Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers - Let's Call The Whole Thing Off HQ

Scene from "Shall We Dance" (1937)

[@lindymckay]

Can we all just appreciate that the majority of the dance was taken in ONE SHOT?!?

[@Xenophaige_reads]

Yup, right task master Mr Astair was. Practiced until he was certain it was perfect.

[@ebonyavengerstevenson1321]

I can !🤣

[@tmeu]

Many of Fred Astaire's movie sequences were taken in one whole shot. 😊

[@romysales7188]

No it took 15 takes to get this they were so bruised by the end that’s y they look the way they do but so fantastic

[@PoofyKittyPants]

With live sound

[@TheJimsnyder55]

"I haven't been on skates since I was a kid." Yeah, right! lol

[@Bobby4USN]

Haha yep, he took up skateboarding in his mid 70s too.

[@mohammedcohen]

...wonder how many takes it took...of tooks it take...???

[@MichaelDeTomaso]

wonder how many times they landed on their bums rehearsing that gig

[@fitforfreelance]

The type to say "it's just like riding a bike, you never forget" 👴

[@malcolmforster8838]

"I haven't popped any bennies or drank any whiskey since last Tuesday". I dunno, maybe they were straight edge. I assume because they were talented celebrities that they were wasted.

[@joshcummins3916]

Crazy how talented people were back then. The ability to skate, dance, sing, and act all at the same time.

[@allglassbreaks]

Nothing has changed some of us still are

[@bigparl4869]

Pure auto tune degenerate filth now. Behold what your generation has rejected and replaced with evil.

[@Flamec45]

People still are. This is such a boomer take

[@bigparl4869]

@@Flamec45 name 3 edgelord

[@HolgerRuneFan]

@@Flamec45 Can't imagine hating millions of people for being born a Boomer. And no Boomer would ever make the remark, I'll guarantee it's Gen Z.

[@delux2222]

In the thirties and forties, every composer want Astaire to introduce their songs,not because he had the greatest voice but because his timing was impeccable

[@manuelorozco7760]

I actually find his singing to be quite tolerable

[@TakeMe1335]

Mmmhuh!

[@alexschalk5439]

@@manuelorozco7760 His singing is certainly adequate and trained, but he was not the finest signer around.

[@manuelorozco7760]

@@alexschalk5439 Good point

[@harrylimeracketeer]

He was a good singer, but it was elevated by his acting ability. Like, someone might think Sinatra sings the best version of The Way You Look Tonight, but it will never carry the same emotion as the original from Astaire, since it is inherently tied to a well-written love story. His songs are not just sung; they are sung *by* a character.

[@theimperialcombine]

Meanwhile in the future you got a Symbiote Trying to Cook up some food while making a mess out of the Kitchen.

[@ethanloming001]

KETCHUP???!!!

[@navonmyhand7999]

I didn't come here and expect a reference to the future cinema classic, Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), but I was mistaken.

[@BElle-Ballentine]

Love me some Venom ❤️❤️

[@user-yj9qq2zd9i]

I predict that in the near future, your comment will have 1000 likes😂

[@maskedgaming732]

L

[@carolinafarmgirl1057]

My great grandmother danced with Fred Astaire in Chicago. She was a flapper & very beautiful. He picked her out of the crowd and asked her to dance with him.

[@sjbass26]

wow that’s really really cool

[@desireelevin8822]

Lucky lady.

[@patricianunes3521]

Wow!

[@malcolmforster8838]

Dancing with the stars

[@trevorbelmont8670]

venom 2 brought me here, and i just search with keywords "You say neither and I say neither" and found it!

[@AbhaySingh-gk9qx]

Same bro

[@menames184]

Not the right version

[@Coolstarburst]

Yep lol

[@redstarstudio2125]

Me too. When venom sang the song

[@edga69]

Wow imagine Venom being your reference for this. Guess just shows how even the most famous things take a while to permeate generations.

[@lesot5907]

You can’t tap dance in roller skates Fred Astaire and ginger rogers: *hold my beer*

[@VirtualInsanity91]

*hold my manhattan

[@adelinewest]

Andrew Ballard LOL

[@Supersonicx9000]

Hold my beer

[@GREGAUSTI]

No such thing can’t with Astaire

[@rondaleroi]

@@GREGAUSTI Well, he never tried it in a buffalo herd. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXqQaZupqZWVntE

[@Skopeutis]

Even their fall at the end was graceful.

[@robinlillian9471]

The grass helped, and they did it deliberately.

[@robertkeren9012]

Watch closely and see that the dance sequence from the 3:15 mark all the way to the 4:55 mark is done with one camera in one take. No edits. No mistakes. On a postage-stamp size rink. Now that's incredible!

[@athenaruby6091]

In one of Ginger' movies Fred and her did it so many time, she went home with blood in her shoes. But no one knew because she was dedicated.

[@alking7655]

@@athenaruby6091 While I can also believe that of Ginger and Fred, are you sure you're not thinking specifically of Debbie Reynolds in "Singing in the Rain"? Her bloody feet from tapping in the "Good Morning" number are well stated.

[@athenaruby6091]

@@alking7655 What you said is true, Debbie Reynolds did go home with blood in her shoes, but what I'm talking about is in the "The Gay Divorcee" in the number "Isn't It a Lovely Day".

[@lanecountybigfooters5716]

In Swing Time, the Never Gonna Dance dance was at least 47 takes, and her white shoes turned pink from blood. Watch for the edit right when they get to the top of the stairs and go into the spin; that's when she changed shoes, got bandaged up and finished the dance. She was dedicated and tough as nails!

[@athenaruby6091]

@@lanecountybigfooters5716 Hell Yeah!

[@carloscamacho5076]

One camera, 3 shots. They don't make scenes like these anymore. Wonderful.

[@Jonsey-lm5sv]

I'm always impressed at what natural athletes F & G were. I'm a derby skater, and I can tell you that some of the moves they were doing are pretty difficult especially in those old-timey roller skates. The idea to do this number on skates was Ginger's.

[@Jonsey-lm5sv]

I paid homage to Ginger when I chose my roller derby name: 'Ginger Dodge-Her' ;)

[@Spacemonkey907]

No kidding? That's cool

[@robinlillian9471]

At least Ginger didn't have to dance backwards on her skates the way she did in heels.

[@empanadasfritas7142]

They were and will ever be, real actors. The kind of person who makes us dream of a better life.

[@theCidisIn]

That's awesome. I thought the same thing. Like are they seriously insinuating that they were having a had time on the skates when they sit down, then they get up and do this number. They're like pool hustlers, accept with roller skates 😅

[@richardmorris363]

As a skater, and knowing the gear they were working with there… it was very slippery. Amazing talent.

[@TheNaturalGamer1]

Yeah right buddy

[@bibekdey683]

Venom really has a classy taste❤️❤️

[@ange9663]

Fred's facial expressions through the song are priceless, everything about this is just fabulous ❤️❤️

[@psithyra_rogue]

I love this part so much! Love the song and the dancing, and especially Fred Astaire's face when Ginger Roger's says "ersters"

[@Jypsie415]

2:58 for anyone who wants to watch that part again LOL priceless!

[@vennicegahoy2753]

No Gimmick, no CGI, just pure awesome entertainment.😍

[@robertneumann6247]

Talent galore back then...emotions running rampant. Sorry I was born way late...1961. Still love it today

[@richardd3663]

What was it Ginger said when asked who was the better dancer? "Well I did all the same steps as he did, but I did them backwards wearing heels".

[@robotboy719]

That's the famous line. Ginger was a solid dancer no doubt but really not in the same league as Fred. No shame in that: few were. Baryshnikov studied his technique fanatically and said that Astaire was the greatest male dancer of the 20th Century. Not just the greatest tap dancer, the greatest dancer, period.

[@nickl1682]

Richard D I wonder if they changed shoes . Fred in heels and ginger in shoes if they pull it off

[@rareimer]

A couple of points have to be made here. One is that Astaire did more dancing in their films than Rogers--he always had multiple solo dances in each film, whereas she had only two solos in the whole series (and his were more elaborate than hers). The other is that he actively collaborated with Hermes Pan in creating the choreography, whereas she showed up and danced the steps she was given. Basically, Astaire was primarily a dancer who could also sing and act, Rogers was primarily an actress and singer who could also dance.

[@robotboy719]

Exactly, although you could add 'choreographer' to 'dancer' for Astaire. Rogers is an excellent dancer; Astaire is a brilliant one.

[@adorabell4253]

Even in this number we can see the difference in their dancing, Astair is open and fluid while Rogers, while giving a good performance, is a lot more drawn in and focused on getting it done. On the other hand her acting is a lot more natural than his. It makes sense when you remember that she was a full actress first and everything else seconds while he was a state dancer first (originally finding fame as a dance duo with his sister) and everything else second.

[@peterorfan523]

They are tap dancing on roller skates...year 1937 roller skates. Amazing, I can't get enough of this scene. 🍸🍸🍺🍺

[@jerrera45]

As a kid I use to wait for Saturday night when I could stay up and watch TV late into the evening. Back in those days (I know that sounds corny but I'm 75 now) back in New York we had "The Late Show" and "The Million Dollar Movie" all in glorious black and white. Aside from all the great "film Noir", Fred and Ginger's movies were my favorites.

[@rivaridge7211]

Yes, I am older too, and greatly appreciate your comment. Life was simpler when we had but three or four channels to choose from (counting PBS). The late night movies were the best - I loved those black and white "pictures." The only frustrating thing for me was that I often fell asleep in the middle of the film - as I was not used to being up so late. I would wonder (the next day) as to how the story turned out - eventually, I would see the entire film and found out. ;-) Cheers and thanks!

[@barbarabush252]

I did too. I remember Million Dollar Movie.

[@wheelmanstan]

very impressive, that song is incredibly easy to screw up yet they sang it straight faced and tapped and roller skated like champs right after, they did everything is this scene, it's crazy

[@yfrufeyfryd2129]

So I’m suddenly here without knowing anything about this but it’s just simply gold

[@angelagonsowski8080]

Unsurpassed talent. No one can hold a candle to this duo. Simply amazing!

[@TheNaturalGamer1]

I can

[@shelleywantiez7964]

Even in roller skates, these two we're amazing. Talent at its finest.

[@Anonymous-411]

Very rare to have talent like this with actors now days.

[@BlockImmigrants]

This Type of music is better than any other modern music..

[@meli4535]

Omaba rapper

[@TonyTheTiger94]

Venoms just casually cooking breakfast...

[@TodayFreedom]

One of my earliest Hollywood memories. Absolutely love Astaire-Rogers films. So charming.

[@mysticexplorer]

Came here from a Duolingo article on "accents and dialects"! You know it's interesting learning through the songs.

[@lyricaldove]

I’m so impressed by Fred and Ginger’s great talent. They did the difficult maneuvers on old time roller skates easily.

[@broznkyra4853]

I watched this when I was a little boy...prolly 10 or 11...with my aunt. Sr. M Dolorine O. P...she gave me the appeeciation/love of these old Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers flicks. I'm 71 now. 60 years later I STILL love this shit!!

[@elenasmorodinnikova4634]

Does't matter who is better! Let's call the whole thing off! I adore both Ginger and Fred and Ella and Louis, they are incomparable...

[@davidjunior5773]

There will never be talent and class in entertainment like this again....I appreciate the hard work F & G has done...how I wish I could have seen them live

[@alleszins936]

I really appreciate that you mention the hard work. I read so often just the word 'talent', but what we see here is not just that. This is, in my eyes, pure dedication, pain, patience, perseverance, and dare-deviling, hard work

[@pierantoniomicciarelli5563]

Class, irony, elegance, dedication, professionality and art. And a great visual storytelling shot by cameras as big as a citycar. I bow in front of these movies. God bless moviemaking

[@vydar6109]

They are dancing, wearing these roller skates! It's incredible!

[@dudley5533]

Fred and Ginger's talents were endless......and always enjoyable.

[@saratchandrareddy2567]

🔥VENOM trailer bought me here 😂

[@BigBones2109]

Tap dancing on roller skates, this should be an Olympic event!

[@Haley497]

They tap danced on vintage skates. Whislt also singing and acting. Just blown away.

[@chrisj.plamondon1828]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Masterpiece! Great fun! Fred and Ginger made it look so effortless, but they worked so hard and that's why they were so amazing!❤❤

[@tarunn7]

Who are here after watching trailer for Venmo "Let there be Carnage" I know, I am. 🙋

[@TheJohnnyBE]

Doesn't get much better than that. Love me a Gershwin tune written for Fred Astaire. :)

[@manuelorozco7760]

This was actually the first time I heard this song. And next month I am seeing Nice Work if You Can Get It which originally starred Matthew Broderick & Kelli O Hara

[@lanecountybigfooters5716]

Gershwin and Astaire - heaven!

[@TheOutoftheunknown]

I'll never tire of watching this. It's sublime.

[@Leo-mj1mt]

- "Ketchup?" - "Excuse me?" *S P L A T* - Yummy.

[@foopx]

Venom sings this masterpiece 😤

[@jamesyoung7560]

A funny only tangentially related thing here, I am 53 and while I didn't exactly "grow up" with Astaire/Rogers I was very aware of them and especially this song. A couple years ago I was in a smartass mood at the Costco pharmacy and when the cute 20 something woman asked my name and DOB I said "Fred Astaire, probably sometime in the 20's" and she actually replied, oh, hi Fred, my name is Ginger Rogers! I was floored that a young person actually made that connection so quickly.

[@JazzyMamaInAK]

When explaining the spelling of my son's last name, I usually say, "Minor, O-R, like The Major and The Minor" (another Ginger Rogers' movie), and my mother says no one but me gets the reference.

[@JuanManuelLinaresBloggerDeNiro]

Just an amazing song, fabulous artists, incredible scene, and....an inspirational reflection on what matters and what doesn't, for these days. So lovely!

[@manuelorozco7760]

As usual, Fred & Ginger have excellent chemistry. And tapping on roller skates has got be another one of his clever ideas. This is my favorite of their movies tied with Top Hat!

[@season.appreciation8102]

Just BRILLIANT 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻What utter talents they were!❤️

[@har5814]

And I came here after watching the Venom Let there be carnage trailer.😉

[@armandodiaz2199]

*there

[@JohnAdjepongWilson]

Me too

[@agames2101]

Same here

[@joloh6497]

Not me

[@howarislahdji2692]

same

[@nate546]

Venom: I say either, you guys say either I say neither, you say neither Let's call the whole thing off Me: let's see where this came from

[@jakemaringoni]

Who knew Venom was a fan of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

[@TheInkPitOx]

Considering how hard it is to just stand on roller skates this is exceptionally impressive.

[@andrewcosten]

Love the old movies from that time....amazing dancers....

[@manuelorozco7760]

Andrew Costen Me too

[@SuperC888]

Wow! Synchronized skating !! Tap dancing on roller skates Amazing! The best dance duo ever #GOAT

[@immortalsun]

1:43 Top 10 Rappers Eminem Was Afraid To Diss

[@dzulfiqaruljihad8436]

You say either, i say either. You saw Venom, i saw Carnage.

[@william1760201]

YES !!!!!!!!

[@gazza2933]

America. You say 'Talented' These two certainly were! Best Wishes from England.

[@johnnyuncle4461]

In case if you are wondering , the man is pronouncing with the American accent and the woman with the British accent.

[@josephdouglas5606]

English accent or new England accent

[@brians9508]

@@josephdouglas5606 what????

[@josephdouglas5606]

@@brians9508 it's not a British accent, it's an English one, there isn't a British accent, the countries have their own languages and dialects

[@brians9508]

@@josephdouglas5606 I was questioning "new England accent". I was not aware that Mr. Astaire or Ms. Rogers were using a New England accent. And I guess you can parse accents in fine detail, and insist that there is not an English accent - that instead there are many very different accents within England - Cockney, Estuary, Yorkshire, Scouse, Geordie, and on and on. By the way - the words in question i.e. tomato and potato - would the second vowel in these words be pronounced substantially different in any one of the different British accents? Or more specifically, differently enough to affect the comparison that the song is trying to make between an American accent and an English/British accent. The answer is - no.

[@Nofeuw]

@@brians9508 Britain consists of England, Scotland and Wales. Its literally 3 countries. The difference would be substantial.

[@bmcgoo6027]

Fabulous song, acting, and dancing aside - that set is amazing too.

[@pinkfive2945]

People 84 years before: wow I love this song 84 years later: A dangerous moving black symbiote singing this

[@patriciaotoole5930]

Watched these movies when i was a kid and still watch them ty

[@paulpearson99]

Clever lyrics, and leave it to those two to tap dance in roller skates. Love it. It's mighty convenient that the rink is entirely empty when they start the dance routine. 😊

[@amyfisher6380]

The notes from Fred Astaire’s first Hollywood screen test: “Can’t sing. Can’t act. Balding. Can dance a little.” (Urban legend. Can’t verify if it’s true or not, but it’s still funny to read.)

[@romysales7188]

It’s true they didn’t rate him oh how wrong they were

[@zillafire101]

I'm glad they kept one thing canon. That Venom can really sing

[@liberte5847]

Merci beaucoup from Paris France for this outstanding historical Hollywood archive number never surpassed. First Class man and woman 👍🔥🌹.

[@mapn123]

One thought leads to another. I'd heard the song many times before, but I searched for it today because I'd been reading an article on tomatoes. Predictable thumbs up, if you go searching for a Fred and Ginger clip then you probably already love them. The few thumbs down must be from people who just stumbled across this and didn't know what to make of it.

[@rishabhnautiyal2470]

Who's here after Venom : Let there be Carnage trailer

[@prideofasia99]

Ketchup?

[@venomsnacks7001]

Tadaaa!!

[@venomsnacks7001]

Mee

[@shubhamrane8850]

Tasty

[@Techno-Danger]

Guilty as charged

[@bionicrat]

THEY ARE SIMPLY AWESOME 👏🏾 😎 tap dancing in roller skates LOOOOOOVE THEM🎉🎉🎊🎊🥳🥳😊😁

[@LauraC-hq7sm]

You have not lived until you have watched Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

[@21chirag33]

Symbiote singing in background😂

[@madgigahz]

yesss. i remember singing this in glee club, in the 80's lol. it just popped into my head

[@ambrewww]

I came here from trailer of Venom: Let There Be Carnage

[@moniqrupley6019]

Ginger is living the dream. She has a wardrobe that slays, a successful career and her small dog is welcome everywhere!

[@MrAzeemulhaq]

They could act. They could sing. They could dance. They could write. They could direct. They could produce. They did it all. They were complete artist.

[@MrAzeemulhaq]

They roller skated for God sake.

[@bestmoviemaster]

Watching it for 40 minutes and i can't stop Help

[@vernnybee8451]

One of my favourite Fred & Ginger routines

[@michaelegan6092]

Just wonderful.

[@kenttm42]

Be aware of the fact that these roller skates are steel wheels attached to a frame that grips the sides of street shoes and held on by leather straps. This is old school skating and Rogers and Astaire are doing dance moves that outshine anyone else with them.

[@denisemcnally9488]

Truly 2 of the greatest talents ever.

[@JenniferMoleski]

If you can roller skate with someone like that I say stay together.

[@nicolettapasquini6614]

L'ho visto in DVD che non sono sposati e questo inganno li fa innamorare grande film e bravi attori 🥰🥰❤️🥰🥰🥰

[@Yahyaib]

I’ve been referencing this song since the first and only time I watched this video in 5th grade music class. Now rewatching it as married man 😂😂😂

[@radioheadtv3131]

I laughed so hard at the end 😂 but damn respect. 1 take and no mistakes it’s super hard

[@TakeMe1335]

Man they jammed on these old school skates!! Just amazing!! Especially at 4:56...awesome!

[@Rudel23]

I never get tired of watching these two...fantastic!

[@SomeWouldSayImNotExactlyEthan]

ty Venom you truly are a hero

[@eleanorbersano1836]

Excellent movie,stars,and song...❤️🎶🎶🎶🎶🤗❤️

[@nicoleellis6794]

As an english lerner i want to say thank you that this song exists 😂 especially considering that i struggle to differ accents and just talk on some crazy mix of them

[@CatsandJP]

And this is why Michael Jackson was a fan and inspiration by Fred Astaire. 👏

[@CatherineBurk]

So how come Hollywood can't make wonderful movies like this anymore? Talk about great talent.

[@Swan5656]

That is amazing. I can only imagine how much practice that took.

[@EndingSummerwithRalph]

Gatorade is doing this as a rap song (aggravating to listen to) so I wanted to hear my preferred version. Thanks.

[@briansounalath]

her acting is really good in this. All in one take? Impressive!

[@stevemccart9109]

Late nights in the 70s with lots of l.s.d. made me love Fred Astair ,Gene Kelly and old musicals.

[@aidenmounce3926]

Yo I’m here in 2021 I think I’m late

[@aarone.aralaines8661]

I'm signing this song while doing a complete mess in kitchen and you know the reason why... we all have a symbiote inside of us, right?

[@jamesrichardson3322]

I want to see this movie!! Ginger Rogers is so beautiful ❤️🔥🔥🔥

[@ashN2f]

Venom 2: 'let there be carnage' certainly dug deep for this one. And it certainly suits the Symbiotic relationship b/w host and symbiote!! 👍🏼 Idk if I'm asking for too much when I say I want a full version in Venom's voice after that trailer!! 🤷😇