Vera & Donald in "Something To Dance About"

Vera-Ellen and Donald O'Connor in the musical number "Something To Dance About" from the 1953 movie "Call Me Madam" which also co-stars Ethel Merman and George Sanders.

[@shelleywantiez7964]

Donald O'Connor took a back seat to no one. He was the best of all the males, and. Vera Ellen was the best of ALL the ladies. Precision, flawless dancing at its finest. Ironically, this was Vera's favorite dance number, while the garden scene was Donald's. Paired perfectly, one didn't outshine the other. They were beautiful to watch.😮 Absolutely impeccable dancing, they both were absolutely incredible.

[@elissaschornstein9399]

Fantastic Dancing. I think Vera-Ellen is possibly the best dancer of that time. Fluid and delicate. Yet with tremendous energy and strength. Pretty Lady as well. And those legs are beautiful.

[@Tina-qp7py]

She was really good and so was Cyd Charisse, both obviously ballet trained with impeccable timing.

[@woutthielemans5073]

@@Tina-qp7py Yes, she is an amazing dancer who could do it all. Not to take anything away from Donald but she really outclasses him here. Only Astaire and Kelly were her equals. She also becomes an excellent actress when she is dancing. Unfortunately she didn't really have the leading lady charisma in her acting scenes, and she was never allowed to sing in her own voice. Which is weird because I've heard it in a Ray Bolger TV musical, and while she was no Judy or Doris, her voice sounded nice and she was in tune. Just not very powerful. Gene Kelly's widow says that Gene considered her to be the greatest female dancer of the era in Hollywood.

[@woutthielemans5073]

@Scoop Swoop I love Donald but he is not better than Astaire or Kelly.Vera Ellen is much more precise in her dancing here than Donald is, her lines flow much better and she has more explosive energy. I love Donald's solos in this movie, I love him with Debbie in I Love Melvin, he was excellent at tapping and comedic dancing. But Astaire and Kelly both were more complete packages and more visionary (Kelly most of all, I prefer Astaire as an individual dancer). Anyway, according to Kelly Tommy Rall was the best dancer of all in the '50s but he never clicked with the public so he didn't become a star. But he could do absolutely anything in any style.

[@deborahinrig4538]

@@woutthielemans5073 I love Fred and then Donald is a close second. Both very natural dancers

[@shelleywantiez7964]

​@@woutthielemans5073 I would have to disagree with her outclassing Donald O'Connor. He was flawless and precise in every dance number with her. He took no back seat to Astaire or Kelly. Just my opinion.

[@lesliethompson9262]

Too bad these two weren't teamed up more often. They really look great together on the dance floor.

[@Arkelk2010]

I was thinking the same thing, too.

[@coreycox2345]

We are lucky for KZbin. I would not have known about these dancers.

[@Mybpeterson]

They were meant to be teamed together in "White Christmas." Donald and Bing had worked together several times before, going back to 1937, and were apparently fond of each other. They continued to work together after that movie. But Donald was ill and couldn't do White Christmas. Danny Kaye took his place. It probably would've been great with Donald, but at this point it's hard to imagine anyone other than Danny Kaye playing the role.

[@deirdremacdougall8415]

I totally agree an incredible match of talent. Beautiful together ! 💃❤

[@shelleywantiez7964]

​@@Mybpeterson No offense to DK, I would have loved seeing Donald and Vera along with Bing together again, in this movie. Vera and Donald were magical.

[@dianaaljadeff2983]

If they had made more movies together they could have been the best fifties dancing team.He danced also with Mitzi Gaynor she danced also with Kelly and with Astaire and they were great in their dances.For me Astaire and Donald O Connor were Vera Ellen best dancing partners.

[@bexbeckyxx]

one day i'll invent a time machine and i will marry this man!!!

[@DavidTShaw]

Tell you what - contact me when you do and I'll go along to console Vera Ellen. 8)

[@MsMomochaLatte]

Have you done it yet 😀✨ at least bring back the dancing :)

[@m.layfette6249]

I'd invent that Time Machine and break it, so I could be stuck in a generation of Gentleman, Dancing, Singing, Jazz, Waltzing, Ladies, Love and Romance. (Just to name a few.😉💗)

[@shelleywantiez7964]

Great idea, even if just one dance with him. Pure bliss!

[@dudley5533]

These two super dancers were made for each other.......what a great number with all moves to perfection. Bravo!

[@terrywright7470]

How I miss these films, where the actors were so fantastic that they MADE one almost believe that the film was real. I will admit that I am an 88 year old man, but in all those years of watching "Musicals" I cannot see anyone in these times even get close to emulating these STARS of the silver screen.

[@catwomanpl1]

I love that twirl at 4:45! But I must admit that the whole dancing routine IS amazing.It is one of my favourites.

[@JodieZu2000]

To think if there were a "Dancing with the Stars" back then! Man, what a show the would have been!

[@deirdremacdougall8415]

Wow I could watch this a thousand times ! Absolutely perfect ! They danced so beautiful together ! Thank you for sharing this ! What a performance and on another note her dress wow ! I love it so much. So much talent there !

[@lindamast1865]

how does he do it; perfect timing; just love Donald

[@shelleywantiez7964]

He's mesmerizing, charming, and smooth. A festival of cuteness

[@Pau_Pau_Pau_Pau]

Completely synchronised and in time, just wonderful to watch

[@StylesLee]

𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔸 𝔼𝕃𝕃𝔼ℕ Completely synchronised 𝟚 𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕄𝔸𝕏𝕏

[@ShelleyWantiez-bq3fh]

They were bith perfect and flawless. Poetry in motion

[@GREGAUSTI]

The likes of we will never see again ,such talented dancers

[@tammie1078]

Don you take my breath away with your killer good looks , charm and dancing. Love you to Vera. They do look good together on the dance floor and with each other.

[@alwaysblake148]

Two great dancers giving you everything. Absolutely thrilling.

[@nsolo11]

One of Donald's best numbers!

[@Ah1My-Spinach-Puffs1]

Donald O’Connor practically Dany Kaye’s identical younger twin brother. Ironically they both have sung with the lovely Vera Ellen

[@megan166]

I think someone else in old Hollywood thought the same. Donald was supposed to play the part of Phil Davis in White Christmas. Dany Kay was brought in as a replacement because Donald was very ill at the time. Clearly they saw some similarities. Unfortunately, the replacement meant Vera needed a more competent dance partner, which is why she often dances with another man in that film. The dance routines were meant for Donald.

[@johnlorenzen4633]

@@megan166 on other hand Danny brought zany quality Thst Donald couldnt quite

[@shelleywantiez7964]

​@@johnlorenzen4633 I would disagree, Donald O'Connor had been acting since Three. In my opinion, he certainly would have been the best choice as Bing Crosby also thought, casting him first. I hope that came across politely.

[@TrinityRex-i6o]

All I can say is that they were MAGNIFICENT!

[@stephen5147]

Both of them - what Talent!

[@judithtremaine2525]

The joy of these numbers from Call Me Madam is Alfred Newmans sparkling arrangements of the score.

[@_classicbest_5330]

I love this dance so much! Her skirt is so beautiful!! Donald even said Vera was the best dancers he's danced with besides Peggy Ryan :)

[@lenhummel5614]

Wow! Just utterly Wow!!!

[@SilverInsanity]

I'd really just like a flowy skirt like hers. :) Everything in this is amazing. Thank you very much for showing.

[@deirdremacdougall8415]

I with you that Dress omg

[@cp2410]

After the end of the 2nd World War, (with lots of restrictions on the amount of material that could be used in clothing), came the New Look of the 1950's: full skirts with a "slew" of petticoats underneath to give "body" to the profile.

[@maizie9454]

the skirt practically stole the dance! wow

[@GREGAUSTI]

Perfection

[@BloodyJacki]

Holy shit, he kept up perfectly with Vera Ellen. I shouldn't be surprised since he kept Gene Kelly, but, holy shit that was awesome.

[@chattyroz2934]

He was just as good in his first film (A Pocket Full of Miracles with Bing Crosby and Fred McMurray) when he was about 9 years old!

[@coreycox2345]

He could dance on roller skates, BloodyJacki.

[@shelleywantiez7964]

​@@coreycox2345 Actually the first dancer to do it. Gene Kelly wasn't the first.

[@Palidor19]

Gene Kelly once claim that Donald was his best dancing partner. Can’t confirm or deny; but it wouldn’t surprise me. Singing in the rain is proof enough

[@markiewattie7130]

I love it when she spins

[@Pau_Pau_Pau_Pau]

Aw isn't he charming!

[@MyLady120]

Great performance of all time. Priceless!!

[@shelleywantiez7964]

Well said and spot on. The entire movie is wonderful

[@williamlrobinson6293]

This is a great dance routine with Donald and Vera.

[@ellokittyca]

gosh her skirt is beautiful.

[@catwomanpl1]

@prinia 'Call me madam' was never shown on TV because of that fuss over the rights to Berlin's songs. The movie was lost for the audience for many years until 2004 when it was finally released on dvd. If it had been shown on TV as often as 'Singin' in the rain' it could have made a number 9 of all times (or at least 11!)

[@EandMetal]

@nsolo11 Agreed - they dance beautifully together and have good chemistry.

[@RogerMooreFan1]

Awwwwwww!!!:):):)So sweet and amazing! The kiss @1:21 is SO romantic!

[@thegoldenyear]

Love the charming sequence from 3:50-4:00.

[@Stacey_Robinson]

Amazing. Love her costume!

[@margierogers1815]

They were wonderful

[@larrydawson2580]

Great music. Great talents.

[@wareidav]

Jst incredible ethleticism and Vera looks gorgeous.

[@RRubyyyyyy]

Wow! An absolute treat to behold! The choreography about feeling as free as a child is perfection; my most favourite partnership.

[@tunapup1]

@JodieZu2000 The stars were actually able to dance back then.

[@francoisehouarner9734]

Ils sont merveilleux !!!! 😃😃😃😃😃

[@priyansuku]

I wish they would make a film about Irving Berlin, that way his songs will come back to life again in this generation!

[@esmeephillips5888]

One casualty of Hollywood's financial crisis in 1969-70 was a Berlin biopic, 'Say It With Music'. Another musical life story, 'Star' (Julie Andrews as Gertrude Lawrence) had flopped and MGM got cold feet. Pity.

[@fraybentos9854]

One of the few times in a film where Vera-Ellen wasn't completely superior to her dancing partner. Donald kept up with her step for step the whole way, which is amazing.

[@shelleywantiez7964]

Donald O'Connor could keep up with anyone. He was beyond talented.

[@kennethgrier9417]

Vera-Ellen was flawless, Astaire and Kelly loved dancing with her and Donald O'Connor is magnificent! See Vera in Three Little Words and White Christmas as well as her Goldwyn movies with Danny Kaye, On the Town with Kelly! Mesmerizing ❤

[@robertmartin1650]

It's a shame there aren't dancers like this anymore. Class

[@stormcloudsabound]

This style of dance is long dead. Get over it, go out and watch real dance in a theatre.

[@camilleeborn216]

I'm a ballroom dancer, it's not dead.

[@BroadwayAndi]

Not true. I watched a dance special last year starring Derek Hough and his sister Julianne. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoqki52sbr6epcU It's called "Step Into The Movies", you can find the dance numbers here on KZbin.

[@marilyn6556]

I have always loved Vera Ellen! I think that she was the best dancer of her time.

[@lynncarden]

Loved Vera Ellen. . .When we all found out about her Cancer... and back then was basically no hope...sadly we lost many loved talented people.

[@Lotta933]

素敵すぎる！ヴェラエレン大好き❤

[@NestingOfMachineGuns]

Please someone make me a gif of his little "come here" wave at 4:00

[@Cookies_crumbs]

ThePreppiePunk - I suggest searching for Donald on the Tumblr app. You’ll find all kinds of photographs and gifs.

[@sylkegarland1008]

Did it but I don't know how to send it to you or where

[@rungirlmgg]

WOW

[@davidmiller4078]

Blinking Marvalous great pair

[@zhikrqueen]

the best foreplay!

[@birgitbaader1206]

Trop beau

[@prinia]

Loved their amazing dancing, both were fabulous. Anyone know where I can buy these movies? They're NEVER shown on TV, which leaves TV that much poorer!

[@Moviemeep2012]

prinia ebay

[@suzannejensen275]

Amozon has them but you can watch them on KZbin and Netflix.

[@lynnwhittaker7420]

Donald O’Conner was under rated as a dancer -he was doing break dancing before they had a name for it-back flips off the wall in Singing in the Rain!

[@leocadiacanchogarcia9402]

JAJAJA SOMETHING TO DANCE ABOUT I LOVE YOU

[@alexoldmovies27]

@bexbeckyxx DAMN you took the idea right out of my head X)

[@anthonys_expired_film]

Great music by Alfred Newman at 20th Century-Fox. 🎶

[@chattyroz2934]

All the music in the film was written by Irving Berlin. This was originally a Broadway show before it was filmed. One of the best.

[@anthonys_expired_film]

@@chattyroz2934 You are correct! I misspoke. I meant to say the music was composed by Alfred Newman. The songs by Irving Berlin are terrific in the play and movie!

[@MultiFroggies]

wow, and a big band offcourse. enough choice back then

[@megankumamoto3645]

1:21 so cute

[@kamencj]

was this movie made by MGM? I Swear the music here sounds similar to something from Tom and Jerry

[@bexbeckyxx]

OMG if they ever make a film about Donald O'Connor is it just me or shouldn't Sean Hayes play him ?

[@Arkelk2010]

At first glance, maybe. But Hayes doesn't have the grace that O'Connor has.

[@bdavis73899]

I wish they would make a film about Donald O'Connor. I think Edward Norton would be a better choice. Although Edward is much taller.

[@mcfly_sc]

I think that Tyler Patrick Jones could play Donald in a biopic.

[@iLY0X8]

@lonelypeacock damn it, francis is so right! :(

[@CoconutMigrationCommittee]

ok, is it just me, or does it sound like she's saying "prince zuko" instead of "prince hugo"?

[@sarahdemarcus7710]

🙂

[@FireOxFudouAries]

1:40

[@bittersweetgames5198]

6 people have nothing to dance about.

[@suzannejensen275]

LOL😄

[@howsitgoin9213]

Fred Astaire who?😊

[@Vixen743]

@faith4094

[@Vixen743]

@nsolo11 eh hes done better stuff w/ kelly

[@serenettiepumpknpie]

Back when I’d like you to kiss me was so easy yet innocent just the same..now let’s dance..Charleston, Tango or Waltz take your pick..that’s chemistry..

[@GREGAUSTI]

Perfection