I have always loved Donald O’Connor! This routine really highlights how light on his feet he was. His movements are so fluid, his feet look like they are barely touching the ground as he skims across the floor. We miss you Donald! Thankful that this amazingly talented man had a career on the big screen so that we can still watch his fabulous dancing today!
Growing up and becoming a ballet dancer I never forgot the inspiration I got from watching Donald O'Connor and Gene Kelly along with Cyd Charise and Leslie Caron. Four of the most amazing dancers in movies.
A great but underappreciated talent who could do it all. Sing, dance and act. Great stage presence! I thought he was lighter on his feet than Astaire or Kelly. Sorely missed!
Wow - so graceful and fluid, not to mention the sheer level of control and athleticism required to pull off moves like this - he almost floats - just perfection ! Note hardly any cutaways too, all continuously filmed from a distance so you can actually see what he's doing. Magical.
How is it that I've never even heard of this movie, let alone seen it? Even Turner Classic Movies doesn't show it, in my experience. What an extraordinary performance indeed. I knew he was a great dancer and could sing, but never realized he had such a lovely voice. Now I've gotta see this movie! (I also love his signature bouncing off the wall.) He makes it look so easy and elegant. And I wish men dressed that way, at least sometimes! Thanks so much for posting!
Donald O'Connor was my favorite hoofer. I too feel he never got the recognition he deserved because he had the misfortune of alway being compared to Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly who were different but , in my mind, not necessarily better.
More athletic than Astaire, more graceful than Kelly. Loved all three, but for simple enjoyment, I will take O'Conner. Kelly is my least favorite of the three.
He came from a performing family- circus, iirc - and he was in show business since he was a baby. I love his easy charm, great humour and interesting dance numbers.
Yep. Never had formal dance training. He grew up around it, picked it up from pros in theater wings and backstage joints, then put it to the test in front of paying customers at big cities and little hick towns everywhere.
The dancers doing choreography and walking up stairs while seemingly having their eyes closed adds another level of impressive to this already incredible dance routine.
Donald vs Gene was a seasonal family argument as I grew up. I do appreciate both. Gene was more technical, educational. Donald was more freestyle and fun. In the family argument, I always sided with Donald 😂
Kelly was a great dancer, but he looked that he was working out, Astaire years earlier floated on air and was a better dancer, O Connor had Astair's grace with less effort than Kelly needed to put in, and he floated like Astaire too. A great, wonderful and underrated dancer.!
Donald O’Connor was just too young for the popular run of Hollywood musicals. He’d have been amazing if he’d been old enough in the 40s to join the other 2 but sadly it was a dying form by the mid 50s, making way for the huge blockbuster musicals- Astaire and Kelly were also coming to the end of theirs. This film was not great despite this number.
@@craigkdillon Please name your source; I’d be interested to read that. I’m aware his agent was but have never seen his name associated with being blacklisted.
@@s.hopkins4490 It was common knowledge when I was a child. Don't forget, he was very popular even without dancing. He starred in the very popular Francis the Talking Mule series of movies. By mid 50's his career was over.
Moves through the air like there's no weight to his body whatsoever. It's too bad he came along at more of the tail end of the big movie musical era when they were on wane, because he had a amazing talent; Easily up there with Kelly and Astaire
IMHO, Donald is a MUCH better dancer and singer than Gene Kelly.....MUCH BETTER.....this movie is from the year i was born!! how lucky i am (we are) to have these films to enjoy still!! and dont get me started on Danny Kaye....i had a childhood crush on him, and still do!!
The concept was clever. The guy always thinks he is the pursuer but it's just the opposite, but I agree that the song is not really inspired or inspiring. I have no particular desire to want to sing along. The dancing was superb. O'Connor was always in the shadow of Kelly and Astaire.
I can't stand Donald O'Conner. He was current and popular when I was growing up in the late 40s and early 50s. He's one of the reasons why my generation invented Rock 'n Roll.
Astaire, Kelly and this Guy , O ‘Connor . All perfect in their different ways . He was definitely underrated though. His “make em laugh “ routine, stunning
Danny Kaye did have his own TV show in the 60's, which ran for several years. It's how I learned about him. Only later did I realize he'd been in movies, too!
Gene Kelly was full of power as he danced, like a jungle cat. You can see his limbs look like an explosion that was reined in, ready to burst. Donald O'Connor was fun and fast. He seemed to so much enjoy what he was doing, and didn't want to sweat the small stuff. Not that he was sloppy, because he was always on his mark, but he let himself flail around and play while he danced. Fred Astaire was smooth. He glided around and it was as though the air parted to let him through. Kelly seemed to show the discipline of dance and the results of hard work. O'Connor played with dance like it was a toy. But Astaire was dance itself.
@@DanYHKim2I give your comment a 10 out of 10. They all had talent. But you left out Danny Kaye. He was and still is in league with those you mentioned.
I repeatedly watched the move where he's standing on the bench, balances on one leg then lays down on his back in one smooth movement. Absolutely brilliant.
If it is the move at 1:28 secs, it is like a stag stand, arabesque, then into a backward roll on the balance beam. It is not too difficult - the moving leg counterweights the body - but he does do it beautifully smoothly. The way he dances on a wet surface really impresses me. That takes great control. If you haven't seen it, check out his Make 'em Laugh routine from Singing in the Rain. Now THAT is athletic!
70 years ago!!!!!! The golden age of the movie musicals and has never been bettered since. Everybody who does any type of movie musicals now has taken and learnt from these remarkable performances.
The great dancers of the era -- Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Ginger Rogers, Cyd Charisse, Donald O'Connor, etc -- were blessed to perform, in their prime, in the golden age of dance movie cinema. And we and future generations are lucky enough to have it preserved for all time.
Very underrated performer. He had grace, power, athleticism, and comedic timing. His voice, in addition, was infinitely superior to that of Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire.
As a VERY young child, l loved Donald O’Connor in Francis the Talking Mule movies. Then loved him in Singingbin the Rain, and Call Me Madam. Many years latet, l was thrilled to see him playing Cap'n Andy in Showboat, live at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.
He is every bit as good as Astaire, Kelly and the wonderful Tommy Rall. How have I never seen this number? It's right up there with his Make 'Em Laugh dance.
God! this awesome dancer, wasn't " rewarded" as he deserved"; skillful dancer, acrobatic tip-toe movements; s 3:01 sweet singer; all in a " genious"; many time he did his own coreography, what else in one...fantastic; very sad in " make me laught"; h😢❤is life
Donald O’Conner, Gene Kelley, Fred Astaire, and maybe a couple others were incredible to watch. Their grace, athleticism, skills, just pure talent were so far beyond most of the purely sexualized crap of today that there is no comparison…
In Singing in the Rain, I always found myself watching hi. more than Gene Kelly. His equal in every way. Dancing, singing, timing, everything, and those blue eyes!
Magnificent piece of art. Setting is beautiful and creative, Donald O'Connor is as always amazing - dancing, form, poses and aesthetic, flying lightness. Bravo!
He didn't get enough kudos for his talents compared to Kelly but I preferred him, and I was a youngster during the 50s heydey of these fabulous musicals. He was just a nicer person and less full of himself than Gene Kelly was. Astaire was an older generation and I'm not sure how he was in real life but in his movies he seemed like a nice guy. A little modesty goes a long way in making a person amiable and likeable.
I was just saying that! :-) Donald O’Connor was much better than Jim Kelly and many and every aspect. Donald was an artist, Jim Kelly was a Hollywood made up artist.
Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly & Donald O’Connor (in no particular order), were the holly trinity of male Hollywood dancers. All three, great actors and choreographers too!
I don't think Donald O'Connor got the credit he so rightly deserved.
Publicly perhaps, but everyone in Hollywood knew he was the real deal.
Yes. He was every bit as good a Astaire or Kelly. MGM had an embarrassment of riches with those three.
Well then, why don't you work on correcting this shameful injustice?
I agree, he was every bit as good as the others of the day. I emjoyed watching him as much as them. Those were the days.
He was easily right up there with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire.
I have always loved Donald O’Connor! This routine really highlights how light on his feet he was. His movements are so fluid, his feet look like they are barely touching the ground as he skims across the floor. We miss you Donald! Thankful that this amazingly talented man had a career on the big screen so that we can still watch his fabulous dancing today!
He was as light on his feet as Fred Astaire, always a pleasure to watch.
He was so so so splendid. Quite a talented actor. He was so underrated. What a voice, what a comedic timing...
Growing up and becoming a ballet dancer I never forgot the inspiration I got from watching Donald O'Connor and Gene Kelly along with Cyd Charise and Leslie Caron. Four of the most amazing dancers in movies.
A great but underappreciated talent who could do it all. Sing, dance and act. Great stage presence! I thought he was lighter on his feet than Astaire or Kelly. Sorely missed!
Donald O'Connor "Moses supposes" with Gene Kelly. Incredible!
I’ve always thought that Donald O’Connor was so underrated. He was an extraordinary performer!
I'd rate him a 17.
Vastly underrated genius. Made Gene Kelly look like a hack hoofer.
His biggest problem he didn’t have the MGM machine behind him. I think Donald made dancing look like fun!!!
@@MirlitronOne A "Hack Hoofer"?
@@MirlitronOne He was a better singer as well.
Wow - so graceful and fluid, not to mention the sheer level of control and athleticism required to pull off moves like this - he almost floats - just perfection ! Note hardly any cutaways too, all continuously filmed from a distance so you can actually see what he's doing. Magical.
3:42 Anyone else getting weeping angel vibes?😮
Careful. Don’t take your eyes off of them.
😂
My first thought was Pygmalion, but I definitely can’t un-see that now. Guess that’s a good thing, since I can’t blink. 🤣
Maybe a bit.😮
When they say "movie magic," this is what they're talking about. Goodness gracious.
An extremely talented dancer!❤
The grace of Astaire and the athleticism of Kelly - the whole package.
And a better singer than both put together. Fine tenor voice.
And the humor of …Donald O'Connor (can't think of anybody to compare him to)
How is it that I've never even heard of this movie, let alone seen it? Even Turner Classic Movies doesn't show it, in my experience. What an extraordinary performance indeed. I knew he was a great dancer and could sing, but never realized he had such a lovely voice. Now I've gotta see this movie! (I also love his signature bouncing off the wall.) He makes it look so easy and elegant. And I wish men dressed that way, at least sometimes! Thanks so much for posting!
Donald O'Connor was my favorite hoofer. I too feel he never got the recognition he deserved because he had the misfortune of alway being compared to Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly who were different but , in my mind, not necessarily better.
More athletic than Astaire, more graceful than Kelly.
Loved all three, but for simple enjoyment, I will take O'Conner.
Kelly is my least favorite of the three.
Que j aime cette période du cinéma ❤❤❤❤ de grands acteurs de beaux films et des performances de fous
His energy and skill was amazing!😊
Always liked him, he was cute too❤❤❤❤
Потрясающий номер. Танцор великолепен. Девушки, изображающие статуи, очень талантливо их отыграли.👏
an old fan thanks for the joy
oh my gosh, that was awesome!
Still have a copy of this movie. My total favourite singer-actor-dancer of the fifties!
Brilliant! 👏🏻
An era when most actors could act, sing and dance - ! 😊
Not many could fit that ability now .
He came from a performing family- circus, iirc - and he was in show business since he was a baby. I love his easy charm, great humour and interesting dance numbers.
Yep. Never had formal dance training. He grew up around it, picked it up from pros in theater wings and backstage joints, then put it to the test in front of paying customers at big cities and little hick towns everywhere.
The dancers doing choreography and walking up stairs while seemingly having their eyes closed adds another level of impressive to this already incredible dance routine.
Now that you mention it, I wonder if they wore gauze "eyelids"
He was amazing. Loved him!
Donald vs Gene was a seasonal family argument as I grew up. I do appreciate both. Gene was more technical, educational. Donald was more freestyle and fun.
In the family argument, I always sided with Donald 😂
Kelly was a great dancer, but he looked that he was working out, Astaire years earlier floated on air and was a better dancer, O Connor had Astair's grace with less effort than Kelly needed to put in, and he floated like Astaire too. A great, wonderful and underrated dancer.!
This fellow is my second favorite dance of all time.
Amazing. I wish he had been allowed to do more.
He was blackballed, you know.
Was that during McCarthyism? I didn't know.
Donald O’Connor was just too young for the popular run of Hollywood musicals. He’d have been amazing if he’d been old enough in the 40s to join the other 2 but sadly it was a dying form by the mid 50s, making way for the huge blockbuster musicals- Astaire and Kelly were also coming to the end of theirs. This film was not great despite this number.
@@s.hopkins4490 he was still blacklisted.
@@craigkdillon Please name your source; I’d be interested to read that. I’m aware his agent was but have never seen his name associated with being blacklisted.
@@s.hopkins4490 It was common knowledge when I was a child.
Don't forget, he was very popular even without dancing.
He starred in the very popular Francis the Talking Mule series of movies. By mid 50's his career was over.
i just realized that DoC could be swapped out with Fred Astaire & no one would notice except the singing would be better....
Estoy de acuerdo que no se le dio la importancia que se merecia ,siempre recordaremos mucho mas a Fret Astaire y Gean Kelly
He was as good as any of them but he played a sidekick and got type cast. He deserved better.
Moves through the air like there's no weight to his body whatsoever. It's too bad he came along at more of the tail end of the big movie musical era when they were on wane, because he had a amazing talent; Easily up there with Kelly and Astaire
I have always thought O'Connor was s better dancer and singer than Kelly and Astaire.
The women holding those static poses were vastly underrated, underappreciated and I guarantee underpaid.
IMHO, Donald is a MUCH better dancer and singer than Gene Kelly.....MUCH BETTER.....this movie is from the year i was born!! how lucky i am (we are) to have these films to enjoy still!! and dont get me started on Danny Kaye....i had a childhood crush on him, and still do!!
whom,pray tell,were all the dancers(individual
names). G.Davis,old,not tired. eccentric
From America's period as its own very cool version of the Roman Empire.
Did those statue dancers realy do that sequence with their eyes literally closed and all in one take?
Great performance, not so a sure about the song!
The concept was clever. The guy always thinks he is the pursuer but it's just the opposite, but I agree that the song is not really inspired or inspiring. I have no particular desire to want to sing along. The dancing was superb. O'Connor was always in the shadow of Kelly and Astaire.
I can't stand Donald O'Conner. He was current and popular when I was growing up in the late 40s and early 50s. He's one of the reasons why my generation invented Rock 'n Roll.
why aren't they naked statues in the fountains? ha-ha!
potentially great dancers so creepy content
He so doesn't look like a dance ! How wrong!
Too weird. The music/song, the choreography and those living statues don’t match up. WTH is it all about? Not Donald’s fault.
I'm a big fan of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly but there was only one Donald O'Connor
Astaire, Kelly and this Guy , O ‘Connor . All perfect in their different ways . He was definitely underrated though. His “make em laugh “ routine, stunning
Gene Nelson too.
@@jeanesingsjazz yes I agree loved him dancing in the station after his trip to Kansas City 😀
We were fortunate to grow up watching these brilliant artists!
I'd rate him a 17.
Danny Kaye, too!😊
Donald O’Connor and Danny Kaye … 2 underestimated entertainers of the 50’s 🥰 enjoy both considerably more than Kelly & Astaire
Danny Kaye did have his own TV show in the 60's, which ran for several years. It's how I learned about him. Only later did I realize he'd been in movies, too!
Oh yes! Danny Kay!
I loved this guy. His style was so natural and easy going and still athletic without that stiffness❤
Gene Kelly was full of power as he danced, like a jungle cat. You can see his limbs look like an explosion that was reined in, ready to burst. Donald O'Connor was fun and fast. He seemed to so much enjoy what he was doing, and didn't want to sweat the small stuff. Not that he was sloppy, because he was always on his mark, but he let himself flail around and play while he danced. Fred Astaire was smooth. He glided around and it was as though the air parted to let him through. Kelly seemed to show the discipline of dance and the results of hard work. O'Connor played with dance like it was a toy. But Astaire was dance itself.
@@DanYHKim2I give your comment a 10 out of 10. They all had talent. But you left out Danny Kaye. He was and still is in league with those you mentioned.
I repeatedly watched the move where he's standing on the bench, balances on one leg then lays down on his back in one smooth movement. Absolutely brilliant.
Me, too! Isn't he marvelous?!
I caught the exact same move and watched it several times and marveled at the strength and body control needed to accomplish that feat.
What's it called
If it is the move at 1:28 secs, it is like a stag stand, arabesque, then into a backward roll on the balance beam. It is not too difficult - the moving leg counterweights the body - but he does do it beautifully smoothly. The way he dances on a wet surface really impresses me. That takes great control. If you haven't seen it, check out his Make 'em Laugh routine from Singing in the Rain. Now THAT is athletic!
70 years ago!!!!!! The golden age of the movie musicals and has never been bettered since. Everybody who does any type of movie musicals now has taken and learnt from these remarkable performances.
Donald O'Connor always brought so much energy and joy into his dance performances. Plus, he was so adorably cute!
Not just an extraordinary dancer but he has superb singing skills as well.
The great dancers of the era -- Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Ginger Rogers, Cyd Charisse, Donald O'Connor, etc -- were blessed to perform, in their prime, in the golden age of dance movie cinema. And we and future generations are lucky enough to have it preserved for all time.
He was amazing, this was extremely creative. Throughly enjoyed.
Very underrated performer. He had grace, power, athleticism, and comedic timing. His voice, in addition, was infinitely superior to that of Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire.
I'd rate him a 17.
He made people he performed with look better. That's a compliment. The best wanted him for a reason.
He was too versatile for the conventional minds of Hollywood.
The film they used back then made it look like it was made with an artist's oil paints.... Makes it feel tranquil and serene.
Donald O'Connor proves that men can be graceful too. Such a talented and fun guy ❤!
I don’t we needed O’Connor to prove the point. Ever see Astaire dance?
Fair enough, although I haven't really seen much of him, I'll be honest.
He had SUCH a great voice!! Very dreamy!
He was one of the most underrated dancers in films, a real trouper.
As a VERY young child, l loved Donald O’Connor in Francis the Talking Mule movies. Then loved him in Singingbin the Rain, and Call Me Madam. Many years latet, l was thrilled to see him playing Cap'n Andy in Showboat, live at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.
The Golden Age of Hollywood! Something extraordinary to have lived through!
Totally under rated, an amazing singer and dancer!
Thanks to uploader. This certainly is a gem.
Great performance. I thought they were real statues.❤❤❤
He is every bit as good as Astaire, Kelly and the wonderful Tommy Rall. How have I never seen this number? It's right up there with his Make 'Em Laugh dance.
It's from There's No Business Like Show Business. Such a fun movie!
Nice to see another Tommy Rall fan here.
63 years old and I had never seen this! Quite a scene, and he was a highly talented actor/dancer!
"Make em laugh " routine in Singing in the rain film was on par with this performance.....very talented man.
How on earth did he manage to stretch out on the metal pole? Amazing balance, amazing voice, amazing man!
Absolutely a GREAT time for movies. No computer enhancement. 🤛👍🙏🦅😎🇺🇸
And VERY few cuts. Mostly long takes.
Donald O'Connor and Jimmy Cagney, and Charles Durning, fabulous dancers!
God! this awesome dancer, wasn't " rewarded" as he deserved"; skillful dancer, acrobatic tip-toe movements; s 3:01 sweet singer; all in a " genious"; many time he did his own coreography, what else in one...fantastic; very sad in " make me laught"; h😢❤is life
Now that is what I call dancing in the rain.
He was very good at the light-foot style of dance. He floated.
Such dancing … WOW! Amazing performance! 👍🏻👏🏻👍🏻👏🏻👍🏻👏🏻👍🏻👏🏻
Super Donald O,Connor.. which film is this clip from???
Donald O’Conner, Gene Kelley, Fred Astaire, and maybe a couple others were incredible to watch. Their grace, athleticism, skills, just pure talent were so far beyond most of the purely sexualized crap of today that there is no comparison…
Tommy Rall. He was still doing those back flips in his fifties.
In Singing in the Rain, I always found myself watching hi. more than Gene Kelly. His equal in every way. Dancing, singing, timing, everything, and those blue eyes!
My 11 year old daughter loves watching singing in the Rain- and Donald O Conner is her fav!!
Kelly always looked like he was working: O'Connor looked like he danced as easily as everyone else walked.
Love this man! He was a true star!! He was so very talented!
Magnificent piece of art. Setting is beautiful and creative, Donald O'Connor is as always amazing - dancing, form, poses and aesthetic, flying lightness. Bravo!
I've never seen this. Amazing sequence, a kind of entertainment that no longer exists. The imagination behind the conception of it is stunning, also.
I've had an incredible crush on him all of my life. He's outstanding! ❤❤❤
Gene Kelly & Donald O'Connor were two totally different styles of dancers. Who cares both were fantastic entainers 3:17 .
He always makes his movements look so effortless and spontaneous. I just love him.
When it comes to Donald O'Connor, the words 'unforgettable' and 'extraordinary' are superfluous. They're baked in to every performance.
No modern movies compare to the entertainment of these classics.
The man was a genius. How to make such incredibly hard focused work, look just effortless. Wonderful and they don't make 'em like this any more. ❤
None of the female dancers fully open their eyes! Thats such a cool detail!
One of my favourite performers.
The spontanuity(is that a word?), the dance and unpredicatable choreo? Dang, am a kid at heart with an old soul, this is fantastic
Yes he was awesome. I also liked Gene Nelson. Kelly was great but never had that lithe, weightless look
He didn't get enough kudos for his talents compared to Kelly but I preferred him, and I was a youngster during the 50s heydey of these fabulous musicals. He was just a nicer person and less full of himself than Gene Kelly was. Astaire was an older generation and I'm not sure how he was in real life but in his movies he seemed like a nice guy. A little modesty goes a long way in making a person amiable and likeable.
It just looks so effortless.
José, thanks for posting this clip, I've never seen it before !
Donald was a way better dancer than Gene Kelly and a much better singer..and didn't have the big fat ego Kelly had.
Oh so true
But that ego gave us On the Town, American in Paris, and Singing in the Rain. Any one of these would be enough.
Bull, your full of it ! Were you related or friends with Gene Kelly ? If not, you have no right to make judgements about his character.
O'Connor was definitely better with comedic dancing. He is arguably a better hoofer. Kelly was an extraordinary choreographer for film.
I was just saying that! :-) Donald O’Connor was much better than Jim Kelly and many and every aspect. Donald was an artist, Jim Kelly was a Hollywood made up artist.
Don’t blink!! 🤭 Superb dancer and I didn’t know how well he sang seriously. Brilliant.
Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly & Donald O’Connor (in no particular order),
were the holly trinity of male Hollywood dancers.
All three, great actors and choreographers too!