that when Eleanor stopped at the end, it took another two seconds before her dress stopped moving. :-) Love it!

[brownpatfred]

brownpatfred

a true masterclass

that was unbelieveable

i never tire of watching it

[mickkinnard]

Can you imagine anyone doing this on X factor or any talent show,,No Chance

[jackietrudelLane]

they don't make them like they use ot...this was genius....i'm so happy my father made me view this when they were on tv back in the 60's....jackie

[bigbearleeds]

This was absolutely ace, but the song is called Begin the Beguine, not begin to beguine. To hear it sung at its best, check out the Tony Martin version.

[5023849465]

Pure talent - unequaled.

[AllenEB]

I was privileged to know Eleanor Powell from the early 1970s, due to knowing her son (one of my best friends), Peter Ford.

She was such a lady and class act. It both warms my heart and brings tears to my eyes to watch these videos of her great talent.

[hajune]

Ellie responded to to my mother's letters when my mom was young. She wanted to be a Sonia Henne and Ellie encouraged her. She said to her that God gives us all a gift , if we use that gift we then give it back to God. Wish I could have met her. By all accounts she was a class act!

[cookoofunners]

oh my, how this brings a smile to my tired face

[elybakod]

fred was a great dancer. i always believed a great

dancer knows how to move his shoulders. it should be expressive. watch his shouldes move. marvelous.

[M231231]

I've seen talent, but this is unbelievable!

[tiree123]

Just absolutely incredible. If only talent like that was still around today!

[JazzyAK]

There IS talent like this around today,but where are you going to see them, who's going to produce the movies and show etc that would showcase this kind of talent and most important form a money making perspective, couse that's what really drives show biz, who's going to pay to see it! It's pity but true! This is just too classy for today's audiences.

[mickkinnard]

This IS talent, Who can match this

[tunesmith09]

The problem is...how do you bring this beauty, grace, and talent to the attention of Gen-X & Gen-Y!!!!

[elvisnutkid]

Happy 110th birthday Fred

u rock

[joshyahoo2609]

Then best musical tap dance I ever seen !

[hajune]

Elly more then held her own. Fred proclaimed her the greatest dancer ever. In his autobiography he said of her. " She put em down like a man. No ricky ticky stuff with Elly. She danced in a class by HERSELF MALE OR FEMALE. In the 9 minute segment the first 3 was devoted to ONLY her. Fred could not keep up with her and would only do this movie with her in what was the largest and most expensive production ever done. He told everybody ,he met his match dancing with the gifted Eleanor Powell.

[logancody07]

WOW!!!! Can you imagine getting that kind of an accolade from the great Fred Astaire?! Thanks for passing it along.

[westphillybob]

Eleanor Powell relly held her own to Fred here. She was so great, I wonder how many people realized this. Would love to see more of her. Thank you for the clip.