That Astounding Astaire

  When Fred Astaire, a man who came to epitomize a kind of homespun, effortless, comically-endearing glamour so appealing in grand escapist films in the 1930's and 40's - and who elevated dance to a veritable art form to be devoured by enthralled moviegoers of that time - was viewed in his first screen test, studio executives decided, "Can't act. Can't sing. Balding. Can dance a little."

  And so began the post-vaudeville chapter of the Nebraska-born hoofer who became known and loved as Fred Astaire. Born on this day in Omaha in 1899, Astaire, nee Frederic Austerlitz, entered show business with sister Adele at the tender age of 5, and the duo was well-received on Broadway and the vaudeville circuit. It wasn't until Adele's 1932 marriage that the act split up, and Astaire's star status began to rise as the film industry took off. His film career spanned an impressive four decades, linked him inextricably to numerous Porter- and Gershwin-penned American Standards songs, and paired him, as the perfectionist half of the duo, with the effervescent Ginger Rogers, though he also took the lovely likes of Eleanor Powell, Judy Garland, Rita Hayworth, and Cyd Charisse for a spin on the dance floor, as well.

  As popular as Astaire became, though - he was one of only two male lead dancers in major motion pictures of his day, so assumed dozens of prime roles that called for his nearly exclusive talents - he never seemed to grasp the enormity of his contributions to movies, to pop culture, to the lives of those who were enchanted with his lithe and joyful movement on the silver screen. Upon receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1981 at the age of 71, Astaire, gray-haired and awed, professed shock at seeing a montage of his dancing work, proclaiming, 'My gosh, I didn't know it was that good. It really looked good to me.'

Oh, to us, too, Mr. Astaire. To us, too.

Photographic Faves

The incomparable Fred Astaire, date unknown

Fred and Ginger: The Complete Collection

Amazon loves the classic movie fan.

After seeing the stunning Astaire & Rogers Ultimate Collector's Edition, set for an October 24th release, I know it can't be otherwise - this set is a classic movie lover's dream. Glossy, remastered, and all-inclusive, all ten of the screen team's films are here, from their earliest pairing in 1933's Flying Down to Rio to their unlikely collaboration in The Barkleys of Broadway nearly twenty years later. The collection is stuffed with extras, too: miniature photo cards, reproductions of selected original pressbooks for the films, and even a cd of Fred and Ginger's finest and best-loved film tunes. As if this wasn't enough, the Astaire Rogers Ultimate Collection is priced at just slightly more than the boxed sets containing only five of their movies, at a cool 69.99 - perfect for my Christmas list, and yours, too.

You know you want it.

The Astaire Rogers Ultimate Collection is available for pre-order through Amazon.com through October 24, 2006, upon which date it will be officially released. The set will be available in most retail outlets like Best Buy and Barnes & Noble, but the 69.99 price is not guaranteed in these stores, and there's no beating Amazon's free shipping on the item, anyway.
Want to own this stunning set, but you already have the first volume of the 2005-released Fred and Ginger dvds? Amazon can remedy that, too. Simply order the A&R Partial Ultimate Collection, which includes everything except for the five discs you already own. Confusing, yes - but Warner Home Video still deserves kudos for the release of these beloved films in such a stunning set.

Fine Flicks

Some great movies I've had the privilege of viewing in the past few weeks:

The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968) Anthony Quinn, Sir Laurence Olivier. This beautifully-filmed drama focuses on the relevancy of the Catholic Church in turbulent, modern times - specifically, in 1968, just three years after the final convening of the Second Vatican Council in Rome. Though confusing to those unfamiliar with Roman Catholic doctrine, policy, and tradition (as well as to those to whom the Chinese-Soviet feud that escalates in one of the film's many sub-plots is foreign), it is nevertheless a typically outstanding performance by lead Anthony Quinn, full of the rich scenery of the Vatican and Saint Peter's basilica and rife with tension as we witness the selection of a new pope. The struggles, the questions, the self-doubts and the loneliness of the men of the cloth are artfully presented here, humanizing them to a degree that makes their unshakeable faith even more poignant and beautiful. I particularly appreciated the scenes depicting the preparation, funeral, and burial of the dead pontiff, as some traditions and customs which shroud the innerworkings of the papacy are as old and curious as the crown itself - and certainly not made public to even the most faithful of followers. As honest and critical as the film's stance on organized religion aims to be, the beauty of the faith that is highlighted here still burns at the film's core, carrying it to epic status. Don't pass up the chance to see this movie.


Swing Time (1936) Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers. The lightness, the music, and that unmistakable allure of "Fred and Ginger" really surprised me - Astaire is a charming crooner; Rogers is sweet, quick-witted and beautiful. Watching them dance and romance together is a true delight, and hey, for being 70 years old, this movie is still truly funny (I never envisioned a "pants theft" as part of a Fred Astaire film, but wow).




The Pride of the Yankees (1942) Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright. Director Sam Wood (Natalie's surname-sake) has been quoted as underestimating Cooper's subtle, low-key method of acting while filming Pride, only to be subsequently blown away by the larger-than-life performance that comes across onscreen. I found Cooper absolutely charming as legend Lou Gehrig, from his start as the child of hardworking immigrants, through 2,130 games in a row with the Yanks, all the way until that unforgettable speech. Sure, it doesn't delve into the true Gehrig the way I would have liked, but Coop's kinda handsome, no? A good film nonetheless.