Gene Kelly is a classic icon of Hollywood’s Golden Age – dancer, singer, actor, choreographer, and director in film, TV, and stage. His athletic and innovative dances in musicals is legendry. He was one of the best and most popular dancers in film. His distinctive dance style is a mix of modern, jazz, tap, swing, ballroom, and ballet.
Gene Kelly (1912-1996) grew up in a dance family and taught at his family’s dance studio in Pittsburgh. He moved on to Broadway and then to Hollywood. He danced with many of Hollywood’s leading lady dancers in numerous films. Best known for his films Singin’ In the Rain, An American In Paris, On the Town, Anchor’s Away, Brigadoon, and Invitation for the Dance. He gained several awards including 2 Oscars, Golden Globe, Emmy, SAG, Berlin, Cesar, and more.
Cyd Charisse
Cyd Charisse (1922-2008) dancer and actress in film, TV, ballet, and Broadway. One of Hollywood’s greatest dancers. She danced with Gene Kelly in Singin’ In the Rain 1952, Brigadoon 1954, and It’s Always Fair Weather 1955. She also danced with Fred Astaire in The Bandwagon 1953 and Silk Stockings 1957, with Gower Champion in Till the Clouds Roll By 1946, and with Dan Daily in Meet Me In Las Vegas 1956.
Heather on the Hill from Brigadoon, Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse dancing.
Leslie Caron
One of Hollywood’s greatest dancers. Leslie Caron (born 1931) French dancer and actress in film, ballet, stage, and TV. She was awarded a Golden Globe, 2 BAFTAs, Emmy, and an Oscar nomination. She danced with Gene Kelly in An American In Paris, 1951. She also danced with Fred Astaire in Daddy Long Legs 1955. Caron is also known for her roles in The Glass Slipper 1955, Gigi 1958, Fanny 1961, The L-Shaped Room 1962, and Lilli 1953. She acted with leading men Louis Jourdan, Maurice Chevalier, Charles Boyer, Cary Grant, Henry Fonda, David Niven, Orson Welles, Mel Ferrer, Joseph Cotton, Dirk Bogarde, Kirk Douglas, and others.
Ballet from Singin’ In the Rain with Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron.
Vera-Ellen
Considered one of Hollywood’s greatest dancers. Vera Ellen (1921-1981) dancer, singer, and actress in film, TV, ballet, and Broadway, best known for On the Town 1949 and White Christmas 1954. She danced with Fred Astaire in two movies, Three Little Words 1950 and Belle of New York 1952. She danced with Gene Kelly in On The Town 1949 and Words and Music 1948. Vera-Ellen danced with Donald O’Conner in Call Me Madam 1953 and Danny Kaye in White Christmas 1954. Actors she worked with include Cesar Romaro, Bing Crosby, Ann Miller, Carol Haney, Ethel Merman, Red Skelton, Marx Brothers, Tony Martin, Rosemary Clooney, and others.
Slaughter on Tenth Avenue ballet from the movie Words and Music, danced by Gene Kelly and Vera-Ellen
Carol Haney
One of Hollywood’s greatest dancers and dance choreographers. Carol Haney (1924-1964) dancer, singer, actress, choreographer in film, TV, and stage. She worked with Gene Kelly on Summer Stock, On the Town, An American In Paris, Singin’ In the Rain, and Invitation to the Dance. She worked with Bob Fosse on The Pajama Game and Kiss Me Kate.
Carol Haney’s ballet with Gene Kelly was animated in the movie Invitation to the Dance.
Judy Garland
Legendary icon Judy Garland (1922-1969) international star, singer, dancer, actress in film, TV, and stage. Known for The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me In St. Louis, Easter Parade, A Star Is Born, and Judgement At Nuremberg. Garland won an Oscar, 2 Golden Globes, 3 Grammys, a Tony, and 3 Emmy nominations. She danced with Gene Kelly in two movies, For Me and My Gal 1942 and Summer Stock 1950. She also danced with Fred Astaire in Easter Parade.
Bailin’ the Jack from For Me and My Gal, Judy Garland and Gene Kelly dancing
Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth (1918-1987) an actress, dancer, and singer in 61 films and best known for Gilda 1946, The Lady From Shanghai 1947, and Pal Joey 1957. She was the most popular “pin-up girl“ by GIs during World War Two. She acted with Hollywood’s leading men Spencer Tracy, Orson Welles, Glenn Ford, Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, Robert Mitchum, David Niven, Burt Lancaster, James Cagney, and others. She danced with Fred Astaire in two films, You’ll Never Get Rich 1941 and You Were Never Lovelier 1942. She danced with Gene Kelly in Cover Girl 1944.
Dance from Cover Girl, Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly dancing.
Mitzi Gayner
Dancer, singer, actress in film, TV, and stage Mitzi Gaynor (b. 1931) starred in many musicals. She is best known for South Pacific, There’s No Business Like Show Business, We’re Not Married, and The Birds and Bees. Gaynor danced with Gene Kelly in the movie Les Girls, 1957. She also danced with Donald O’Conner in There’s No Business Like Show Business 1954 and Anything Goes 1956.
Gone About the Gal from Les Girls, dancing with Gene Kelly and Mitzi Gaynor.
The Young Girls of Rochfort
The Young Girls of Rochfort, 1967 is a fun and high energy French musical with Catherine Denueve, Francoise Dorleac, Gene Kelly, George Chakiris, and Michel Piccoli.
Gene Kelly dancing with Francoise Dorleac.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHGK2jiS548
Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds (1932-2016) was a dancer, singer, and actress in film, TV, and stage. She is known for The Unsinkable Molly Brown, In & Out, Tammy & the Bachelor, The Tender Trap, and How the West Was Won. She will always be remembered in her famous song and dance role in Singin’ In the Rain 1952 with Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor. Reynolds won an Oscar and nominations for 4 Golden Globes, a Tony, and 2 Emmys. She danced in Give a Girl a Break 1953 with Bob Fosse and Gower Champion, The Affairs of Dobie Gillis 1953 with Bob Fosse and Bobby Van, I Love Melvin 1953 with Donald O’Connor, and Hit the Deck 1955 with Jane Powell, Ann Miller, and Russ Tamblyn.
Good Mornin’ from Singin’ In the Rain, dancing with Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor.
References
IMDB
Wikipedia
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Biography.com
Famous Fix
Silver Screen Modes
