Rosebud.

I'm really not sure how long I'll keep adding to this list of movies I've yet to see. But, for now, I'll keep going. I've never seen Citizen Kane. I know it's a classic. I've never watched an Orson Welles film, period, actually. I don't care for Orson Welles. I realize this is perfectly ridiculous to say as I've never seen his films but he just rubs me the wrong way. He seems really arrogant and that puts me off. He also made Rita Hayworth pretty heartbroken and I love Rita Hayworth. Seriously, how could you cheat on a woman that beautiful? So, I haven't been exactly jumping at the chance to watch his films. Eventually, maybe.

It's a lovely day today

Now, for my shorter list of dancers, the dancing teams that were paired but once - either for one film or for one number. I fear I must apologize for being inconsistent. You see, I put John Brascia and Vera Ellen in the longer list because they were in about 3 dances together and I figured that was enough. However, when I came back to look at this list later, I realized that Ann Miller and Tommy Rall and Fred Astaire and Jane Powell have also met that criteria. What do you think? Should I rearrange my list so tha John Brascia and Vera Ellen are moved to the shorter list? Or does it really matter? I suppose in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter too much, but I'd like to be consistent. I'll think about it. In the meantime, the list in no particular order:

Cyd Charisse and John Brascia
Favorite dance: "Frankie and Johnny" from Meet Me In Las Vegas

Ann Miller and Tommy Rall
Favorite dance: "Why Can't You Behave?" from Kiss Me Kate
(which is, unfortunately, unavailable)

Fred Astaire and Jane Powell
Favorite dance: "How Could You Believe Me?" but since that one is not available, here is my second favorite which is also from Royal Wedding

Gene Kelly and Rita Hayworth
Favorite dance: "Put Me To The Test" from Cover Girl

Donald O'Connor and Vera Ellen
Favorite dance: "Something to Dance About" from Call Me Madam

You appear like a radiant star

I've been debating what to do with my next post on dancing couples. I liked the whole two-fer thing and I thought of doing that again but, if I do, then I'll end up 6&5, 4&3, 2&1. And I really like counting down with 3, 2, 1 - it makes the whole thing more exciting, don't you think? So, instead, I think I'll do a three-fer feature instead, discussing couples 6, 5, and 4 - in that order.

6. Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth



Favorite dance: I'm always going back and forth on this one. On the one hand, I say the tap duet from You'll Never Get Rich and on the other hand, I say "So Near, Yet So Far," also from You'll Never Get Rich.

I love their elegance and sexiness. I like the way they look together as a couple. The more I watch their scenes together, the more I like them. I really think I need to revisit their movies.


5. Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse


Favorite dance: I am going to choose to waffle again (because waffles and waffling can be fun) and say that it's a toss up between "Dancing in the Dark" from The Band Wagon and "All of You (Reprise)" from Silk Stockings.

I think Fred Astaire was a very good balletic partner because he was always dependable and solid and Cyd Charisse was a perfect ballerina because she was graceful, fluid, athletic, and sexy. Thus, they made a perfect pairing. They could be sweet and gentle (as in "Dancing in the Dark"), fun and athletic (as in "All of You") or jazzy and dangerous (as in "Girl Hunt Ballet").

Now, for number 4... this bit is a little funny because I've actually changed this 3 times since I started this post. I originally had one couple but changed it because I was going on and on about how absolutely wonderful their dance was... and then I was talking about another couple and was wondering why they weren't in the top 3. So, after much deliberation, I've decided to rearrange a bit and make this couple number 4. They really are tied very closely to number 3 (who is tied, I might add, very closely to number 2).

4. Cyd Charisse and Ricardo Montalban



Favorite dance: Here I go again! Hmm... I'm thinking "Dark Duet" from On An Island With You is very close to being the top one. But their dance in Fiesta (of which I have shamefully forgotten the name) is remarkable as well.

They were two incredibly beautiful, athletic, and sexy dancers who should have been paired together more often, in my humble opinion. They were paired on several occasions, but not as often as I'd like. I don't think their romance was ever brought to the forefront of any plotline and so their dance routines were more like fillers, thrown into the movie as if as an afterthought. It's a shame, really because they were both so talented and I think they worked really well together. Maybe the producers didn't think they had any chemistry (although, goodness knows, that didn't stop them on other occasions). I'm not really a good judge of such things. In any case, I'm grateful for their dances together, however few they may be.
(Also, I love, love, love that photo of them. I want to hang it up on my wall.)

No wonder I'm a bit under par

13. Rita Hayworth

click on photo for source

Favorite dance: her short tap duet with Fred Astaire in You'll Never Get Rich



I wrote a post a good while ago about Ms. Hayworth. For some strange reason, I always forget that she was a dancer, and a darn good one too! She was sexy, playful, and feminine. To be honest, I was going to put "So Near and Yet So Far" as my favorite, but when I went to go look it up on YouTube, this one came up. I watched it and immediately loved it! I have to confess, I don't care for the Astaire-Hayworth musicals. Their plotlines are so weird - at least, if I remember correctly. And I've never watched them a second time. I think that's why I always forget Rita Hayworth when I think of dancers. But she really is terrific and the more I watch of her dancing, the more I love it!



I just have to post one more photo because Rita Hayworth was absolutely stunningly beautiful. I mean, look at her! Can someone tell me what Orson Welles was thinking by having affairs? One thing I think is interesting, and I realize it's part of the part she's playing, but she just oozes (hate that word) confidence in these numbers. I find that ironic, based on what I've read about her. Just a note.

click on photo for source

I'm going to try and start giving credit for the photos I find. It may be tricky because I have a relatively long past of simply saving photos to my computer. I wasn't trying to steal them or anything; I just like to use them as screensavers and wallpapers, mostly. But since I've been blogging so much lately I've been realizing that I really do need to give credit where it's due. Again, photos that I've had for a while I may not be able to give credit because it's often harder to re-find something. But I'll do what I can.

My condition is only so-so

I have a confession to make: (I'm always making confessions, it seems.) Whenever I think of good dancers, I always forget about Rita Hayworth. Isn't that awful?



The fact of the matter is, though, she danced with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. She kept up with both of them and she always looked amazing.


I'm going to keep this post short because I'm in the process of moving out of my dorm. Next time you see me, I'll be a college graduate! Whoopee!!



Just to prove how great Rita Hayworth is, I'll post a couple of really great numbers performed by her. Enjoy! And tell me which one you like better. Of course, this may boil down to a Fred vs. Gene debate but do comment and tell me what you think. And don't forget that you have a few days left to vote on the two polls, so go vote before time runs out!