Fascinating Rhythm - Eleanor Powell - Lady Be Good (MGM 1942)

Here is one of my all-time favorites: The fantastic behind-the-scenes look at Eleanor Powell's flawless dance to "Fascinating Rhythm" from MGM's "Lady Be Good" (1942).
As originally presented in "That's Entertainment! III" in 1994 (narrated by Gene Kelly) the complete number was trimmed. Here I've reinserted the missing bits including the complete ending. Enjoy!

[@boblowney]

she was a genius and a totally wonderful person. Did you know that after she retired she had a religious youth tv show. she had some african american children in the mix one week. a pastor complained about having the dark skinned children, she promised to improve on that. the next week ALL the children were african american. totally great person

[@m.frazier9952]

Bob....Great info!.. she also insisted early in her career that the Afro American piano players be shown in the movies.. quite a bound move for THAT era!! R.I.P. Ellie .....the greatest female tap dance of all time. IMHO.

[@sibelycooper]

Sou fã dessa atriz, talentosa demais. A rainha do sapateado.

[@hcombs0104]

She HATED the racism from her time period. She also become friends with some of the African-American entertainers of her time...Ethel Waters, Bill Robinson, etc.

[@tinadacosta9707]

I’m just discovering this very talented woman and humanitarian. My mom told me today was tap dancing day, and she hoped that Eleanor Powell was mentioned. I didn’t know her until I found this video!! Amazing dancer and to know she supported African American dancers in the business is a blessing too. I’m sure she was aware of the great contributions African Americans made to tap dancing, and Ms. Powell’s contributions are legendary too. Thanks for keeping her memory alive.

[@markcepeda8144]

😉👍

[@jaygatz4335]

Really a high point of the Hollywood musical. The technical aspects of this shoot are astounding.

[@hcombs0104]

Eleanor Powell is my favorite female dancer from any era. She's mesmerizing to watch. And she didn't need Hermes Pan to dub in her taps later on. She did it all herself. I have a ton of respect for her.

[@ChrisStockslager]

Did Hermes dub Astaire’s taps? Or just others’?

[@RToni]

this is truely a VERY rare behind the Scenes look from that era. This tap Dance number still rocks.

[@paulht3251]

Wow just wow. I can hardly walk and chew gum. She has all this going on around her and dancing like she’s the only one in the room . A standing ovation. Love the old musical’s

[@shereewilson6278]

Eleanor was the best female tap dancer ever and an absolute joy to watch.

[@lindadibenardo3143]

Eleanor Powell tappin and Busby Berkely directly, both the greatest talents ever.

[@elizabethgeoghegan5167]

she seems almost super human❤

[@rhomo]

She always made it look SO EASY!! Incredible talent.

[@gtlfb]

Busby Berkeley said by the time this number was done, Powell was black and blue all over from being tossed again and again down that row of arms. She still made a point to thank him for creating such a fabulous showpiece for her. He said he’s never known such a gracious performer. It is astonishing the mechanics of these numbers. How was that curtain, with what must have been hundreds of pounds of material, manipulated so smoothly? I recall reading that, for the “Begin the Beguine” number, MGM could not find a company to make the mirror floor they wanted - so they made the mirrors themselves! Nothing spared.

[@gtlfb]

Busby Berkeley wrote that Powell was exhausted and bruised all over by the time this number was in the can, yet still thanked him for creating such a terrific showpiece for her. Equally interesting would be a look at the mechanism that so smoothly retracted what had to be several hundred pounds of curtain.

[@TheHeraclion]

and no cgi!

[@kathrynp8080]

Absolutely bloody incredible dancing. Watching her on KZbin videos are wonderful, but to have seen her on the big screen in a cinema must have been totally immense 😯.

[@sleeper600]

It is amazing to think how much work went into these numbers. The choreography, rehearsing, costumes.Add to that, the music tracks were laid down separately as were the "tap" tracks which Eleanor recreated and recorded after the filming. She sure worked hard!And yes - I too wonder how that hat stayed on.Fascinating woman!

[@RToni]

remember: without any computer and CGI crap

[@jaygatz4335]

The absolute definition of movie magic. It takes a lot of work and planning to make it appear so effortless.

[@RToni]

remember: it's great entertainment - without any computer/CGI

[@ObservingtheObvious]

Great comment. In the age of cgi it’s good to be reminded of how much they worked back then to design, innovate, build train, and execute such lavish productions. I’m glad that they filmed the effort to produce such a feat!!! Eleanor is spectacular in the performance as well. Such a physical routine; especially the finale!

[@boblowney]

you do not appreciate the greatness of these entertainers until you see all of the support folks behind the scenes doing what has to be done to make this work.

[@rmcfete]

That take was at two in the morning after having done it multiple times at her insistance

[@LoveCommunities]

The greatest female dancer ever.

[@jamessmithe5490]

I agree. Not Astaire's ideal partner but amazing.

[@BBBYpsi]

@@jamessmithe5490 Even Astaire was intimidated by her & said he could not keep up no man could

[@AMDesignMarketing]

I think the greatest dancer of all time!

[@zollykod2541]

Almost unbelievable. In just about every way. Love, love, LOVE Eleanor Powell. Never bettered.

[@aspsa6246]

This was an incredible team effort, highlighted by Eleanor Powell's impeccable performance.

[@lunicola]

Eleanor is SUCH a shining beauty.. she had a smile that could stop a charging elephant dead in its tracks :)

[@Muswell]

Only Busby Berkeley could visualise & direct a number like that. Great precision.

[@BlueRidgeMtns100]

The woman was a marvel!

[@SWSimpson]

Wow, seeing the sets move, a piano appear, dancers appear, enormous curtain silently swooshing along and movint into a circle like a tornado, and she keeps going and going and ends with all those spins. That's really spectacular. Was it as powerful and amazing on the film, when it could simply be she isn't going very far at all, but curtains are moving behind her? Because showing the the entire soundstage like that was spectacular. They really made big movies back then.

[@houstonsam6163]

As if her performance wasn't incredible enough, she did it with all that distracting set and camera movement going on around her. No student of dance here, but even I can see that she was so good they had to have her dance solo because no one else could have kept up with her.

[@dafyd242]

you see here just how much work goes into making movie musical, right from the original script through set design and construction, choreography, rehearsals, who knows how many run throughs to get the timing and camera angles right, days of practice and it all comes down just over a minute of screen time. of course the great Eleanor Powell's fantastic dancing, bravo.

[@sanmichele5395]

Uncle Buzz was a severe task master. He kept everybody up until 1:00, 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning just to "get it right." In this film, he made Miss Powell dance so long she was covered with bruses. And she still continues to smile... Amazing.

[@geoffrey5414]

He had Ginger Rogers feet bloody and blistered in a film, can't remember which one, but he was a perfectionist and they were true performers and dedicated to their craft.

[@rmcfete]

No she wanted the last take at 2

[@gordoncheyne5567]

I study dancers. She was the best!

[@sherriefox8838]

I half think she was way better than Astaire--- he needed a woman to complete his dancing-- Eleanor Powell needed only herself. Magnificient!

[@hcombs0104]

@@sherriefox8838 fwiw Fred Astaire once told Peter Ford, Eleanor's son, that his mother was better than him.

[@cynthiahawkins2389]

She simply takes your breath away when you watched her lay down them taps. Nobody even came close. Wow...

[@Querencias7]

Now THAT's entertainment! What skills and talent for artistic, truly artistic dance. When dance was decent and worthy of show. Powell was a real icon of this art form and discipline. Compare it to some of today's "dance" showoffs.

[@mjkay8660]

totally friggin amazing

[@davidtharp7921]

Only The BEST She was the Best I Miss Her.

[@zacklove3794]

WOW! Incredible. And the joy she obviously feels in dancing is part of her charm as well!

[@dee_dee_place]

How the heck did I miss Eleanor Powell dancing when I was younger. What an absolute gem. Her innate rhythm & timing were impeccable. This was tremendous. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[@zacklove3794]

I agree 100% with all you say and concur.

[@BoninBrighton]

Stunning and those flips at the end my goodness me I’ve never seen the like!

[@shirleybalinski4535]

My head spins after watching this!! How did she do it & still keep an even keel? Wow.

[@Mike-yg8ig]

Can you imagine how men on the set must've fallen for her? She would've owned me.

[@VictorRodriguez-jr4vt]

Eleanor Powell is the best dancer

[@ImmortalChaos]

She was one of a kind.

[@judithschoner6433]

Amazing dancer and human being.

[@hebneh]

Her top hat remains on her head AND her hair remains perfectly in place after being flipped end-over-end repeatedly. Maybe that's the most amazing part.

[@ladyjae65]

This is my favorite of hers. And I'm so loving that outfit! 😊

[@lorettagorden-rice1541]

WOW. She is wonderful.

[@stephaniestanley8041]

Eleanor was amazing. This chick hit the genetic jack Pot!!

[@saturninojosesuarezquintan7476]

And the hardest work to take that to the highest level.

[@kosta-td6th]

The best female dancer

[@jenniferwilson1937]

I don't know how I've never heard of her! She's insanely good! It's ridiculous! 😮😮😮😮 I'm amazed!!!!!

[@anthonydecarvalho652]

She was wonderful.

[@similer5987]

That's Facinatin'!

[@clarehorvath168]

Fabulous tapper

[@TheHeraclion]

now you've started something, it's after 2am and I just want to watch more!

[@Juliaflo]

Eleanor Powell was ahead of her time--she was insistent on hiring black artists in many of her films, and this during the era of de jure segregation.

[@ryanpeterson365]

She wasn’t the best Female dancer. She was the best dancer period. Fred Astaire said to Peter Ford ( Eleanor’s son) that she was the best tap dancer he had ever seen, including himself. She had true soul and a God-given natural gift, just like Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

[@1000000trs]

That is fascinating and excellent historical record, giving such a special eye view of the talents at work. Thanks so much for posting.

[@B26Corky]

The best female dancer ..ever ~

[@rusudankiknadze2607]

Simply the Best!!!

[@margowilson5267]

That was wonderful!

[@vanessaajohn]

INCREDIBLE I’ve always wondered how they did this one shot

[@francisalanbeattie4458]

Fantastic.

[@nosaltadded2530]

This woman was absolute dynamite!

[@michaelbabbitt3837]

Wow...just wow!

[@leighthomas8220]

I love the back heel kick @1:49

[@daveerhardt1879]

What a tap dancer!

[@VictorRodriguez-jr4vt]

Eleanor Powell es inigualable. No hay con que darle. Es la perfección absoluta en baile!

[@nananini9199]

The greatest

[@gregoryagogo]

I was just watching this, and wondering what was going on all around her to create this effect of this "maze of curtains"... and I got my wish! It's more involved than I thought! It was quite a journey to get from one side of the stage to the orchestra! LOL and I LOVE that extreme angle and view from above at 3:14!

[@TheJudyRoomVideos]

Imagine doing that over and over. Allegedly Berkeley had them working into the early morning hours and Eleanor's feet were literally bleeding, but (also allegedly) after she saw the finished film she thanked him.

[@gregoryagogo]

I heard about Busby Berkeley and his perfectionism! It doesn't surprise me.

[@m.frazier9952]

@@gregoryagogo Thanks for the info....Eleanor was also a perfectionist so I'm sure she understood.. all the great ones are!

[@mariaserban4502]

Wonderful!

[@alexiagiannopoulos5018]

Awesome performance!!

[@mardieeluppold]

AMAZING!!!!

[@fanorama1]

wow wow wow!

[@coraliewebster8333]

Wow! That's amazing! I'll bet her hat was glued on though! x x

[@paulabroussard1824]

Yes, interesting that you say that. She actually had a long time scar from indentations of top hats worn tightly during filming! The joys of being a star :)

[@NwoRun]

She's Good!

[@JuhiSRK]

No. She's the GOAT!

[@rmcfete]

No she’s great

[@phandung6265]

amazing! how to do so many flips, then spins and still show off white pearls

[@AbelZeviani]

Sensacional! Incrível, em 1942 já tinham essa "tecnologia" de filmagens!

[@cindyknudson2715]

You can see her early ballet training. 🙂

[@almeggs3247]

Mercy me wowed!

[@brendagrabina1989]

Best female tap dancer ever......puts Ruby Keeler to shame!

[@francesflood244]

Eleanor Powell and Rita Hayward were the best and gene Kelly ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@friedrichhans4779]

and ginger Rogers

[@friedrichhans4779]

And fred Astaire from Wien/Erdberg/Vienna!!!!! Absolut High Class !!!!!!!!!😎

[@kepckatherinec805]

Ann Miller and Vera-Ellen, too!

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

Vera Ellen is amazing, one of my favorites, but she doesn't project sheer power like Eleanor Powell. Maybe Anne Miller is close. Her height and power and skill are crucial, because those qualities are saying essential things to women in the 1930s that they might not hear elsewhere. Thank you Eleanor!!!🦋🎵🎶🦋

[@rmcfete]

Kelly wouldn’t dance with Ellie. She was too good. Hell he even had to ask the Nicholas bros to slow down.

[@froggydoodle808]

All those flips at 4:10 were making me very worried for her hat!

[@poetcomic1]

She's the only tap dancer that sort of intimidated even Fred Astaire!

[@arthurgearheard4701]

Sort of? She did!

[@rmcfete]

He said she was better than he was

[@MrBounce01]

Damn! Accolades asides, a petty note. The spotlight hadn't centred her at 3:58. Imagine a gruelling retake if the lighting technician took a sneeze. And another note. She was married to that womanizing heel, Glen Ford.

[@coelhocointech9841]

Unbelievable

[@noelplante2700]

Like Fred Astaire said of her..." she could put down those taps like a man...! " (and out-tap him )

[@suksma108]

Always looking at her routines, as well as another "great"..Ann Miller!

[@rmcfete]

Miller didn’t do her own choreography

[@josephhebert3073]

Powell, Rogers, and Miller. In that order.

[@cindyknudson2715]

The first time I saw Eleanor dance I wondered what a duet between her and Gregory Hines would have been like? Do you think he would have been a good "partner" for her?

[@yurikovalenko9106]

Bravissimo!

[@partycentralsales]

There are some very brief behind-the-scenes clips in color of the second half of this number in the documentary “Peter Ford: A Little Prince,” available on Amazon.

[@annecohen8927]

Such talent. Enormous potential of being a superstar. Love the Lasso exhibition she did. That was just amazing. Whatever happened to her after her career ended?

[@TheJudyRoomVideos]

She married Glenn Ford in the early 40s and gave up her career to be a wife and a mother. There's a documentary by their son on Netflix (I think it's Netflix, maybe HBO Max) in which he talks about growing up with famous parents. There's some great, but short, clips of color film taken of this number from behind the scenes. Fascinating!

[@hcombs0104]

@@TheJudyRoomVideos After she and Ford divorced, she went back on stage, from 1961-64, continuing her dancing. But she decided she was getting a little too old to keep it up the way she wanted (she was a perfectionist) and decided to retire for good.

[@persebra]

Damn!

[@marcstefanou7307]

Eléonore Powell était beaucoup plus tap dance que ginger, parceque plus rapide, donc elle arrivait à suivre Fred elle était unique et je n'en connais aucune Aujourd'hui capable d'en faire autant... point barre

[@onewayup5]

Sayyyyy WOAH !

[@josigaita]

TOP demais!!!

[@johannarocho3040]

No one like her!

[@DaniloWings]

GOAT

[@ellenmuseum]

That curtain

[@williamevans9426]

Surely there must have been several cuts, to set up the tables and male dancers around 3:20 and after to switch angles for close-ups, etc?

[@hebneh]

All this movement is just men pulling and pushing: the crane carrying the camera, the separate spotlight in the beginning, the machine playing the prerecorded soundtrack to which the pianists are playing and she's tapping and the orchestra is miming. Plus the forklifts, pulling away the sections of the stage she's on. All of these people have to be exactly synchronized to make this work.

[@cats0182]

That's what MGM was all about. The best in EVERY craft working with the top stars.

[@ringamybell]

i wanna know how they had the canes surrounded her at the end 😭i wish the whole thing was behind the scenes

[@geoffrey5414]

Despite all today's technology (mostly computerized) they did amazing and creative things in the Golden Days of Hollywood. Like an answer to your question myself.

[@partycentralsales]

There is very, very brief behind-the-scenes color film footage of this dance number interspersed throughout the documentary “Peter Ford: A Little Prince,” available for rent on Amazon.com. Peter Ford was Eleanor Powell’s only child. The canes were mounted on two metal frames, which were pushed/rolled toward her face once she hit her final mark after she spun toward the camera.

[@ringamybell]

@@partycentralsales thank u for the info!! i wish old hollywood had more behind the scenes footage. but they probably just didn’t wanna give up their secrets i suppose.

[@44032]

I think they almost drop her at 4:15.

[@wendymurdoch7369]

Wow! It must have been distracting. Big effort!

[@gnirolnamlerf593]

The concentration required is astounding.

[@ronbenoit5237]

She really didn't like Tap, she only learned it because the public liked it....but she was one of the best!

[@Muswell]

Erm .... She was THE best ! Without question.

[@TheDJMysterE]

ron benoit. I read she only took 10 tap classes too. But she is still so good! I dont get it.

[@jackanthony976]

But from the time she was eight years old she studied ballet and gymnastics which formed her foundation.

[@paulabroussard1824]

While she didn't initially like tap of her era, when she learned it and integrated her own personal style to it, she ended up loving it! She thought of herself as a musician, a drummer, with her feet and loved tapping and sharing tap with others even when she was in her 60s.

[@rmcfete]

Not one of the best. The best

[@jackanthony976]

AT 3:34 where do the drumsticks she is holding suddenly disappear to? Also how were they able to get the camera to move in so close from 4:10 to 4:20 with all those men in the way? That must have been tricky.

[@ringamybell]

i have so many questions 😭

[@ringamybell]

i can see the men linking arms right as the camera zooms. that probably had to run up as soon as the camera passed them. i

[@partycentralsales]

It will cost you $1.99 on amazon to rent “Peter Ford: A Little Prince” to get a very brief behind-the-scenes look at the filming of the second part of this number, The footage is in color and shows that the camera was mounted on a boom above the dancers, at head level, and dollied back as she was flipped and then spun forward. Busby Berkeley is shown with a microphone, presumably shouting direction. The film clips of the number are interspersed throughout the entire 40-minute documentary. The tuxedo she is wearing was a light, powder blue. I sense, from your postings, an antipathy to Glenn Ford, so you might not want to indulge.

[@leonie7342]

It's difficult to follow the drumsticks. First of all we're watching a digital copy of a film, two different types of visual mediums. The film was a frame by frame visual image done by chemistry on the film emulsion. The digital process copies the image with bits of 0's and 1's. it's copied into pixels. These old films are re-mastered then digitally photographed. While it "cleans" them up, it can do odd things with little details. If you play the dvd on the biggest tv you have, slow it down to the equivalent of frame by frame, you can see the drumstick in her left hand go up between the bass drum and the music stand about 2 ft. above the bandstand floor. The drumstick in her right hand does seem to de-materialize right in front of you. However, she throws it off at a lower angle across the black background of the bandstand. It first appears as a curved blur of three close fuzzy images just after leaving her hand. Then a split second later a little further out as one slightly curved blurred image against the black background. Where they both go after that is anyone's guess.

[@rmcfete]

She threw them backwards