Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell (good quality)

Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell - Begin the Beguine from The Broadway Melody of 1940

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• 1940

[varon1979]

IF this is not THE BEST dance number in History...I don,t know what it may be!!. Pure and simple another example of FINE ART!!. Matt

[eddie123e]

Only the much-maligned Hollywood star system could have given us such memorable movies. For ll it faults, and there were many, we will never see the likes of this again. These people worked so hard to make their art effortless - this is pure magic. I hope they're still dancing together somewhere in heaven.

[motherninja]

@varon1979 Although there are two sets of feet going, if you close your eyes and just listen, it sound like one set - a sign of perfect synchronization.

[jemjean]

Light as air and faster than lightening. Bravo!

[gigglybrownye]

1:34. That's what sent shivers down my spine

[tamarexxe]

@eddie123e I have thought for a long time the old Hollywood contract system was better for a lot of reasons. Today's era of the "auteur" and "artiste" aka overpowered stars and directors, has produced horrnedous movies. Consequently nothing about movies or movie stars today claims the adoring hearts of thronging masses the way movies and movie stars did in the golden era. The stars were bigger and better, just not as overpaid.

[eddie123e]

@tamarexxe Thank you. Too many people malign the Hollywood contract system which controlled every aspect of the lives of the stars it created. Many Hollywwod moguls did abuse the system - no system is perfect. Many blamed the Hollywood system for robbing us of the talents of Deanna Durbin. Deanna was brilliant but she was a product of the Hollywood system. By her own admission she was nothing like the screen persona which Hollywood created and it was the screen persona we fell in love with.

[tamarexxe]

@varon1979 What was that famous quote about Ginger Rogers? She can do anything Fred Astair does but dancing backward and in heels? That goes double for Eleanor Powell! :)

[tamarexxe]

@eddie123e I so agree about the old Hollywood contract system being much maligned. The stars then made excellent money for their era, but nothing like today with stars really controlling Hollywood. Even someone with questionable acting skills immediately becomes a producer today and banks even more money. Stars have too much power today and movies are only a shadow of their former glory

[varon1979]

@tamarexxe HEHE, maybe u are right- Fred Astaire thought that she was better than ANY man !!- Matt

[51Saffron]

@davewvu1 I heard him say that she danced like a man but he didn't mean that in a bad way, but as an equal. He said when you danced with Cyd Charisse you stay danced.