Baby, give me my baby and a band.

Do you remember that series I started way, way back about fun times and how it ended after about two posts? Well, I had this series I was going to start about watching people have fun in movies. I'm not about to start it up again, really, but I just wanted to mention how these 'spontaneous' scenes in movies really make me happy. I wish life really were full of these random, spontaneous dance scenes - choreographed by Bob Fosse, of course. This particular one is from the 1955 remake My Sister Eileen.

There's them that does and them that don't

I really want to see this movie! The Affairs of Dobie Gillis. I caught the end of it on TCM the other day so now I know how it ends... but I'd like to see the whole thing! I mean, it's got Bob Fosse and Bobby Van together in a movie! That's just magical!

No, it's a two-fer..

I looked at my dancing couples list and realized that the next two couples are ones that I've talked about a lot. So, I figured that instead of waxing eloquent, yet again, I'll just post the links to the videos because you've heard it all before, really.

8. Bob Fosse and Carol Haney
Favorite dance: I think you can guess it. "From This Moment On" from Kiss Me Kate. This number is so sexy and cool. I just can't get enough of it!

7. Vera-Ellen and John Brascia
Favorite dance: I think I'm going to have to say "Abraham" from White Christmas I actually haven't talked about this number a lot, mostly because the video of isn't very good quality and I'd rather share a number that's more share-able. But I really do love this number. It shows what absolutely incredible dancers they are. They're so athletic, sexy, and energetic. This is one of those numbers that inspires me to learn to tap dance whilst intimidating me exceedingly.


P.S. I'm sorry I've been so behind on blog commenting lately. I've had some pretty crazy work hours.

Erp!

Okay, coming down to my favorite 3 male dancers. As I said before, I've written my favorite solos and then my favorite dances. However, I'm making an exception to this with #3 as I really don't know of many of his solos. So, here we go:

3. Bob Fosse


My favorite ever of his dances is the solo in "From This Moment On" in Kiss Me Kate. (Sexiest entrance into a dance ever!!)


Close seconds are: "Who's Got the Pain" in Damn Yankees

this number is so much fun! My roommate and I used to watch it all the time. She'd randomly send me a text message that said "erp!" Yeah, we're ridiculous, but it was fun.

and his duet with Tommy Rall in My Sister Eileen (every time they break out into the tap dancing part, I get all excited! I'm not sure why...)



I think Bob Fosse is exceptional because he created a dancing style all his own. I've been in show choirs and dance routines and I can't tell you how many times directors have said "make it more Fosse." I mean, the guy's become an adjective! He was so sexy and loose. He made dancing look easy and wacky and fun but you can tell it's difficult if you try it (which I've done when no one's looking). I've heard that he was self-conscious because he was balding, which is sad. But I think it's pretty incredible that he made a pretty major name for himself even though he was in very few movies. So, there you are. Number three.

It seems to me

First order of business: poll results! Bob Fosse won the poll for favorite suitor in Kiss Me Kate. It was a pretty sweeping victory. There were 6 votes, of which he got 4. (Tommy Rall and Bobby Van received one each) I think his sexy, jazzy choreography may have had something to do with it... what do you think?

Now, for my post this week, I'm going to do something daring and different: I'm going to combine two segments together!! Okay, so that's not too drastic, especially considering the fact that I've done it in a lesser degree before. But just the same. I want to highlight a dance that I love and also discuss the dress, posting a poll about the dress afterwards.

The dance is the "Dig It" number in Second Chorus (1940), performed by Fred Astaire and Paulette Goddard. I love this song. The tempo is so catchy and it looks like so much fun! This is one of the many, many numbers for which I'd love to learn the choreography.



As for the dress: I love it. I love the contrast. I love the white underneath. I love the way it moves. Which brings me to a topic that I find endlessly interesting. When you watch black and white films, what color do you think the dresses are? For years, I assumed that the dresses were all various shades of white, gray, and black. I realized, years later, that this was rather improbable. Some of the dresses I would prefer as white, gray, or black, but some might look nice with color. For example, Paulette Goddard's dress: white and black? Or perhaps white and navy blue? White and maroon? There are many possibilities and it's the case with any dress in black and white films. So, that's my poll for the week: when you watch black and white films, do you assume the dress is a shade of black, white, or gray? Or do you mentally paint it with the color you think would be best?

And for the discussion's sake, feel free to describe a dress that you love, explaining what color you think it might be. For example, I would love to see this outfit in a palette of browns and tans. How lovely!


P.S. I now have 35 followers! Hooray! I've decided that when I get to 50, I'm going to do a giveaway. Exciting, no?

What's his crest? A hamburger smothered with onions?

Now, for the next movie in my countup:

#11: Kiss Me Kate (1953)


This movie was one of the first films I owned (on VHS, that is). My grandparents bought it for me without watching it first (and a good thing they didn't, because they disapproved of it when I later showed it to them). I love everyone in it. Howard Keel and Kathyrn Grayson are both on top 20 lists and Ann Miller, Bobby Van, Bob Fosse, and Tommy Rall are all on future lists! This movie has so much great dialogue ("All right. I give up. What is it? The headlight of a locomotive?") and so many wonderful songs by the great Cole Porter (it took me years to realize that it's not actually Cole Porter playing a cameo), and some lovely dresses. Not to mention that the dancing is terrific! The movie shows that you get magic when you put 6 incredible dancers together (you'll find the link to the dance later in the post) and that Kathryn Grayson looks good as a blonde and a redhead!

Now, usually at this time of the week, I give you the poll results. But the polls are still going, so I'll wait until Thursday. Despite the fact that I already have 2 polls up, I'm going to add a third (wow! 3 polls! that's intense!) as I usually do with my Tuesday posts. Which of Bianca's suitors is your favorite? In the original Shakespeare play, it's pretty clear which suitor the audience should be rooting for. But in the musical, they complicate things by making them dancers - and dancers with different styles at that. So, which do you like best? Gremio (Bobby Van), Hortensio (Bob Fosse), or Lucentio (Tommy Rall)? You can choose them based on wooing style:

Gremio: "to give a social lift to thy position"
Hortensio: "if thou wouldst attain the upper brackets"
Lucentio: "if on love unending thou art pining"

...or dancing style or on simple good looks:

(from top to bottom: Bob Fosse, Tommy Rall, Bobby Van)

It doesn't matter how or why you make your decision, I'm just curious to know which is the favorite of the suitors. I have two sisters and, growing up, we all favored a different one, so I want to know what you think. Have fun voting!

Happy, happy Conga!

As promised, a segment on a great dance scene. This time I'm going to talk about a great dance duo that, sadly, did very few numbers together: Tommy Rall and Bob Fosse. If I'm mistaken, they only did one such duet but I'd hate to make a comment without basing it in fact. At any rate, they do a wonderful dance-off in My Sister Eileen (1955).

Bob Fosse is the more famous of the two. He made appearances in very few films, so his fame stems primarily from his talents as a choreographer. If the name doesn't sound familiar, his choreography may ring a bell in films The Pajama Game (1957) (think "Steam Heat"), Sweet Charity (1969), and All That Jazz (1979). He worked with several stage productions too, if I'm not mistaken, but I'm not entirely acquainted with all of those. I will add, however, that there is an entire musical dedicated to his style. Fosse had the opportunity to choreograph My Sister Eileen and you can definitely see his style in the moves. Signatures included the hunched back, loose arms, legs curved in, and hats.

Tommy Rall does not receive the fame he deserves as an exceptional dancer. However, anyone who has seen his films usually recognizes him. For instance, do you remember these guys: Frank in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) and Bill Calhoun/Lucentio in Kiss Me Kate (1953)? That was Tommy Rall. His dancing was sexy and athletic. Sadly, because he is so undervalued as a performer, I don't know much about him. After looking at his IMdB profile (which doesn't include a picture, I might add), I can tell you that he began and ended his career with American Ballet Theater, but that is all I can say. If you know anything else about him, please let me know!

Both dancers were together in Kiss Me Kate and they danced a couple of numbers together (and I would love to highlight at least one of them in a later entry). This duet, however, is overlooked which is why I wanted to spotlight it today.

For discussion: what other male dance duos do you like? They're strangely hard to come by, considering the wealth of dancers at the time. Or, what do you think is the sexiest aspect of Fosse's style?

And, as always, thank you for reading!