Ruth Leon recommends… Powell or Charisse?
Ruth Leon recommendsPowell v Charisse
A delicious rivalry has emerged among my dance-mad readers following my assertion that Eleanor Powell was the greatest movie tap dancer of all time, Fred Astaire included. Outrage in the ranks! What about Cyd Charisse?, you cried. Surely she was more beautiful, more elegant, more smooth, more balletic, and had better legs? Well, yes, she was all of those things.
But she couldn’t tap, her technique wasn’t up to a extended solo and, perhaps most importantly, she always had to have a male to lean on – Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly or a whole passel of fake boxers.
Eleanor Powell was more athletic, more complex, more acrobatic, more technically accomplished, could carry a long solo sequence on her own, choreograph it herself, and not even be breathing hard at the end. And there was nothing wrong with her legs either. As a dancer, Powell is in a class by herself.
On a scale of gorgeousness and charm, Cyd Charisse has it, no contest. And she’s no slouch as a dancer. She used her long limbs and beautiful line to give her choreographers the best moments of their lives. Here is a clip of some of her best dance numbers.
And I can’t resist giving you yet another clip of the great Eleanor Powell for comparison purposes even though you’ve had two in recent weeks. This time she’s brought a friend.
Thanks so much for that I’d never seen that Powell exerpt before. She has taps on her heels which makes the sound even better. Wonder how long it took to train the dog? Choreographed to suit his talents no doubt. When she starts to cartwheel the dog is looking off to the right probably at his trainer who is telling him to sit.Wonderful.
What about Ann Miller?
Silly rivalry. Both were superb in their own ways. The studio was fortunate to have two such fantastic dancers.
Completely agree. And here is Fred sans taps – and very early on too (1934). Ginger was wonderful as well, so let’s not forget about her. They’re both dancing to the music of a composer of song the equal of Schubert, IMO (Cole Porter). And this is probably before the days of playback, so there may have been a dance band seated behind camera and the excellent Mark Sandrich:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rV1iM_3FBI
Ah, too bad the clip didn’t show the reveal of the red dress in The Band Wagon scene. Well, here it is, at 8:25. “What production code”?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8QmkDzD8Sk
Cyd Charisse had the advantage of being filmed in Technicolor.
The ‘Girl Hunt” ballet in “The Bandwagon” (indeed, much of the film’s production numbers) represents the very highest level of artistry; choreographic, dancing, music, production design and direction.
To think ordinary audiences sat through 15 to 20 minutes of ballet (think “American in Paris”) speaks volumes about their unlimited attention spans!
I must shout out to the extraordinary Conrad Salinger who orchestrated much of “The Bandwagon”.
What about Ann Miller for tap dancing
Tap has always been the inferior form of dance. Fred knew that!! Ann Miller was the greatest tapper. Powell was a heavy footed version of Miller’s work.
I’m surprised there aren’t a bunch a comments on this post.
Of course, we should admire and praise both women.
My reaction when watching Cyd Charisse: “Oh my, she’s gorgeous. A fine dancer, too! I want to see everything she’s done at least once.” When watching Eleanor Powell: “I’m in awe of her stupendous talent. I want to watch everything at least twenty times. And she’s really cute, too.”
Thank you for the superb film clips. And for the introduction (to me) of the word “passel”.
“The Queen of Taps” v “Beautiful Dynamite” – Just as Artur Rubinstein believed there was no such thing as the greatest pianist or painter, the same can be said about dancers. They’re both great and different in their own artistic worlds. The only other dancer who could rival Powell in executing a wide range of dance forms is Vera Ellen, and she was better at ballroom dance which requires the man to lead and the woman not to be in competition with the man. Granted, the ballroom dance was highly stylized in Hollywood. The Fred and Cyd dance in central park is a gem.
Cyd’s extended solo in ‘Silk Stockings’ (The Red Blues) is incredible. As is this, after Fred stopped using taps:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fGYeNxk-lc