Dancing In The Dark

[windstorm1000]

check out the other clip everyone--it has sound--for now.

[windstorm1000]

That setting in the park is my 'ideal' of what I dream Central Park and New York in the background must be-- the glowing cerulean sky, romantic bridge and mysterious penthouses in the background --of course its all Hollywood. Never mind that the park is probably dangerous to walk in--let alone dance in--with tons of graffiti, thugs, sirens and pollution. I'll hold onto my IDEAL!!

[windstorm1000]

We shouldn't compare Cyd/Ginger/Rita--they all brought their unique different dance styles as partners to divine Fred. "Apples and Oranges". Just enjoy all three ladies!!

[windstorm1000]

Its easy to see Ms. Charisse's previous ballet training as an element in their splendid dance here.

[windstorm1000]

Too bad WMG silenced the track (great song!!)--but they can't 'silence' Fred and Cyd's breathtakingly romantic dance duo.

[iluvmusicals21]

I enjoyed watching this without the audio. I love the song, but without it, I focused on the footwork and the partnering throughout. Cyd is a great partner for Fred. Ginger and Fred's dances were of a different type, more ballroom style. Ginger was an actress first (an excellent one, as an Academy award winner), while Cyd was a dancer who acted. Thank you for posting.

[CarbonBlonde]

i didnt know people could move like that. im spellbound, its dazzeling

[dangervich]

You are morons to disable audio. IT COULD SELL YOUR MOVIE AS RENTALS YOU IDIOTS!!

[anastaire33]

NOOO there's no sound!!!!!!! arg!!!!!!!! :(

[Hargonge]

muline de la gallette

[mca1218]

A masterpiece of direction by Vincente Minnelli. I love the business that occurs BEFORE they dance: the walk through the dancing couples, the polite nervousness they display- him with his hands in pockets, her picking leaves off trees- then when they reach a private stretch of courtyard, you almost sense them looking around to make sure no one's watching before they begin a dance which is actually foreplay and it just builds...The single best moment of the Astaire-Charisse pairing.

[TOMSLASSIE]

It has been written that the Astaire/Rogers combination was so good not only because they danced great together, but because Ginger was a very good actress, and it was said she made every woman think it was a fabulous experience to dance with Fred.

[Tigerlily21]

I like this dance better than any Ginger and Fred dance though! No disrespect to Ginger though because her chemstry with Fred is legendary but Cyd's moves are so fluid and graceful that I find this dance enchanting.

[mezzomatzoh]

WOW!

[Tigerlily21]

this dance is breathtaking. I have to go back and watch this atleast once a week and each time I am stunned. The most perfect combination of dancers, elegant moves, great music and scenery.

[mizofan]

My favourite Astaire film and possibly the most elegant dance of all. "A country may have had three hundred years of bloodshed and idealism, Moby-Dick and chewing gum, but a couple of minutes of "Dancing in the Dark" can make it all seem sensible" (David Thomson)

[allieree]

I love watching this dance too. You and David Thomson are right on.

[bbukid]

This, in my opinion, is the best dance presentation by a pair....of the oposite gender. The best of any pair, again, I think, is that done by Astair & Kelly.

[Tigerlily21]

what about Astaire and Eleanor Powell's ever popular and acclaimed Begin the Beguine?

[bbukid]

Astair & Powell were also great together. For that matter, practically anybody with Fred would look great. Still I like the pair of Fred & Cyd better. Off course. this only is an opinion of one.

[Tigerlily21]

my favorite part is when he steps off the bench and pulls her down from it and they continue the dance.

[rathyana]

watching this makes me MELT.

[susislickermouse]

Watching this again, I have to say that I think Cyd was his best dance partner.

One can never diminish the importance & sheer momentum of the Astaire and Rogers pairing, but she was not the best dancer. He had commented on Cyd at one point, saying that she was really a DANCER, he did not have to move her around, SHE danced!

Arguably the sheer volume of work he did with Rogers is best known, but this is one of his finest ever! If only he and Cyd had done more musicals...WOW!

Beautiful!

[gladf]

marvelous dance [and in my head one thought: "stop watching her legs" ups! (beautiful instruments, its all I'm saying)]

[susislickermouse]

Absolutely stunning! Every dance Fred does is gold and Cyd is such a great dancer as well. These two are SMOKIN'!!!!

One of his finest to be sure. I always liked "Let's face the Music and Dance", as well as "Night and Day", two other very sexy dances. Fred, the way you haunt my dreams....

susan

[FanOfJanis]

Cyd Charisse is in the very top tier of gal dancers along with Eleanor Powell, Vera Ellen with honor mention to Ann Miller. Cyd's forte was grace of style and elegance of motion: The best mover in the biz. Fred Astaire (Frederick Austerlitz) was "Joe Benchmark" who set the standard against which all other dancers were measured. We'll never see the likes of this again. Thank God for film. Enjoy. Peace.

[bon1042]

Amen, I say, AAMMEENNN  !

[emjimdanc3]

she was so elegant!

[Juliaflo]

Let's see some of today's Broadway brins try to remake THIS for the stage-----get amnesia and FORGET ABOUT IT!!!!!

[PhiloPharnsworth]

Beauty and grace personified. Now she lives among the immortals.

[Julinhaaaa]

Que lindo!

Hipnotizante.

RIP Cyd Charisse.

[astaire8]

I love this so much - especially Fred!

[jsharp1701]

Farewell, Cyd. You were the best.

[Juliaflo]

In the most loving memory of Tula Ellice Finklea, better known as Cyd Charisse: 1922-2008.

[pepe1958]

I'll miss her so much, thankfully we will always be able to see her dancing forever....

[yensonna]

RIP Cyd Charisse.

[mezzomatzoh]

Cyd Charisse is a dream. Stunning!

[indiag89]

awesome! i want to see this movie!

[ttlms]

Better get it soon ... Cyd Charisse died today, and this flick is going to be in a lot of queues.

RIP Ms. Charisse.

[Liz86000]

Nice, really nice...

[sunyatshars]

Exquisite; just exquisite!

[Wandalandowskaya47]

Después de ver ésto, ¿Qué más queda en la vida??

[Wandalandowskaya47]

Uno de los momentos mas hermosos del cine musical. Toda la comedia fué deliciosa.

[Wandalandowskaya47]

TOO MUCH!!! tHE EXCELLENCE...

[pepeluzla]

Uno de los números musicales mas exquisitos de la historia del cine. Cyd está para besarla hasta morir y Fred, como de costumbre, caballero y elegante hasta la médula. Que bonito!!!

[mca1218]

I've nothing more to add. The dance is breathtaking and lovely. Probably the finest example of courtship, foreplay, and romantic climax ever done in synchronized dance before. Astaire and Charisse (easily the most balletic partner he ever had) are a gorgeous pair in their matching white costumes. Flawless choreography by Michael Kidd, and beautiful direction by Vincente Minnelli.

[64102256]

This is one of the three most beautifully danced scenes. No. 2 was with Ginger in Roberta dancing to "Smoke Gets in your eyes" and the #3 is with Eleanor Powell dancing to Begin the Begine. Notice all three have Fred AStaire. These are not in order they are all NO 1 in dance routines.

[moviegirly88]

You know how little kids watch one movie over and over again and never get tired of it? Well That is me and this movie! I love this movie so much that I cannot even describe it! :) and this dance is so perfect!

[mazzola442001]

its excellant i love it

[kred65]

This is my ALL TIME favorite scene in a musical - give me goof bumps!!! Cyd Charisse is GORGEOUS!!!

[howiekim25]

style....class....unsurpassed talent...they were the epitome....

[mithol]

Fred himself said that Ginger wasn't really a dancer, though she was good at making it look like she was and she was a fast learner. He said of Cyd Charisse that she really danced with him and didn't just cling on for the ride. That's also evident in her dances.

I think it's just too hard to decide. Most of his partners were great, but there's one thing we can all be in agreement on. Fred Astaire is AWESOME!

[mithol]

In my opinion this is one of the best dances Astaire did with a partner in his career. And Cyd Charisse is so elegant.

But still, there's something about Ginger and the way she is stil acting when she dances. I read somewhere that she made dancingwith Fred look so enjoyable that it made him look even better than he was. But seriously, it's true. Get a load of her expression after he sweeps her into the livingroom of that hotel in Gay Divorcee to dance to The Continental.

[RedTopBear]

Astaire was the best male dancer ever on the Silver Screen, although Gene Kelly comes awefully close, and the lovely Cyd Charisse was absolutely brilliant as well.

[labugambilia]

Eterno, de llorar..!

[pantomanok]

I have always believed this to be the greatest dance routine in cinema history.... beautiful song.... beautiful girl.... oh ok fred astaire is fine too hehehe... just kiddin' he's the best

[Crazypom2]

Aaaaahhhhhhh!!!Im speechless.Beautiful

[marcco44]

brilliant!!

my favorite astaire/charisse duet.

this is one of the great many examples of why astaire is my all-time favorite entertainer.

[wwwwxx]

this is magic

[lemmatt]

Einfach Wunderschön und bezaubernd. Klasse! 5sterne!

[WizardGlik]

You can't start a fire without a spark!

[rkhobo]

Bruce Springsteen's song of the same name. LOL! I get it "...this gun's for hire, even if we're just dancing in the dark..."

[CONTESTAR]

You will think I am crazy, but the cool elegance of the choreography reminds me of Balanchine!

[rkhobo]

This was before my time, but I appreciate their lovely dancing. This was "simple" choreography but danced exceptionally. Fred did once say that his most talented partner was Cyd. She was a professional ballet dance before she went to Hollywood and there's no substitute for that training when it comes to things like posture, the way hands are expressed, etc. Lovely!

[CONTESTAR]

You will think I am crazy, but the cool elegance of the choreography reminds me of Balanchine!

[rkhobo]

I don't think you're crazy. There is a simplicity and elegance about the dancing and setting which is somewhat like Balanchine. Balanchine's choreography would be much more complex than this--but never "fussy." And many of his dances featured great duets--so I see the slight similarity you see too.

[CONTESTAR]

Yes, of course Balanchine would be very complex.

We agree on that, it is more in the spirit of the choreography, its elegance.

Furthermore, Balanchine had something cool about him I thought. As in the routine here, erotism is not agressive, but hanging in the air...

[rkhobo]

Yes. That quality you are speaking about "unexpressed or subverted passion" as I would put it was clearly a thread in many of his works. And that does seem to be a quality in this casual but-something-is-in the-air duet here. :)

[YNGR]

Makes perfect sense--Balanchine was one of many great dancers/choreographers who were tremendous admirers of Astaire.

[CONTESTAR]

who wasnt?! He is the only modern dancer I know that classic and modern dancers or choreographers agree on. One just cant resist this getlemanly elegance...

[Clarity884]

I think she was the best of his partners--even better than Ginger.

[mjshaxpere]

I totally agree!

[CONTESTAR]

I adore Cyd Charisse more than anyone, but have to say that Ginger did have this careless unaffected style that made her one of a kind too.

What gorgeous dancing from all of them! It makes ya wanna dream...