@dearmalika It's from the film 'Lady Be Good' like the title song of this music number, from 1941. Only two year before Eleanor Powell was a leading lady in her films, even overshadowing stars like Fred Astaire and Robert Taylor, but after filming Broadway Melody of 1940 she was ill for a while, when she returned back MGM behaved horribly and left her with no more leading roles, after all she did for them (her films with her own choreographed showstopping dances saved MGM from bankruptcy).
@dearmalika This is the first film after her 'come back' with Eleanor not being the lead anymore. She wouldn't do many films after this, only small roles. She focused on her family. From this film you REALLY NEED to see the number 'Fascinating Rhythm'. It is a really long continuous 1 take up to the middle of the dance number and then it gets crazier and crazier with acrobatics. Search: 'Eleanor Powell Fascinating Rhythm' and choose the 5:53 video from Shurayuki18411. Eleanor starts at 1:45
Obviously shot on a set on a soundstage; you could never achieve that beautiful lighting in a residence with a ceiling. It may have been a 're-creation' of her own living room (I doubt it), but this wasn't photographed in Beverly Hills!
@potterabbit thanks!!...I,m just crazy with this video!!...haha. I,m seeing it like crazy!!. I just discovered today....I,m very happy u like it too!!. Please, see my channel and if u wish...be my friend!!. Carlos
I can,t belive it!!!!. I just added as a favorite !!. Eleanor is just amazing here...she seems to enjoy every second of the routine...And the dog!!...what a cute !!...It,s the BEST video I have ever seen of GREAT Miss Powell, and believe me, I saw them all. I will see it again now!!....LOVE THE DOG; LOVE ELEANOR; LOVE THE DECO LIVING ROOM; LOVE HER OUTFIT, LOVE THE MUSIC!!!!. A Real GEM!!. Carlos
Have always loved watching Eleanor Powell dance. Trained dog, yes then it was an art form, now a sport called Free Style, one of the entertaining sports.
just wonderful. She was so extremely talented and I'm pretty sure that is an American Rat Terrier which is the breed of dog everyone is looking for, they just didn't know they existed.. !
@sukie584 First of all, that is definitely NOT a Rat Terrier... it is twice the size, wrong coat, wrong ears, wrong face, wrong everything really and it is not even close. Secondly, stating that a Rat Terrier is a dog everyone is looking for will only get a lot of Rat Terriers in a shelter, they have the EXACT same temperment as Jack Russel Terriers (a bit smaller, different head, etc.). Please know what your talking about before opening your... chat window!
@avalonspawn 1. Rat Terriers looked quite different in the early 20th century then they do today. 2. Rat Terriers are very different than Jack Russells. Rats are sensitive, medium energy & have an off button. Jacks are very high energy. 3. What I stated is a saying the Rat Terrier world. We consider them the lovely little secret of dogdom but I get your point.. 4. do your own Internet search "Eleanor Powell's dog Buttons is a rat terrier" you'll see many links confirming this...
@sukie584 & avalonspawn Are you two morons really discussing the breed of dog in this video... Yep, just checked, you are. Without question this is the most inane discussion it has ever been my misfortune to come across in the entire virtual realm... And that's saying something. May I suggest you both find the nearest attack dog and let it rip each of you to pieces... You'll be doing the entire online community a great service. Asswipes.
@JohnnyContagious Love you too Johnny.. people often discuss what breed a dog is.. but you're probably too busy trying to get rid of your nastiness that is truly infectious!.. Love you, enjoy your life!
@sukie584 You really need to stick to facts 1. Rat Terriers have not changed since the AKC standards were set in 1930. 2. Rat Terriers do have the same energy level and nature as a Jacks, and Jacks also have "off buttons" if they are trained correctly... like any breed. Spreading false info on temperament will get pups abandoned & killed in shelters. 4. Wikipedia said Buttons is a jack, Eleanor herself said otherwise in her autobiography... Wikipedia is known to be wrong sadly and so are you.
Silly little "movie magic" detail at 0:10. Watch Eleanor kick the rug to the side and see how an off-camera crew member pulls it the rest of the way to straighten it and get it out of the way after her foot leaves. :)
Information I got about the setting of this scene came from a Chicago Sun Times article. I have many articles(59) about Ellie in newspapers across the land from the 30's- 40's. If the scene was not done at her home then it comes from the Sun Times reporter. She practiced with the dog at home because it obviously made the dog secure and more familiar to her. That I have read 3 times and is most believable. Not all that is written is true and I have read contrary things about her a time or two
Buttons became a big star in his own right.. Ellie's assistant successfully trained and managed him for many other roles after this movie. Ellie loved to work with animals and was a bird watcher. She was called the iron lady because she danced 12 hours a day often at home. The neighbors could hear her at all times of the day but did not complain.
I posted earlier re: seeing a still photo of the set used for this number, clearly showing it was open at the top. Recently I've seen a couple photos of the interior of the English half-timbered style home where Ellie was living at the time of this film. It was furnished in a formal English fashion - far different from the sleek modern look of this set.
Further evidence of soundstage setup: Look at the floor shadows at 3:00 (immediately before the edit) and 3:28-38. They show how the back fill light had to be mounted above and behind the rear "wall". Eleanor's shadow stretches out away from the wall towards the camera.
shes probably the only women ive seen that actually has an amzing rythem. Non of the girls in my class can clap to a beat let alone play and instrument. no ofence to girls, your better than us at other things.....this women is an amazing tap dancer
I don't mean to start a flame war or maliciously impugn the integrity of another commenter, but I find it improbable to the point of dismissal that this was shot in Eleanor's own living room. There are no ceilings in the sequence, there is a huge distance between camera and subject, there is a high crane shot at 2:56, and the general tracking moves of the camera don't speak for a confined space in a real house.
@tubeornotube Ellie did indeed film this at her home. Her home was designed in such a manner that could be filmed as she rehearsed. She danced 12 hours a day any the neighbors could hear her even in the early morning hours . Ellie who made $5000 a week would sometimes would pay camera men film a potential scene in her home to work out the bugs to meet her high expectations. She was a perfectionist of the first magnitude. Her son would confirm that this scene was done at her home.
@hajune I'm willing to accept the slim possibility... I'm certainly not calling you a liar. But can you cite a source for your assertion beyond "I heard it somewhere?" I did a ton of searching and couldn't find anything that would back this up (or refute it). Powell may have done some test filming at home to check whether something looked right on camera, but I just don't see the practicality in filming a full sequence with multiple camera setups and a crane inside a residence.
@tubeornotube Recently somebody just put this interview on You Tube, Eleanor Powell at the Variety Arts Theater. She tells the story about how she trainied the dog. Her assistant later became its trainer. It's in 9 parts. I believe it's toward the end 7- 8? I highly recommend watching the whole interview. It's the first I saw it & I need not refute one word I have researched. I had about 65 vintage newspaper articles about her & that info was in 1 of them. Ellie was a big animal & bird lover.
@hajune Yes, Part 7, at 2:58 she says "It was a little throw away dance, a number you do in your apartment, not a big production number." I wasn't arguing about training the dog, I say it doesn't look like location shooting in a house. Saying "in your apartment" refers to the character and the setting in the script. Would you invite a full crew, dollies, tracks, cranes, hot lights and the rest into your house to shoot? Then have to film every "apartment" scene there for the rest of the film?
@tubeornotube Ellie had a dance floor made at her home. Neighbors could hear her dancing in the early morning.No complaints. The floor was made of maple and carried sound readily. She was called the iron lady because she danced 12 hours a day. She trained the dog at home for the most part because it was more convenient. When the dog looks to the side it surely must have been to her assistant. He helped out. Watch the interview & you will learn more. Ellie was not one to lie & can be believed.
I had also an amazing Jack Russel. He would always do across the floor with us in my Jazz class. He would also sing along and even jump in on my music rehearsal and do the choreos with my students. He passed on last year during this time. I miss him so. Thank you for sharing this beautiful video. I'm quite the tapper. He would have also like it!
Ellie was a great fan of animals and could train them with the very best. She was a huge fan of birds and was often seem with binoculars watching them. One person in his comments did not think she was the trainer and said the dog was always looking over. Hard pressed to find where this supposily occurred. Ellie would never have claimed she trained the dog if she did not. She was a straight shooter in everything she did in her life. She was by accounts a very classy and very humble lady.
Love this clip. Looks as if she chainee turns into the dogs snout at 3:27 but the dog is a pro and adjusts like any good gypsy would do. Brava, Eleanor..and very few camera cuts. EP is surely the Queen of Tap.
I'm not so sure about Elenor doing ALL the training as the dog was looking off camera for cues (sorry I am a retired dog trainer so I notice those things)...but it is still a fun routine. For those of you wanting more..there's a sport called "freestyle" in the dog world. do some searches here and enjoy.
They did not give her a trained dog. She had to train the dog herself. Ellie was an animal lover of the first order. Her hobby was bird watching. She had great patience with animals. As a 6 year old she had no social skills and her mom got her dance lessons( not tap) She was so shy and awkward she did not want to come back. A very patient teacher who knew child Psychology won her over.She wanted to please him and she soon developed confidence
This is sooo charming. Eleanor is such an effortless pro and my KUDOS to her training abilities. As a creator of stage routines performed with dogs I can say .......... I wish she worked for me!LOL!
Ellie's philosophy in life was expressing unconditional love to ALL . She practiced and preached it. I always thought the way we treat animals is the first indicator to that philosophy. Ellie trained this dog after the studio failed her. It had to take great patience, animal understanding and total love to have pulled it off in the allowable time frame. The dog became a minor star appearing in several other movies. This is another reason I love Ellie. "She was the very best," Sammy Davis quote.
if you want a dog that looks like it and is easy to teach tricks like these, get yourself the old nordic breed "danish/swedish farmdog". Search YouTube for "Linda Laikre" (swedish dog dancer) or "Kate & Tenna" (danish dog dancing act) with these dogs.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
I think Ann Miller was far better. But, when Eleanor Parker was in movies, they were making musicals from scratch in Hollywood. Thus, they were making a lot of them. Ann Miller came when musicals started to be only made from actual Broadway shows, thus a lot less movies being made.
I am 16 years old and I dance tap dance. My dream is to be as her. Every time I see her dancing, I think it's impossible to become a good dancer!!!! She is the best!
She looked like she was having so much fun...I have fallen in love with this woman these past couple of weeks, just watching her performances and reading about her throughout the internet...incredible woman from the beginning and even the end of her life.
That was so cool&adorable with the dog! I wish I could tap like her - wow. What a routine! Everytime I thought 'that must be the most spectacular part of the whole' she came up with an another original move/step [and I like her living room too]! (:
Wow! What a difference to see Eleanor and her dog compared to what is served up nowadays. This is lively, happy, obviously carefully done with lots of dedication-practice but at the same time having so much fun! Nowadays we get depressing-vulgar-no talent, crappy, low-grade supposed entertainment that can make anyone with half a brain sick. Qúé viva Eleanor Powell and many others like her!
This is my favourite Eleanor Powell dance! I love the chemistry between her and Buttons. There was and never will be another Eleanor Powell. She was the most down to earth classy lady ever.
"One can hardly conceive of a world in which certain beings communicate without verbal language, restricting themselves to gestures, objects, unshaped sounds, tunes, or tap dancing; but it is equally hard to conceive of a world in which certain beings only utter words."[1]
— Umberto Eco, A Theory of Semiotics
Eleanor Powell had such a natural feminine charm and she made the dancing look so easy.
I think the teamwork between herself and Buttons is absolutely amazing!
The tap dancer, Eleanor Powell - also known as "The Queen of Tap" - was the dog trainer. As explained above she was supplied with different dogs by the studio and none would work well. She got one and trained it herself in her house. Once the time came to shoot the scene the dog would not repeat the same things with accuracy on the film set so this scene was finally filmed in Eleanor Powell's own living room, in her house.
This is really only part of the story. After Ellie had auditioned a number of dogs the prop man on the movie approached her and said his daughter had a dog that just might fit the bill. The dog had such a great personality that Ellie decided to try and train him herself. She ended up training him so well that the prop man quit his job and became the dogs manager. Buttons the dog went on to have quite the career, staring in a number of movies including The Emperor Waltz with Bing Crosby.
I think that the scene was shot in the studio on a set made to resemble EP's living room. It would have been very difficult to get the necessary lights and cameras into even a large residential room. Corroborating evidence comes from a promotional still photo currently offered at ebay, which clearly shows the open top of the walls of this set. Check out item #370105373007 ending Nov 6.
I love how relaxed Eleanor was in this routine. It would be such a treat to see rehearsal films from her movies. Where did you find the info about this clip? I am trying to locate a copy of Alice Levine's book about Ellie but having little success. Thanks for the great videos - I have been an EP fan since the 1970's, when I first saw one of her films. Seeing all this great footage only makes me more of one.
I have seen this clip in "That's entertainment" part one or part 2! Eleanor never ceased to amaze me: what a great tapdancer indeed! In my opinion, the very best of her time
she really worked hard and her blend of ballet and tap makes her the best ever imo. Her technique really is one of a kind. Studio seemed to not find the right movies
She was indeed The Best. The Studios/Hollywood couldn't even provide her with a suitable dog, able to perform lots of tricks, so she gave back all the puppies suplied and got one herself, to train it personally.
I never knew that about the dogs, that's great stuff. Shortly before Glen Ford died I had the oppurtunity to talk with their son on KABC radio in L.A. EP was a fav topice during the interview!
Peter Ford recently worked on his father's autobiography. I wish he will now plan for the near future to do something about keeping his mother's memory alive. I dream with a proper Eleanor Powell biography, especially focused on her work and early career. There is one bio-bibliography out there that is really poor and thin and it cannot be considered as a proper bio because it is mainly a list/bibliography of her works. Oh, and yes, I'm a big fan, she is a great inspiration; I study tap :)
That was a truely amazing dance! Man...! Talk about fast feet! And the dog..cuttie! I don't think my dogs are willing to do that when I tap dance, they just run away. :o)
I was just about to ask if anyone had this to post. I love it, Ellie and that very talented doggie. What a great team doing a great turn. Many thanks for the posting.
Amazing and lovely ! Is this from a film? Do you knew the name of the movie?
dearmalika 1 week ago
@dearmalika It's from the film 'Lady Be Good' like the title song of this music number, from 1941. Only two year before Eleanor Powell was a leading lady in her films, even overshadowing stars like Fred Astaire and Robert Taylor, but after filming Broadway Melody of 1940 she was ill for a while, when she returned back MGM behaved horribly and left her with no more leading roles, after all she did for them (her films with her own choreographed showstopping dances saved MGM from bankruptcy).
eleanorpowell2007 1 week ago
@dearmalika This is the first film after her 'come back' with Eleanor not being the lead anymore. She wouldn't do many films after this, only small roles. She focused on her family. From this film you REALLY NEED to see the number 'Fascinating Rhythm'. It is a really long continuous 1 take up to the middle of the dance number and then it gets crazier and crazier with acrobatics. Search: 'Eleanor Powell Fascinating Rhythm' and choose the 5:53 video from Shurayuki18411. Eleanor starts at 1:45
eleanorpowell2007 1 week ago
Absolutely mind blowingg !xoxo
LUCEESTYLESS 1 month ago
She almost hits the dog at 3:27!
Bodea3 2 months ago
Here I thought canine musical freestyle was an invention of the 1990's. This video pre-dates that by several decades. Excellent!
k9shrink 2 months ago 2
NICE HOUSE
WIZZINGSHIRE 2 months ago in playlist MUSICALS
99 years today since the birth of Eleanor Powell. Thanks Eleanor for all the exhilarating happiness you provided the world with your craft.
eleanorpowell2007 3 months ago
Obviously shot on a set on a soundstage; you could never achieve that beautiful lighting in a residence with a ceiling. It may have been a 're-creation' of her own living room (I doubt it), but this wasn't photographed in Beverly Hills!
dmmillerjr 6 months ago
What an incredibly clever lady was Eleanor Powell!. Not only was she the queen of tap but she could train her dog to do that. AMAZING!!!.
Hotwok191 7 months ago
Ellie was indeed the Queen of Tap. She had one mishap in this number.She accidentally kicked Buttons on her cartwheel over the end of the sofa, but
it goes by so fast that it's almost impossible to see. I only noticed it because she
told me about it. This incredible lady was also a Minister and had a religious
TV show called "Faith Of Our Children" . She was affiliafted with both the Presbyterian and Unity Churches and lived a life of sharing LOVE!
jttaps1 8 months ago
I second the motion. Carlos!!!!
potterabbit 9 months ago
@potterabbit thanks!!...I,m just crazy with this video!!...haha. I,m seeing it like crazy!!. I just discovered today....I,m very happy u like it too!!. Please, see my channel and if u wish...be my friend!!. Carlos
gwtwcarlos 9 months ago
I can,t belive it!!!!. I just added as a favorite !!. Eleanor is just amazing here...she seems to enjoy every second of the routine...And the dog!!...what a cute !!...It,s the BEST video I have ever seen of GREAT Miss Powell, and believe me, I saw them all. I will see it again now!!....LOVE THE DOG; LOVE ELEANOR; LOVE THE DECO LIVING ROOM; LOVE HER OUTFIT, LOVE THE MUSIC!!!!. A Real GEM!!. Carlos
gwtwcarlos 9 months ago
Amazing! Eleanor was good too. :)
scifi707 9 months ago
That was just AMAZING, definitely the cutest thing I have ever seen! I love Eleanor Powell and I love dogs, so this is Heaven to me.
sebasj1978 9 months ago
i have been directed here directly from jeff davis' twitter page. and im pretty darn glad i was. this is cool!
lala931992 9 months ago
Have always loved watching Eleanor Powell dance. Trained dog, yes then it was an art form, now a sport called Free Style, one of the entertaining sports.
patsytolen 9 months ago
Brilliant, funny, touching, adorable. And Eleanor Powell is pretty good too...lol.
Ukuleleric 9 months ago
WOW. THAT WAS EPIC.
SabrinaFairForever 9 months ago
Omg that was awesome!!
Lillyan69 10 months ago
Bloody amazing!!!
garyjpreston 10 months ago
@lives2dances You are hearing Eleanor's left and right hand hitting the ground as she flips over.
4450fight 11 months ago
@lives2dances hhhmmmmmmmmmmmm,i caught that also,
WIZZINGSHIRE 1 year ago
Cute.
OldHollywood93 1 year ago
Wonderful...such a talent...they could never make a movie about her, because no one could come close to duplicating her numbers...
jwb1949 1 year ago
I just stumbled upon this clip and that was pure talent! She was amazing--- and buttons too, of course. Thanks for sharing :)
XiaoWei666 1 year ago
Can you imagine today's generation, with their boom boxes and African drums boom boom boom what they would think of real music and dancing.
35westst 1 year ago
hahaha! That was too fucking cool! omg! She's amazing! What talent and joy! So vivacious I love it <3 She's such a great tap dancer!
chilvari 1 year ago
just wonderful. She was so extremely talented and I'm pretty sure that is an American Rat Terrier which is the breed of dog everyone is looking for, they just didn't know they existed.. !
sukie584 1 year ago
@sukie584 First of all, that is definitely NOT a Rat Terrier... it is twice the size, wrong coat, wrong ears, wrong face, wrong everything really and it is not even close. Secondly, stating that a Rat Terrier is a dog everyone is looking for will only get a lot of Rat Terriers in a shelter, they have the EXACT same temperment as Jack Russel Terriers (a bit smaller, different head, etc.). Please know what your talking about before opening your... chat window!
avalonspawn 10 months ago
@avalonspawn 1. Rat Terriers looked quite different in the early 20th century then they do today. 2. Rat Terriers are very different than Jack Russells. Rats are sensitive, medium energy & have an off button. Jacks are very high energy. 3. What I stated is a saying the Rat Terrier world. We consider them the lovely little secret of dogdom but I get your point.. 4. do your own Internet search "Eleanor Powell's dog Buttons is a rat terrier" you'll see many links confirming this...
sukie584 10 months ago
@sukie584 & avalonspawn Are you two morons really discussing the breed of dog in this video... Yep, just checked, you are. Without question this is the most inane discussion it has ever been my misfortune to come across in the entire virtual realm... And that's saying something. May I suggest you both find the nearest attack dog and let it rip each of you to pieces... You'll be doing the entire online community a great service. Asswipes.
JohnnyContagious 10 months ago
@JohnnyContagious Love you too Johnny.. people often discuss what breed a dog is.. but you're probably too busy trying to get rid of your nastiness that is truly infectious!.. Love you, enjoy your life!
sukie584 10 months ago
@sukie584 You really need to stick to facts 1. Rat Terriers have not changed since the AKC standards were set in 1930. 2. Rat Terriers do have the same energy level and nature as a Jacks, and Jacks also have "off buttons" if they are trained correctly... like any breed. Spreading false info on temperament will get pups abandoned & killed in shelters. 4. Wikipedia said Buttons is a jack, Eleanor herself said otherwise in her autobiography... Wikipedia is known to be wrong sadly and so are you.
avalonspawn 9 months ago
Silly little "movie magic" detail at 0:10. Watch Eleanor kick the rug to the side and see how an off-camera crew member pulls it the rest of the way to straighten it and get it out of the way after her foot leaves. :)
tubeornotube 1 year ago
I can't even begin to put this into words!!!
luckdog909 1 year ago
This was amazing....!!!!! wow!!! I'm speechless
crisgranda 1 year ago
Information I got about the setting of this scene came from a Chicago Sun Times article. I have many articles(59) about Ellie in newspapers across the land from the 30's- 40's. If the scene was not done at her home then it comes from the Sun Times reporter. She practiced with the dog at home because it obviously made the dog secure and more familiar to her. That I have read 3 times and is most believable. Not all that is written is true and I have read contrary things about her a time or two
hajune 1 year ago
Buttons became a big star in his own right.. Ellie's assistant successfully trained and managed him for many other roles after this movie. Ellie loved to work with animals and was a bird watcher. She was called the iron lady because she danced 12 hours a day often at home. The neighbors could hear her at all times of the day but did not complain.
hajune 1 year ago
Opps, Buttons is out of place at 3:29 :O
CarlSchwamberger 1 year ago
I posted earlier re: seeing a still photo of the set used for this number, clearly showing it was open at the top. Recently I've seen a couple photos of the interior of the English half-timbered style home where Ellie was living at the time of this film. It was furnished in a formal English fashion - far different from the sleek modern look of this set.
JudithIN410 1 year ago
Further evidence of soundstage setup: Look at the floor shadows at 3:00 (immediately before the edit) and 3:28-38. They show how the back fill light had to be mounted above and behind the rear "wall". Eleanor's shadow stretches out away from the wall towards the camera.
tubeornotube 1 year ago
shes probably the only women ive seen that actually has an amzing rythem. Non of the girls in my class can clap to a beat let alone play and instrument. no ofence to girls, your better than us at other things.....this women is an amazing tap dancer
crudnup 1 year ago
i wasnt paying much attension but i that the dog was following her and then she turned around and kicked it but it was the carpet lol :)
crudnup 1 year ago
This was so awesome!
Jeff Davis sent me from twitter :D
Feonan 1 year ago 29
@Feonan So funny that you say that! Me too!
AChimpNamedSlickback 1 year ago
awesome. love the dancing, the mood, the pants....everything is awesome...apparently she trained the dog. wonderful...
rawjoedallas 1 year ago
I don't mean to start a flame war or maliciously impugn the integrity of another commenter, but I find it improbable to the point of dismissal that this was shot in Eleanor's own living room. There are no ceilings in the sequence, there is a huge distance between camera and subject, there is a high crane shot at 2:56, and the general tracking moves of the camera don't speak for a confined space in a real house.
tubeornotube 1 year ago
@tubeornotube Ellie did indeed film this at her home. Her home was designed in such a manner that could be filmed as she rehearsed. She danced 12 hours a day any the neighbors could hear her even in the early morning hours . Ellie who made $5000 a week would sometimes would pay camera men film a potential scene in her home to work out the bugs to meet her high expectations. She was a perfectionist of the first magnitude. Her son would confirm that this scene was done at her home.
hajune 1 year ago
@hajune I'm willing to accept the slim possibility... I'm certainly not calling you a liar. But can you cite a source for your assertion beyond "I heard it somewhere?" I did a ton of searching and couldn't find anything that would back this up (or refute it). Powell may have done some test filming at home to check whether something looked right on camera, but I just don't see the practicality in filming a full sequence with multiple camera setups and a crane inside a residence.
tubeornotube 1 year ago
@tubeornotube Recently somebody just put this interview on You Tube, Eleanor Powell at the Variety Arts Theater. She tells the story about how she trainied the dog. Her assistant later became its trainer. It's in 9 parts. I believe it's toward the end 7- 8? I highly recommend watching the whole interview. It's the first I saw it & I need not refute one word I have researched. I had about 65 vintage newspaper articles about her & that info was in 1 of them. Ellie was a big animal & bird lover.
hajune 1 year ago
@hajune Yes, Part 7, at 2:58 she says "It was a little throw away dance, a number you do in your apartment, not a big production number." I wasn't arguing about training the dog, I say it doesn't look like location shooting in a house. Saying "in your apartment" refers to the character and the setting in the script. Would you invite a full crew, dollies, tracks, cranes, hot lights and the rest into your house to shoot? Then have to film every "apartment" scene there for the rest of the film?
tubeornotube 1 year ago
@tubeornotube Ellie had a dance floor made at her home. Neighbors could hear her dancing in the early morning.No complaints. The floor was made of maple and carried sound readily. She was called the iron lady because she danced 12 hours a day. She trained the dog at home for the most part because it was more convenient. When the dog looks to the side it surely must have been to her assistant. He helped out. Watch the interview & you will learn more. Ellie was not one to lie & can be believed.
hajune 1 year ago
@tubeornotube There are ceilings, look at 3:07
frustrado 1 year ago
@frustrado No, you don't see ceilings. You see strange ledges jutting out from the wall. Look more closely.
tubeornotube 1 year ago
and the dog is thinking ...okay, where is my chicken?
joliebk 1 year ago
I had also an amazing Jack Russel. He would always do across the floor with us in my Jazz class. He would also sing along and even jump in on my music rehearsal and do the choreos with my students. He passed on last year during this time. I miss him so. Thank you for sharing this beautiful video. I'm quite the tapper. He would have also like it!
KrisTinaDecker 1 year ago
AHEM, Rat Terrier in the vid
tjhack 1 year ago
AHEM, Rat Terrier in the vid, much taller slimmer bone but similar markings
tjhack 1 year ago
Ellie was a great fan of animals and could train them with the very best. She was a huge fan of birds and was often seem with binoculars watching them. One person in his comments did not think she was the trainer and said the dog was always looking over. Hard pressed to find where this supposily occurred. Ellie would never have claimed she trained the dog if she did not. She was a straight shooter in everything she did in her life. She was by accounts a very classy and very humble lady.
hajune 1 year ago
Love this clip. Looks as if she chainee turns into the dogs snout at 3:27 but the dog is a pro and adjusts like any good gypsy would do. Brava, Eleanor..and very few camera cuts. EP is surely the Queen of Tap.
BigDanceFan 1 year ago
This is so awesome! I have no words to express how amazed I am, really.
anniefan1 1 year ago
Wonderful!!!
afavordelarazon 1 year ago
Wonderful!!!
afavordelarazon 1 year ago
I'm not so sure about Elenor doing ALL the training as the dog was looking off camera for cues (sorry I am a retired dog trainer so I notice those things)...but it is still a fun routine. For those of you wanting more..there's a sport called "freestyle" in the dog world. do some searches here and enjoy.
wasadancer 1 year ago
Wow and double Wow. That dog would put Eddie (from "Fraser") to shame. And who can match Eleanor?
greenstboy 1 year ago
wtf how doez u do that in high heelz?
Chrismonchan 1 year ago
They did not give her a trained dog. She had to train the dog herself. Ellie was an animal lover of the first order. Her hobby was bird watching. She had great patience with animals. As a 6 year old she had no social skills and her mom got her dance lessons( not tap) She was so shy and awkward she did not want to come back. A very patient teacher who knew child Psychology won her over.She wanted to please him and she soon developed confidence
hajune 1 year ago
This is sooo charming. Eleanor is such an effortless pro and my KUDOS to her training abilities. As a creator of stage routines performed with dogs I can say .......... I wish she worked for me!LOL!
The Finale' is fantastic!
DoGoneSilly 1 year ago
Brilliant video, don't think for a second it was filmed in her own living room however...total studio.
CaptainScarlet500 1 year ago
LOVE this! She is so great.
amirahas 1 year ago
Just saw this on tv~so fun!!
robersonlinda 1 year ago
Ellie's philosophy in life was expressing unconditional love to ALL . She practiced and preached it. I always thought the way we treat animals is the first indicator to that philosophy. Ellie trained this dog after the studio failed her. It had to take great patience, animal understanding and total love to have pulled it off in the allowable time frame. The dog became a minor star appearing in several other movies. This is another reason I love Ellie. "She was the very best," Sammy Davis quote.
hajune 2 years ago
if you want a dog that looks like it and is easy to teach tricks like these, get yourself the old nordic breed "danish/swedish farmdog". Search YouTube for "Linda Laikre" (swedish dog dancer) or "Kate & Tenna" (danish dog dancing act) with these dogs.
elisafab 2 years ago
Comment removed
elisafab 2 years ago
2:10 -- unbelievable how she spins out of tap into hula
Drblooter99 2 years ago
she nicked mc hammers trousers lol
giftedhunterlol 2 years ago
does anyone know where I can get a large poster of this brilliant piece?
littlebeany 2 years ago
lol!!!
algerienenforce1 2 years ago
légère et admirable bien takouska bravo
slimanazka 2 years ago 3
I want a dog like that.
FlyingSquarePancakes 2 years ago
OOOOOOOhh what are her pants doing? lmao
lenerbean88 2 years ago
Sempre é uma supresa ver a Eleanor, mas esse cachorro ninguem sabia!
geraldoeuclide1940 2 years ago
I'm more amazed by the dog. :P
DeadwoodSD1876 2 years ago
The dog - formerly just a pet - was trained by Eleanor Powell herself. The dog went on to have a further movie career.
JudithIN410 2 years ago 2
Whoops ... watch at 3:45 ... she accidently kicks the dog!
mkrobinson95 2 years ago
Good eye! This is no doubt why the dog is going for her throat in the very last shot...lol.
stmalachy 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
wow its a dog and a woman in black and white. amazing.
kulangotses 2 years ago
this number was filmed in her own living room
patsysisk1 2 years ago
Not really.....
JudithIN410 2 years ago
that's why she's the best.
CLASSICxFILMxROMANCE 2 years ago 13
Wow.
shanepryde 2 years ago
Without doubt the most delightful and charming dance number ever. Heaven!
gtlfb 2 years ago 2
wow this lady is sick with it!!!!!!
onixbeats 2 years ago
She makes it look easy, doesn't she?
a07002 2 years ago
Powell, One of the greatest ever!!!!!!!!
rapitroy 2 years ago 3
AWESOME GYMNASTICS
tcrownprince 2 years ago
My goodness, this was just amazing!!!
thatsmissbarbietoyou 2 years ago
This dog is actually alive. i think I saw it . Maybe just humor me.. Where's PaPa..?
blinko656 2 years ago
Tap dancing and a dog. Two things I love more than anything in this world :)
ACuriousDanceretc 2 years ago
What was she able to do with such a trained dog. Don't we say : the more i see men, the more i love dogs....
ghbook 2 years ago
lol, how many times do you think that dog got kicked or stepped on practicing this. XD
dingles4breakfast 2 years ago
i'm seriously digging those pants
physhythoughts 2 years ago
is that soft shoe?
cheesenedd 2 years ago
Eleanor Powell is amazing
singerandmoviestar 2 years ago
beautiful ^-^
kiaketa 2 years ago
My God, she was terrific !!!
kisslime 2 years ago
That is GREAT~!!!!!!
PatientlySheWaits 2 years ago
hahahahahahaha
AWESOME
tcrownprince 2 years ago
This is amazing.
TweeterandMonkeyman 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
lol the dog is way better than her :)
HLGLost 2 years ago
That was amazing!!
jfrallie 2 years ago
that is so cute with the dog! how long did it take for the dog to be trained like that? amazing
nightdreamer9897 2 years ago
that's a cute dog...
not only that but the tapping was great...
Kilaulani 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I think Ann Miller was far better. But, when Eleanor Parker was in movies, they were making musicals from scratch in Hollywood. Thus, they were making a lot of them. Ann Miller came when musicals started to be only made from actual Broadway shows, thus a lot less movies being made.
I do give you, Ms. Parker was a great dancer.
rdadal 2 years ago
Her last name was Powell, not Parker..........*nods head*
gingerszabo21 2 years ago
That was amazing!! The true queen of tap dancing!! And also being able to train that dog :D Aww that's to adorable!
saraismyname 3 years ago
Comment removed
mca1218 3 years ago
I am 16 years old and I dance tap dance. My dream is to be as her. Every time I see her dancing, I think it's impossible to become a good dancer!!!! She is the best!
jazzroomcabaret 3 years ago 3
It's not impossible to become a good dancer! Elly did it, and so can you, if you REALLY want to!
someoldbag 3 years ago
She looked like she was having so much fun...I have fallen in love with this woman these past couple of weeks, just watching her performances and reading about her throughout the internet...incredible woman from the beginning and even the end of her life.
Acquaint77 3 years ago 5
I have never seen a dancer having so much fun.
And Eleanor Powell looks like she's having a good time, too.
Adelaidey 3 years ago
Wow - this is a hoot ! Love it - thanks for posting !
Dayniac4324 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
WTF?
judemcg 3 years ago
Yes, great Tap Dancing scene.
FallenAngel4616 3 years ago
That was so cool&adorable with the dog! I wish I could tap like her - wow. What a routine! Everytime I thought 'that must be the most spectacular part of the whole' she came up with an another original move/step [and I like her living room too]! (:
ClassicFilmFan 3 years ago
My goodness... the parts with the dog were cute but the solo parts were freaking amazing. She sure knew how to tap.
*Plays back in awe*
glook 3 years ago
Wow! What a difference to see Eleanor and her dog compared to what is served up nowadays. This is lively, happy, obviously carefully done with lots of dedication-practice but at the same time having so much fun! Nowadays we get depressing-vulgar-no talent, crappy, low-grade supposed entertainment that can make anyone with half a brain sick. Qúé viva Eleanor Powell and many others like her!
RealYouPsychology 3 years ago 10
This is my favourite Eleanor Powell dance! I love the chemistry between her and Buttons. There was and never will be another Eleanor Powell. She was the most down to earth classy lady ever.
Diane12163 3 years ago
amazing !!!
afrenchindublin 3 years ago
I love it!
kenaco2009 3 years ago
was that all shot in one take?
padyo 3 years ago
"One can hardly conceive of a world in which certain beings communicate without verbal language, restricting themselves to gestures, objects, unshaped sounds, tunes, or tap dancing; but it is equally hard to conceive of a world in which certain beings only utter words."[1]
— Umberto Eco, A Theory of Semiotics
Eleanor Powell had such a natural feminine charm and she made the dancing look so easy.
I think the teamwork between herself and Buttons is absolutely amazing!
yveeliza 3 years ago 5
Totally intrigued!
DebiMJ 3 years ago 2
Wow - what an amazing routine! Both dancer and dog are so flexible! Top marks for the dog's trainer too!
violinlizzy
violinlizzy 3 years ago
The tap dancer, Eleanor Powell - also known as "The Queen of Tap" - was the dog trainer. As explained above she was supplied with different dogs by the studio and none would work well. She got one and trained it herself in her house. Once the time came to shoot the scene the dog would not repeat the same things with accuracy on the film set so this scene was finally filmed in Eleanor Powell's own living room, in her house.
eleanorpowell2007 3 years ago
This is really only part of the story. After Ellie had auditioned a number of dogs the prop man on the movie approached her and said his daughter had a dog that just might fit the bill. The dog had such a great personality that Ellie decided to try and train him herself. She ended up training him so well that the prop man quit his job and became the dogs manager. Buttons the dog went on to have quite the career, staring in a number of movies including The Emperor Waltz with Bing Crosby.
canoga1958 3 years ago 4
I think that the scene was shot in the studio on a set made to resemble EP's living room. It would have been very difficult to get the necessary lights and cameras into even a large residential room. Corroborating evidence comes from a promotional still photo currently offered at ebay, which clearly shows the open top of the walls of this set. Check out item #370105373007 ending Nov 6.
JudithIN410 3 years ago
How wonderful!
JaneAusten90 3 years ago 2
I love how relaxed Eleanor was in this routine. It would be such a treat to see rehearsal films from her movies. Where did you find the info about this clip? I am trying to locate a copy of Alice Levine's book about Ellie but having little success. Thanks for the great videos - I have been an EP fan since the 1970's, when I first saw one of her films. Seeing all this great footage only makes me more of one.
netwitt1 3 years ago 2
I have seen this clip in "That's entertainment" part one or part 2! Eleanor never ceased to amaze me: what a great tapdancer indeed! In my opinion, the very best of her time
miffy1950 3 years ago 2
This just may be the most awesome thing ever
ImmortalChaos 3 years ago 2
Fantastic performer! Eleanor Powell was good too.
scifi707 3 years ago 2
Very entertaining!
dlrmo6370 3 years ago
She was just magnificent, never seen this clip before. Congratulations. Thanks
machadoneto41 3 years ago 2
she was so amazing. thanks so much for posting, I have never seen this clip. really cute!
Mischeaux61 3 years ago 3
Original and outstanding! I have seen a lot of Eleanor Powells movies but this one was all new to me. Fantastic!
Argounat 3 years ago 3
I wonder how many scooby snacks it took for that scene? What fun to watch!
Moooperator 3 years ago 4
wow that was pretty amazing. The dog stole the show
Doggone2007 4 years ago
Eleanor was so effervescent. This clip is one of my favorites. What a sweetheart.
sheetmusic1624 4 years ago 4
E was a gift to all the dancers-
she really worked hard and her blend of ballet and tap makes her the best ever imo. Her technique really is one of a kind. Studio seemed to not find the right movies
for her- seems they didn't know how to use her.
carolerory 4 years ago 5
This is quite wonderful, everything is just perfect.
nigeljwright 4 years ago 2
FREAKIN AWESOME :p
jamaalb 4 years ago
CUTE pup,that dog's got some MOVES
GearRocks 4 years ago
I couldn't get my dog to pee on me if I was on fire....this is a wonderful video!
EP was the BEST!
jameszerukjr 4 years ago 3
She was indeed The Best. The Studios/Hollywood couldn't even provide her with a suitable dog, able to perform lots of tricks, so she gave back all the puppies suplied and got one herself, to train it personally.
eleanorpowell2007 4 years ago
I take it by your username you are an EP fan!
I never knew that about the dogs, that's great stuff. Shortly before Glen Ford died I had the oppurtunity to talk with their son on KABC radio in L.A. EP was a fav topice during the interview!
jameszerukjr 4 years ago
Peter Ford recently worked on his father's autobiography. I wish he will now plan for the near future to do something about keeping his mother's memory alive. I dream with a proper Eleanor Powell biography, especially focused on her work and early career. There is one bio-bibliography out there that is really poor and thin and it cannot be considered as a proper bio because it is mainly a list/bibliography of her works. Oh, and yes, I'm a big fan, she is a great inspiration; I study tap :)
eleanorpowell2007 4 years ago
That was a truely amazing dance! Man...! Talk about fast feet! And the dog..cuttie! I don't think my dogs are willing to do that when I tap dance, they just run away. :o)
ceciliabatta 4 years ago
Wow! What an impressive dance and such a talented dog too!!! Thanks for posting this.
TraceeUK 4 years ago
there's really nothing wrong with dog clothing
i have a small dog and she's sensitive to cold
and doesn't mind wearing sweaters at all
chicklet3746 4 years ago
how is putting a bow on a dog animal cruelty...
chicklet3746 4 years ago
WOW! incredible somb Eleanor, bomb dog
sourtaps 4 years ago
I meant bomb eleanor, bomb dog
sourtaps 4 years ago
I was just about to ask if anyone had this to post. I love it, Ellie and that very talented doggie. What a great team doing a great turn. Many thanks for the posting.
genovee 4 years ago
True cinema magic - she and Buttons are great dancing partners!
precodeDOLL12213 4 years ago
The dog was called BUTTONS.
RJMCCLOUD 4 years ago
Thank you for posting this. I'm not a huge fan of this movie but this is one of my favorite Eleanor Powell numbers!
BornYesterday0126 4 years ago