Why Was Everybody Afraid of Gene Kelly?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ก.ค. 2024
- Music in the video:
-"Five Card Shuffle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
-"George Street Shuffle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
Music wanted!!
If you are a music producer and would like me to use your music please email me at agofvi@gmail.com
Gene Kelly didn't dance with his body, he danced with his soul, and for that you have to be truly fearless. A simply magnificent performer.
I got to meet Gene Kelly when he was directing Hello Dolly. He was looking
for a tall Asian woman to be Miss Japan on the Tony Pastor float for the parade. My girlfriend and I went to his office , he picked me. I was so thrilled. The beautiful costumes by
Irene . On Friday he directed each one of us. To me and all the other
ladies, he was almost gentle. It was a highlight of my life.
Beautiful🙏👍😘
Thank you so much for sharing that, it was very interesting.
Oh, I loved your story. How much fun that must have been.
How wonderful that must have been! I read a lot of Hollywood biographies at one stage when I was unwell. Many people get roasted but I never read a bad word about Gene Kelly.
How precious....Love Hello Dolly and the amazing parade scene....
There is a reason that people still know who he is. Success doesn’t flow from mediocre work. People demand perfection, and Gene delivered. 💚
Exactly.
And like Fred Astaire's dancing they both made it look totally effortless.
@@kfl611 As Astaire is often quoted as saying: "if it doesn't look easy, you're not working hard enough." Astaire, incidentally, once rehearsed Lauren Baccall- a classically-trained dancer- SO HARD that blood pooled in to the bottoms of her shoes.
Marriage
@@cubbymumma3941 I never heard that about Astaire - and I never thought of him as being in the same league as Gene Kelly. This was very interesting.
My mom met Gene Kelly once during World War II. He apparently was in the Armed Forces at the time and had gotten something in his eye. My mom worked in the Chicago Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital and that's where he came for treatment. She said he was a perfect gentleman and very pleasant despite his discomfort. I think this was one of the highlights in my mom's life. I have always been a Gene Kelly fan because of this.
A force of nature nobody like him ever.
poor woman, if meeting a celeb in such an insignificant way is a highlight in her life.
@@peterkoller3761 You're not considering that the US was engaged in a world war...and having just come out of the austere decade of the depression. Additionally, how the studios marketed their stars and the "relationship" between those celebrities and their fans. It's some fascinating reading!
Basically, a different time and place. Not to mention, a generation of people who had a sense of Humility, Propriety and empathy.
It's a sweet and delightful story.
What an encounter! Sweet story, thank you for sharing
@@peterkoller3761 there's always one of you isn't there.
My mother took dance lessons with Gene Kelly. She said he aimed for the best but he was a good man.
Wow! When was this, and where?
@@XjtBA in Pittsburgh in the mid-1940s. She was about 12.
@@DayneReedy Wow!
@@DayneReedy That might have been ten years before. In the mid-40's he was busy with his Hollywood career as well as serving in the Navy (unless he occasionally returned to 'guest' teach).
@@kennethwayne6857 Hmmm...well yes probably more like 1940.
Afraid? A click-bait title, if you ask me. As someone fortunate enough to call Gene a friend, I can't imagine being afraid of him. From the first time I met him, he was nothing but gracious to me. Sure, he was a perfectionist about damn near everything he touched, but that was Gene. He once phoned me with "suggestions" about a script re-write I was undertaking for a former TV network executive who was branching out into films. Gene found something wrong with pretty much everything I had attempted, and he told me so in no uncertain terms. But he also had "fixes" for everything he bitched at me about, something I wasn't used to hearing whenever I got "notes" on a project. (No, the project was never made, unfortunately.) Gene also taught this unathletic Southerner about hockey, and I spent many hours watching games with him -- including the Stanley Cup, from the playoffs through the final game. I had known his widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, since before she and Gene were married; that's how I was lucky enough to get to know him. He was most assuredly one of the highest high points in my "happy-to-be-working" Hollywood career.
Thank you for ur pos memories...
a fellow Pittsburgher:)
I’m so pleased that you have positive memories to share, thank you. I always loved Gene Kelly and much preferred his dance style to that of Astaire. I can imagine he was a hard task master but perfection is hard won at the best of times. Thank you again for sharing your wonderful memories
@@marilyn6979 Who'd have ever thought this ol' fella from Mississippi would end up being friends with Gene Kelly?! Life can be a slap groove, if you let it...
@@loisfitzpatrick5585 The day I met him, Patricia was delayed, so when I arrived, Gene was by himself, waiting for me. When I walked into the entry, he gave me an open arms greeting, then said, "Patricia told me you'd be nervous, so I'm supposed to get you drunk!" Well, I was nervous (wouldn't you be?!) and Gene made a helluva vodka martini...or two or three!
Victor Hawkins sounds perfect, what amazing memories to have.
Because of his perfectionism and high standards we now have cinema gold.
INDEED 👏❣️😊
Cinema platinum! 💙
@@IndiGeaux Don't confuse 'perfectionism" with an Ego wanting his own way...
You are absolutely correct.
That's true but Debbie Reynolds said, while making "Singing In The Rain", that he rehearsed her into a slowed heartbeat! She said he was such a task master that one day she just couldn't get out of bed! A doctor was called and he told her and the studio that she was on bed rest immediately for a week then he would check to see if she could continue! I love movies but nobody has to almost die just to finish one!!
Gene Kelly was supremely gifted and I am glad he was able to share his talent with us.
By all accounts he could be cruel and insensitive, and could also be intensely loyal and supportive. Leslie Caron talked about how demanding he was, and also how protective he was to her during her first movie, and how he did everything to shield her from the MGM brass that wanted to fire her.
Because she wouldn't put out, most likely.
He was a massive jerk. I met him a few times. He helped her because, he didn't want to have to retrain another woman in what he wanted, and no other reason.
Correction, Gene Kelly wasn’t just a dancer he was and is LEGEND.
So if you're saying he was a legend, are you calling him a toe?😆
He was an ok dancer. Fred Astaire was a legend.
Gene Kelly was a dancer and an actor. And couldn't keep his tongue in his mouth.
Fred Astaire was EVERY bit as much legend but with a character to match
@@caroltomko9261 John Travolta is in “OK dancer“. Highly overrated in my opinion. But Gene Kelly AND Fred Astaire are legends.
I fell in love with Gene Kelly one Christmas while watching Singing in the Rain at the grand old age of 13 😉
I too fell in love with him at the age of 13.
It’s time for you to go to the nearest police station and turn yourself in to the authorities.
Me too
Me too!
I fell in love with him in my teens, too.
Gene Kelly didn't dance, he flowed! His dancing was flawless.
Agree, much more natural dancer than slimy Fred Astaire.
Gene tapped down on the floor, Fred tapped up. Two different styles. Wonderful to watch.
Perfectly put👌.
Three great dancers from Hollywood: Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and George Chakiris
@@barbaratang8685 Ah West side story. Yes he was excellent, and the film is a classic.
He was a genius...he gave you his utmost BEST!!!
Nine minutes of Gene’s history. From what I heard in this, Kelly’s work made his co-stars better at the craft.
Don't forget Donald O'Connor who out danced Kelly in scenes together in Singing in the Rain. Poor Frank Sinatra could hardly keep up with Gene in their movies. I've heard Debbie Reynolds sought help from Fred Astaire for coaching during Singing in the Rain because Kelly was so hard & demanding on her during rehearsals. All agreed he was amazing but he was also called arrogant.
@@flyaway7636 I think Frank Sinatra did pretty well dancing with Gene Kelly, considering that Frank Sinatra was NOT a dancer AT ALL when he got hired for that movie and Gene Kelly had to teach him everything. So Frank did a pretty good job of catch-up to do their dances. In concerts, Frank Sinatra would sometimes mention how Gene Kelly taught him everything [but other times in concerts Frank would joke that he taught Gene!]
He's always been one of my top favorites. He had it ALL.
Being a talented perfectionist with a well developed concept of what you're trying to do does not make you a jerk. It's the people who think that a film production is a frivolous playground that are going to think the artist is a jerk.
Respect
Exactly!
Yep.
People said the same thing about Fred. Yes he was a perfectionist but then they had to be because their reputations are at stake if the dance routines were sloppy the films would flop.
@@lumiere7216 Exactly
He was a perfectionist, and we love the outcome.
Always will
if something is perfect, you know that there was a perfectionist involved.
I think he intimidated his co-stars due to the fact he could sing, dance and act. He was known for being tough, but then so was Fred Astaire. They were both perfectionist in their execution of their performances and expected the same of those they were performing with.
But none of Fred's ladies disliked him, looking back. Fred had Hermes Pan as an intermediary. Gene had Stanley Donen, who was as big a bully as Kelly.
Gene Kelly did not fall to the top of the mountain of dancing he worked it he worked hard on himself and he got results from others
@@esmeephillips5888 My impression of Kelly is not that he was a bully but that he was as hard (or harder) on himself as he was on those around him. It seems to me that he focused intently on each dance number and just wasn't capable of settling for a second-best performance of the number.
Not a great singer
@@davestephen8679 no he wasn't I agree with that, but he could sing which was seen as a big bonus for a film star.
Gene Kelly and Syd Charisse and long scarf.... my favorite dance moment on film ever! it's timeless!
Cyd, but I like your comment.
@@georgerussell9525 ah, got it... and thank you!
Cyd Charisse & Gene were sure a good pair. Of course Cyd could make any guy look good.
@@billolsen4360 💯 agree!
@@davidhoward2487 also another brilliant and cherished memory of watching older movies every Saturday when growing up. then we would change the channel and watch Kung Fu movies until dinnertime!
So he was a perfectionist and wanted everybody else to be as good as he was.
Exactly. He never demanded anything of other people that he himself didn't live up to. Debbie Reynolds once said that working with Gene Kelly was more difficult than childbirth but damn if he didn't help bring about Singing in the Rain, one of the most perfect movies ever made. He pushed and pushed her and she did her best work in that film.
Exactly. Nothing to fear.
Thank you. Nothing wrong with wanting things done as good as we cant.
@@shizumaakiyama3129 i was taught off my grandad that if youre going to do something do it right or dont bother doing it at all. He also taught me that to do something right you have to pracise and practice until you get it right.
Maybe because of low standards today where math and punctuality are said to be racist (critical race theory), adhering to the highest standard possible will make a person a jerk (and probably racist).
Gene Kelly had INCREDIBLE TALENT.
Perfectionists are often the hardest taskmasters.
It's a curse... I'm one too. We actually make ourselves miserable with our need for perfection
And try having one as a parent!
@@remyjenney7103 My fiance is...
Fred Astaire made it look so easy, even lazy, when he danced, because he rehearsed relentlessly and made his co-stars do the same. A perfectionist.
True VIRGO. We can’t help it. It has to be BEAUTIFUL!
Gene Kelly is one of my favorite dancers, and Singing in the Rain was one of my favorite movies, I absolutely loved it!
I adored Gene Kelly as a child. I'm 61, still love him.
My almost two year old granddaughter loves singing and dancing. She was playing with her little umbrella yesterday, and I put on Gene, "Singing in the Rain" video on You Tube for her. She froze. I felt her little spirit flutter with joy as his dancing began.
"Again, Grayma, again!"
We watched it five times in a row. She soaked it all in...
Today, when I arrived to Nanny-Gram, she ran to the TV and pointed, "Singing in the Rain, Grayma! With the umbrella!".
This wondrous little girl and I are extremely bonded with our love of singing and dancing.
When I match her pitch and sing face to face with her...she is in heaven. Grayma already taught her how to work her "pretend microphones". One of her fav songs is "Tomorrow" from Annie...
What can I say? I love the simpler, joyous times of Musicals. In high school, I was chorus/Havana Dancer in Guy & Dolls, and my top off of high school, was Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof.
...and, yes, as a child I took tap and jazz dancing because of Gene Kelly's inspiration.
Thanks you for all the joy-filled times you brought to me, and inspired within me, Gene Kelly!
C.A. Beck….I envy you that bond. I have twin grandgirls who are both gifted in singing and dancing, but thanks to the nasty, scornful attitude of teenage girls today they have been ‘discouraged’ by their ‘friends’ from performing and will do nothing in front of anybody any more. I despair.
@@madwhitehare3635 : I'm sorry they have been so negatively impacted by peer pressure. I have a former "foster-like" granddaughter that I helped raise, in my home with her teenage mom, the first four years of her life. Things did not go well once they left my home, and I was not allowed contact for years.
Now 19, she has been brutalized, bullied, raped, and emotionally/psychologically battered relentlessly by her father and his parents. She has been completely indoctrinated by the schools, the LGBTQ agenda, and far left ideologies.
When she turned 18, I was able to reunite with her. There is a lot of damage to undo, and God is Faithful. LOVE is the key.
I will tell you this, my biological grandchildren are/will be, home schooled. I Nanny-Gramma both of them in two households, and,, no, I will not take a dime from their parents. It is my JOY.
We are so against the way society has fallen into evil, that we are going to be selling our homes, and moving, as a family, to a Ranch, where we can live in support of each other in multi-generational family life.
As God surely intended!
I pray your granddaughters are able to rise up in their true identities and giftings, and be blessed with strength and the passion to do what they are purposed by their Heavenly Father to enjoy!
God can turn things around in a heartbeat.
I'm praying for you all!
I'm 42, and I love and adore Gene Kelly. I think it's great that he took his craft seriously. And it seems like he was a genuinely nice guy. He will always be my favorite actor from yesteryear.
No one can achieve greatness without upsetting a few people.
@snarkus63 Your comment is so very true.
those days of high standards, innovation, visual perfection, competitive film making, no cgi, organic work, I think there was no room for snowflakes
Best comment
@@valeriataylor8337 Best comment!
Gene Kelly was one of my absolute favorite performers as a child. He loved the art of dancing and strove to perfection which I know I appreciated as a member of the audience. The legend that was Gene Kelly was a joy to behold!
I met Mr. Kelly on the set of Cheyene Social Club which he was directing. My mom and I had flown in to Santa Fe after my dad, the ASPCA rep, had a heart attack while filming. He was beyond kind and gracious to we absolute “nobodies’ and when dad showed up he said he’d missed seeing him and was everything ok? Completely unassuming. I didn’t even recognize him until after he “got back to work.” Totally disagree with the headline.
But both can be true. My father was like that: Both. And it's often true of very strong personalities! People adore them but can also be afraid of them because the driving force that makes them successful, hard working and magnetic, can also be demanding, critical and sometimes insensitive. We are never just one thing, are we? (I am guilty of ALL of that too!)
As it is said, good is what we do when nobody is watching…complete contrast to celebs of today. Angelina representing , “what?”…to Ukraine
Wow - that's SO FANTASTIC! Much honor to your father. May he rest in Peace!
@@andreaandrea6716 Exactly. There are different sides to people. Kelly had such a vivacious screen presence, it may be hard to reconcile it with the idea that he could be tough as nails.
@@giovanna722 And I LOVE that quality in a person; the ability to be hard AND soft. That generation, one of the last to grow up without television (and everything that came after), were unique... and not modeling themselves after sitcom personalities (which I noticed my generation doing).
He was a perfectionist and took his work seriously!
He was a relative of mine. A great, great, uncle. He was a perfectionist, true. But hardly a scary person
Wow! That's so lovely! Did you ever get to "hang out" with him? (I know; he was v. v. busy, 'til the end of his life, I'm sure. Certainly 'til retirement!) - So: you're from Pittsburgh, his hometown?
Gene Kelly is the man. He wanted perfection in his dance. His perfect beautiful dancing has caused nothing but happiness to the people who watch and love his movies.
Gene Kelly never asked anything from anyone that he didn't expect from himself. Gene was a brilliant, kind, giving and caring man who knew how to bring out the best in everyone. I applaud and compliment him for these qualities. Who wants to do anything, then leave thinking, 'I could have done better.' We need more Gene Kellys in this world.
those studio pics project a man who looked as if he ALWAYS smelled good (even after a workout). 😁
He was a demanding perfectionist. He sought out every little flaw. He said once Cyd Charise was his favorite dancer. But Kelly was excellent at his craft, loved watching him. Handsome too.
Cyd Charisse was a lovely dancer but I thought Vera-Ellen would be his favorite. She was every inch the perfectionist that Kelly was.
@@yana1955 yeah I liked her too, I'm straight female, but she had the most gorgeous legs.
I adore Cyd Charisse, her dancing was exquisite
So was Cyd's acting. She could have been another Ava Gardner.
@@maryannemelenka9250 They unbelievably great, a genetic lottery win that she made even more stunning with hard work.
Wast is deeply in love with him as a teenager. I lived in Burbank and I remember going to his house trick or treating and him answering the door and I just about lost my s***. He was utterly amazing
Cool story.
So lucky! I have been in love with him my whole life. To this day I still get butterflies when I watch his movies or see a photo of him. ❤😍
He was before my time, but years ago when I first saw him I just remember thinking how gorgeous he was with those dimples!
He looks a little bit like Jeff Probst of ‘SURVIVOR’
@@adventureswithgrandpafoofy7769 I'd never noticed that until you brought it out. They do resemble.
I absolutely loved Gene, yeah he was tough but he created perfection. rest in peace Gene, i hope you're dancing with the angels.
Dancing with them????
He's taken over the choreography from God himself and the angels are FINALLY getting it right!!
@@Voodoomaria
There will be NO voodoo in the Kingdom of GOD. LOVE JESUS and live FOREVER! St John 3:16! ❤️
@@SOULRELIEF22 When ones words are as good as silence, Silence is preferable.
@@Voodoomaria This is a great comment!!!!
I love Gene Kelly movies. I love his acting, charm and the dancing is fantastic.
He’s a very handsome man with the most beautiful smile 😊 I love to hear him sing. Thanks to dvds we don’t have to ever miss his dancing, acting,singing. There are no more like Gene Kelly. RIP Gene
The brilliant and beautiful Mr. Gene Kelly was always very generous with his co workers. He worked extremely hard and expected everyone else to do so too.
Gene and Judy Garland loved each other platonically.
They were great friends.
So I don't know where the hating each other came from! That's rubbish!
He was able to handle Judy well and was very patient dealing with her emotional problems.
He is also one of the few people who put Frank Sinatra at ease on the set of Anchors Aweigh whilst teaching him to dance.
Debbie Reynolds owed Gene a lot because he knew she could turn in a good performance but she needed to be pushed because she wasn't a trained dancer.
Singing in the rain made a star out of her.
Perhaps had he been too soft with her she wouldn't have succeeded in becoming a big star.
Not Judy Garland I think they were talking about. It was Debbie Reynolds. One might excuse Debbie for not liking Gene to begin with. After all she was only 18 or 19 when Singing in the Rain was made. She was just a kid. I think you are right about Judy though, she seemed to adore Gene
We will never know, doubt Debbie would not have been a big star anyway
@@MTknitter22 I agree she was destined for stardom, just not as a dancer - and for SITR she had to dance, which means someone had to teach her.
That resonates. Thank you.
@@dontaylor7315 l
I was and always will be a huge fan of Gene Kelly. As a young African American girl at the age of 13, he inspired me to dance as in those days there were not many Black dancers on TV. Oh, how I loved watching musicals back in those days. And yes, I did get a chance to experience the entertainment world. From elementary school to high school I dance in talent shows, even performed for Gerald Levert in Ohio. Signed up for Dance Management in college modern, jazz, and tap dance locally for 3 years. So, Thank you, Mr. Kelly, for giving me a chance to show my artwork in dance even if I did not make it to stardom, I experience the entertainment world because of you.
Gene Kelly was a big supporter of the Nicholas Brothers. I believe the dance scenes Kelly did with them in "The Pirate" was the first time black and white dancers shared the screen in a major movie
@@paulgottlieb What about little white girl Shirley Temple dancing with black dancer Bill Robinson in the 1935 movie "The Little Colonel?" I think they were the first black-white dance pairing.
@@cathynewyork7918 You may well be right about that. Bill Robinson said that Shirley Temple was a natural dancer and he never had to show her any step twice. But I was thinking more of scenes where black and white dancers performed as equals, at least for those brief moments
@@paulgottlieb I have seen that Gene Kelly/Nicolas Brothers clip many times, and it is really great. Even though Shirley Temple was a child, weren't she and Robinson dancing together as equals, two dancers each doing the same dance at the same time? Decades ago I went to a Gene Kelly Film Retrospective at USC Film School when I lived in Los Angeles, where Gene Kelly and a moderator were introducing the film clips and later taking questions. I got to briefly meet Gene Kelly after the show and got him to sign a book I had bought previously, "The Films of Gene Kelly." One of the big thrills of my life! [The other big thrill was meeting Frank Sinatra. Both men were giant talents.]
@@cathynewyork7918 I have long admired Gene Kelly. He injected a lot of athleticism and energy into his dancing. He also seems to have been a really nice guy
I never knew that Gene Kelly played semipro hockey. It makes sense, though -- he definitely had hockey player glutes.
Physically as strong as a weight lifter.
Hockey makes me love him even MORE!
And probably why he did such a superb job tap dancing on roller skates in “It’s always fair weather.” Most people who can ice skate well can also roller skate easily and vice versa. At least I can.
He was a hard taskmaster .my mom was a pro dancer for years . She was always telling me about the mania for perfection in the dance world .In ballet having a ballet master run you ragged would not be considered anything but a good instructor
The movie, Center Stage, shows a little peek into that very competitive world.
Everyone fears a triple threat.
He loved perfection and I don’t think they wanted to work as hard ! He was a beautiful man
Love him or hate him, he was who he was and the result 99% of the time was a success.
Love him and all his movies. 💕😘😍🕺
Nobody hates him
Gene Kelly is my all time favorite musical performer. He always cared about how his partner looked. You can tell that he was the master of dance but he strived to make his partners shine as well.
Very handsome guy. His dancing was simply a dream. Just an incredibly talented guy.
I think that is true..so handsome. He had so many talents that we almost forget how dazzlingly handsome he was!
According to today’s standards this narrator is critical in the beginning, I resent that. GENE KELLY is a legend. He didn’t ask anyone to do anything he didn’t do. He’s what you call a PROFESSIONAL. wake up young people, this is how you become successful!!🥳🥳
I was just saying the same thing
Agreed. I would be seen as an egotistical arse for my perfectionism with voice. However, I don't ask things of people that I would not do myself. He was a professional and a perfectionist...NOT an asshole. There is a very fine line of difference. He may have dipped a toe across it but, he seemed to make sure that he never took it to an extreme.
Paula Abdul became friends with Gene when he was old. She'd go to his house, have tea, and they'd talk for hours about dancing and, most especially, choreography. GK shared his motto with Miss Abdul, "Fail to prepare, and prepare to fail." I love that. He knew it wasn't just about talent; it was about hard, hard work.
@@susanlloyd7395 I love that! I never knew that.
Gene Kelly was a fantastic dancer, singer, choreographer, actor, and director! I can't think of anyone in show-biz today as talented as him!
I think Gene Kelly was a joy in the dance world, he was so talented and like other talented people, they can be harsh and difficult but when you have the joy of seeing the finished product, he was simply amazing. My favorite dancer of all time.
Originally, Kelly wanted to do the dance number with Mickey Mouse, so Kelly approached Walt Disney about it. Disney was very interested, but wasn't able to spare any of his people to set it up. Disney recommended that Kelly go to the MGM cartoon studio & use Jerry Mouse of the Tom &Jerry cartoon series.
Anyone who can hold his own while dancing with a cartoon mouse is a dancing genius
They film the cartoon to HIS steps, not the other way around. lololol
He can tap dance on ROLLER SKATES
plus: the day he filmed this bit, he was about to travel for Navy/war issues in a day or two. He was extremely tired and with sore muscles working night and day in this film. And the outcome is absolutely perfect and gracious.
@@beckyfarley60 Damn!! Are you sure about that?
@@stephenland9361 I'll bet my last M & M.
Love Gene Kelly. Just recently watched "An American in Paris".
Vincente Minnelli gets full credit for directing that, but the magnificent title ballet belongs entirely to Gene. According to Leslie Caron, Gene directed all the musical numbers which are at least half the picture. Credit must be given.
What a film!!! Beautiful to look at and listen to. Super support from the other actors too.
“I got rhythm “ was a cool dance with Kelly and those kids
Gene Kelly expected nothing from his co stars that he expected from himself , but few people had the level of skills he had , dancer , choreography and director.Because was a director he understood best how to use cameras to capture solo dance and routines...because he was a choreographer he knew what was needed to execute and perform the dance and because he was a dancer he knew the physical requirements to properly execute the moves.....everyone whom he ever met outside of the industry said he was a friendly , approachable , and sincere celebrity .
I've heard reports that he could be quite abrasive and use belittling 'humor' if he didn't like you or thought you weren't keeping up as a dancer as experienced by Esther Williams and Betty Garrett on the set of 'Ball Game'.
@@kennethwayne6857 he was a Virgo he has no problem calling shit out, and anyone who was soft and not serious shouldn’t have been on set.
@@sersastark I'm not knocking him for it. Thank God he was dedicated as he was, all these years later we're still enjoying his work!
@@kennethwayne6857 Esther was a pain in the ass, and Betty Garrett was a fan. Stop believing gossip
@@margovisitacion7944 Granted I wasn't there but neither were you (I don't think). But having myself been on the receiving end of bullying choreographers I may be a little sensitive on the subject. That said, I am a huge fan of Mr. Kelly and have been for most of my life.
Back in 1977, I was dancing in Westchester County, NY and we did a show with Fred Kelly and Honi Coles. What a great experience!
I remember seeing Honi Coles tap dance at a place in Greenburgh around that time.
I worked with Gene Kelly on Hello Dolly. He picked me to be Miss Japan on the Tony Pastor float. On my last day, he directed me to smile and wave my hand. He couldn't have been nicer. I wore a beautiful costume by Irene. I wish that I had a picture of the costume..Thank to Gene Kelly for picking
me. I enjoyed working on the movie,it was a great experience
Well the man isn’t here to defend himself . So let’s keep his private life private and remember him for being one of the most amazing dancers of all time
Love him in whatever he did. Brigadoon to Xanadu. He probably was so great because he worked so hard and didn't even realize how hard he was on everybody.
Grea video, fair and accurate, Gene for me was a supreme talent, someone said, Gene Kelly had the strength as a dancer and Fred Astaire the style!!!!! I would think he was difficult to work with and a perfectionist, but just to watch him dancing in the rain in, singing in the rain, is pure joy!!!!!!! His dancing will never be forgot!!!!!! 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Thank you Maria for your lovely comment! 🙂
@@AgeOfVintage you are welcome!!! I am new to your channel, keep up the good work!!!!! 😁🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
@@mariaevans7811 Thank you Maria! 🙂I hope you will like my future videos as well! And if you are interested, I have a second channel too called Age of Vintage 2. I would love to see you there! 🙂
@@mariaevans7811 Hi Maria, you commented on one of my replies a few weeks ago, so I am liking you're comment. Cheers Ruth from Australia to the wonderful UK 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧💛💖💚❤😊
To Add, Gene Kelly had not only style but also a natural "class"
He also loved Morecambe and Wise's version of Singing in The Rain. He was amazing, and he made the best D'Artagnan to date.
Loved their version of singing in the rain!!!!! They were great themselves!!!!☺️🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
The cruelest thing Gene Kelly did was to make Frank Sinatra pose for those closeups with him.
He was a fantastic performer and wanted everyone to work as hard as he did.
To look as good as he did. That is why his dances are considered “iconic” and we are talking about him more than 25 years after his death.
I'm not in any way any kind of authority on dancing, but Kelly seemed to float when he danced.
I was never that impressed with Fred Astaire, but remember being blown away by Gene Kelly as a child.
There was something very visceral about him. Like the Russian ballet dancers; graceful, but tough as nails.
He was like an everyman. But what an incredible talent.
Always underrated I think.
"Underrated" suggests most people didn't recognize just how talented he was. That's not accurate in the least. His name is synonymous with legendary dancing skill.
@@abbycross90210 Seriously! When people talk about male dancers in Hollywood...two names come up..Astaire and Kelly. (or Kelly and Astaire) Sure there were others who could dance...O'Connor, Kaye, Cagney... but they're a notch or two down as pure dancers. Not underrated at all as far as dancing or star power. Personally though, I'll take the Nicholas Brothers.
not impressed with Fred Astaire what?
Maybe underrated by children of today People don't get to do major motion pictures for 2 decades, let alone direct them, by being UNDERRATED. He was known as a demi-god in & out of the entertainment industry!
@@randolphwhite3406 he had his own style that not everyone needs to like. I always associated Astaire more with romance and grace, but since I wasn't really interested in that, Kelly was always my favourite. I never thought oh what a sexy man with Astaire. Kelly was not only dance but also athlecism for me, I found that more appealing and the different dance numbers more interesting. Watched both of them anyway, because I loved dance in general, but I understand how Astaire might not be everyones cup ot tea.
I was enthralled by Gene Kelly as a child. As an adult, I appreciate Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. Watch the firecracker dance in Holiday Inn. You will appreciate Astaire.
the firecracker dance in Holiday Inn is just genius
Astaire will always be my favorite, and his style of dancing feels more human and fun. Kelly was good, sure, but his routines feel so self-indulgent to me in comparison. I think the huge difference in style and attitude was - in part - due to Astaire having been a Vaudeville kid, and Kelly primarily developing after Hollywood had already started its huge color film boom with gigantic budgets and sets and effects.
Me too! I had a crush on him when I was about ten years old. I am 64 now. I will check the firecracker dance as I have never seen it! Thanks!!!
That’s the best dance in the movie! I love that movie, it’s one of my absolute favorites! Fred and Bing are both so extra I love it!
@@bluegreenglue6565 I don't care much for dance movies, but I love anything with Mr. Astaire especially "Royal Wedding" which had Winston Churchill's daughter in it, btw. He and Ginger Rogers would do only a few moves out a few minutes of a dance routine close to 100 times. That's why they were so good together.
12:00 - Always the gentleman, Fred Astaire. My mother, Gene Evans, taught Ballroom Dancing professionally, and she was wonderful at it. Very graceful, very beautiful.
She once told me about a time when she met Fred Astaire and how gracious he was to her. This was back in the 1950s or 60s when she was still learning her craft, training to be a dance instructor.
One day, Mr. Astaire was commemorating the opening of another one of his brand new dance studios, and my mother went, hoping to meet him, but he was so completely surrounded by people that she couldn't even get near him. This beautiful young woman and dance instructor trainee, my mother, resigned herself to the idea that she was never going to get to meet such a famous person as Fred Astaire, and instead, stood by the exit door watching everyone else shaking his hand, wishing that she could be one of those people, never realizing for a moment what was about to take place once that meet and greet was over.
Mr. Astaire walked towards the exit door, and when he could have just continued walking right out of that dance studio, without so much as giving this young dance instructor in the making a polite "Hello", he stopped, took her hand in his, looked her right in the eye, smiled at her, and asked, "Do you enjoy dancing?", to which my mother replied, "I love it.". He responded, "That's great", and left, really making my mother's day that day. I may not be quoting their brief conversation verbatim, though I believe it's close, but I do remember my mother telling me what a wonderful, firm handshake he had.
I treasure that story as I treasure the memory of my mother. I love you, Mom. I miss you.
Be well, and stay safe everybody. God bless you.
he was as tough on himself as he was anyone else. true artist
it's called professional and if you are afraid to be a professional join an amateur group...perfecting takes a lot of hard work
I've done both professional and 'amateur' theater and I strive to take the same approach to both. The proper attitude is to put the same amount of dedication into what you're not getting paid for as to what you are. I get what you mean, though.
@MB Sad but true.
I totally disagree. Rudeness is never an excuse to be professional. In fact cruelty and rudeness is unprofessional. Lack of class.
@@7777lizabeth Also true.
Never had much time for this guy UNTIL I saw him dance with the Nicholas brothers he matched them move for move what an athlete 👍
I'm surprised this video does not mention how Kelly introduced the wider moviegoing audience to the Nicholas Brothers. *NO ONE* danced as well as the Nicholas Brothers, including Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. So he put them into "The Pirate", and did so in such a way that it couldn't be cut out of the film!
@@elwoodblues9613 How do you compare radically different styles and place one above the other as better? The Nicholas Brothers and Astaire were each crazy good at what they did but they didn't try the others' approach and with good reason.
@@elwoodblues9613 the Nicholas Brothers were undisputed stars in the world of dance. Before they made the film The Pirate with Gene Kelly and Judy Garland, the brothers were child vaudeville performers, worked at the world famous Cotton Club in the Harlem and Broadway locations, and were seen in several movies including Down Argentine Way, Tin Pan Alley, Orchestra Wives and doing their best work (IMO) in Stormy Weather. For the movie going audiences it was definitely a treat to see Kelly and the Nicholas Brothers dance together, but audiences were already familiar and enthralled by their amazing talent.
@@lscarver5 Completely agree with you about STORMY WEATHER! When those 2 jumped over each other while descending along that staircase.... and landing in splits! My Lord, God given talent the likes of which we'll never see again. 🇵🇷🇺🇸📽🗽🦂😎
@@elwoodblues9613 I disagree that the Nicholas Brothers (and Fred Astaire) danced better than Gene Kelly. If your freeze frame you will see Gene's alignment of his head, feet are in perfect position. As you can do this test watching Gene dance along side Fred Astaire.
Gene Kelly's ballet training gave him that X factor that we mortals just swoon over without knowing why he looks so damn good - other than his natural charms and his undeniable talent.
Some decades ago one night his home in Beverly Hills erupted in flames. He and his wife got outside and watched as their home was totally consumed by the fire. His wife was beyond consoling but those there were stunned by Kelly's calm acceptance of what had happened and then hearing him tell his wife they'd build again.
A piece of advice: Several times in this video you could have matched the photos to what you were talking about, but instead they seemed randomly sequenced. It's much more effective to tell a story if the pictures are used to emphasize what you are saying.
Thanks for the info on Mr. Kelly.
I am not a fan of musicals but when I watch Kelly I marvel at his skill, and his athleticism. He worked so hard at his craft that he made what he did look effortless. Not only was he competitive himself, he expected others to be as well. In an interview his daughter told a story about a volleyball game he was playing with friends. He was taking the game very seriously and got upset that everyone else was just screwing around and not really making an effort. He ended kicking a brick wall and breaking his foot.
That was how Fred Astaire replaced him opposite Judy Garland in 'Easter Parade'. Gene told the MGM front office he had been injured during the game bc he did not want to admit he had lost his temper. Louis B Mayer found out and this contributed to the mutual dislike between mogul and star.
Jeez Loise! Thx. Hadn't known that was how he injured it and Fred A. got "Easter Parade." Thx for the showbiz morsel. Gene. You sweetiel CALM DOWN! lol. What a DRAG for a dancer to hurt his foot! Glad it healed. Hope it didn't hurt him too badly, dancing, after that! Must've been a LITTLE painful, though, always??? Hope it didn't pain him to much. Talk about learning the hard way! I did turns too fast in tap class 5 months ago - lost my balance, like a dork - broke my fall with an oustretched arm .. EVERYBODY, PLEEEEASE LEARN FROM MY MISTAKE, PLEASE !! Top part of the radial bone inside my elbow broke right off ... it's still not great at all. JEEZ! and now I OWE THE DANG, FAB HOSPTAL at least $55k! HECK. Yep: live n' learn. BIGTIME. That's the way it goes!
I don't know I think John Travolta's dancing in Saturday night fever was much better than singing in the rain 😂😂😂😂😂😂
All Travolta did was wave his arms about to distract you from looking at his feet.
@@Woodman-Spare-that-tree yeah you're right actually wasn't that great I agree with you
First off he’s sexy as hell. Second, he’s a Virgo, a consummate professional with high standards for himself and his costars. He wasn’t there to mess around; he was there to make art. Those who wanted to mess around didn’t like him for that, but oh well.
Serah Olivia Sexy, yes! And what a body.
@@giovanna722 and that dimpled smile! and that singing voice! I mean Gene Kelly is tops. All the way, next to young Paul Newman and young Marlon Brando (my goodness this fool was a stinking SEXPOT).
+Sarah Olivia Well,virgos are known to be determined and hard workers.
@@sersastark I'd add Yul Bryner to that list
Because he was rich and famous. being sexy has hell doe not cut if it you are homeless - does it serah. Women are like automatic doors they open for anyone rich
Leslie Caron, who danced with both Astaire and Kelly, was asked what was the difference in dancing with both. Caron replied Kelly danced with calculated athleticism while Astaire seemed to enjoy the dances.
Probably an unpopular opinion here, but Fred Astaire will always be the king of dance for me, but I also enjoy watching Gene Kelly dance.
Singing in the Rain was Debbie Reynolds'first dance experience. She sure seemed able to keep up with him.
As the narrator said: He choreographed his moves in tandem with his dance partners capabilities, as well. So, that's further proof that they both appear to balance each other out, I imagine. Again, very professional...
I read he didn't want her in that part
Having trained in gymnastics likely meant she was in better shape than something like ... I dunno ... almost anyone who wasn't a professional athlete? Sounds like great preparation, and she certainly reaped the rewards.
He choreographed to her strengths.
Gene Kelly has always been one of my favorites. Admire him even more after watching this. He wasn't a mean person, just dedicated.
Gene Kelly was the most beautiful, elegant, perfect, better dancer/actor of all times. Thank you for the wonderful video.
He liked everyone to have the same high standards as him, but from what I’ve read he was a really nice person wanting the best for every one he worked with, he was the most amazing dancer 🕺 I
everywhere we read "tabloid like" info about him: he was mean, tough, feared, he broke Lana Turner's elbow, he had no compassion, led people to tears, was mean to Sinatra during anchors aweigh filming, etc. But when you listen to people who really met him, they say he was a gent, nice and good person. Well, he was professionally tough and demanding, that's why we have perfection in the end and we are still praising his work 80 years later
@@valeriataylor8337 Frank Sinatra has always praised him
Always loved Gene Kelly & his dancing! Very gymnastic oriented & flawless. Thanks!
Gene Kelly was my inspiration to become a dancer which led to my acting career which morphed into my musical career. In other words I owe a whole lot to Gene Kelly
I don't know about Gene Kelly personally, but I will say this for his acting/dancing ability: there is no actor before or since him that could convey the kind of utter tenderness and love for a woman that he could with or without dialogue. If you do not beleive me turn off thr sound and just watch him embracing and cradling his partners in his arms or simply just laying his cheek along the side of their face, it is amazing and unnerving the sheer depth of soul deep feeling he could transmit onscreen.
I completely agree with your analysis. He was so passionate and tender. Such a unique man and artist. Love all of his movie.
Well put!
I have seen that tender expression in photos of Gene looking at his wife Betsy Blair with their baby girl.
My Godmother was one of the last contracted Paramount dancers. She was in several movies including "Blue Skies" She danced with Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Gene Kelly and more. She hated Gene Kelly, and she was the kindest women you'd ever meet. She said he was mean and rude. She absolutely loved Bob Hope and had many pictures of the two of them together around her house.
Gosh, I bet she had some tales to tell, how amazing. How fabulous to be able to see your mum in those movies too.
Tell the truth and people who don't know will reject it. I believe your Godmother.
Still, his talented choreography, dancing & singing with brilliant leading ladies ensured the movies became classics. He was a smart, tough guy from a big family. Not nice, but popular with fans, like legions of other stars.
I, too knew someone who worked with Gene and he said the same thing- that he was mean, rude, outlandishly egotistical, and pretty much disliked in Hollywood- like Danny Kaye, who was worse. Maybe Gene was nice to his friends, but he looked down on his peers and co-workers.
I’d heard Bob Hope wasn’t a great guy either!
He was gorgeous as and talented men like him barely exist in Hollywood anymore
And manly. Mmmm that hairy chest...
Very true, where did the manly men go?
He was what he was and that is why we remember him to this day.
He was truly a master dancer and actor of a golden age in cinema.
As the story goes, he was such a perfectionist that the dance scene with his good friend, Don O'connor, in singing in the rain "Moses supposes". He requested then demanded to rehearse then film the scene so many times that O'connor threatened to walk off the picture because Kelly was not aware that the crew had been there for >10 hours. The Kelly's and O'Connors were dear friends and went to church together. Since Don stood up to him, the friends' families seldom got together again and they never worked together again.
They remained friends. O'Connor was Gene Kelly's special guest on Kelly's 1959 TV Special and they danced up a storm. Where are you getting your "information?"
Kelly was also in one of the best versions of The Three Musketeers ever filmed, where his danse moves made him an excellent swashbuckling D'Artagnan.
I met Gene Kelly when as Nurse Aide I took care of his wife Jeannie before she died...Sweet lady and Gene Kelly signed Christmas Cards for all of us nurses...
A tragic story. Jeannie loved him since he was her dance teacher in Pittsburgh. When his first marriage failed, she was there and they were so happy together with their two beloved children. They should have grown old together.
@@susanlloyd7395Hi Susan...I did get to meet Bridget and Timothy once when they visited their Mother...Very polite and sweet kids....Jeannie would always bring in a comforter and little pillows when she had her treatments...Felt so bad for the family when they lost her...Yeah those kids are all grown up Adults now..
I'd be willing to bet Gene loved your name-so pretty.
@@gayleenfisher463 If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to hear whatever you'd be willing to share about Jeannie. I'm doing some writing about her because, much to my surprise, no one else is. She's always treated as some kind of little housewife, instead of a lovely woman who was devoted to her family and faced death with great courage. I'm on Facebook under the same name-mine, and I could share my email address. I'm not being nosy, I admire Jeanne Coyne Kelly and think her story is important. Thank you.
Gene brought life to dance, he was amazing. So glad we have the films!
Watching his performances, you could tell he was a perfectionist. One of my all time favorites!!!
He was amazing dancing with Jerry the mouse. I always loved watching his movies American in Paris is one of my favorites and Singing in the rain.
You can't make anything work without hard work. Apparently he was hardest on himself. I remember reading that Van Johnson said when he was leaving the studio at twelve o'clock at night he looked up and saw Gene Kelly still rehearsing. He was unique.
Loved this man for 73 years and will do so until the day I die.
Gene Kelly also Directed the excellent musical movie “Hello Dolly” Toward the final years he appeared in several mediocre movies but by this time his fabulous legacy was established. Always as with his friend the great Fred Astaire he was always finding original ideas to keep the massive cinema audiences of the era amazed a and completely entertained at his wonderful skills.
No one like him, and there never will be, Everything he did was perfection, and made it look so effortless!
I forgot to mention that Gene Kelly
was a fantastic dancer, actor and
director. He just had so much talent.
RIP . We're so lucky that we can enjoy him on film.
It sounds as if he expected no less of his co-stars than he expected of himself. Kelly worked hard all his life and has been rewarded with a lasting legacy. His work ethic should be admired, not chastised. Thank you, Gene Kelly, for a visual feast every time you danced! 🕺
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. But he could have dropped some of the Debby Reynolds back story. He worked with many other dancers I'm sure had interesting observations to share.
great vintage photos---thanx. he was beautiful to watch!
Always was a fan of Gene Kelly. He brought life and professionalism to everything I saw him in.
Let's say that he was a thorough perfectionist. Gene Kelly was brilliant and he always got the most out of his partners and cast. Much like Frank Sinatra, he made it look easy ...when you expect the best from everyone, particularly yourself. My dad knew Gene and said he was actually quite nice, but very driven.
I got to meet Gene Kelly in the late 80s when I was in college and he visited us at SMU. The dance and music (my major) got to be in the audience. I was able to ask which was his favorite musical, and he said On the Town. That is my favorite too, so I loved that! I had just introduced my roommate to that musical the night before so that she would know more about him before the masterclass.
I hear this same story over and over about iconic creative artists who demand 100 percent excellence and perfection. Sometimes they are exasperated so what? Gene Kelly can yell at me any time.
Gene Kelly's acting in "Les Demoiselles de Rochefort" (with Catherine Deneuve) was also remarkable. This means he had not an exclusive US-Amercian career.