Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Pick Yourself Up

This is my all-time favorite number from Swing Time (1936), my all-time favorite Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie. And it is here, on Youtube (though you have to click on the box above twice and watch it on the Youtube site but it's worth it).

Why do I love it so much?

- Because Fred mischeviously pretends he doesn't know how to dance

- Because she's a terrible teacher

- Because when they finally dance it's like they just discovered that they speak the same language

- Because of the art deco dancing studio with the little white fence

- Because they make it seem so easy and so egalitarian

9 comments:

Bardiac said...

They were just amazing, more than double amazing together!

Anonymous said...

plus, that collar! those spats!

Anonymous said...

Truly delightful - thanks! I'm not sure who I want to be more, Fred or Ginger.
Fiona

Pamphilia said...

I know what you mean, Fiona! Maybe I should put some Gene Kelly up next- it's not as ambiguous I think. One basically wants to be his dancing partner and be physically adored.

Flavia said...

Are you familiar with the Nicholas Brothers? I love me some Fred and Ginger, but honestly, they can't hold a candle to these guys (their routine starts about a minute and a half in, but tthe intro is worth it).

Pamphilia said...

Ooh, I love the Nicholas Brothers! They kept dancing a long time, too. I think Fred owes a lot of his panache to them. Apparently he had tremendous respect for african-american dancers, which is why he danced as Bill "Bojangles" Robinson in Swing Time, and though his performance is in blackface, it was considered a sophisticated tribute at the time (most decidedly not a minstrel show).

I think I've outed myself as a 1930s musical geek. I'm going to disappear for a while now.

Pamphilia said...

PS The Nicholas Brothers are truly legendary and talented. But there's no romance between them when they dance. At least not that I noticed . . .

Flavia said...

Hey, no shame in being a 1930s (& 40s) movie buff. I'm one myself, although I'm much weaker in the musicals and stronger in the screwball & noir genres.

I'm also nuts about the music of the era (and not just the good music, but also some of the cheesy popular stuff). I have a framed picture of Bing Crosby on my dresser, no joke.

Pamphilia said...

Flavia, I think you are my soul twin. Sometimes all I listen to is 30s and 40s music. And Lubitsch is my idol.