Joel Griffith clued me on to this first piece. All of the drummers I've featured use only two limbs. Here, legendary tap-dancer Fred Astaire goes them two better. And notice this, kids: how many takes?
For a double header, add arguably one of the very best drummers ever (Buddy Rich) and one of the best dancers ever (Eleanor Powell), and again note how few cuts there are.
Monday, January 09, 2012
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11 comments:
Wow. Fancy footwork there.
I think that the guy in the second video, the dude with the white hat, is the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz.
Yep, none other than Bert Lahr.
I appreciate the no splices/no cuts ways that movies ard recordings were made in the past. Much more demanding for performers.
It just doesn't get any better than Fred Astaire, although Gene Kelly is a very, very close second.
Y'know, I'm always impressed by Astaire and Kelly, but I'd like to see them do it in HIGH HEELS!
Julie
Amazing, I'm tired just watching this.
Then there are the Nicholas brothers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBb9hTyLjfM
I've read that when Astaire's numbers were filmed, the biggest stars on the lot turned up to watch.
Discipline, discipline, discipline...
Oddly enough, I didn't know Astaire had drumming skills until I saw this. I assumed he played piano like many musicians/dancers of that era did, but not drums. I would have liked to have seen him actually behind a kit going at it.
Gotta love my bad grammar. Sigh.
Thanks for that. It led to a good 20 minutes watching Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Judy Garland, and Gene Kelly clips with my little ones. @Brad Williams: Yes, that is Bert Lahr of Cowardly Lion fame. The handsome young guy next to him is Red Skelton.
Julie - FWIW, Kelly danced wearing skates in "It's Always Fair Weather." Great number.
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