Gene Kelly vs. Fred Astaire

[Shaman]

Who was better?

How close did Michael Jackson get to these two song and dance men, prime for prime?

[jakethebake]

Gayest thread ever?

[swede123]

Gene Kelly would be my pick, simply because of Singin' In the Rain. It's a very good movie, and I'm really not that knowledgable of Fred Astaire's work. Michael Jackson was a great singer/performer but a horrible actor, so I wouldn't compare him with the two greats of old.

Swede

[Blarg]

I don't think Jackson got very close.

Kelly was a hoofer. He loved the ground and stuck close to it. He made dancing look extremely physical, even macho. Watching him, you had no doubt this guy was strong and an athlete

To Astaire, the ground seemed incidental. His balance was high, and his legs glided under it. Dancing didn't seem so athletic with him, but kind of like a subtle miracle. He often looked like he was so relaxed he could not only complete his movements, but had extra time left over and grace to spare; everything fell so precisely and easily into place.

They both evoked a different kind of "wow."

Kelly was a stronger, more vigorous athlete and could out-do Astaire on that level. I can't picture Astaire doing a back flip. But in terms of making grace look casual and easy, Astaire seemed better. Kelly could make grace look miraculous, but hard won. You'd always say "wow" when Kelly danced, but maybe sometimes forget when Astaire did, because he was so good at what he did you could forget how hard it was to make it look effortless.

I'd say Kelly for overall athlete, but I wouldn't put his grace over Astaire's.

[Jersey Nick]

Kelly. Left bruises on women after dancing with them.

That's hot.

Astaire was a great dancer, but nowhere near as cool as Kelly.

mj is a sideshow freak, not a dancer.

[M2d]

Matter of taste. Gene Kelly was more along the vaudville style solo dancing while Fred Astaire was better known for his ballroom dancing. Gene Kelly was also known for very inventive uses of props and scenery in his dances. imo, Astaire was more versatile, but Gene Kelly was more fun to watch.
Check out Gene Kelly's roller skate scene in "It's Always Fair Weather" for some mind blowing tapping.
other scenes of note (not the famous ones like the dancing with shadows one):
Fred: Astaire/Rodgers dance scene in the dance class studio in "Swing Time"
Astaire solo dance scene on the driving range

Gene: the aforementioned roller skate scene in "It's always Fair Weather"
Kelly, Kidd and Dailey's synchornized softshoe to The Time for Parting in Fair Weather
with Judy Garland in "For Me and My Gal" (movie and song of the same name)
almost all of "An American in Paris"

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

[Shaman]

I pretty much agree with your analysis. If Kelly were in his prime today, no break dancer would be able to touch him at break dancing. And he would be world-class in any form of dancing from hip hop to ballroom, etc.

[Blarg]

Yeah, he seemed pretty determined and fearless. Very strong ego, too. I don't think he'd stand for taking a backseat to anyone. His competitiveness would make him learn anything and master it. He definitely had the athletic gifts to not shrink away from new challenges.

[youtalkfunny]

Kelly was the only male dancer I could watch. Nothing sissy about the guy. Also a very fine actor, could do drama and comedy if he never danced a step.