Vera & Donald in "It's A Lovely Day Today"

Vera-Ellen and Donald O'Connor dancing in the musical number "It's A Lovely Day Today" from the 1953 movie "Call Me Madam" which also co-stars Ethel Merman, George Sanders and Billy De Wolfe".

[@barlin07]

Donald O Connor said in an interview that he didn't have a favorite movie that he had worked on, but this was his favorite dance number and she was his favorite partner. I can see why. She's my favorite too

[@tarnsand]

Rosemary Clooney said she never knew a dancer that practised constantly to perfection like Vera! She said every free moment she had she was tapping stretching etc. She had nothing but wonderful things to say about working with her in White Christmas. Vera Ellen has always been my favourite female dancer. Love her to bits.

[@shelleywantiez7964]

These two are flawless. Both absolutely phenomenal dancers. They literally float. Vera is breathtaking in that dress, and Donald is so precise and gentle. They flow so gracefully. I love how easy they make it look.

[@Kathlen1303BT]

That is the most beautiful dress I've ever seen! O.O

[@serenettiepumpknpie]

That petticoat just makes her dress flow perfectly when she’s spinning & side kicking..excellent job by the costume designer this is a fabulous expression of her every turn..she obviously studied as much ballet as she did tap..Vera you triple threat!!!

[@abigoush15]

I must have watched this a million times and still keep falling for these two and their performance. You can feel how much they are enjoying this.

[@danacanevari4674]

I agree

[@luciernagasify]

the dress!!!!!

[@renaerufus8707]

it's just the BEST when two outstanding dancers dance together!!!

[@de-lovely7859]

This scene reminds me so much of Cinderella. Like how they went to the garden because of the crowd, and her dress is just so lovely and I’m in love with their dance. Heck! This is way better than the Cinderella live action Disney made. So flawless and elegant😭💖

[@emmad.176]

I personally love the disney live action Cinderella but I totally get what you mean :) This could easily be a scene out of a musical or stage version of the story with her outfit and the backdrop :) It's lovely :)

[@TallieRaye]

SO i pretty much am in love with Donald O'Conner. Who ever agrees give a holla!!

[@virginiastock5518]

Heaven watching these two dancing together, they certainly don't make films like this anymore. This is such a great film to watch, I never tire off it.

[@CaptainNavman]

+Virginia Stock I am looking to see if I can find it to purchase

[@nessapainter]

I love the comments here. I especially love how well Vera uses that glorious costume so well to get the best effects in her dance. Donald's tails are also a nice complement too. A short jacket would never have worked as well. I love seeing actors who know how to get the best out of their costumes. This dance has to be one of the best examples ever. It's brilliant and totally magical !!

[@jfcurran5484]

Many of O’Connor’s film dance numbers were comic. This is the only one I recall that leans toward an Astaire like elegance. And their chemistry is good too. Nice to watch.

[@vicvicvicvictorious]

that skirt moves so beautifully!

[@Tatiana_Palii]

My favourite movie, my favourite dance, my favourite Donald. Reading all these comments about White Christmas makes me cry... Love Vera and her dress))

[@leealvarez6857]

Quite possibly my most favorite movie musical moment Vera-Ellen is just a joy to watch

[@rach5516]

what a beautiful dress!

[@davidallen508]

Beyond perfection !!

[@adelehughes8641]

This is art! Her dress is mesmerizing. A feast for the eyes...

[@insect1752]

Donald O'Connor did many brilliant dance routines on film, solo and with others, before this and after ('after' mostly on TV), and it's interesting that later in life he remembered this as his fave. He was more physically astonishing in 'challenge' dances, but what he liked in retrospect was being a gentle and graceful partner to another gentle and graceful partner.

[@Bahbahlatje]

His family were Vaudevillian acrobats, so it gave him a lot of physical strength and the ability to jump high -- they had a barrel jumping routine with no spring board or trampoline. Gene Kelly, too, had training as a gymnast.

[@swordfish1929]

this might just be the best dance ever. Actualy forget the might, it is the best dance ever!

[@gulmerton2394]

How enchanting, enthralling, wonderful, marvelous, beautiful, graceful, glorious and heavenly! Do I need to say more ?

[@mandycat45]

Vera Ellen was always great, no matter what the dance routine or the type of music. (Be sure to watch her in Slaughter on Tenth Avenue for something completely different.) But I have to agree that the dress in this number deserved equal billing.

[@susankelly5585]

Such a beautiful, elegant lady, and an amazing dancer! Didn't see enough of her. Donald O'Connor brilliant too!

[@ashado4489]

It is not just the dress. It is the way she swirls and moves that multiplies the beauty of the dress. Poor Donald O'Connor. Vera and the dress steal the show. I wonder how many people (can) concentrate on his dancing skills in this scene.

[@shelleywantiez7964]

I disagree, Donald was magnificent and if you really concentrate on him, you can see Vera just melts right into his moves and leads.

[@JBarr-lw6kp]

Some people can. In any case, it's worth watching again just to focus on him.

[@gottamatch]

The first time I saw this I said I wanted that for my wedding dress. Well I still do! Vera is rocking that dress. Stunning. This is possibly one of the best musical numbers ever. They are so graceful. Watch her walk over the rocks one more time, you could swear she was floating! Thank you for posting this! I wish it was on DVD!

[@leealvarez6857]

It's called CALL ME MADAM starring Ethel Merman And yes it's on DVD..........15 years too late but better late then never

[@hommefriday]

I walked the 800km Camino de Campostella from France to Santiago in Spain. Every morning before setting off on the daily 20km walk, I would sing this song, because it expresses the feeling of the start of the day when setting off along the Camino!

[@johnlorenzen4633]

Yay!

[@annefitz7346]

That’s awesome.

[@KunamaElgar]

I have just found Vera-Ellen - and she's amazing!! So graceful and elegant... sigh. That's the kind of dancing I always wanted to do when I was a little girl :) And of course the dress is gorgeous and making me want one like it. And Donald O'Conner... well, what can you say - brilliant as always.

[@naomicool2236]

That dress is so stunning! It looks like a sparkly, floating cloud!

[@jackoff1826]

That's exactly what it's made of

[@johnlorenzen4633]

That dress. It's a dream. And yet doesnt over shadow Vera's great grace but enhances like a nother partner

[@DLSmith93]

And he frames her beautifully!

[@deniaridley]

She's freaking amazing.

[@gailneff117]

What a beautiful dress. I'd wear that today to a Christmas party.

[@danic1088]

I just love her dress!!!

[@jayoungr]

What fun! Two dancers I've always liked, and I never even knew they'd danced together. Now I want to see the rest of the movie. --PS, that skirt is AMAZING! Like something out of Disney, and I mean that in a good way.

[@501rivet]

1953, elegance and a physical display of artistic fashion, dance, and flair. Fast forward 2020. Look at the celebrities we have today and how they dress. Leggings or pajama pants, and sweat shirt. Might as well be in the ground crew in "Soylent Green".

[@episodesfreak]

I want her dress to be my wedding dress!!!!!

[@kellyf.3892]

Just a lovely time in movie and in general history. Just lovely.

[@prgiganan]

Such a crisp and great choreography!

[@ilcamary]

Encantada em 2023 por essa perfeição de coreografia. A evolução da bailarina com este vestido é deslumbrante.

[@claynadian]

I WANT that dress!!!!

[@claudiasollitto782]

Eu também !

[@emilykay9568]

Oml I love her dress so much!😍

[@lonestar1]

What great talents - nobody now could do this - a lost movie art.

[@mindya1799]

1:35 Love how he keeps his hand on her waist. Making sure she is safely sitting down and, keeping it elegant.

[@irondale37]

I watched this film for Donald but got mesmerized my Vera-Ellen instead. I couldn't take my eyes off her when they danced.

[@verasmith4767]

They were smooth.

[@654zns]

This makes me want to go out dancing.

[@claudeduda3607]

Such wonderful dancers!

[@Petticorinna]

It´s a wonderful dress, he fly so nice by the dancing; i would have gladly such a dress to myself; i love it and it is my Favorit of Ballgowns

[@mrsblue3011]

Her dress swallows her up and Donald O’Connor and basically hijacks the dance number from two of the best dancers ever!

[@maureen1938]

This is sheer magic like all of those superb Hollywood musicals....Thanks for posting this beautiful video.

[@ninjaoftheshortness]

I love old musicals like this. : ) They're the best ever. i wish they still made movies like this. ANd that dress is gorgeous : D. Do thye still make dresses like that? lol

[@insect1752]

I think Donald was a little smitten with Vera, and he was between marriages at the time! But in any case, he definitely loved her as a dance partner, and they are wonderful together. He said that during rehearsal, he accidentally thumped her on the back, hard, and she didn't say a thing. But later she got him back by flinging her arm up, which was covered with little plastic shells, so that he took a shell up the nose. :D Thanks for this.

[@alwaysblake148]

Just Wow. When movies made you feel good.

[@alexisnewell3672]

Magnificent Donald n Vera adored this era 🌟🌟💖💖

[@user-qs5gy2by4b]

ОЧЕНЬ КРАСИВО СПАСИБО

[@timothycreed3452]

I wish men and women dressed like this today. Everybody would just be so...happy. haha

[@bbcisrubbish]

I wish some of them would have wash now and then.

[@coreycox2345]

It's challenging to be whimsical and crabby at the same time, Timothy Creed.

[@mariannabernardi8957]

It would be beautiful!!!!!

[@ancienthibernian]

Perfection.

[@FreyaVana]

This is the sort of scene that Disney has been trying to recreate for years, without success. Face it Princesses, you can't match Vera Ellen.

[@cynthcorcor126]

I am almamater

[@outercyberia]

True❣️Many hours of perfecting scene after scene...Vera is timeless, sylph-like ...And that dress!!!😍💕

[@catwomanpl1]

@TallieRaye I do do do do agree :D I never have enough of watching him dance, act and listening to him!!!

[@TheCatgirl6]

Not to take a thing away from her, but a crowned Vera-Ellen swirling around in that gown presages Grace Kelly in "The Swan" and those early images of her as Princess Grace. If Grace had been a dancer, this is how it would have looked. Breathtaking!

[@suebob16]

Be sure to check out the other Vera & Donald dance from the same movie (Call Me Madam)--Something To Dance About--a more playful dance with another lovely full-skirted outfit worn by Vera. Equally great dancing by these two!

[@Dininann]

Oh I love Donald O'Connor.

[@turkeypopcorn]

i love this set. it's gorgeous. As is the rest of the number

[@cierrad1]

I agree. I just adore it.

[@Rockapella66]

this reminds me so much of that scene in cinderella. I love donald O'conor so much he is the best dancer.

[@wlbaz]

My favorite scene EVER from this movie! I feel so peaceful and happy just watching it!! And I love Donald too. Wish I could've met him before he passed away. :(

[@shelleywantiez7964]

Me too

[@Rtmax45]

I don't know what CMM means. I love Donald and Vera and you can see skirt dancing in It's A Lovely Day. Sometimes they put small weights attached to the bottom of the dress, which are hidden by sewing them in. What I find interesting in Dancing In The DarK is that Fred is wearing clothes that he would normally wear. He like pastel colored shirts, light-dark colored sportscoat, with pants lighter than the coat. He liked bright colored ties and 2 toned shoes. He hated wearing a tux.

[@rebecaherrera6946]

Me gustan mucho los musicales ameri canos. Todo tiempo pasado fue mejor en algunos aspectos como el que acabo de mencionar, fueron.muy romanticos.

[@samfrancis9797]

Great stuff - over 5 stars. Someone wrote something about C kategory of this dance number in review. I have completely different opinion - for me the best of the best is this number which I guess Donald O´Connor declared as his best number ever he did in interview. With many quick passages, beautiful synchronization and chemistry which could match only Ginger and Fred this is the absolutely best illustration of romantic pair dancing in the golden musical age. Generally I consider this one to be the dance with best hands working ever filmed in musicals.

[@Crazypom2]

Oh Congratulations!!! I wish I could star in a musical lke this!! :)

[@sparkleandshine100]

Lovelovelovelove it

[@coinneachmaclellan3121]

I wish that her dress had been less full because it obscures both her and Donald's movements so that you can't fully see and enjoy the synchronicity of their dancing which is otherwise so enjoyable. This dance reminds me somewhat of Danny Kaye and her in their "White Christmas" dance at "Novellos".

[@deborahlynn9844]

Dancing with such grace

[@freck5991]

I'm with you MrsLittleBitz!!!!

[@claudiasollitto9089]

Que vestido maravilhoso !!! Queria um igual pra mim. Muito lindo. Hoje em dia não se fazem mais roupas assim. Só nos resta sonhar ...

[@TheMusicluvr789]

if my wedding dress doesnt move like that i simply don't want it

[@Rtmax45]

Speaking again about Freds clothes. He would reverse the coat to a lighter color with pants a darker color. He also liked ascots. He was one of the best dressed men in Hollywood. He, Donald and Gene were very well dressed too. Donald back then was as well known for his talented singing, dancing and comedy as Gene and Fred. He seems over the years he got left out-people were always trying to compare Gene and Fred's dancing. I don't compare them. I just sit back and watch their girls dance.

[@lindaziella3212]

💜💜💜💜

[@bexbeckyxx]

@claynadian I am determined to have that as my wedding dress :D

[@schrap72]

I can't help to notice that there are some moves in that dance that are similar to those in "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing" from White Christmas. Regardless, I love watching Vera Ellen dance. She does it with so much joy!

[@chyrlwillis9422]

Dancing that choreography in that dress!

[@manthasagittarius1]

You can get dresses like this if you order them -- costly but doable. The skirt is constructed out of several full circles of very light fabric in a few layers -- the top layer of tulle is divided so it will fly when she turns. You construct it on a band and then fix the band tot he bodice. If you smooth the band upward, it lies smooth adn the skirt lies flat; if you point it down, it makes a little ruff at the waistline inside that puffs it out at the hips a little.

[@johnlorenzen4633]

Wow. Expert analysis. Lots going on with this material

[@tinaloye2014]

Thank you! Found the comment!

[@manthasagittarius1]

I went and looked around myself on line at patterns, out of curiosity. There are some vintage Vogue and Butterick gown patterns from the fifties that have the right shape. Amazon seems to have them. What a world, huh? Merry Christmas!

[@cynthcorcor126]

World champion dancer. Vera, cynthia melvia.

[@elclubdemaggie9114]

Siempre me negaste en face, 🤗

[@rina5054]

@MrsLittleBitz The problem is if they even want to make movies like this, there is no artists who can play like this. There are also no composers, which could compose music like this. In the past artists was not just very talented, but they also could sing, play and dance like professionals. This days you hardly can found actress or actor, who can do everything like them. Maybe just actors like Hugh Jackman or actress, who plaid first on Broadway and than go to movies.

[@mariafilotas879]

I never.could understand why Donald was not considered on.par with Gene Kelly and Fred Astair. He was just as good

[@happyprincess6220]

It's like a Disney couple)

[@mca1218]

That dress belongs in a production of 'Cinderella.'

[@rungirlmgg]

@TallieRaye Same here! This guy was talented, funny, kind, romantic, and very handsome. I would personally go as far as to say he was sexy. But that's just me.

[@hellasexy22]

Haven't seen the movie yet but I sure hope after all of that, Donald finally got the girl in the end. If it was Gene Kelly, he for sure would've made sure he got the girl in the end! You know that I'm right! LOL! Nice video..

[@shelleywantiez7964]

Get the movie, it's positivity lovely. Great story and Yes, he gets the girl. Is so sweet.

[@tommyvermiglio1649]

I wish grover and cookie monster could go to that

[@petticoatwinnie]

herrlich dieses Kleid ! Diese Stoffülle ist der Wahnsinn.

[@Petticorinna]

In so einem Wahnsinnstraumkleid zu schweben muß ein irre erotisches Gefühl vermitteln. Diese Stofffülle ist wunderbar - und damit in einen trockenen Sturm - nur freies Fliegen kann schöner sein

[@swordfish1929]

i used to have call me madame recorded on my tv but my dad deleted it.I was furious

[@ansaksa]

pink marshmellow dancing dream

[@3506987]

Oh to bring back those days again.3506987.

[@mca1218]

@Rtmax45 Never heard of the term before, but certainly noticed it in the bulk of the great dance musicals- especially the Fred Astaire duets: his white-on-white duets with Eleanor Powell ("Begin the Beguine"), Cyd Charisse ("Dancing In the Dark"), and all the Ginger Rogers formal duets- especially the feathered "Cheek to Cheek." This is a great one, however. Have never seen CMM before, will have to either buy it or look for it on TCM .

[@manthasagittarius1]

The underskirt is a beautiful shade of peachy rose -- Technicolor or real it doesn't matter. It's an insanely sexually suggestive shade, but so subtle and lovely. They knew how to say things in those days.

[@tinaloye2014]

Do you know if a pattern of it exists?

[@manthasagittarius1]

If I had to make this, or something like it, I would shop in the wedding dress section of Vogue patterns for the closest bodice shape, ideally one that actually does the double layer bodice with the under layer like a strapless chemist, then the transparent total bodice with sleeves. It is a very simple cut, round neckline, v shaped back opening. You could use either a darted or a princess seaming plan; princess seams give you more control of close fit to the bust and waist. I talked about how the skirt is done in the comments below. Just buy a bolt of cheap cotton gauze to cut and play with first, because I think k only silk chiffon moves lime this dress, and it costs a fortune. Good luck!

[@manthasagittarius1]

Btw, if you're actually going to dance in the dress and not just get married in it, you will need a little subtle underarm piece called a dancer's gusset that lets you raise your arms freely without raising the skirt. A little diamond shaped, or sometimes rounded, inset.

[@Rtmax45]

@mca1218 Oh! Now I got it. I knew the movie. I just didn't make the connection between CMM and Call Me Madam. Thanks.

[@judithmcgee4773]

Choreography by Robert Alton, I believe.