After leaving RKO in 1939, Astaire made his way to Paramount Studios. The studio teamed Astaire with Bing Crosby, and since the men were the stars of 1942′s Holiday Inn, the studio could cast females who weren’t necessarily name above the title types. Thus Marjorie Reynolds (1917-1997) and Virginia Dale (1917-1994) got their chances to dance with the master. Rewatching the movie, Reynolds danced with Astaire better than Dale did. Virginia Dale's main number with the famed dancer was "You're Easy To Dance With". Dale looks like at the most she is making all of her steps, but she looks heavy footed. It is definitely not a comfortable or graceful pair. Astaire does much better with Marjorie Reynolds. Reynolds could not sing a lick, but her dancing is much better than Virginia Dale's attempted moves. Reynolds and Astaire's best number was "Be Careful It's My Heart". It is a graceful and elegant slow dance, I could have seen the dancing duo making another movie together but they never did. However, after this film both actress-dancers returned to B films and faded from public view — although Reynolds had a brief comeback on TV as the wife on the popular Fifties situation comedy, The Life of Riley, starring William Bendix as the bumbling Chester Riley.
At the age of 18, beautiful actress Joan Leslie (born 1925) was paired with Astaire in the film The Sky's The Limit. The score was written by Johnny Mercer, but not much greatness came out of the movie except for the song "One For My Baby". Astaire did a great job on the song, but it became the unofficial anthem of Frank Sinatra in the 1950s. All dances were choreographed by and credited to Astaire alone, another unusual departure for him, as he generally worked with collaborators. What is not unusual is the selection of dance routines, which is the standard Astaire formula of a comic partnered routine, a romantic partnered routine and a "sock" solo, each of which is seamlessly integrated into the plot. Joan Leslie is one of the most beautiful actresses in the 1940s, but she could sing as well as she could dance. The only good dance numbers were the ones that Astaire did on his own.
Lucille Bremer (1917-1996) was an accomplished dancer under contract to MGM. She was a former Radio City Hall Rockette who had been on Broadway, and after signing with the studio was given a big push. She was Judy Garland’s older sister in Meet Me in St. Louis, then given a starring part opposite Astaire in Yolanda and the Thief, released in 1945. She danced with him again in two sequences for The Ziegfeld Follies (1946). But then, after Til the Clouds Roll By, she seemed to fall out of favor with Mayer and producer Arthur Freed. In later years it was reported that after singer Ginny Simms turned down Louis B. Mayer's advances that he turned to Lucille Bremer who became his secret girlfriend for awhile. When she broke up with him, he basically made sure she would never be a huge star. I never thought she danced well with Astaire. Her best dance scene was with Van Johnson in Til The Clouds Roll By, but then again Bremer looked good dancing next to Johnson. In any event it was deemed that she hadn’t scored with the public. Her career languished. Whether it was the studio’s, or Bremer’s decision, her contract wasn’t renewed. She starred in a few non dancing roles, then retired.
After dancing with Joan Caulfield and Olga San Juan in another Bing Crosby film, Blue Skies (1946) Astaire retired from movies yet again. However, he was a work alcoholic and he was coaxed back to working by MGM and an injured Gene Kelly for Easter Parade (1948) with Judy Garland. Throughout the 1950s Fred Astaire kept dancing with new, younger partners. like Vera-Ellen, Jane Powell, Leslie Caron, Audrey Hepburn, and Cyd Charisse. No matter how big, or small their careers might be the women who danced with Fred Astaire on screen are in a class by themselves...
Joan Leslie was almost always dubbed by Sally Sweetland, including "The Sky's the Limit". Ms Sweetland's singing voice matched Ms. Leslie's speaking voice perfectly & was one of the best dubbing jobs in 1940's films. Very easy to think it was Joan's own voice. Joan has said in interviews what a great job Sally did & how much she appreciated it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for remembering and listing Fred's lesser-known dance partners!
ReplyDeleteRe: The Sky's the Limit, I must respectfully disagree about two assertions.
"One for My Baby" is clearly one of the great songs of all time, but it's not the only worthwhile bit of music from the film. "My Shining Hour" is also a Harold Arlen/Johnny Mercer song that has deservedly become a standard. It carries a very special meaning to all who lived through WWII and who understand what couples went through during that time of separation and danger.
Second, I disagree with the statement that Astaire's solos are the only good dancing in the film. While it's true that lovely Joan Leslie can't compare to Ginger Rogers or Rita Hayworth in the romantic dances, she and Astaire are dynamite after singing "A Lot in Common". In my view, it is one of the most joyful minutes ever captured on film and radiates a feeling that Joan is supposed to have uttered in later years (unverified): “you know, the best time I had in my whole life was dancing with Fred Astaire" That number makes me believe it!
Why no mention of Eleanor Powell?
ReplyDeleteEleanor was the best dancer to partner with Astaire. He said that she was the only one who "put 'em down like a man." She had the effect of "intimidating him" in rehearsals.
DeleteAstaire's greatest partner, from all contemporary accounts, was his equally-talented sister, Adele, with whom he was paired for decades both in vaudeville and on Broadway. Adele was actually considered the bigger Broadway star, though unfortunately she is largely forgotten today.
ReplyDeleteDid he never dance with Ruth Porter or Ruth Mabee before Ginger Rogers
ReplyDeleteAnd of course, George Burns & Gracie Allen in "A Damsel in Distress." Two great dances numbers with them.
ReplyDeleteThere was a TV show, where he danced with a beautiful black woman. I have photos from that show, but don't know the show, nor the dancer. I'd really like to know who she is. Contact me at scorpiomensan@yahoo.com, to see the photos. Thanx!
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