CAGE MATCH: Gene Kelly v. Fred Astaire

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CAGE MATCH: Gene Kelly v. Fred Astaire

POSTED: Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 6:45 PM

Filed Under: Movies | Dance CAGE MATCH

Gene Kelly once said that if Fred Astaire was the Cary Grant of dance, then he was the Marlon Brando. It's an accurate comparison ' with Astaire as the elegant twinkle toes and Kelly as the working man in T-shirt in jeans. So in honor of tonight's Kelly/Astaire double feature of Singing in the Rain and Top Hat at Ibrahim Theater at International House, there's only possible way to handle the situation ' CAGE MATCH.

At the screening tonight, Dexel prof. Paula Marantz Cohen will argue for the side of Astaire, while the Bryn Mawr Film Institute's Andrew J. Douglas will argue for Kelly. But one topic that probably won't be discussed: Who would win in a fight? So, in a to-the-death battle, which one would take the top prize?

Pros

Elegant
Looks excellent in formal wea
Seduced Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face, despite being way older and way less attractive
Humble; often said he is so revered as a dance icon because Ginger Rogers made him look good.
Best Astaire Top Hat number (one of Astaire's best solo performances):

Don't forget "No Strings" or "Cheek to Cheek," which are also awesome.

Cons

Super skinny, doesn't bode well for Astaire in the ring.
Sometimes a dancer can be too light on his feet:

Gene Kelly

Pros

Incredibly athletic
Accomplished director: Singin' in the Rain, It's Always Fair Weather, etc.
Has one of the all time greatest asses in show business
Best Kelly Singin' in the Rain number:

Donald O'Connor is a fantastic dancer, but see at how Kelly just owns him in the this scene. If you look closely, Kelly is both more controlled and expressive. The title number and "Good Morning" ain't too shabby either.

Cons

Likes it a little too rough: Legendary dancer Cyd Charisse's husband once said he always knew when she spent the day dancing with Kelly because she would come home bruised and battered.
Prone to choreographing ridiculously long dance sequences that have little or nothing to do with the plot (see Singin' in the Rain's "Broadway Melody," An American in Paris' 17-minute dance sequence)
Xanadu ' oh, who am I kidding? That's totally a pro.
Prone to hallucinatory fits:

Conclusion

It's a tough one but I'm going Kelly on this. The power behind his dancing and his feel for framing dance sequences gives him the cinematic edge. Even if we are going solely on the to-the-death-cage-match parameters, Kelly's physical prowess only demonstrates that he could snap Astaire like a twig. Now it's your turn:

Survey

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Top Hat and Singin' in the Rain double feature, 7 p.m., $5-$8, Ibrahim Theater at International House, 3701 Chestnut St., 215-387-5125.

red2blues

Posted 2009-11-19 10:56:43

The whole "match' is really pointless. The two were both great artists: dancers/ choreographers, dance directors/actors/producers etc. etc. More talent in each than in ten other people. As far comparisons of their dancing I love what Cyd Charisse said: they are like apples and oranges, but both are delicious.  She should know, having worked with both men.

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