The Untold Truth Of Fred Astaire

[@GrungeHQ]

What are your thoughts on Fred Astaire?

[@chrisegnatz3668]

A talented man.Loved watch him dance.Especially at 1970 academy awards.Google it.

[@johnryan3913]

The Astaire/Rogers movies of the 1930s are classic and his innovations are unmatched. I especially love the dance scenes with no closeups and the two dancers' full body interactions and responses. Some of the scenes go on for minutes without an edit. Along with Busby Berkely, the most pleasurable and sexy musicals ever.

[@satori03]

He was The BEST

[@lenhummel5614]

Fred was a genius and perfectionist. He had such elegance and style whether dancing solo or with a partner or group. The only two men who could remain in his same class as singer-dancer would be Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor. - The true stellar Stars of old Hollywood musicals (!)💎

[@stanibol]

@@johnryan3913 i couldn't agree with you more!

[@whatsthescore1289]

Fred Astaire made dancing look effortless, so smooth. As a kid in the 60s, I watched so many of his movies and was inspired to take dance lessons. He was one of a kind.

[@MichaelGeneSullivan]

He lived to the age of 88, and was fit of mind and body until a brief illness. I really hate the overuse of the word "tragic" when describing the death of anyone simply because they passed away. Most people have long, drawn-out illnesses, with a mental physical decline that is heartbreaking to them and their families. Fried Astaire had a good life, and died loved and admired fairly quickly as an old man. The rest of us should be so lucky.

[@charlesevanshughes3638]

Right, there is nothing especially tragic about dying of natural causes at 88. He wasn't going to live forever.

[@iolog513]

I understand and recognise your point, but I think here it isn't meant that it was tragic for him, but for the loss to the creative arts field. Tragedy can be defined as meaning a great loss and when he died, the field of creative dance lost a great creative dancer.

[@seeratlasdtyria4584]

In my youth, I was a young singer in Fred's last movie, Finian's Rainbow. I was astounded to find that long after everyone else had left the set, he remained practicing, always striving for perfection in every movement he made. He was harder on himself than anyone else.

[@petertaylor3600]

It must be something about dancers. They're all driven perfectionists, seemingly more than people who do other creative things. He seems to be an extremely decent and polite man, even if a private sort of person. He also had one foible, according to accounts. He always ate a bowl of chicken soup for lunch. Each day it was the same. It must hav e been a good brew but you'd think anybody would want to vary their diet a bit. But, no, chicken soup it was. From the biography written about forty years or so ago.

[@DBEdwards]

What a privileged man you are to have shared stage time with a legend and Francis Ford Coppola director.

[@seeratlasdtyria4584]

@@DBEdwards to be fair, my interaction with FFC was essentially zero..he cared little for singers/musicians LOL, on the other hand, Fred DEMANDED perfection from us:) while doing everything possible to assist in its attainment. The only people he was harder on , were of course, the dancers hehe.

[@chadwhitman1811]

To look spontaneous you must practice ,not only that you must practice perfect.

[@seeratlasdtyria4584]

@@chadwhitman1811 Totally agreed, it takes a LOT of effort to appear to do things 'effortlessly" lol.

[@janicekramer2322]

He's just pure bliss to watch, even when he was older! The GOAT of dance!! We miss you, Fred!!!❤

[@roberttrepagnier9149]

He was and still is one of the greatest stars of all time.

[@richardgornalle4536]

This man is a true legend. A week never passes that I don't watch many of his amazing and thrilling dance routines with his many extraordinary dancing partners. This man has given me decades of entertainment pleasure.

[@thesausagecontinuim1971]

one of the most captivating watchable dancer's ever...im not into dance that much really but Fred and Ginger were hypnotic to watch!!!!

[@scottnance2203]

Fred's the greatest dancer of all time.

[@arthurgearheard4701]

Check out what he said Eleanor Powell!

[@communitypark2313]

Yes, totally agree...there is none to compare!!

[@communitypark2313]

LeeMilly...Priceless & SO true! I stand amended...

[@MrCrowebobby]

@LeeMilly Ruby She never even dreamed of doing any of his solos. She only ballroom danced with him and did the simplest of tap routines.

[@MrCrowebobby]

@@communitypark2313 She never even dreamed of doing any of his solos. She only ballroom danced with him and did the simplest of tap routines.

[@kellidudley7272]

I loved Fred Astaire and loved him and Ginger Rogers together!!!

[@patriciaoreilly8907]

Fred brought dance to life full of ❤ graceful elegance.

[@annoldham3018]

I agree. A real ballroom quality to him. And he made it look effortless.

[@DBEdwards]

In the case of Fred Astaire, the cream always rises to the top. It's about talent Arguably the greatest cinema dancer of all time. And a fine actor too

[@bkirchner50]

Fred insisted that his dances be filmed without any cuts or interruption. This represented a change that benefited all dancers in film.

[@maureenpeterson2070]

He showed us how graceful and beautiful dance can be between a man and a woman. Every partner he had, he showed their talents to perfection. He was a maestro......

[@daddydad9018]

Yessssssssss!

[@eltondennie6114]

Yes I always said no man could beat Fred Astaire dancing with a woman.black or white.

[@billrobbins5874]

Remember him most with Ginger Rodgers. Great dancers both.

[@JohnMcnair-qv2tr]

⁠

[@bikefixer]

Today, they cut to close ups in dance scenes all the time (most recently the new West Side Story). It drives me crazy. I want to see the choreography, not the film editing.

[@RayPointerChannel]

Correct! The entire purpose of Dance is being able to see the movement of the entire body. I don't know where the concept of cutting to Medium and Close-Up shots came from, but that is a MAJOR flaw of recent Musicals. In some cases this is done to disguise poor dancing. But this should not be necessary with good Dancers and good dancing.

[@bikefixer]

@@RayPointerChannel To be fair, it took the perfectionist Astaire (and Gene Kelly too) dozens of takes (and hours of manpower) to get a perfect performance in one shot. Modern directors probably think it is not worth the time. Easier to get one halfway decent take, and cut to mediums and close ups to cover the mistakes. But I think we agree, it's a far better viewing experience watching a performance from beginning to end.

[@r.fairlie7186]

It’s been said by others in the industry that Fred wanted to be filmed by just one cameraman who just followed his movement around the stage. He knew this is how all of us individuals see the performance via our eyes and brain. It doesn’t get any better than that.

[@lindaconstantineau1358]

I agree, I don't want to see only the upper half of a dancer's body when they dance, I want to see the dance steps as well.

[@juniorxranger]

Amen

[@daisydaisy1034]

A real artist who knew what he wanted in his choreography. A hard worker, innovative, and preferred to change up his choreography for every performance. His mother brought him up well and even during the Depression, they never suffered because of her diligence. He was patient and content with his life.

[@andreaandrea6716]

This was really lovely and very respectful. Thank you for this tribute. I first saw Fred Astaire, and Ginger, in Roberta while visiting my Aunt in England, where I had my 16th birthday (in 1973). My Aunt called up to me; "Come downstairs and see ... this is Fred Astaire." I sat, mesmerized, for the next hour or so. He changed my life. While all my peers were listening to rock, and disco, I was playing the albums from any of the Fred and Ginger movies I could find. A few years later, I found a Fred and Ginger film festival and got my tickets for the series. The films fell on a Thursday, early afternoon. Serendipitously, I also signed up for my first tap class which, also weekly, began an hour after the film ended, giving me the time to bus over. I was the slowest learner in the class, but the most enthusiastic and the most devoted. I hold him, like millions of others, in the highest esteem.

[@daddydad9018]

Beautifully written! I felt the same way towards Jennifer Jones (ie. Song Of Bernadette) 1943 AND Pa Cartwright a Canadian Lorne Greene who reminds me of my father. I watch BONANZA everyday. He graduated from Queen's University as I did too along with Waterloo plus two colleges. Dad would come home from the family businesses in suit/tie and proceed to dance with mother always in a skirt as he loved Fred. I was spellbound and those moments were in the 60s. Andrea thank you for such wonderful commentary. Mr. David 68 yrs. old though many say I look 50 while acting like a 2 year old LOL.

[@croy1949]

0

[@TheVatonaught]

All I can say is that when I was 12 I first saw Fred...his grace and style amazed me and now I'm almost 80 and he still has something that grabs your admiration. I competed around Olympic champions and grace and style are always notable to a fan.

[@richardperea9668]

The trick is to see Astaire's dancing as a metaphor for how to live ones life: with elegance, taste, a penchant for 'doing things right' and, above all, to treat others with the same level of grace and charm one would wish for themselves. I once heard 'good manners' described as 'the ability to avoid making others uncomfortable.' That, to me, is the essence of Astaire--both in the way he danced, but in the template that gave for living one's life.

[@elainechubb971]

What an excellent comment. I think this is one of the reasons he was such an excellent partner--when you see him dancing with Rogers,, or Charisse, or any of his other partners, the dancing is so romantic, and part of the romance is that the partners pay so much attention to each other and treat each other with such respect. Not just solo exhibitionism, but a real give-and-take, making each other look good. I gather he led a very private life off set, and wasn't into socializing in a "look at me!" way. I suspect he was a workaholic, and much of his life was work, with the rest concentrated primarily on family and then close friends. In his leisure pursuits he seems to have valued sports with an esthetic element--horse racing, playing golf. He obviously had a real appreciation of music, too.

[@tiggywinkle20]

Fred Astaire could sing as well as dance as he sang complicated songs rhythmically in the same way that he danced. A supremely wonderful dancer. The very best.

[@lisatodd8420]

Fred was beyond compare. His dancing was grace and beauty in motion.

[@davidmartin457]

I wanted to dance with Fred Astaire when I grew up. Not realizing he was already old when I was watching him. Greatest dancer ever.

[@Mrboomer135]

@@thebiblicalawakening4662 no one reading that shit

[@anonymousjohnson976]

@@thebiblicalawakening4662 : Diarrhea of the mouth much? Also, if there is a god, why would he favor and show partiality to a certain group of people in the Middle East? It is the reason why to this day that there is much bloodshed and they are still fighting over land.

[@patriciabailey1937]

No this distinction is reserved for Gene Kelly. Fred can be second greatest!

[@maryrosekent8223]

@@patriciabailey1937 I had a friend who felt the same way, but I would rank the best dancers ever this way: Fred Astaire, Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov (whom I saw dance at The Kennedy Center in 1975), Gene Kelly.

[@ljiljanakandrac2590]

Try this danc!! Shall you make over New dance! Happy!

[@queenofkingsbury]

Fred Astaire was the most graceful dancer of all time. He rose to the top because of his unique talent and superb dedication to his craft.

[@lindagordon2977]

Loved, loved loved to watch him dance. So graceful such a perfectionist and his ability to dance with anything on stage whether it was on the floor, walls or ceiling. Even danced with a coat rack, anything that was available. Very, very talented man. I know I enjoy all his reruns.

[@daddydad9018]

Cyd Cherisse was also an amazing dancer. Funny that Bing and Fred only played one movie together, 1942's Holiday Inn. I can imitate Bing and many other singers since I entered a cathedral choir, studied opera at University. Buy the H Inn dvd and listen to the best of Irving Berlin.

[@lindagordon2977]

@@daddydad9018 WOW, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra were what they called crooners back in the "older days of old" (Think I just told my age.) You really had some singing experience. If you can sound like Bing Crosby YOU'RE GOOD!!!!.

[@lindagordon2977]

@@daddydad9018 I have H Inn, love it. Irving Berlin is hard to beat. Good old songs. We don't have music like that now. You are in a Cathedral choir....I make a joyful noice unto the Lord. I imagine you have a beautiful voice. Keep up your gift.

[@daddydad9018]

@@lindagordon2977 I especially love the scene where Happy Holidays makes its debut wayyyy back in 1942 good God. I USE to be in a cathedral choir while simultaneously practicing opera at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. We cut LPs I have in mint shape among ~ 12,000 records. Now when I DO sing for the fun of it, the odd lady says, "you are too loud" LOL. I love singing anything by the crooners such as power ballads. Darin, Bing, SInatra, Sting, Lightfoot, Manilow, Diamond, Denver, Frank Valli, Bee Gees, Coldplay, Hey Soul Sister by Train .... at 7 yrs. old I could out perform the older young bucks in the choir hitting Hi C. One of hardest performers to mimic was Gary Puckett from the Union Gap. My 3 brothers were also in an Anglican Church boys choir with me. Please check out Zadock The Priest and I Was Glad and one more > Warsaw Concerto by Brahms; a trio of anthems that will send shivers up and down your spine. Mom was a pianist who could whip off the ladder of the three with her having an ARTC certification. Chow for now. Mr. David.

[@chattyroz2934]

@@daddydad9018 Bing and Fred were in two movies together, 1942's Holiday Inn and 1946's Blue Skies, both with music by Irving Berlin.

[@leesashriber5097]

I could watch him dance and act for hours!

[@daddydad9018]

Me too or moi aussi.

[@vickiebunch6405]

I loved his and Ginger Roger's movies! I've heard stories of Gingers feet bleeding from practice, so Fred was a hard task master, but they made it look easy and flawless!

[@mhm8922]

And I do sometimes!! I own all of the Fred and Ginger films, but with KZbin I can binge watch my favorite dance scenes for hours when I’m feeling down and need a pick me up.

[@charliechilders6630]

I loved his dancing in every movie he made. Even when a few of his movies weren't very good,, his dancing made every film always worth watching! Cyde charisse, Judy Garland and Ginger Rodgers were always my very favorites!🤗

[@andreaandrea6716]

They blacklisted all the writers in Hollywood. The films produced after the purge hadn't any wit...

[@JBrandeis1]

Fred was amazingly talented as a dancer, and, despite his disclaimer, he was also an utterly marvelous actor.

[@honeyjbc1]

And singer

[@JBrandeis1]

@@honeyjbc1 Indeed, yes, that too.

[@lordcron]

Now living here in Omaha, NE I can report to you that Fred and his sister are talked about to this very day. People are very proud of the Astaire's being from here.

[@SweetChicagoGator]

When a cinema usher in Beverly Hills I met him. He showed me his ID photo card of the Screen Actors Guild. A real gentleman he was always ! 🤓

[@col.231]

I was a child when I first saw him on tv and have loved him and dance ever since. Great man, wonderful dancer.

[@t.l.robinson2162]

A true dancing genius.

[@lou4134]

Love Watching Him Dance The Award For Best Natural Dancer Ever Goes To Fred Astaire " CANT TOUCH THIS" still to this Day!

[@Cocobird5]

I agree.

[@janettucker3196]

Fred Astaire was [is] pure magic, plain and simple. It's impossible to put how much we love him into just words, because his art went way beyond comprehension. I understand that as a showbiz kid he was compared unfavorably with his big sister, and this seems to me like some kind of child cruelty. No kid should have to be exposed to such public criticism. Perhaps that was what inspired both his perfectionism and his inability to appreciate his own accomplishment. Anyway, no human has ever moved like him, and no one ever will. My favorite movies are Follow The Fleet and The Bandbox. In The Bandbox, he plays an ageing Hollywood dancer trying to save his career with a Broadway show!

[@leslieepstein4700]

I think you mean "The Bandwagon", one of my favorite musical movies, starring my all time favorite entertainer.

[@janettucker3196]

@@leslieepstein4700 I stand corrected.

[@janetwilson92]

My mom introduced me to Fred's movies. I love them as much as she does. He is irreplaceable. Fred and Ginger are actually in the same cemetery I think along with his 1st wife and sister. I think his 2nd wife has done a great job with what she has done.

[@annettewilliams1932]

It's Bandwagon.

[@sheilagravely5621]

I love fred astaire, now and before. Such talent!!

[@jearnott]

No one in history has danced quite like Fred Astaire, but he admitted, he owed much to his choreographer, Hermès Pan. Glad you mentioned the importance of his sister, Adele.

[@dancingpixie6120]

Poetry in motion! I love him

[@daddydad9018]

Poetry In Motion was also a big Top 40 hit in 1960 by Johnny T.

[@jesustovar2549]

I'm just 18 years old and I love old musical movies and especially Fred Astaire was an inspiration to many people including Michael Jackson, in fact I discovered him because of the tribute MJ payed to his movie Band Wagon which inspired Smooth Criminal, I've never seen a bad number dance from any of his movies, the way he delivered the lyrics of the best american songrwriters was pleasant and it's still an example of elegance and charming including me, even tap dances wouldn't be the same without this men's influence, one of the best and most important entertainers of 20th century. Who know what Adele Astaire could have been if she did movies and also if she acted with his brother, I wish I could see an early film of them dancing, I heard recordings of her singing Gershwin songs from Lady Be Good musical and she had such a good voice, I can imagine then on tables being charming and doing some pretty movements. Ah my imagination.

[@sgumper4375]

It warms my heart that young people such as yourself enjoy these older movies. I've always been afraid that the "oldies" wouldn't be passed on to the younger generation. People can say a lot of thing about the internet. But one great thing. Is people young and old can check out different genres of music/and or movies. Whether it be oldies or the newer music/movies. It is AWESOME, imo. Check out the Nicholas Brothers dance the "Jumpin' Jive" in the 1943 musical, Stormy Weather. Fred Astaire said it was "the greatest dancing he had ever seen on film." They helped pioneer tap. Astaire himself declared that his own tap heroes were Fayard and Harold Nicholas.

[@johnathandavis3693]

I hope your love of art takes you far. Don't get stuck doing something you don't like for the rest of your life. Do what makes you happy...

[@ChristopherPausz]

Fred was good but Justin Beiber I’d argue is a little better as a dancer

[@sgumper4375]

@@ChristopherPausz lol Beiber isn't even in the top 10.

[@ChristopherPausz]

@@sgumper4375 the Bieb makes top 3. Out of the kindness of my heart and to ease your anxiety, I will live a lie for a moment and put Beiber in the three-spot. Freddy gets number one. Good luck finding number two. May I suggest the shadow of Beiber

[@SophyaAgain]

Fred Astaire = perfection

[@patriciaoreilly8907]

Fred was a dance Genius 🕺

[@patriciaoreilly8907]

@@thebiblicalawakening4662 I hope 🙏 you get the help you really need ASAP 🙏

[@thebiblicalawakening4662]

@@patriciaoreilly8907 what a fool you are. stop your useless gaslighting and wake up out of your sleeping pod patricia

[@marterodden5322]

@@thebiblicalawakening4662 Love to you in this life🙂I wish only to ask of you to ponder the reason God brought Jesus into the world...the people would keep living terribly, until realizing that Jesus needed us to see that his whole purpose in life was to die for us and...that believing in Jesus brings you to his father, God, our father too...and the world and the people are loved so much by God; and wants us to live again with

[@marterodden5322]

God at our side. I don't know that we truly understand what this existence will look like or even, are we supposed to not know until are spirit leaves this earthly body and only then come to understand exactly God's plan. Thank you for this opportunity for me to put my thought down:-)

[@thebiblicalawakening4662]

@@marterodden5322 I don't really wish to hear 'soothing' false doctrines of men. Our duty is to Fear God and keep His commandments. Or you can not keep His commandments and live a life of sin thinking you have to just emotionally believe in Jesus with your feelings and go to pagan sunday church every week and yell out Jesus and speak in gibberish tongues in public mass calling it the gift of the Holy Spirit to be saved. We were given free will, you choose.

[@ICARE9449]

I saw Michael Jackson on an interview w MYV and he said he frequently watched Fred Astaire movies and learned a lot of dancing and moves from him. He said he thought “Fred Astaire IS THE GREATEST ENTERTAINER AND DANCER EVER!! “ He said he “copied a lot of his dancing techniques. Fred Astaire just amazed me. I can watch him dance for hours…!” How cool!!

[@markcoombes9663]

Fred is so graceful, it looks like he is dancing un air.

[@kathynemec4288]

He is my favorite Dancer in the whole world. His style, grace, performance, being the perfectionist of all time. He was Taurus they are known to be perfectionist. Tyrone Power was a Taurus and a perfectionist. Both men were kind. Plus, Fred Astaire and Ginger Roger got along just fine. She knew he was a perfectionist. The year he died they kept playing The Vernon and Irene Castle Story. I would always miss the ending because I would fall asleep. This one time I watched it till the end. I cried my eyes out. He dies in that film. I had such a foreboding feeling as I watched that film. I knew he was going to dance into heaven. And that year by a month Fred Astaire died of pneumonia. Oh how I cried. My favorite dancer and actor and marvelous singer had died. The love of Men in suits is because of Fred Astaire. The love of a Tux is because of Fred Astaire. I am a dancer because of Fred Astaire. I did a special dance honoring Fred Astaire, for the theater. Those are the reasons I love the man.

[@Lforaday3]

Many years ago I had binge watched most of the Astaire-Rogers musicals. I then had a dream where I was dancing with Fred Astaire. It was magic, and even now, many years later, when I recall the dream I still feel the magic. He was magic!

[@maryhuckaby2239]

This fails to even mention Fred Astaire's great acting performance in the award winning movie "On the Beach." Astaire was nominated for a Golden Globe for best supporting actor. Totally serious role as one of a group of people stranded by a nuclear holocaust elsewhere on earth. Haunting, sad, gripping movie. I absolutely adore Fred Astaire the dancer and often go back to his old movies (esp. with Ginger Rogers) when I'm feeling blue and need a dose of pure happiness. So I - and just about everybody else in the world - were astonished at his performance in "On the Beach."

[@mhm8922]

Mary, thank you so much for mentioning this. I was unaware of this performance and will have to watch it. I, like you, also watch Fred and Ginger movies when I’m down for the same dose of pure happiness. I’m sure those lovely people had no idea what their films would do for us so many years after they are no longer with us. Their talent was a gift and with their abilities they were able to leave a special gift for to us. Decades later millions of people are still benefiting from it.

[@suzanneterrey4499]

He was very good in that movie.

[@Jenifer_G]

Me too

[@dorothydelooff8483]

The dance and songs Astaire made famous will live in my heart forever. They Inspired my sister and I to take dance lessons. I still watch his old movies whenever possible. I still love youFred!

[@starclone4]

We all loved Fred... He was amazing !!!!

[@rubychew6535]

Astaire showed confidence and showmanship. His classic style in dance made you want to watch him dance. The Nicholas Brothers modeled themselves after him.

[@sherryhumphreys2708]

Awesome dancer n fun to watch all his leading ladies. They were all talented. Fred always looked like he was having fun.

[@frootmcgoose3076]

Magic eh. What a master. I wasn't around in them days but what pure talented people they had.

[@nataliet.9403]

I love Fred Astaire.

[@christineparis5607]

The movie, "Royal Wedding" starring Fred Astaire is a retelling of the siblings dance tour of Europe and Adele's falling in love with a lord... Jane Powell played Adele and Fred played himself.

[@daddydad9018]

I recall that movie and a song by James Darren called "Royal Majesty" ~ 1962 when I was 9.

[@tarey05]

Fred Astaire's genius at dance performance was a gift of and to humanity. We will not see the likes of him ever again. His work created that inspirational ripple effect that crossed genres that is the dream of many who are devoted to their craft. One performer highly influenced by Fred was Michael Jackson: MJ's style of dress, movement and dance were almost identical to Fred's: as an example, see and compare MJ's "Smooth Criminal" video with Fred's gangster dance scene in the film "The Bandwagon" with Cyd Charisse. 🥰

[@antoniogarrett1176]

Nice! Someone mentioned the MJ connection & ADMIRATION! Ashame the video creators couldn't take a few seconds to add such a well known fact to the video-SAD!but not at all surprising...

[@snm359]

Fred Astaire's true genius, was his ability to bring out the brilliance of his dancing partner, even though it hurt them.

[@relax2dream164]

I went back to college as an adult student and that meant lots of late night studying; I often had the tv on just for company. That’s when I fell in love with Fred Astaire. Late night movie channels often showed his movies and I became entranced. The dance scenes also provided a very pleasurable mental break from my school work. Wish I could have known him. ❤️🇨🇦

[@apollonia6656]

There are no superlatives good enough to describe the genius of this man"s art.

[@apollonia6656]

PS: Hold on, didn't Smith allow the Hoover advert on TV ? That is solo hypocritical !

[@thesamson1091]

Fred astaire was a legend

[@dean3434]

So I'm fluid and loose and a great dancer at 73 now, I'm forever remembering the fluidness of my friend Fred.

[@davidmackie8552]

Many thanks. I always loved Fred Astaire.

[@claudiusbernard4129]

Such a shame there is no reference to Hermes Pan, who was his choreographer many times and close friend for over 50 years.

[@cosmicstardust7772]

Very important part of Fred’s life as well as his dancing partners. Ginger danced with Pan more than Fred. ☺️

[@leslieepstein4700]

Hermes was the only non-family member who attended Fred's very private funeral@@cosmicstardust7772

[@imsocuteimsorich4952]

I always loved Freda stairs dance moves ,he was a man of intelligence in his dance moves and techniques that inspired me so much ,many artists here and gone followed his footsteps along the way,he will always be remembered as the best dancer rest in peace Fred you will always be my top hat 🎩🎩🎩🎩👑👑👑👟👟👞👞🌸🌹🌈👏👏👏👏💖💖👌😘😘🎩🎩🎩🎩

[@thomasdrozd9471]

There will never be another FRED or even GENE KELLY. I wish I could have danced with either one. GENE KELLY and I have the same birthday 8-23- 1940. FRED will always be one of the best dancer's. Love him. P Drozd

[@everettwilson1416]

It would have been nice if the black dancer or other non white dancers could of got the same exposure as he got.

[@johnfield1833]

Every time I see Fred astaire he has a suit on I think he was born with one and if you should by chance wake him up in the middle of the night he would still be wearing one.

[@ittybittykittymama7582]

Thank you for an informative and interesting video. Fred Astaire was talented beyond imagination and his name will always be synonymous with wonderful, artistic dancing. Is it any wonder that he was and is so much loved and admired? We will always love you, Fred, and miss your grace and the joy you brought to us. Oh, let us not forget Ginger Rogers! It is much more difficult to perform intricate dance steps in reverse and in perfect time with your partner's. She was such a wonderful dancer and absolutely gorgeous at the same time! Long live Fred and Ginger!

[@Sunvio]

Pure genius. And so elegant.

[@portnuefflyer]

The greatest, what a showman and athlete. He also skateboarded up into his mid '70's

[@EmpowerMelbourneShuffle]

Absolutely Beautiful. I have a very good friend here in Arizona where I live. She's in her 70's now (Still dancing! And very renowned. Her name is Zephryn Conte! She tells me often that I look and often resemble Freds lanky style. after watching this, I can firmly say I can see some of Fred portrayed in my style of dance. Such an honor to be told something like that and I truly believe i'll be a catalyst someday for freestyle dance, especially shuffle and freestyle flow.

[@fiddleronthecube7835]

I first saw Astaire in That's Entertainment and I became a lifelong fan. He is poetry in motion

[@nmuphelps1]

A COMPLETE GENIUS!!!

[@petertaylor3600]

Sound like he wrote the writeup of himself. Nobody could that that bad. In fact, he wasn't. The good far overshadowed the bad, but what would Fred know. He was far more attractive than producers, etc., who liked everybody to look like everybody else. I guess it saved time. I adored him, still do.

[@gailroberts4201]

He was elegance personified. My wish was to have one dance with him. Just one. While others had crushes on big, burly, handsome actors, my dream was Fred Astaire. RIP

[@roblewis3565]

Balanchine said Astaire was the greatest dancer. So did Jerry Robbins. He was highly respected for his creativity in dance. Perhaps less noticed was his great singing. Sinatra held him in high regard as a singer for his great expression. Many of the great standard songs were written for Fred which he performed in his Broadway and London shows.

[@honeyjbc1]

I hadn't read your comment when I added mine. So far you are the only one to bring up his singing. Thank you. And you should add to your comment his singing in movies.

[@elainechubb971]

I read some while back (so have forgotten the source, sorry) that Richard Rodgers said he thought Fred was the best singer of his songs (or the one he liked best), because Fred sang them as they were written. I have several old vinyl records of Fred singing, and they show what Rodgers meant. For interpretation and faithfulness to the songwriter's intent, Fred is up there with Ella and Sinatra singing ballads. The way he sings goes straight to one's heart.

[@chattyroz2934]

@@elainechubb971 I think you might mean Irving Berlin. Or perhaps George Gershwin or maybe Cole Porter. For whatever reason, Fred and Richard Rogers never worked together and I'm not sure if he ever recorded any of his numbers.

[@michaelayers3998]

Absolutely true, though, that both Berlin and Porter wrote songs (and some great ones) specifically for Fred-either to be premiered on Broadway or in film. They and others loved his voice, and he could really “sell” a song!

[@deliacummings3245]

I love Rita Hayworth. Heard she was his favorite partner. Loved this tribute to Astaire. Love watvhing Gene Kelly

[@trudyramgren8817]

I could watch this man dance for hours!!!

[@abbeyblack5289]

Fred Astaire is incredible as a dancer, actor, and musician! I love watching his movies and here him signing and dancing. He is a true inspiration to me as a human being. He is one of my favorite actors and dancers and musicians. He died the year I was born, he has provided sooo much to the world of movies, music, and dance. I love his comedic styling and how he is so good-natured!

[@kimlondon8900]

One of the best compilations I've seen. I would say that in fact, Fred and his sister were professionals before age 17, getting gigs as little kids. Also, this rumor of Ginger and him fighting and being at odds with one another is simply not true. They BOTH repeatedly said their whole lives that this was just cooked-up publicity, and people who worked with them for years agreed. You have to really analyze his dancing to understand his genius. I just laugh when people say his partners were better than he; the partners would never agree with that!

[@daddydad9018]

And to have watched Fred with Bing in Holiday Inn PLUS Cyd with a perfect body, makes me feel like Irish Springtime at 68 years of age. Father and mother would try to emulate those two! Dad looked like Paul Newman while mother Audrey Hepburn. I loved reading your commentary as a trained NOT DANCER rather, singer. Back to the Maple Leafs vs. Habs game. David.

[@arthurgearheard4701]

Eleanor Powell was superior to Ginger Rogers! Watch The Broadway Melody of 1940! Astaire admitted that that none of his partners was equal to her! He admitted not being able to keep up with her!

[@daddydad9018]

@@arthurgearheard4701 I have her movies BUT, none of his sidekick CHICKS could keep up with Fred! My father saw this too. Cyd Charisse was as close to perfection while Fred even guided her!

[@DeltadawnEmm]

@@daddydad9018 . Easter Parade with Ann Miller - the greatest female dancer, ever.

[@johnathandavis3693]

My mother has been gone for a few years now. She told me that as a little girl, she dreamed of dancing with Fred Astaire. I'm 60, and I miss the old folks....

[@irened5192]

Fred Astaire was incomparable. 💯💯🤗🤗🤗🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹❤🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@RubenDrums812]

Very entertaining...thank you

[@ButchGoodrum]

Fred Astair was one of the Best Dancer in the World to me I miss him I just love watching him Dance.

[@negativeman896]

Before the Beatles released the Sgt Pepper album someone had to contact everyone featured on the cover to allow their permission which would avoid any kind of lawsuit. The person who did most of the contacting mentioned that Fred Astaire was "very sweet."

[@howellwong11]

He strives to be a perfectionist. He worked hard to make things look easy.

[@timothytikker3834]

3:10, about Astaire's insisting that dance be filmed allowing the entire body and its movements to seen without interruption at all times: Y E S !!!! It's beyond irritating that the current fad in dance videos is exactly the opposite! Astaire was absolutely right.

[@LRogue]

My very favorite! Talent personified. When I need to forget I just put on an Astaire movie.

[@geraldmoran6387]

What really amazed me about Fred's style as a dancer is that in some routines he'd jump and quickly turn and for that split second looked like he was actually floating. Virtually all of the dance masters...from Broadway...to Film.. consideted him to be the greatest dancer...to this day.

[@sarahhunter1114]

When I married the love of my life 20 years ago, I told him that when I died, I expected not to be greeted by him, but by Fred Astaire. To this day I hope there's an afterlife where I'll get to feel what it felt like to be led around the dance floor by the GOAT himself.

[@richj011]

Watch a sermon by Pastor Charles Stanley to understand an afterlife through Jesus our Savior. God bless

[@questfortruth665]

Fred was the MASTER of dance! His routines with Ginger were immaculate! The dancer who comes in second, in my book, was Michael Jackson! They both had the magic!

[@Bzcenci812]

Michael Jackson?

[@michaelterry4394]

Bill Robinsons

[@michaelterry4394]

BOJANGGLES BILL ROBINSON

[@crivket1233]

YES , on one.... NOOO on jackson.

[@stephanebelizaire3627]

Very Great Artist and Human Being !

[@geraldinebowbia5176]

I went to Fred Astaire dancing school in Brooklyn tap ballet 🩰 and singing. How come I’am not a star ⭐️ lol 😂 was on tv also. Loved him dearly ❤️🥰

[@alistairmacrae4870]

Fred Astaire “Can’t act. Slightly bald. But can dance a little.” Astaire still managed to impress David O. Selznick, who was at the time head of production at RKO Radio Pictures. Selznick saw something in Astaire that the talent scout had missed. “I am uncertain about the man, but I feel, in spite of his enormous ears and bad chin line, that his charm is so tremendous that it comes through even on this wretched test,”

[@franbihary8939]

He made his mark not for his talent but for his fastidious obsession to detail and perfection. Incredible too that he had a genius to minimize his less than appreciated physical features as well as understanding technical aspects of filming dance. Without all of this, he would never would become the legend he is, only another talented dancer.

[@chattyroz2934]

He was already a major star before he ever went to Hollywood. He and his sister were on the stage from the time he was about 6 and they were headliners on both Broadway and the West End for at least a decade before he even started in films. And after his sister's retirement he successfully stared both on Broadway and the West End in The Gay Divorce, later to be filmed as The Gay Divorcee. So you could hardly say his success depended on cinema techniques. Which is not to say that he didn't make the most of them. The very least that can be said of him is that he had a unique talent (as affirmed by any number of dance experts) combined with a winning personality and a willingness to put in the hard work. I personally think there was more to it than that, a touch of magic or, shall we say, genius. He was, and is, unmatched.

[@luishumbertovega3900]

A Great Artist !!!

[@garygemmell3488]

The only thing an entertainer can hope to accomplish in the end is to make people happy that they were entertained. Mission accomplished, Mr. Astaire.

[@raulraphael7404]

Excellent video, clear, with interesting insights, an articulate voiceover, and no blaring music....Bravo!

[@henrimatisse7481]

when I was in Jr High I'd imagine I was married to Fred on my long walk home from school. I just loved his dancing of course!

[@ljiljanakandrac2590]

Many peoples forgot him.He was unbellive! He steep and we like to see him!!! Legendarne!

[@adamsworld398]

You are from Slovakia?

[@StevenTorrey]

For my money "top Hat" is the epitome of a Fred Astaire/Ginger Rodgers/Irving Berlin movie. a nice video that goes into aspects i had never realized: hands, relationship with Beatles (loved the clop of Fred with Ono)... Remember Charles wasn't born until 1945, becoming an adult in the 1560s; Fred was dressing with class long before that.

[@marthawelch4289]

Hello! Here are a couple of suggestions for your comment: * "clop" should be "clip" * "1560's" should be "1960's".

[@E-Liza-sg3ty]

@@marthawelch4289 I think Steven has had one too many 😉

[@arthurgearheard4701]

Eleanor Powell deserves some fair time, too!

[@honeyjbc1]

I'll say! The number from That's Entertainment with the two of them, Begin the Beguine is one of the greatest ever. We stayed to watch the film twice through just to see that again.

[@arthurgearheard4701]

@@honeyjbc1 It's probably shown on Facebook and KZbin more than any dance number in history! I've challenged young dancers on Facebook that are more into Hip Hop and dancing suggestively and showing off their bodies to watch this and see what REAL talent is! I'll take fully clothed Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell anytime over these pseudo wannabes!

[@GregoryWhite-g8x]

Fred Astaire met George Gershwin in 1916 and they remained friends. I love and admire them both!!!

[@tribudeuno]

I wish that the video had said something about a movie that is really important to me, a movie in which he did absolutely no dancing. That movie was the great-granddaddy of my favorite film genre, nuclear war disaster, the movie On The Beach. In my childhood, having gone through the Cuban Missile Crisis, that movie gave me wide awake nightmares. But when I grew up and saw it, it became not a movie of terror - forget monster movies - but a love story of people on the brink of extinction. Astaire was a scientist in the movie, and depended totally on his ability to act, along side Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, and Anthony Perkins…

[@matthewbarone2029]

I'm watching Swing Time right now I have all his videos and I copy some of their dance routines on the dance floor. And thanks to all his dance partners that also make them look good. I'm constantly still dancing during the week and weekends. Thank Heaven for the many big bands that play around southern California.

[@chadwhitman1811]

He was a class act and had a public that appreciated that quality. I don't think the music or the times of today lends itself to his unique qualities. He was a true movie star which is a personal quality as opposed being an actor which has to do with training.

[@danielreichert2025]

Immeasurable talent ❤️