Gene Kelly vs. Fred Astaire

[Macdaddy Warsaw]

I'm only familiar with Singin' in the Rain (by familiar I mean own it and have written papers on it) but I developed a serious man-crush for Kelly after watching it. That man can move.

[tek]

Donald O'C Donald O'Connor onner

was a good dancer too.

[Blarg]

Donald O'Connor was great. He could steal scenes from Gene Kelly, which is saying something. Super talented and he had personality to burn. One of the things that really made Singin' In The Rain stand out so much.

[Phat Mack]

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Kelly was a stronger, more vigorous athlete and could out-do Astaire on that level.

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One thing to keep in mind is that Astaire didn't start appearing in films until he was in his 30's, and he was pushing 40 when he made the flicks for which he is now known. People who saw him dance in the earl 20's reported that he was much stonger athletically, but there's no visual record of it. I've always thought Astaire the better dancer because of his greater range, but that's a purely subjective opinion.

As a side note, a guy from that era whom I've always gotten a kick out of watching is Jimmy Cagney.

As another side note, I would put Prince ahead of Michael Jackson.

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

Seriously? This thread is still going on?

[Shaman]

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As a side note, a guy from that era whom I've always gotten a kick out of watching is Jimmy Cagney.

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Cagney was a great song and dance man. I agree. So was the kid Mickey Rooney.

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As another side note, I would put Prince ahead of Michael Jackson.

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This is a ridiculous statement. Jackson in his prime may not have been in the same league as Kelly and Astaire but he was at least in the same league as O'Connor, Bolger (who played the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz), and yes, Cagney.

[Blarg]

I dunno. I've frankly never seen him do sustained bits of dancing anywhere near the level of O'Connor. When I've seen Jackson it has been in rapidly cut videos full of short takes. The level of skill needed to look good in a quick cut isn't high at all. The level of skill needed to do full-coverage head to toe shots for extended sequences without cutting takes an entirely different level of athlete.

I'm not saying there's plenty about his dancing skills I may not know, but just saying that I think a lot of the credit for Michael's dancing belongs first with his choreographers, and also very much with the director and editors of his videos. A good team can make almost anyone look like a good dancer or fighter, much less someone with a modicum of talent.

[Phat Mack]

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The level of skill needed to look good in a quick cut isn't high at all. The level of skill needed to do full-coverage head to toe shots for extended sequences without cutting takes an entirely different level of athlete.


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I don't know how much of their stuff is available on DVD, but for pure athleticism in extended, seemingly uncut, sequences, the Nicholas Brothers have to be a level above anybody yet mentioned.

[Blarg]

I've seen them on the occasional PBS show. Definite real wow factor there.

[tek]

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As another side note, I would put Prince ahead of Michael Jackson.

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As a side note, I would put both of them out the back door and watch MC Hammer anytime. Word. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]