Begin the Beguine - Broadway Melody of 1940

[@larrywakeman4371]

My mother told me she loved dancing so much her feet would be bloody with blisters - she didn't care- and her feet ached her but she had to be the best female tap dancer-NOT to show off, but just because she wanted to be the best she could be and loved it! My mother said she read also decades ago- that Eleanor had to put cotton balls in her shoes and wrapped her toes in cotton gauze because her feet had such blisters. I cannot even imagine doing thi, even in sneakers! LOL !!!MY ankles would be killing me- and in heels? FORGET IT! This is the BEST dance duet in HISTORY! WOW! Kim

[@rmcfete]

Too bad I can’t share this on messenger in order to get todays people to understand how great and dedicated she was to her craft

[@CaptainSandyHook]

Frank Sinatra in That's Entertainment, 1974 - " The last of the big black and white production numbers, starring Eleanor Powell and Fred Astaire, Cole Porter's music, the sets and the camera work, the direction by Norman Taurog, the incredible tap dancing by these two, well it all seemed to come together in Broadway Melody of 1940. You know, you can wait around and hope, but I'll tell you - you'll never see the likes of this again."

[@libertyjustice8060]

80 years later and we still haven't see the likes of this again...and never will.

[@user-xd5so5qh7j]

Thank you for repeating that Frank Sinatra quote. I remember that part of the movie, and always felt that he was so correct - and, that his words were a beautiful tribute.

[@timothywells9803]

Without a doubt one of the best tap routines ever put on film.

[@per-arnemoa103]

Noone has ever done this better.

[@RPull]

THE Best!

[@constancenovysedlak4251]

THE BEST TAPPER.

[@newstart49]

My favorite. That women is so graceful, beautiful and her dancing so sensual, couldn't take my eyes off of her. Made fred look even better.

[@larrywakeman4371]

Eleanor Powell !!!!

[@larrywakeman4371]

NO EDITS NO CUTS can you imagine?!!!!

[@roderickfemm8799]

There is one camera cut at 2:11 in this video. It might or might not have been a cut in the action, there might have been two cameras filming at the same time (I don't know if that was common at the time) or it might have been an actual cut in the middle of the dance. Still an amazing performance.

[@nightjarflying]

The sound of the taps was added in post-production.

[@FITZIEBLUE]

i read some where that Mr. Astaire said Eleanor Powell "scared the hell out of him" because she was such a powerful, energetic and precise tap dancer.... love watching them together !

[@christopherlyons5900]

He doesn't look scared. Astaire was always gracious to his partners, and he was extemely impressed by Powell's timing and technique. It's the dancing equivalent of two top physicists discussing the Theory of Relativity. There were things they could discuss with each other--with their mouths or their feet--that few others could begin to understand. Like I don't even know what counter-rhythm is, but Powell said they tried it out in a routine, and Astaire was so happy she nailed it, he broke with his usual formality, and lifted her off the ground, calling her Ellie, instead of "Miss Powell." She was probably the better tap dancer. He was more versatile--than just about any dancer.

[@carolenlancaster3491]

You are watching the all time greatest tap dance routine ever made .enjoy

[@carolenlancaster3491]

Because she could out shine him!

[@christopherlyons5900]

@@carolenlancaster3491 That's a large statement, and it's unlikely either of them was the best tap dancer ever. Powell was amazingly talented, but Astaire much more than just a tap dancer, and his legacy is larger than hers. What he said was one professional complimenting another. It was very hard for any of his partners to satisfy his technical standards, and it may well be Powell surpassed them. However, I still get more pleasure out of his dances with Ginger Rogers, because she added style and passion to the mix--she was an actress first. Powell never really excelled at that part of the program. But given that she was so good at tap, the film wouldn't have been complete without a routine of this nature. Please note, Astaire isn't just tapping--he's making us believe he's thinking about how to keep up with this wunderkind. Even though they've rehearsed the routine over and over, there's that element of spontaneity. It never feels rehearsed. This is her best film, precisely because he's in it. It's not his best film by a long shot.

[@carolenlancaster3491]

It was not the best movie..but it was considered the best all time Tap routine..I believe is what I said..

[@deborahjohnson5463]

Awesome routine! Love me some Mr. Astaire(go head Fred) but Eleanor DID THE ENTIRE ROUTINE IN HEELS AND STOCKINGS!!!!(now tell me who's ya momma?)😎😎😎✌✌✌

[@trhansen3244]

Stockings make it easier to tap dance. When John Travolta made Saturday Night Fever he wore stockings.

[@Dragonflylane77]

Damn straight! ✌️🙏 Of course, Mr. Astaire is legendary, also…

[@JamesThompson-d5i]

Props to Ms Powell

[@melindawood3644]

My favorite dance with Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell is awesome in this too!!

[@trhansen3244]

With all due respect to the great Fred Astaire, I could not keep my eyes off Eleanor Powell. Has there ever been a better tap dancer? Male or female? I'd really like to know.

[@G6JPG]

Unless I missed it, there is only one cut, at 2:12 (and when they're finished, at 2:43) - so that's a 132 second continuous take, (Compliments to the cameraman, too, for faultless tracking.)

[@larrywakeman4371]

That's right- NO cuts WOW she is the BEST!

[@cloudshe]

so beautiful how Eleanor put all that personality into the performance! acting or not she was so convincing that she really enjoyed dancing (and competing with) probably the best dancer ever

[@per-arnemoa103]

Simply fantastic. No actors of today can do this.

[@Juliaflo]

You SAID it--and they would dare not try.

[@homanhan2261]

Mr. Astaire! Legend of dancing.

[@MDADuncan]

Phenomenal !

[@davida.5599]

She could dance just as good as Fred…and in heels.

[@collinhuey2090]

my favorite of all time

[@tamaraharris937]

I love this routine, my favorite 😍

[@TimMiddleton-kl1qr]

Eleanor did everything Fred did but in heels and Fred did everything Eleanor did but with feet that were twice as big.

[@AuntieMamie]

This is historic. Eleanor Powell, Queen of Tap and agreed Astaire, King. I wish Miss Powell had done more films. She is extraordinary.

[@angelaramos1379]

Que pareja irrepetible en talento para bailar hermoso

[@hestiaa9354]

To think that he was already 41 years old when this movie was made.

[@luvsxlvna]

My grandmother was born in the 1940s

[@charveztalent]

We love Fred!

[@OmayraPacheco-m7n]

Artie Shaw tribute ... WGNJMN 🎉🎉🎉

[@ptb2929]

General John Archer Lejeune / luh jern (CMC XIII ) would be proud of this fine gentleman. and Ginger too

[@christinelandon8990]

My dad's opinion was she was the one who could match him! And he was right..Not necessarily sexy or alluring like Rita and Ginger..but...she could equal his steps..

[@rmcfete]

She was gorgeous and classy and she never claimed to be a great actress but THE BEST DANCER EVER, according to Fayard Nicholas.

[@CaptainSandyHook]

Fast feet !

[@pasimaenpaa2360]

Only star was eleanor powell. Would like to know who using stunts. Or who's voice was dubbed. Wasn't totally waste of time to watch this movie. Could watch perhaps second time. But only because of eleanor powell. Could deserve 1 star. Nothing else.

[@sentjourwla]

Don't you mean: "BEGIN the Beguine"??

[@CaptainSandyHook]

Oui, merci

[@sentjourwla]

CaptainSandyHook When I was 18 in 1974, my mother and I drove a half hour away into Hollywood, California, to a little, old, run-down revival moviehouse to see a couple of Eleanor Powell musicals from the 1930's. It was such fun to watch these old movies on a screen bigger than a TV - even though the screen was literally a white bedsheet! I remember the manager of the theatre got up in front of the audience afterward to ask how we all liked the films... Of course, we all applauded wildly, then an old lady asked, "Do you know where Eleanor Powell is today?" He looked delighted and said, "Funny you should ask, she's sitting right there!" Then he pointed toward the back row, and up she stood!! She ran down front and proceeded to delight us with old Hollywood stories. Oh, my mother just about died, she was so excited! Later, as we were walking through the lobby to leave, I saw her and smiled. She walked over to me and said, "What beautiful eyes you have!" She had a young man with her who asked my name and address. A week or so later, I received an autographed picture of her which read, "To the lovely girl with the beautiful eyes! Eleanor Powell" I'll never forget it.

[@TheShizue777]

Beautiful memory. This clip of Eleanor and Fred tap dancing to Beguine the Beguine always mesmerizes me. Both are stunningly perfect. Eleanor and her AFI Tribute speech talked about worrying over "missing a tap." Amazing! What a lovely memory you have. I envy you.

[@joelooper8824]

J

[@RR-jz5ry]

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