Amazing Tap Dance with trained dog

[@eleanorpowell2007]

99 years today since the birth of Eleanor Powell. Thanks Eleanor for all the exhilarating happiness you provided the world with your craft.

[@robertmudrow8034]

110 years

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

Eleanor Powell was my mother's favorite dancer, and my favorite too!! Well, I also have soft spots for the Nicholas brothers and Gregory Hines and Gene Kelly, but really Eleanor Powell owns my heart! 🎶🎭🎵

[@JoMarieM]

Eleanor Powell was not only an amazing dancer, but I think that she probably could have had another job on the side as a dog trainer. She did a FANTASTIC job training this one!

[@bobblowhard8823]

There were a lot of great tap dancers: The Hines Brothers, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and so many more. But none compares to Eleanore Powell. She had grace, style, athleticism, and she made even the most difficult dance moves look effortless. No wonder The Tap Dancing Guild named her The Best Tap Dancer, and even Fred Astaire said she was the best!

[@egeo03]

She made those walkovers look like she was doing them in zero gravity. Impressive core strength, balance, and flexibility.

[@juliag.5114]

Her facial expressions are the most adorable thing ever

[@jazzroomcabaret]

I am 16 years old and I dance tap dance. My dream is to be as her. Every time I see her dancing, I think it's impossible to become a good dancer!!!! She is the best!

[@cindyhutchins5532]

I know it’s been 15 years since you made this comment. I hope you’re a successful tap dancer nowadays!

[@johnhand871]

Best of the best. The one woman Fred Astaire felt was his match. Never saw anyone that could do spins like her, male or female. Four years ago I said this was the clip I keep coming back to, and here I am again.

[@kepckatherinec805]

Eleanor and Buttons are fabulous together! So much fun to watch.

[@luvbach1]

Eleanor Powell was without a doubt the best female tap dancer ever and the equal of the best male tap dancers, and we know who they were.

[@Enchanteexoxo]

I actually think more highly of female tap dancers because they have to do it in heels. I don't think it's acknowledged enough how hard that is.

[@katharinebuckman2815]

Her upright line was so perfect!

[@patrickbattaille2979]

But specifically,how is she a better than Ann Miller, or is she?

[@captainpike332]

@@patrickbattaille2979 Yeah it's always been a toss up between her and Ann Miller!

[@iliyakuryakin4671]

@@patrickbattaille2979 Having watched some of Ann Miller's best routines, Eleanor looks better. Everything is cleaner, sharper; she has the same ease, grace and effortlessness that Astaire had. Ann often uses the dance intercut with singing and consciously relies a sexy image, which detracts from the dancing rather than adding to it. I can't find any footage of Ann putting somersaults in a routine. Some of the problem is the way the routines are recorded; Miller would often dance in ordinary shoes and then do the routine in tap shoes, with the sound track dubbed over the action and this can make it sound somewhat phoney. With Eleanor, there's no over dubbing - certainly not in this scene - so you know the taps you see are what your are hearing.

[@anthonydecarvalho652]

She was incomparable. The greatest all around dancer in Hollywood history (male or female). Even Fred Astaire admitted this in private.

[@alisbuus6]

What a great number, and I think the dog liked it as well, it shows they trust each other, and had fun. I love to watch tap-dance, and she was one of the best dancers.

[@Scathingly]

She was THE BEST--only Fred Astaire in her time came pretty close. He admitted himself that even he was intimidated by her tapping skills. Why he ever teamed up with Ginger Rogers will always be a mystery to me. It's not personal or anything about Ginger, but she wasn't near the dancer that Eleanor was. And boy, did Eleanor have a stage presence. Can you possibly tell that in my eyes she was and still is the best of the best--there'll never ever be another like her I swear.

[@rmcfete]

Not one of the best. Fayard Nicholas heard someone say he and his brother were the best tap dancers ever. He said well we weren’t that’s eleanor Powell she’s the best dancer period

[@eleanorpowell2007]

The tap dancer, Eleanor Powell - also known as "The Queen of Tap" - was the dog trainer. As explained above she was supplied with different dogs by the studio and none would work well. She got one and trained it herself in her house. Once the time came to shoot the scene the dog would not repeat the same things with accuracy on the film set so this scene was finally filmed in Eleanor Powell's own living room, in her house.

[@MrRichiekaye]

Wonderful to know this!

[@laurarold]

eleanorpowell2007 WOW 🤩

[@esmeephillips5888]

Gilbert Adrian, MGM's costume designer, created the fancy bow collar Buttons wears in his opening close-up. Allegedly the pooch became so attached to Ellie that whenever John Carroll as her screen b.f. got smoochy, Buttons would attack him.

[@TheStockwell]

To paraphrase the famous Bob Thaves quote about Fred Astaire, "Eleanor Powell did everything he did backwards, in high heels . . . and with a dog!"

[@eleanorpowellborntodance]

Buttons was the dog belonging to the daughter of a property man at MGM. They had hired one previously, but after about a week, he was let go. While it's true that Eleanor took Buttons home for six weeks and trained him herself, it is not true that they shot this number in her living room. For one thing, her living room (in her Tudor-style house) didn't even resemble this set, but practically speaking, it would have been impossible to get all the heavy lighting equipment and cameras of the time into a regular-sized living room and get the same angles used in this number. Buttons was clearly at ease on set, and he appeared throughout the movie. Eleanor described him as "a little ham who couldn't wait to get to work." He also went on to appear in The Emperor Waltz with Bing Crosby. You could say that Eleanor launched his career!

[@eleanorpowell2007]

She was indeed The Best. The Studios/Hollywood couldn't even provide her with a suitable dog, able to perform lots of tricks, so she gave back all the puppies suplied and got one herself, to train it personally.

[@stephaniestanley8041]

The talent amazing. A true athlete. Plus her beautiful face. Eleanor and the pup worked hard. The joy can't be hidden in what she must have felt filming that day. And the joy I feel watching it.

[@yveeliza]

"One can hardly conceive of a world in which certain beings communicate without verbal language, restricting themselves to gestures, objects, unshaped sounds, tunes, or tap dancing; but it is equally hard to conceive of a world in which certain beings only utter words."[1] - Umberto Eco, A Theory of Semiotics Eleanor Powell had such a natural feminine charm and she made the dancing look so easy. I think the teamwork between herself and Buttons is absolutely amazing!

[@jonEbird]

That final leap to the bed sealed it for me.

[@lauramonteson4482]

I can watch this clip over and over and I have! The greatest. In an interview in her later years she said before she started tapping that she hated it. Never will be another Eleanor Powell! RIP dear lady. ❤

[@orchardist1965]

JUST WOW. What a lovely lady,enjoying every moment of this sensational routine with her wonderful friend.

[@qp8596]

She had the best spins!!

[@FatManDoubleZero]

"Amazing" is an understatement. Incredible is more like it!!!!! What a superb athlete Eleanor Powell was.

[@michaelvaughn169]

The dog has more talent than most of today's so-called stars.

[@gwtwvivien]

I can,t belive it!!!!. I just added as a favorite !!. Eleanor is just amazing here...she seems to enjoy every second of the routine...And the dog!!...what a cute !!...It,s the BEST video I have ever seen of GREAT Miss Powell, and believe me, I saw them all. I will see it again now!!....LOVE THE DOG; LOVE ELEANOR; LOVE THE DECO LIVING ROOM; LOVE HER OUTFIT, LOVE THE MUSIC!!!!. A Real GEM!!. Carlos

[@hannahbobanna9650]

I love how her feet look like they're moving on their own

[@JoMarieM]

Eleanor wasn't just an insanely talented dancer. . .she was also apparently a pretty good dog trainer, too!

[@brendaaugustine4925]

That was the best! Eleanor was always great , but that little dog ... move over, Fred!❤

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

Definitely her cutest partner'! Such a fun number.

[@musicloverlondon6070]

After a tough day at work this was simply the perfect pick-me-up! The marvellous Eleanor Powell and her dancing dog. Wonderful stuff!

[@elephantintheroom5678]

Oh! This couldn't get any better! My favourite dancer of all time - with a dancing dog! ❤️👏

[@fran_1978]

That was just AMAZING, definitely the cutest thing I have ever seen! I love Eleanor Powell and I love dogs, so this is Heaven to me.

[@mmjhcb]

Wow! Not only great, but darling, too. Back when real talent prevailed.

[@lalva2024]

I can watch this over and over again. What an amazing talent she was. The complete package for sure

[@MrRichiekaye]

Thank goodness they captured it on film!!!

[@wifeoftim]

Eleanor Powell was an incredible dancer! And this scene with Buttons was precious!

[@curtite]

Lucky dog, Eleanor is wonderful. I not seen this in a movie before. Thanks you for sharing.

[@grayforester]

It was a short subject, and not part of a feature film.

[@curtite]

@@grayforester Thanks, that explains why never found this gem

[@folioio]

Not to say that this portion wasn't released separately as a short -- it may have been. But this number is part of the 1941 feature film Lady Be Good, also starring Robert Young and Ann Sothern.

[@jondoe888i]

Eleanor, like many other earlier stars were mostly faded by time I really started noticing, in the 60's. They were just old names in old movies. It's so good to see them like this, in their prime. WOW - she can tap! I need to see more of her work.

[@arthurgearheard4701]

She's being seen on KZbin more than anyone else, and she's been dead for forty years!

[@KatherineSchmit]

If I could tap like her, I would obnoxiously tap EVERYWHERE

[@reinzasmith269]

+Katherine Schmit Love this comment. I would be exactly the same Katherine

[@Sandra9135]

Amazing! I would also obnoxiously tap everywhere!

[@ROGER2095]

I'd come "waltzing in" everywhere I go!

[@yurimisaki1980]

OMG! I think I just in love with her! Really. She’s so graceful and talented. Hope she’s having a good time with Ginger, Fred, Gene and all the others wonderful stars.

[@rosairedubrule60]

Her skill level and mastery of simultaneous competing artistries. Is unmatched by anyone I know also see the incredible rope dance with Eberly

[@puplover7991]

Holy Sh*t. Vivacious, charming, skill off the charts, and that gymnastics...whoa. She made those front walkovers look like nothin to her! Then to have that adorable pup in her routine...exquisite.

[@kelseyparker7737]

She and Buttons look so cute together!

[@OldWriter205]

This is a clip that I keep coming back to.

[@swallin19]

Eleanor did re-hearse the number at her own home, but the studio built a matching set for the actual takes, which took several days and a lot of editing! Still a unique dance routine, marvellously done, top quality all round

[@mitchellwhite9920]

This woman was unnaturally talented in so many ways.

[@ToddLorencmusic]

Just discovered her lately!! Loving her!!

[@miffy1950]

I have seen this clip in "That's entertainment" part one or part 2! Eleanor never ceased to amaze me: what a great tapdancer indeed! In my opinion, the very best of her time

[@hermanmunster714]

Just wonderful and joyous. Thank you for sharing this.

[@jackanthony976]

My tap teacher (a man) was actually jealous of Eleanor Powell. He was primarily a tapper/hoofer with no significant ballet or gymnastics training. One time Eleanor Powell numbers was being shown on a continuous loop on video in the waiting lobby just outside his dance studio, studio B. The dance students including me were waiting in the lobby watching the many Eleanor Powell numbers that were being run on a continuous loop on the video screen. We were very engaged and impressed with Eleanor Powell. My tap teacher came running out of the studio to see what we were watching on the screen. He got visibly annoyed and agitated especially when Eleanor started doing her famous tap turns. Would you believe that he shut down the video and then in an arrogant tone told us all that Eleanor Powell was some kind of a freak and that we should not be using her as an example of professional tap dancing. He then grabbed the VHS video out of the machine and threw it on the table next to the machine. We were all in a state of shock. The management of the studio had a talk with him after he shut down the video. The management restored the video the next day. People like him gave this video 30 dislikes.

[@kobedragon6069]

Uuuughh! The way she spins! Is magic!

[@Ukuleleric]

Brilliant, funny, touching, adorable. And Eleanor Powell is pretty good too...lol.

[@markr.katzman3743]

She was great! And kudos to Mr. Dog!

[@lcdd9091]

WOW!!!!!! THOSE SPINS AND FLIPS!!! JUST blew my mind!!

[@TheSaneHatter]

The hoofer and the woofer.

[@benrobles752]

ROFL!

[@johnboys4697]

Nick Hentschel ha ha cute

[@cinnabar585]

Excellent!! 😂

[@scifi707]

Amazing! Eleanor was good too. :)

[@danielbuckner2167]

That hug at the end is soooo cute knowing Buttons was personally trained by her for this movie!

[@sdftrd]

I love Eleanor Powell, I love Buttons, and I love tap!

[@jwb1949]

Wonderful...such a talent...they could never make a movie about her, because no one could come close to duplicating her numbers...

[@esmeephillips5888]

Yet they think Tom Holland can convince us he is Fred Astaire. On verra.

[@gtlfb]

Without doubt the most delightful and charming dance number ever. Heaven!

[@eleanorpowell2007]

@dearmalika It's from the film 'Lady Be Good' like the title song of this music number, from 1941. Only two year before Eleanor Powell was a leading lady in her films, even overshadowing stars like Fred Astaire and Robert Taylor, but after filming Broadway Melody of 1940 she was ill for a while, when she returned back MGM behaved horribly and left her with no more leading roles, after all she did for them (her films with her own choreographed showstopping dances saved MGM from bankruptcy).

[@SuperKasper333]

This is wonderful. Thank you for sharing this!

[@genovee]

I was just about to ask if anyone had this to post. I love it, Ellie and that very talented doggie. What a great team doing a great turn. Many thanks for the posting.

[@DoGoneSilly]

This is sooo charming. Eleanor is such an effortless pro and my KUDOS to her training abilities. As a creator of stage routines performed with dogs I can say .......... I wish she worked for me!LOL! The Finale' is fantastic!

[@beatlessteve1010]

Absolutely the best...she was phenomenal!...I love to watch her dance...and Anne Miller.

[@anniefannycharles9951]

Wow. She was amazing! Im so grateful for KZbin. It helps so many see what real talent is. Also, she was so wholesome! I just found out that she was married to Glen Ford.

[@mapearce1]

LOL! Damn! I am so fortunate to have seen this kind of stuff as a kid growing up....and let's throw in some Victor Borge,. and Carol Burnette,....and hey,....it just goes on and on......so when I see shows like AGT and Stern says America has never seen ANYTHING like this before....lol.....come on.....many of the acts you see on AGT have been around for years,.....but stuff like this.....gonna have to wait a long time before it comes around again,....

[@SuperAnnabelle1000]

This is the best dance on KZbin!

[@ImmortalChaos]

This just may be the most awesome thing ever

[@lalva2024]

Five revolution spins was off the charts fantastic!! She was also incredibly attractive!

[@rmcfete]

She did fifteen in Rap Tap Tap. And fascinating rhythm

[@BornYesterday0126]

Thank you for posting this. I'm not a huge fan of this movie but this is one of my favorite Eleanor Powell numbers!

[@brunovezina5233]

Amazing grace from both human and dog.💚

[@Vejur9000]

A super athlete, by any definition in sports, dance, or art. Famous for her gravity defying speed, physical strength and power, she layed down some of the most intricate rhythms in tap and dance history. Considered by many of the greatest dancers, to be the greatest of them all. Taught by one of the greatest tap dancers of all time, gifted with supernatural energy, natural beauty and charisma, is the all time great, who made it look easy, sexy, and happy. Eleanor Powell.

[@rmcfete]

Don’t forget the dedication to her craft. Hours, days, weeks of practice even with blisters on her feet she danced. Oh don’t forget her ballet talent as well

[@hollywoodlalaland8665]

She was simply the best. An absolute phenom.

[@antoyal]

His hula dancing at 2:17 hah ha ha! :)

[@JudithIN410]

Wasn't her dog. It belonged to the daughter of one of her prop men. She did "adopt" it for a few months of training; it had just been a pet before this film. The dog went on to perform in several other movies.

[@janwilliams1270]

1974. That's Entertainment. Eleanor and Fred A. dancing begin the bequine from Brodway Melody of 1940 Scintillating and the movie audience clapped like crazy as if it were a live performance. Nothing better!!!

[@ruthsmith1694]

Fantastic! EP the best tap dancer ever in my opinion.

[@JoshSmith222]

It's inspiring to see that this level of talent is possible.

[@cindybovat]

She was soooo talented,,,,,Fred Astaire said she was the Best Tap Dancer. But I love the Dog too.

[@lynmichael7476]

Amazing, the world lost a great dancer, she is beautiful.

[@patriciahall3932]

She was simply wonderful.

[@PFVideoAce]

It's AMAZING !!!

[@nigeljwright]

This is quite wonderful, everything is just perfect.

[@Doggone2007]

wow that was pretty amazing. The dog stole the show

[@brucec2635]

WOW!!! Wait till my dogs see this. Motivation.

[@sibkiss2009]

This is how I want to start each day.

[@juttaschoner4302]

Just gorgeous, Eleanor Powell.

[@patriciafriedson8860]

This is splendid !! Thank You for posting it. (My dog likes it too!)

[@RoryVanucchi]

Best dog routine ever. Eleanor the best

[@lovewings66]

My mom told me about this routine with the dog (hopefully was treated well during this training, this is prior to animal protection laws in Hollywood). An amazing routine. Eleanor Powell was one of my moms dance teachers.

[@scifi707]

Fantastic performer! Eleanor Powell was good too.

[@jameszerukjr]

I take it by your username you are an EP fan! I never knew that about the dogs, that's great stuff. Shortly before Glen Ford died I had the oppurtunity to talk with their son on KABC radio in L.A. EP was a fav topice during the interview!

[@joselo-zl5wo]

Incredibly beautiful...

[@luckdog909]

I can't even begin to put this into words!!!

[@strongsad14]

Seriously, it looks like shes's floating. HOW is she making those sounds? Incredible.

[@kisslime]

My God, she was terrific !!!

[@mariannetracy4248]

Eleanor is superb, but WOW, look at buttons at 3:44. He's got a SPLIT SECOND to round the curve around her foot and avoid klobbered. Whaddagog!!!

[@LauraMonteson]

Isn’t it ironic that she said before she became famous she didn’t like tap dancing! Then become the best tap dancer of all time. Queen of Tap-incomparable Eleanor Powell!

[@EthanOberlin]

I love tap dancing! I still wonder what it’d be to have Eleanor Powell, Vera Ellen, and Ann Miller in a movie together and tap dancing sisters! I feel like that’d be a great picture

[@esmeephillips5888]

That would truly be a challenge dance-off, for they are the three best lady tappers of whom we have substantial records. I think Ellie would win, because she was a creator as well as a practitioner. As we see here, her imagination was extraordinary.

[@Steve20127]

What a routine!!

[@dijonmusta]

Love her style

[@eleanorpowell2007]

@dearmalika This is the first film after her 'come back' with Eleanor not being the lead anymore. She wouldn't do many films after this, only small roles. She focused on her family. From this film you REALLY NEED to see the number 'Fascinating Rhythm'. It is a really long continuous 1 take up to the middle of the dance number and then it gets crazier and crazier with acrobatics. Search: 'Eleanor Powell Fascinating Rhythm' and choose the 5:53 video from Shurayuki18411. Eleanor starts at 1:45

[@esmeephillips5888]

You're right. EP had recovered from nearly a year off with gall bladder problems. She had to prove she could still cut it. She was put into 'Lady Be Good' with top billing but as Ann Sothern's confidante: secondary as an actress but asked to supply a couple of big routines, since neither Sothern nor Bob Young could hoof. The duet with Buttons was the first. 'Fascinating Rhythm' topped it, and how- for my money it is the greatest solo dance ever recorded, Exhibit A in support of the belief that Ellie was the #1 mover in movies.