Episode 42: Rita Hayworth and Fred Astaire: Behind the Scenes of You Were Never Lovelier @CRF-ds7ie
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.ย. 2024
- The second screen pairing of Rita Hayworth and Fred Astaire, You Were Never Lovelier (1942), was every bit as successful as their first film, You’ll Never Get Rich (1941), and left audiences wanting more. Unfortunately, they never made another film together. This video captures their sweet friendship and professional partnership through rare behind-the-scenes candids and portrait photographs from my personal collection. Thanks for watching!
#ritahayworth #fredastaire
What a lovely tribute to two such wonderful stars.
Thank you so much! I appreciate you supporting my channel!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and treasures. Just when I think I've seen every picture of Rita, you bring out more. Did that girl ever get tired of smiling?! I agree with you on the dream team.
Hurray another video! Glorious shots of Rita in Irene’s gowns with long flowing hair. I’m beside myself! 😅❤ when I lived in LA and walked by the old Columbia studios I would imagine them up on that rooftop. Caren I was wondering recently why The Three Stooges never mention Rita in any of the shorts during those years. I would think it would be great for promotional reasons and as just a little wink to the Queen of the lot. Great work, more more!
Thank you so much for your sweet comments! I’m so glad you liked the video! I worked at the old Columbia studios as an extra, and I felt the same way - especially when I was driving onto the lot and imagining what it was like for her when she drove in every day! So exciting! Thanks so much again for watching!
I have already told you that the script for the movie Youll Were Never Lovelier was originally written for a big box office success of 1941 in Argentina, the movie was called; Los Martes, Orquideas. In the 1940s, the United States had adjusted diplomatic ties with Latin American countries, reinforcing this relationship in times of war. In this way, Hollywood articulated the popularity of Latin film artists. The producers of Columbia loved the Script by Sixto Pondal Rios and Carlos Olivari. This film catapulted the star Mirtha Legrand to fame, who established her as one of the most important figures in cinema in the coming years of Argentine cinema. The North American version of the South American film was released in Buenos Aires in May 1943, on the day of the premiere the Argentine star and protagonist of the role that Rita would play showed a white dress that Rita sent her for the great Argentine premiere. Mirtha would always remember that the dress had a stain of rouge that she never cleaned thinking that it was the mark of Rita's lips. Later in 1976 Rita visited Argentina and was a guest on Legrand's successful TV program and there they remembered these testimonies. Mirtha began the program saying "It is an honor for me that I come from a small town in an Argentine province to receive one of the greatest Hollywood stars in my program, it is an honor for me to welcome her, Go ahead Rita Hayworth!"
Hi Caren, I just wanted to tell you where I believe the rumor about Fred commenting that Rita was his favorite dance partner originated. It comes from Peter Levinson's 2009 biography on Fred titled, "Puttin' On The Ritz: Fred Astaire and the Fine Art of Panache". I don't have to book in front of me, but if I remember correctly, it was said that Fred made that claim about Rita while working a on a television project sometime in the early to mid 1970's. The exact name of that project escapes me. It was claimed by Levinson that Fred's exact quote was as follows. "All right, I'll give you a name", he said. "But if you ever let it out, I'll swear I lied. It was Rita Hayworth." Now obviously Fred was not alive at that time to confirm or deny that quote, but that bio on Fred is where I believe the rumor of Rita being his favorite partner originated.
Love your videos Caren!! YWNL is a charming film from start to finish. with great dancing.
Thank you so much, Marcco44! I couldn’t agree more with your assessment of that wonderful film!
I loved this video. Fantastic! Thank you for doing this. You were never lovelier is my favorite movie of Rita's. Her gowns are stunning. Keep doing more Rita videos!
Thank you for your kind words! And thank you for watching and supporting my channel!
Love this, but I am a sponge while listening to you, Caren when you are talking anything Rita. I am very fortunate to have an original George Hurrell taken photo of Rita in her Irene designed gown from the final scene of this film.
Thank you Caren, your videos of Rita make my day ❤
Oh you’re so kind!! Thank you so much! I appreciate you watching them and supporting my channel!
Caren what a pleasure it is to see your works presented on TH-cam about Rita Hayworth. Excellent all the configuration and superimposition of photographs and voice-over narration with Kern's music behind it. The photos are beautiful, high quality and many have never been seen before. The images brought to the present manage to reaffirm the beauty and unique grace of Rita as a star without comparison. I'm going to leave you a story in relation to the white lace dress at the end of the movie and an Argentine diva. Thanks !!
Thank you for such a wonderful and complimentary message, Roman! I know you’re a huge Rita fan, so it means a lot! It’s so fun for me to share my collection with people. TH-cam is a great way for me to do that. Thanks so much again for watching!
Thank you so much, Caren, for this lovely video! There are things that you've presented that I know very little about. And that's great! I have studied and even taught a bit of film history and have loved it all my life. A few things that you mention I do have some insights into, so let me know if they strike a chord...
First the Shorty George: there are two times when they cut away from Fred and Rita. I personally find that maddening! Now Fred was famous for insisting that there are no cuts in his dances. During his sensational years at RKO with Ginger, he was adamant about that.
He didn't get his way 100% of the time and you can see this in the fabulous "Pick yourself up" number from Swing Time where they cut away to Eric Blore for his delightful reaction shots. I'm sure Fred was appreciative of Mr. Blore's talent (Were they on Broadway together in the Gay Divorce?) but I'm equally sure he was not happy about it. (I can forgive director George Stevens as Mr. Blore was such a unique talent and there aren't a ton of opportunities to enjoy him.)
The fact that you and I found this interruption distressing in the number is exactly why Fred wanted the dance to be seamless from beginning to end. I have to believe he was just a guest at Columbia and didn't have the authority in the film's post-production to have his way. Xavier Cougat is not delightful in these quick cut-aways, and his insertion doesn't add a thing to the film. It is a heartbreaker for me as these dances are as valuable as a Leonardo da Vinci painting, and who wants an incomplete masterpiece?!!
I don't know if there is footage somewhere in the universe of that dance before it was edited, but we can always pray!
(I'll leave a separate comment for other thoughts as this is getting so long)
Many thanks,
Doug :)
Thank you so much for your nice message, Doug! Yes, I have always wanted to see that little section of Pick Yourself Up that is replaced by Eric Blore, as much as I love him! Those clips must be somewhere! One can only dream of finding them! But, like you, I could’ve done without the Xavier Cugat cutaway in The Shorty George! Look at the trailer, though, for You Were Never Lovelier, and you do see some dancing clips that did not make it into the film. I always love when that happens! Thanks so much for your support of my channel!
My favourite Rita movie. First one she made after she divorced pimp Eddie. The Shorty George is magical. The band leader in the end is because they probably made a mistake and Fred was a perfectionist and this take was the best as a whole. You can see that Rita is getting fatiqued at the end of the dance. They had practiced 6 weeks on the Shorty George alone.
"Rich" photos, Caren. Yes, some of those dresses were stunning, so beautifully cut and subtle. (Could anyone have a more beautiful figure?! Geez). While I imagine Fred as very pretty warm, engaging personality, generally, there isn't a shot (barring the Shirley Temple group), where he doesn't happy, embracing eyes on Rita. Interesting. Thank you, Caren. ,
Yes, it’s been said that he had a crush on Rita, but what man wouldn’t?! And yes, her figure is unbelievable, but we have to remember that all of those portraits are retouched. So, even though she had a great figure, it wasn’t as perfect as it looks in those photos! Nobody could have a figure that perfect! Ha ha! Thanks so much again, Karen, for watching my videos and supporting my channel!
Rita Hayworth was one of the most gorgeous women in cinema. This might be heresy, but her gowns emphasized her beautiful arms, shoulders and bust because her waist was ever so slightly large and her legs were thin. Movie costumes are a bit of a fetish with me.
My second comment is about this idea of Rita Hayworth being Fred's "favorite" partner. Now let's admit it is a rather childish wish for all of us as that category doesn't have much relevance in a career that is so brilliant and spanned half a century! I have to assume that there were a number of dancers that Fred must've had an especially rich relationship with. His sister Adele and Ginger Rogers would be two of these as he created so much with each of them and the accomplishments were stunning. What an impact he and Adele had together on the world of theater and, with Ginger, on film and the audiences of the 1930s and beyond!
But of course, there is such a thing as chemistry and Fred & Rita clearly have it. If I were to ponder why Fred might have felt a special connection with Rita, then I think it would go back to the fact that he knew her father and must've met her when she was quite young. I know that there have been wonderful bonds between me and some of my friends' children. There's a rather unique opportunity to know each other over the years, to feel like extended family. I'm sure it was joyful for Fred to see her become a radiant movie star. And she was an amazing dancer in her own right!
I can also imagine that if Fred worked with her dad , Rita might've had a bond with him as well. He was a loving man and a kind man. Given the complexity of her relationship with her father, she might have seen him as a very special person in her life.
Now this is all conjecture, of course! And that rarely has much relevance in understanding film and the people woven through its history. But I certainly can imagine that the joy that appears when they dance has an element of that former connection and a kind of closeness in a world that is rather superficial as Hollywood certainly was (and still is)!
For those people reading this who are familiar with Rita Hayworth's life at that time, please feel free to correct me or add your own perspective. But I know enough to know that there were times she was not treated well, not respected as an artist because of course she was a young, beautiful woman and this was a harshly chauvinistic world. I can imagine it was a relief for her to be with a wonderful dancer whom she'd known for much of her life, who was happily married and would never have caused her to feel unsafe or uncomfortable, and whom she could enjoy as an equal, both as a dancer and as a friend.
(All thoughts appreciated on this bit of conjecture!)
Thank you for your comment! Rita Hayworth actually only met Astaire when they started filming You’ll Never Get Rich, but you’re right that he knew her father from vaudeville. I don’t think he knew him well, though. If you haven’t watched my video on You’ll Never Get Rich, you might find it interesting! Also, I produced a “short“ about the rumor that Rita was his favorite partner, and you might enjoy watching that as well. Thanks so much for your support of my channel!
I am really happy I have discovered your channel, we seem to have similar interests and an understanding of old Hollywood. However, I hope you do not mind me adding to the information regarding Rita Hayworth.
I am quite sure I remember Orson Welles saying in an interview that Rita herself admitted to having been sexually abused by her "not so beloved" father. The man made her change her appearance so that she would look much older than she was when she became his dance partner while touring the States as the Dancing Cansinos. He made the girl work in night clubs which was illegal for a girl of her age. The "beloved" mother might have known about the sexual abuse. Welles said she must have known. She did know about his alcoholism, of course. There is no doubt that Eduardo Cansino was both a talented dancer and a dance teacher admired by many, but we should not keep quiet about his relationship with Margarita (Rita). Perhaps you have already discussed it in another video of yours. Cheers :-)
Thank you for your kind comment! Yes, I know that Barbara Leaming wrote that Orson Welles told her that Rita gave him this information herself, but Welles is not necessarily a reliable source, as he had been known to tell tall tales. Also, there is some speculation as to whether Barbara Leaming actually interviewed him! I don’t know if that’s true or not, either, but it lends speculation to the abuse rumor, and I wouldn’t want to perpetuate that rumor if it wasn’t true. Again, this is not to say that it isn’t true. I just wouldn’t want to say it’s an absolute truth unless it came from Rita herself in an interview or from one of her daughters (Rebecca is now deceased, and I doubt that Yasmin would ever comment on such a thing.) Thank you so much for watching!
@@CRF-ds7ie I know what you mean about O.Welles but I seem to have read about it in another legend's biography. Perhaps I'm mistaken. On a different note - I love all the dresses that you show, I wonder how they were made, I mean what they are like on the inside. I used to make dresses for ballroom dancers and I know how time and labour-consuming a glamorous dress is. I suppose we know nothing about the incredibly skilled people who made all those fantastic costumes. I'm so happy to have learned from your video that at least some of the costumes were "recycled" and re-used, you've made my day :-)