Ginger Rogers - Charleston Scene from Roxie Hart (1942)

[gnikcohs]

I've seen more energetic Charlestons but never such elegant, poised perfection. And the last second where the camera is still rolling after the cut is priceless.

[ForgottenNetwork]

DAT DRESS

[wildnites558]

Love Ginger with her short curly-haired Roxy Hart persona. Total turn-on.!

[noulteriormotive]

I once had a massive crush on Ginger. Has anyone noticed how Jennifer Anniston looks almost exactly like her? Are they related in some way?

[suzannesadiiqa]

People who danced this dance and then after that the jitterbug had the nerve to call Jive indecent!!!

[LiannaRodriguez]

Amazing

[AnGiiZiiTaw]

Como se llama esta cancion??

[Hotwok191]

It has often been said that Fred Astaire was such a great dancer that he made Ginger look better than she really was. I think this clip of her dancing the Charleston proves she was an excellent dancer in her own right!.

[Smalltowngal29]

OMG, I've never seen this clip of Ginger before! Thanks so much for posting it! I added it to my favs list :)

[MsBellkitty]

she was real?



[barcyorky]

I have never thought of the Charleston as a sexy dance before but when Ginger does it is! She would have been around 31 in this clip, why did this end up on the cutting room floor, WHY??

[cookieswimmer]

She is .... There isn't a word good enough. Now days who can compare to her??

[khany2k]

what song is this

[twinPaula12]

@khany2k You may already have an answer to your question about what song this is. But, if not, the tune does have words and the title itself is "Charleston". Someone sang it in an old movie - can't recall which movie it's in. I love to watch Ginger do this dance - she is the greatest. Of course, Fred made Ginger look good, as someone has posted here, but hey, Ginger made him look good. Her very lovely femininity itself colored every dance she did with him. - Paula

[gymclassvillian69]

watching this now

[thot4]

Kind of a stiff, sloppy Charleston.

But... it's Ginger. So that makes up for it.

[Orakwan]

The 3 last secs are pretty scary with the sound thing and video cuts

[hildman5]

very good that a hold lot of shaking going on.

[ReelGoodTimes]

The Southern Oregon Historical Society is hosting a centennial Ginger Rogers Fashion Show on Sunday, May 1 in Medford, OR! Twenty-two gowns owned by Ginger will be shown! Roberta Olden, Ms. Rogers’s former secretary, will give a presentation; there will be a dance demonstration; a silent auction (with available bidding on e-bay); and live music. Seating is limited. For info call Allison Weiss at 541-494-0273.

[bodgerella]

This is brilliant. She is one of my heroes. I knew she got into show biz by winning a Charleston contest but to her actually do it.! Don't forget she was only 19 or 20 when she made this film. I talso launched the film career of Ethel Merman

[vikoce]

high heels dancing OMG...o__O...i wonder if any common women of this days could dance like this in high heels like that

[KevinMcHaleLuvr]

@vikoce No. No one beats Ginger Rogers. She's one of my heroes and idols, but no one can dance like she can :D

[MollyAnn2009]

I've been a Ginger Rogers fan since I was a little girl. She's an amazing dancer!

[hamishray]

A great dance from the Texas State Charleston Champion. A wonderful lady and friend.

[solunaraven]

The Charleston has never been a feminine dance but leave to the Ginger Rogers to pull it off. She was a master at the craft.

[anikorising]

bitch got some moves!

[hamishray]

@anikorising May I remind you not to call this great lady a b.... She was a lovely lady and a good friend.

[carolynkhaki]

Ginger didn't have red hair. She was called Ginger as a short form of Virginia.

[Pargoneful]

She is feeling dizzy, as though not a fainting fit.

[skhaynes]

Unforgettable, spectacular Ginger Rogers!!

[greff]

I waited on Ginger Rogers when I worked at Marshall Fields in Chicago in 1970.

[castalia60able]

@greff - I was fascinated by HarrietNelson from Ozzie and Harriet Adventure doing the Charleston

to the Tutti Fruiti Episode - she was unbelievable and what great Charleston Number she performed.. Wow.. she wasn't only a greaqt singer but a dancer too! No wonder Ozzie fell for her.

[castalia60able]

@greff - I was fascinated by Harriet Nelson from Ozzie and Harriet Adventure doing the Charleston

to the Tutti Fruiti Episode - she was unbelievable and what great Charleston Number she performed.. Wow.. she wasn't only a great singer but a dancer too! No wonder Ozzie fell for her.

[DhrDwarrel]

@greff

No offence, but you are pretty old.

[ziggycat999]

All that in high heels??? What a pro!

[vertxxgg]

Ginger won a contest of charleston in Texas

[lokotasioux]

not Ginger....

[vanillalightning]

@lokotasioux Yes it is.

[StormOneUK]

So egotistical!

[LazlosPlane]

God, I could gobble her up whole. 

[nissanrb25dett]

so much leg in the 1942? guess i had a hard on till1945!

[youtoobsignupsucks]

Who's this arrangement of the charleston by?

[djnodj]

great: just a little too clean and polished.

sidenote: teach me how to dougie...

nothing new under the sun...

[nephalieb]

LOVE IT!!!! and the dress too!

[chilvari]

People can't dance like they did back in the 40's and 50's. Classic Ginger! Love! No one can do the Charleston as effortlessly as the people who grew up with it.

[MissGoldenDreams13]

@vintagefan92: You can count me in on that, honey!

[hebneh]

I've seen other outtakes similar to this from other musicals, and sometimes at the end of the clip you see the performers drop the facade of the character they're playing and just collapse with exhaustion - as Ginger does here. Shows you that it was not all cheerful fun & games making musicals, regardless of how lighthearted they may appear to the audience.

[MsLoyal12]

that was horrible.

[ajbdancer]

@MsLoyal12 How was it horrible? Explain please.

[lvnthedream88]

on heels...damn

[webboffin]

not the best Charleston I have seen.

[UTube19772002]

Ginger is right on the beat!

[MsGinger92]

Oh boy she sure was a grand lady. The Charleston was her first step to fame. She was 11 years old and won a compitition doing it. She was a lovely and beautiful person. Thanks for posting this clip.

[CarlDuke]

One night I saw an interview with Ginger in which she said she got going in show biz, when as Virginia McMath, her real name, she won a Charleston contest. Guess this sequence probably had a lot of meaning to her.

[RebelFanzel]

Holy cow look at her go! This lady never ceases to amaze me

[thelonelyslayer]

This video is being featured for JAZZ CRAZE at myspace/TheJazzzKing :-)

[vintagefan92]

If I can one day have the legs of Ginger Rogers I will be a happy woman!

[luvebug21]

most peoples costumes in this video are quite inaccurate because it reflects the 40s Not the 20s .

[followthefleet1]

Fun....Ginger Rogers was all about fun.

[SKJOLDUNG]

The #1 Dancing Anthem!!!

[lua03]

NICE! =D

[coconutgrove8]

Fred Astaire who?

[keleigh97]

@coconutgrove8 I couldn't agree more! Ginger was marvelous!!!

[goodsie]

Is it just me, or is she just unbelievably skinny?

[wickedfan7681]

I know! I don't remember Ginger being that tiny, I know she was slim but here she is REALLY skinny.

[SeconLine]

It was written by James P. Johnson who also wrote the jazz classic "If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)"

[tangoredlucy]

i loved it

[purclassic1]

Its "The Charleston" by Peter ...someone lol forgot his last name...He wrote it I think in 1923?? Anyways I love Ginger omg shes my favorite...and the way she moves those legs!

[Shangas]

The Charleston by James Price Johnson. Published in 1923.

*taps foot along to the music*

Greatest tune ever.

[WoodstockImprov]

What's the name of the song? Thanks!

[rubberdc]

I wonder who (exactly) invented the Charleston?

[Juliaflo]

From what I discern, it originated in (and was named for) Charleston, South Carolina (NOT West Virginia).

[Kakarot21591]

According to pianist Bob Milne, James P. Johnson wrote it and he first played it in a barrel house near Charleston, South Carolina, and the audience started asking them to play it over and over, and one sailor that was in the crowd was an incredible dancer and he made up the dance moves on the spot. By the time Johnson left town, that tune became known as "Charleston," which was then changed to "The Charleston."

[joomuck]

Ginger Rogers is unreal: what a talent and what legs. She was fantastic.

Thanks for the posting.

[TylerrJayy]

all in heels :P

[betsybooth123]

I love how she just staggers off at the end.

[LivingMindfully1975]

@betsybooth123 ......she probably shot this scene 15 times, and in heels! haha! Ginger, the best, without question. In her biography she said that in her films with Fred, at the end of the day she could pour blood from her shoes when she took them off.....that's A LOT of dancing!

[RinntasticCurly]

That is a great dress! I love how the skirting moves!

[ChristophePhilippe]

Ths is Ginger Rogers? Doesn't seem to look much like her.

[NoirFemme]

Ginger got into showbiz by dancing the Charleston.

[SlackerSince85]

Daaaaamn old school Cypher hahaha that's awesome

[silverilyte]

i love ginger rogers and have never seen this clip before!!! i agree spectacular foot work

[finnishsoldier1941]

what is this music clip

[grah55]

Wow. Look at footwork near the end, the entire thing is a spectacle but that ending part is top notch dance skill rarity even today.

[dennykdoe]

Wonderful, but I wish they had kept the shot long--that is, we could have seen more of herfabulous and (in this dance) fierce footwork. But great job, Ginger girl, you were always wonderful.

[mookindahouse]

can anybody upload the special this came from 'Hidden Hollywood'?

[medea1990]

This was good. I love that dress.

[solcito1234z]

this wats good. that 1920

[vanityfair713]

Terrific!

[YouzTube99]

Fun!

We don't dance like *that* any more! ;o)

BTW, is it just my eyes or is this the thinnest she ever was on screen?

Thanks laughland for posting AND for weeding out the (grrrr) trolls.

[Watcher4187]

Actually, I dance like that all the times at clubs and people compliment me all the time. I just tell them to take swing dance lessons.

[joeyalbon]

Ginger dated Howard Hughes but then so did most every other starlet in L.A. at the time.

[barcyorky]

The difference being that Hughes had every intention to marry Ginger, she turned him down because she thought him a bit cooky, how right she was!

[keleigh97]

@barcyorky Ginger broke her engagement with Hughes because she caught him with another woman.

[TruthLightSeeker]

There will never be another Ginger! She is an icon!

[beentheredonethatb4]

@TruthLightSeeker So very true. She was one phenomenal lady and one heck of a dancer. 

[moosatious]

I looked at that section. I didn't notice anything strange. Whatever it was, only experts such as yourself would have know. They should have kept it in. Could a modern day "bootlegger" not edit it back in? ;)

[Cresantstar]

lol

[HandMigratedToFoot]

OH my god, look at those heels she's doing it in too! =O

x

[dennykdoe]

Remember what Gov. Ann Richards of Texas said (appropos of whether women had the ability forhigh office) "Ginger did everything Fred did, just backwards and in high heels." I would have broken my neck.

[KerrieGrant]

WONDERFUL clip! Thanks so much for posting it. I've watched all 10 of the Rogers-Astaire movies & knew Ginger got her first "break" by winning a Charleston contest as a teen. So it's neat to see her do the dance. Too bad it wasn't included in the film I would have loved to see it in its entirety.

[Andremedia]

Watch the problem choreography between 00:27 and 00:34. Very unflattering coverage of a dancer and routine...so they tossed it out.

[chezone1]

love ginger ! ...she was a dance machine!

[catsandkittys]

she looked like she must have been dizzy at the end there

[gjford1951]

Yeah. As much as we like to think otherwise, Hollywood was just not romantic. They worked hard for the money. For all we know this could have been take 32. And there were no unions, so hours were sometimes unbelievable.

[rayito2005]

Excelent video, the charleston is funny

[MadameRuby]

and I can't even walk straight in heels!

[MadameRuby]

and I can't even walk straight in heels !!

[rjlolo224]

love ginger rogers, love the 20s.

woo.

[tcrownprince]

Awesome whats the song called?

[tcrownprince]

Awesome Ha

[deadbabydead]

reminds me of the two-step

[bluegrassgirl73]

Watching Ginger dancing here makes me want to see the whole movie. I'm a big fan of hers. I believe that she began her career with winning a Charleston dancing contest when she was 15 years old or so., which would have been around 1926. How fitting that she be able to do this in one of her movies. I also think that she was a guest star on Lucille Ball's "Here's Lucy" (when Lucy's children were in the show) and she did the Charleston. I'd like to see that one, too.

[CathyFromPensacola]

Here you go... Ginger, Lucy and Lucie: watch?v=5YMPNNWnU7g

[laughland]

I love the clip - thanks for the pointer!

[tigerlily86]

awesome

[rickisteiner]

Ginger looks even thinner than she did in swing time and top hat... strange because its later than those two and in the barkleys of broadway (1949), she filled out much more

[PhabiolaMacabre]

wow!!! look at her go in those heels!! :o

[lgday]

the court scene in this movie is hilarious.

[bxbeider]

The song is simply called "Charleston" which debuted in a broadway production titled "Runnin' Wild". The composer, James P. Johnson is equally famous for composing "If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight", perfomed by countless professionals over the years. Johnson (along with Fats Waller) popularized the "stride" style of piano which is easily detected on many of Waller's records. Johnson made a piano roll of the Charleston for QRS. With a little digging, you can hear it online.

[spotterjarvin]

what is the name of this Charleston song?

[Osteomorphis]

It's surprising just called "Charleston." There's many versions of this one, like "Back to Charleston" or "Old Charleston." But it's simple Charleston.

[mrtakushi]

Are you sure that's Ginger dancing? I never have seen her so thin and her hair usually looks platinum blonde in the old movies..I know she is a redhead. Incidentally I am a very big fan of hers....I just thought I saw her standing in the background and not dancing...Can anybody verify any of this? Thanks.

[laughland]

That's Ginger alright. She looks just like this during the movie.

[mbluth1]

Her hair is dark in this movie, as it would be again in Kitty Foyle.

[CarlDuke]

@laughland She also had dark hair, though straighter than this, in her academy award winning performance in and as Kitty Foyle.

[Ladybug1923]

@mrtakushi

I thought the same thing until I looked at the legs...those a definitley Ginger's legs.

[Ladybug1923]

@mrtakushi

I thought the same thing until I looked at the legs...those are definitley Ginger's legs.

[followthefleet1]

@mrtakushi ...That's Ginger alright with a curly hairdo. When she was in the midst of her intense practices with Fred, her dancing weight was 105 lbs @ 5'-41/2". She was often described as "elfin". When in 1949, in "Barclay's of Broadway", she became more womanly, the critics, now longer saw in her as the young waif, who danced so seemingly effortlessly with Fred. Rogers, forever fighting against type casting, never tired of changing her appearance. Sometimes it was disorienting for her fans.

[petul10]

This deleted 'Charleston' clip should have been left in "Roxie Hart". Ginger Rogers' dancing to it is remarkable. If only the partying guests could show some enthusiasm!

[Andremedia]

This clip is one of my favorites too. I wondered why they cut the scene...notice the one-legged hopping portion of the choreography closer to the end - it doesn't really look good...and it looks like they only shot this as a master shot without other angles...

[minifrochris]

She was gettin it! lol

in what shoes thoe...thats amazing..lol

[mrmoony]

Now children...THAT is the way it is done!

[thalialuvmx]

hahah ginger better do it!!!

[Sawrattan]

why do so many charleston songs have the same tune?

[cacho20]

just like the rock songs do as well... especially with the electric guitar.

[Skinnydips]

That's what the song is called, The Charleston. hey have the same tune because it's the same song.

[griffit22]

Lovely!

[ccsugarbaby126]

She was incredible! I had no ide@!

[Andremedia]

Love this sooooo much!!!

[nashvilledisco]

I read her biography years ago, quite an interesting life. I love the story of the blue ostrich feather dress in Top Hat!...and how she broke up with Howard Hughs!!

[172541jrm]

God worked two miracles to wonder the humanity: The Comet Halley and Ginger Rogers. If He made The Comet come back to the Earth again and again, why He doesn't make the same with Ginger?

[barcyorky]

Ginger was just amazing, even now, 13 years since she passed on; we are the worse off for not having her around.

Sleep in peace Ginger x x x x

[beachbabe6271]

you can tell she was so exhausted after that dance scene because after that beep, she was walking of camera with her arms dangling and her back kind of hunched, like you do when you're really tired. But who can blame her I mean I would have passed out right in the middle of that routine from exhaustion. You go Ginger!

[superbruce]

...like they said, " Ginger Rogers could do everything that Fred Astaire could do..only backwards and in heels! "

[keleigh97]

I believe she always danced in heels.  That makes her even more amazing as a dancer. She was a supreme actress in any genre.

[VariedInterest]

She was great in stuff like 'The Major and the Minor' and 'Kitty Foyle', where she didn't even dance!

[NotADood]

@VariedInterest I liked her in 'Monkey Business.' From a standing position she bent all the way backwards to the ground with a full glass of water balanced on her forehead. I saw that when I was a kid and tried to copy it. Made a huge mess. Dancers make good physical comics.

[Remox10]

whats the name of this song?

[barlin07]

charleston

[kenaco2009]

Ginger Rogers was absolutely amazing!

She is my all time favorite!

[glawsny]

How can one not like Ginger's dancing,she's terriffic!

[giusevola]

wow:-)

[onamaska]

can someome tell me what the name of the song is and what band is playing ?

[indirock137]

charleston

[lorilee32]

Geez, I wish I could do that!

[PsychoHellKat]

wow, how the hell could she do that in high heels?!?! i can hardly do charleston in flats!!

[BrittBonshor]

after awhile of dancing in heels, you get used to it and then it's almost easier to dance in heels than flats. but i dont think i can explain why ginger is amazing!

[suremate]

it's a shame the clip is so short, I could watch her Charleston all day.

[handelfan610]

agreed i could to...i sitting here shouting...go ginger go!

[enterotoxin]

No kidding - a wonderful combination of vitality and artistry.

[freyjagirl]

Ginger made a name for herself after she won a Charleston contest. It's not surprising that it was worked into a film of hers!

[anyhu4u]

:34 ginger was heel toein her ass off.kids think they are doin something today but these dances are where they originated.

[LadyAdokenai]

incredible! I just have to laugh at how distinctly '40s her hair is though...:D

[mhss0001]

wow. what brillience!

'

[LoddiMeggi]

simply the best.

fantastic video!

[beachbabe6271]

i love the name of all the old dances, "charleston, shim-sham, etc." what names do we have today? Grinding? ick.

[Pixierose09]

This is a great Charleston vid. I personally can't believe she was able to do that in what looks like 4 inch heels. I've seen plenty of amazing Charleston performances, but they are usually done in flat shoes. Kudos to Ginger, I'm sure she would have preferred to do it in flats. :)

[liamlynchfan]

she's so adorable!

[johnnyblackhart]

Im sorry that they cut this out of the film.For a nonmusical,2 great little production numbers.

[aacedi]

heeyyy chi sa il titolo della canzone di fred aistaire e ginger rogers..ehm...quella...quella di quella scena de IL MIGLIO VERDE in cui jon,l'uomo di colore,guarda il film col proiettore??

[GioMarSil]

é cheek to cheek dal film top hat (cappello a cilindro)...vero che é una bella canzone?

[GioMarSil]

é cheek to cheek dal film top hat(cappello a cilindro)...é una bella canzone vero?

[rdwillcox]

Magnificent! So fresh! So full of vitality! What a gal!

[charliedontsurf70]

my oldest son is 20& he loves ginger!!!!!!!!!

[bohemianqueen1220]

I'm 18 and I love her! I wish she was still alive...

[dallesandro100]

wonderful video - great find

[cleftronix]

Damn she was good.

[joelib]

Didn't GR win a LOT of Charleston contests on the vaudeville circuit? I thought that that was her ticket to Broadway.

[beboppinbetty]

She sure did! In her teen years in the 1920s she won several Charleston contests.