I worked with her as her personal assistant and dresser for a show years before she passed away. She was class all the way. A true lady. Gracious, kind and beautiful.
No one can deny her screen presence, stunning looking woman who understood the power of dance on screen and used it perfectly with her long legs and strength. Impeccable dancer, born to do it👌
Cyd's ballet abilities that she incorporated into her other dancing made her quite unique and led to her success over several years in films. She definitely was beautiful, talented and had class. Always enjoyable to watch her perform.
Those legs of hers just went on forever. Best scene though was in "Singing in the Rain" where she wears that little green dress. She looked absolutely stunning.
Wow, simply gorgeous. The women so talented back then and so good looking. Women like Syd will always be remembered for gift to the silver screen. The actors and actresses are dieing off and it's so sad because that era was a wonderful time of unprecedented talent.
You simply never tire of watching Cyd Charisse dance! It just never ages - the youthful vigor, class, and elegance: never gets old! Thanks for a great clip.
you bet! I was born in 1935 .- so I was 15 in 1950 and watched the premieres of all those gorgeous films! happily we can see them again now through the magic of computers - and Marxism is bullsh* beyond doubt
@@voltape I couldn't agree with you more. I was born in 1952, and I've enjoyed those great old movies since I was old enough to appreciate them. And your comment about Marxism is totally correct, but I just don't know what that has to do with Cyd Charisse whom I've always really enjoyed watching. Ahh... she was so beautiful and looked so great when she danced.
That's right, Cyd was born in Amarillo, Texas. We are very proud of Cyd. She always said, if I had been born in Lubbock, Texas, I would have ended up a carhop, but I was born in wonderful Amarillo and became a famous dancer. Cyd was a laugh-a-minute and loved by everyone.
I'll never forget the day when I was lunching in the commissary at 20th Century-Fox and Cyd Charisse walked in. It was as though suddenly we were back in the golden age.
Cyd Charisse was in Janet Jackson's music video for her song "Alright". Cyd Charisse also had a daughter-in-law on American Airlines flight 191 that crashed in Chicago in 1979 killing all onboard.
JACK ANTHONY Go read Wikipedia about CID Charisse under “Later Years” and it says she had a $5 million policy taken out on her legs. She was featured in the 2001 Guinness Book of World Records for having the “Most Valuable Legs”. I guess it the same as all the athletes taking out insurance policies in case of a career ending injury.
@@wcn111 Yes, I see the correlation. But all movie actors are insured before production begins. If an actor is uninsurable then they cannot be hired. For example, I read that Lindsey Lohan is uninsurable for movie acting because of her drug history.
Elizabeth Anderson go to Wikipedia under “Later Years” and it tells about the insurance policy. And yes, Betty Grable had nice legs too. It says her studio insured her legs for $1 million as a publicity stunt.
Cyd, like Ann Miller was grateful for the unique training at MGM, the way they were taken care of so lavishly and it was a better deal than actors have it today. Cyd was blessed to be part of the prestigious MGM stable of stars. They were double blessed to have her!!
What an amazing dancer, so beautiful and talented. I thank the heavens for allowing me to have grown during a time in which these movies were the hits of the day, and not the stuff that passes as art in the 21st century.
My Mother gave me my middle name after Cyd's character in Brigadoon. I hope that I am aging as gracefully as she did...other than that, and the name, that is all we have in common...sigh...what a beautiful, graceful, classy and talented lady. I remember hearing Rita Moreno interviewed and she said that Cyd had the most beautiful knees...unusual but perfect compliment. Smart doctor too, what the world would have missed if Cyd hadn't taken up ballet!
Fell in love with this lady at first sight That was long ago. I believe i have seen all her movies. One of my favorite dances was "dancing in the dark" , maybe because i like the song very much.
She had a very special magic that you can't define. I hate to admit it but I'd I had ever actually seen her for real, my knees would have buckled and my heart exploded.
As a child she was one of my all time favorites! I never knew her story until now, but her grace, poise and and unadulterated talent was one of the reasons I became a dancer.
I watched every single dance video on youtube on her, what an absolutely breathtakingly stunning lady and her moves, legendary to say the least. Only sad thing is i can't find the full movie. And she still is an absolute stunner and so elegant. What a lady!!!
Always a favorite of mine and was so stylish in her dancing. Every move always seemed perfect and looking easy (although I doubt it was easy). I also appreciate Vera Ellen who was similarly versatile. And of course Eleanor Powell but she usually focused on tap - but wow - did she ever.
I don't know about Cyd Charisse being a magnificent singer as her singing voice in films was usually dubbed by India Adams as Miss Adams will attest to. Cyd was marketed primarily for her dancing. As far as her acting is concerned, when the dancing musicals were over, Cyd had very few takers for her dramatic abilities. After Cyd's contract with MGM was over in 1958 Cyd's film career became practically non-existent. However she reinvented a new career for herself in nightclubs.
@@jackanthony976 By 1960, the heyday of the grand Hollywood musical was over...even for Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. Astaire was very successful going over to television making several wonderful specials that garnered him numerous Emmys. Kelly gave up dancing to successfully go into movie and television dramatic acting and especially directing. So Cyd's career paralleled those two awesome men's...as well as all the other fantastic musical stars of that era. They all had to go into dramatical or comedic roles more and more as time went on to be relevant.
@@esmeephillips5888 Yes, It makes sense that these ladies would make more money starring in stage shows. It seems that former musical film audiences shifted their attendance from movie theatres to stage shows. In the late 1960's Frank Sinatra once remarked how he could command huge salaries in Vegas and pack the house every night but those same audiences won't go see his movies or even buy his records any more but they will travel and pay to see him in Vegas.
Te admiro. Las coreografías son excepcionales. Tu estilo de vida es maravillosa. IVA Rosa Blanca Gris desde General Roca Río Negro North Patagonia Argentina
translation: "I admire you. The choreographies are exceptional. Your lifestyle is wonderful. VAT Rosa Blanca Gray from General Roca Río Negro North Patagonia Argentina"
Loved watching her dance in both Bandwagon and Singing in the Rain and later Brigadoon. In the two former moves she oozed both sex and class with just touch being a really bad gal. I can watch those scenes over and over.
While filming Something’s Gotta Give, after Marylin Monroe passed, they were going to replace her with Lee Remick. Dean Martin said there was no way in hell anyone would leave Charisse for Remick 🤣👏🏽🤣👏🏽 good call pally! 👍🏽 they never finished production. What a beautiful dancer....
Did you know the film was eventually made as "Move Over Darling"? Sorry if that's in the documentary, it's been a while since I saw it. Doris Day, James Garner and Polly Bergen starred and it's a good film (imho) but I still prefer the original ("My Favorite Wife"). With Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. It quite eerie seeing that swimming pool scene with Doris after seeing the aborted film version with Marilyn. Also interesting watching "My Favorite Wife" and then "Move OVer Darling". Many scenes are duplicated almost exactly (like Grant's/Garner's double-take as the elevator doors close as he sees his "late" wife)
@@BabyFaceBren I was just going to say My Favorite Wife came first! 😂😂 1940. I love Cary Grant and Irene Dunne; they made a few movies together. It’s funny how there are very few original plots, so many movies resembled each other, spoofs and remakes, like “Matt Helm” vs “James Bond”, same concept.
Think it's more that the music has changed. No more beautiful love songs, clever lyrics or real melody. Today, it's all just beat. There are plenty of singers today with good voices, but they can't get anywhere in the business unless they sing today's music. Styles change, but many of us were lucky to enjoy real musicality, grace, and people who trained for years to improve their natural talent.
Note that the number they show from the big budget "It's Always Fair Weather" is one in which Cyd dances in a boxing gym alongside much older men who in no way are fit enough to be boxers. This is because some genius decided, hey, let's put Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse in a movie and not have them dance even a single step together. And that is what happened. A criminally wasted opportunity.
I worked with her as her personal assistant and dresser for a show years before she passed away. She was class all the way. A true lady. Gracious, kind and beautiful.
It comes through on screen and in the interview. Pure class.
I loved her in brigadoon. It is my favorite musical ever.
How wonderful to share this. She was phenomenal and this exudes onscreen.
Wow you were so fortunate!!!
One of the most beautiful women ever
No one can deny her screen presence, stunning looking woman who understood the power of dance on screen and used it perfectly with her long legs and strength. Impeccable dancer, born to do it👌
Cyd was so beautiful, graceful and talented and she aged beautifully!
Cyd's ballet abilities that she incorporated into her other dancing made her quite unique and led to her success over several years in films. She definitely was beautiful, talented and had class. Always enjoyable to watch her perform.
She had an amazing presence. Impossible to look away from her when she was on screen.
Gosh! What a beautiful woman! So talented, athletic...can't get enough of watching her!
Those legs of hers just went on forever. Best scene though was in "Singing in the Rain" where she wears that little green dress. She looked absolutely stunning.
Wow, simply gorgeous. The women so talented back then and so good looking. Women like Syd will always be remembered for gift to the silver screen. The actors and actresses are dieing off and it's so sad because that era was a wonderful time of unprecedented talent.
You simply never tire of watching Cyd Charisse dance! It just never ages - the youthful vigor, class, and elegance: never gets old! Thanks for a great clip.
I found an old program from when I saw her with the family in "No No Nanette" in Melbourne. I had forgotten I had seen her in it.
@@BabyFaceBren Amazing! Tku
I loved her when I first watched her movies as a kid and this feeling still persists to this day. Gorgeous lovely talented woman.
you bet! I was born in 1935 .- so I was 15 in 1950 and watched the premieres of all those gorgeous films! happily we can see them again now through the magic of computers - and Marxism is bullsh* beyond doubt
@@voltape I couldn't agree with you more. I was born in 1952, and I've enjoyed those great old movies since I was old enough to appreciate them. And your comment about Marxism is totally correct, but I just don't know what that has to do with Cyd Charisse whom I've always really enjoyed watching. Ahh... she was so beautiful and looked so great when she danced.
She was the best to my opinion. She could do anything, singing, acting and dancing like a goddess. Her legs were just unbelievable!
WOW... It's hard to even comment on such a talent, and beauty, she was utterly gifted and blessed.
Really, I have to watch a clip of her EVERY day!!
That's right, Cyd was born in Amarillo, Texas. We are very proud of Cyd. She always said, if I had been born in Lubbock, Texas, I would have ended up a carhop, but I was born in wonderful Amarillo and became a famous dancer. Cyd was a laugh-a-minute and loved by everyone.
She's my favorite dancer in film. Her ballet training is so obvious in every movie. Meet me in Las Vegas is one of my favorites.
I'll never forget the day when I was lunching in the commissary at 20th Century-Fox and Cyd Charisse walked in. It was as though suddenly we were back in the golden age.
She didn't have a childhood injury she suffered from Polio as a child and dancing was prescribed to help strengthen her.
Cyd Charisse was in Janet Jackson's music video for her song "Alright". Cyd Charisse also had a daughter-in-law on American Airlines flight 191 that crashed in Chicago in 1979 killing all onboard.
Two pieces of Cyd trivia I didn’t know. Thanks
Cyd Charisse, the best female dancer.
Utterly incomparable, period. SO ungodly beautiful!!!!!!!!!!
Sensational dancer and a true beauty. A delightful interview 🙏🙏
Her legs were supposedly insured for $5 million back in 1952. Absolutely beautiful lady.
How does one insure a pair of legs? When can one make a claim and collect the insurance on a pair of legs?
JACK ANTHONY Go read Wikipedia about CID Charisse under “Later Years” and it says she had a $5 million policy taken out on her legs. She was featured in the 2001 Guinness Book of World Records for having the “Most Valuable Legs”. I guess it the same as all the athletes taking out insurance policies in case of a career ending injury.
@@wcn111 Yes, I see the correlation. But all movie actors are insured before production begins. If an actor is uninsurable then they cannot be hired. For example, I read that Lindsey Lohan is uninsurable for movie acting because of her drug history.
That was Betty Grable.
Elizabeth Anderson go to Wikipedia under “Later Years” and it tells about the insurance policy. And yes, Betty Grable had nice legs too. It says her studio insured her legs for $1 million as a publicity stunt.
Cyd, like Ann Miller was grateful for the unique training at MGM, the way they were taken care of so lavishly and it was a better deal than actors have it today. Cyd was blessed to be part of the prestigious MGM stable of stars. They were double blessed to have her!!
Impossible not to be fascinated by her. The most beautiful girl of Hollywood
I fell in love with her when I was three years old and met her in later years.
She was as nice as she was beautiful and talented.
What an amazing dancer, so beautiful and talented. I thank the heavens for allowing me to have grown during a time in which these movies were the hits of the day, and not the stuff that passes as art in the 21st century.
Amazing dancer sooo beautiful !!
She was so beautiful and graceful!
My Mother gave me my middle name after Cyd's character in Brigadoon. I hope that I am aging as gracefully as she did...other than that, and the name, that is all we have in common...sigh...what a beautiful, graceful, classy and talented lady. I remember hearing Rita Moreno interviewed and she said that Cyd had the most beautiful knees...unusual but perfect compliment. Smart doctor too, what the world would have missed if Cyd hadn't taken up ballet!
Fell in love with this lady at first sight
That was long ago. I believe i have seen all her movies. One of my favorite dances was "dancing in the dark" , maybe because i like the song very much.
She had a very special magic that you can't define. I hate to admit it but I'd I had ever actually seen her for real, my knees would have buckled and my heart exploded.
As a child she was one of my all time favorites! I never knew her story until now, but her grace, poise and and unadulterated talent was one of the reasons I became a dancer.
I watched every single dance video on youtube on her, what an absolutely breathtakingly stunning lady and her moves, legendary to say the least. Only sad thing is i can't find the full movie. And she still is an absolute stunner and so elegant. What a lady!!!
If you're on Amazon Prime "Silk Stockings" is a free movie. I believe TH-cam has earlier movies of Cyd with Ricardo that could be free too.
Agreed
Always a favorite of mine and was so stylish in her dancing. Every move always seemed perfect and looking easy (although I doubt it was easy). I also appreciate Vera Ellen who was similarly versatile. And of course Eleanor Powell but she usually focused on tap - but wow - did she ever.
She was the reason I took up professional dance
And someday.. you will inspire someone to dance!
That's great. I wish you every success.
throughout the ages the taste of beauty changes. The one constant is this lady, she would have been classes as gorgeous any time
My thoughts exactly.
I completely adore Cyd. Just gorgeous, I still think about her.
Beautiful, statuesque and great dancer !!! And those legs ... they go on forever!😁👏
A lovely woman and incredible dancer.
Classy, beautiful and super talented with such lovely character
. I love Cyd ❤
Such a magnificent actress and singer and a stunningly beautiful lady with such panache God bless her heart and soul always!.🌹✊🕊️🙏🇬🇧💎😎💐
I don't know about Cyd Charisse being a magnificent singer as her singing voice in films was usually dubbed by India Adams as Miss Adams will attest to. Cyd was marketed primarily for her dancing. As far as her acting is concerned, when the dancing musicals were over, Cyd had very few takers for her dramatic abilities. After Cyd's contract with MGM was over in 1958 Cyd's film career became practically non-existent. However she reinvented a new career for herself in nightclubs.
@@jackanthony976 By 1960, the heyday of the grand Hollywood musical was over...even for Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. Astaire was very successful going over to television making several wonderful specials that garnered him numerous Emmys. Kelly gave up dancing to successfully go into movie and television dramatic acting and especially directing.
So Cyd's career paralleled those two awesome men's...as well as all the other fantastic musical stars of that era. They all had to go into dramatical or comedic roles more and more as time went on to be relevant.
@@esmeephillips5888 Yes, It makes sense that these ladies would make more money starring in stage shows. It seems that former musical film audiences shifted their attendance from movie theatres to stage shows. In the late 1960's Frank Sinatra once remarked how he could command huge salaries in Vegas and pack the house every night but those same audiences won't go see his movies or even buy his records any more but they will travel and pay to see him in Vegas.
I love your trivia, Jack.
It's not hard to understand why we fell in love with these incredibly attractive and talented stars.
Cyd was a beautiful lady, both inside and out.
An amazing actress and dancer. She was one of the GOATs.
Yep, beginning when she was just a kid.
Cyd Charisse...the most beautiful lady, inside and out....Frank
SHE WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!
So graceful and talented
She was a rare beauty
Breathtaking sequence!... Wonderful!
Not just a great beauty but a fabulous dancer. And the best legs in the business!
Just got turned on to her. Soooo refreshing to find a new entertainment outlte.
Wonderful dancer from a bygone era...and very poised and classy!
Te admiro. Las coreografías son excepcionales. Tu estilo de vida es maravillosa. IVA Rosa Blanca Gris desde General Roca Río Negro North Patagonia Argentina
translation: "I admire you. The choreographies are exceptional. Your lifestyle is wonderful. VAT Rosa Blanca Gray from General Roca Río Negro North Patagonia Argentina"
Loved watching her dance in both Bandwagon and Singing in the Rain and later Brigadoon. In the two former moves she oozed both sex and class with just touch being a really bad gal. I can watch those scenes over and over.
I love watching her dance. 💕🌹
I am 66 years old and my name is Cindy. I named myself Cyd after her as a teenager and to this day all my friends and family call me Cyd.
Wanted to be like Cyd's character in that money talks dress she wore in Singing in the Rain when I was younger. I thought she was a cat woman!
What a beautiful woman she was Cyd Charisse.
Fred and Cole. Be still my ♥
Cyd is pure Hollywood, pure artist.
Triple threat.
While filming Something’s Gotta Give, after Marylin Monroe passed, they were going to replace her with Lee Remick. Dean Martin said there was no way in hell anyone would leave Charisse for Remick 🤣👏🏽🤣👏🏽 good call pally! 👍🏽 they never finished production. What a beautiful dancer....
Did you know the film was eventually made as "Move Over Darling"? Sorry if that's in the documentary, it's been a while since I saw it. Doris Day, James Garner and Polly Bergen starred and it's a good film (imho) but I still prefer the original ("My Favorite Wife"). With Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. It quite eerie seeing that swimming pool scene with Doris after seeing the aborted film version with Marilyn. Also interesting watching "My Favorite Wife" and then "Move OVer Darling". Many scenes are duplicated almost exactly (like Grant's/Garner's double-take as the elevator doors close as he sees his "late" wife)
@@BabyFaceBren I was just going to say My Favorite Wife came first! 😂😂 1940. I love Cary Grant and Irene Dunne; they made a few movies together. It’s funny how there are very few original plots, so many movies resembled each other, spoofs and remakes, like “Matt Helm” vs “James Bond”, same concept.
But would he have left her for Marilyn????😳🇬🇧
The lady was a class act.
Cyr Charisse et Fred Astaire , la perfection de l’élégance.
Sublime..
Wonderful dancer.
And those legs reach all the way to the floor!
People with real talent
Some say those legs are still expanding today, amazing and beautiful
Cyd died in 2008, so I'd think her legs have done the opposite.
BabyFaceBren Well damn, lol...
Rude and childish
obsessed with her accent!
Her legs were insured for the equivalent of 15 million pounds in the 50s. Beautiful lady ,
She was so much more👑
CLASS personified.
Love this lady ❤💕♥
You aren't alone. Of all the TCM snippets I have uploaded, the "lovely and talented' Cyd EASILY gets the most comments!
Always liked Cyd!
Talent untapped
The epitome of Grace and Graciousness.
She is the one !
Cyd and I will say mitzi gaynor both had the most beautiful shapely legs in the movies.
Cyd,, had legs that reached to heaven
Hmmm, leaving that one alone
Hottest woman to ever walk the earth.
My grandmother name for me was inspired by Cyd Charisse, but my name is Sysairesse
nice
My favorite was Brigadoon!🤗
wow she was something
I guess we'll just have to get used to the fact that good dancers
and actors (as once was) are no more with us. So sorry.
Think it's more that the music has changed. No more beautiful love songs, clever lyrics or real melody. Today, it's all just beat. There are plenty of singers today with good voices, but they can't get anywhere in the business unless they sing today's music. Styles change, but many of us were lucky to enjoy real musicality, grace, and people who trained for years to improve their natural talent.
Love❤️❤️❤️
Classy
Elegance.
Thank you for the hearted comment. Do you know of a Hollywood Actress of today that may compare with Miss Charisse? Best regards: DRS / RVN Vet.
Прекрасная женщина!!!❤
Translation: "A beautiful woman!!!"
🌹
Whatahistory!
When was this interview?
Sorry, I don't know. Definitely pre-June 2008.
Late 90s...Cyd was in her mid 70s then
fab
Самая красивая и элегантная балерина в мире. Лучше неё пока нет никого. 😍
translation: "The most beautiful and elegant ballerina in the world. There is no one better than her yet".
👍😊 @@BabyFaceBren
Gorgeous and so feminine
If you watch her carefully, you can see how often she dances with her knees bent to appear shorter. It must have been exhausting.
our little secret, eh?
!!!!!!!!!!!!+++ Большое спасибо за видео !!!
пожалуйста!
Tulla! What a pretty name she had. Much nicer than Cyd!
Ricardo Montablan
de plane! de plane!
Note that the number they show from the big budget "It's Always Fair Weather" is one in which Cyd dances in a boxing gym alongside much older men who in no way are fit enough to be boxers. This is because some genius decided, hey, let's put Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse in a movie and not have them dance even a single step together. And that is what happened. A criminally wasted opportunity.
@@preppysocks209 coincidentally, around the time the big budget MGM musicals died out!
Beautiful Pair of Legs
Why did she change her birth name?!
Dunno. Tula Ellice Finklea? Maybe it would've been too many lights for her name in lights?
A very classy woman, sadly becoming a rarity these days.
Her accent is an odd combination of Hollywood "mid-Atlantic" and bits of Texan poking through.