ClassicGeek Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 I've only watched around 12 Astaire films total, but My favorite is a tie for Carefree or Swing Time For some odd reason I didn't watch any of the Fred Astaire movies during December (for some odd reason, I don't know why, but I only watched the Fred&Ginger one's on Christmas) and now I really wish that TCM would have another Fred Astaire Month! Possibly May? That would be a great birthday gift! What are YOUR favorite Astaire films? Link to post Share on other sites
Kid Dabb Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Swing Time is my all around favorite. Ginger is beautiful while Fred is funny and charming, as usual. I don't care for musicals, but I'll stop and watch these two any day Link to post Share on other sites
Terrence1 Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Two of his movies that I really love are "Belle of New York" and "Three Little Words." These are not his most popular movies, but Vera-Ellen makes such a great dance partner, that it makes it all worth watching. Link to post Share on other sites
ClassicGeek Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 I'll agree! I'm not usually a big fan of musicals but something about Astaire just draws me into the movie. In fact He and Elvis (yes I know some people don't find his movies "good") are the only two who I can actually enjoy and rewatch in musicals Link to post Share on other sites
DougieB Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 "Easter Parade". It's the only movie of any kind which I watch every year without fail. Fred and Judy are wonderful together, as is Ann Miller, not to mention some standout character actors. I love Fred and Ginger, but I have to say I'm partial to his late-career stuff like "Daddy Long Legs" and "Funny Face". Fred looked as at home (and as hip) in CinemaScope and stereo as he did in the old black and white days, bless him. Link to post Share on other sites
DownGoesFrazier Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 THE BANDWAGON or FUNNY FACE Link to post Share on other sites
speedracer5 Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 I love "Easter Parade," "You Were Never Lovelier," "Funny Face," and "Three Little Words." I may be a weirdo; but I much prefer Astaire without Ginger Rogers. I've never been big on the Astaire/Rogers combo; but I enjoy Fred in his other films either by himself or with other partners other than Rogers. His later work, the 1950s musicals especially, are really fun. I love how he was more creative with his dancing and expanded beyond the typical tap and ballroom type stuff he was doing in the 30s. Link to post Share on other sites
faceinthecrowd Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 It would have to be one of the early ones with Ginger Rogers (it's hard to choose among them). Sometimes the best choices are obvious. Link to post Share on other sites
elee Posted April 5, 2014 Share Posted April 5, 2014 The Band Wagon is a lot of fun! I love the amazing dance scene with Cyd Charisse at the "Den Bones Café". Link to post Share on other sites
Guest johnm_001 Posted April 5, 2014 Share Posted April 5, 2014 Columbia Pictures' YOU'LL NEVER GET RICH is my favorite, with Rita Hayworth. https://vimeo.com/51975317 Link to post Share on other sites
jakeem Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 "Swing Time" is my favorite, too. But I love the "Puttin' on the Ritz" dance sequence from "Blue Skies" (1946), in which he winds up dancing with several Astaire clones. Of course, Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle have ruined it for all time! http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xfphyb_fred-astaire-puttin-on-the-ritz_music Link to post Share on other sites
DownGoesFrazier Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 I love "Easter Parade," "You Were Never Lovelier," "Funny Face," and "Three Little Words." I may be a weirdo; but I much prefer Astaire without Ginger Rogers. I've never been big on the Astaire/Rogers combo; but I enjoy Fred in his other films either by himself or with other partners other than Rogers. His later work, the 1950s musicals especially, are really fun. I love how he was more creative with his dancing and expanded beyond the typical tap and ballroom type stuff he was doing in the 30s. The Astaire-Rogers plots were very hackneyed. I prefer YOU WERE NEVER LOVELIER, THE BANDWAGON, and FUNNY FACE."Dearly Beloved" from the first film, may have been the best song he ever sang in a film. Link to post Share on other sites
speedracer5 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Finance, I agree with you completely. I really enjoyed Fred Astaire's films with Rita Hayworth-- "You'll Never Get Rich" and "You Were Never Lovelier." When he broke free of the films with Ginger Rogers, he was really able to expand his creativity and have more complicated choreography. He was also able to be paired up with women (or in one case, Gene Kelly), who were much better dancers than Rogers. Vera-Ellen, Cyd Charisse and Rita Hayworth were professional dancers. I would never dream of comparing him with Gene Kelly, as they both have completely different styles; but after not having to do ballroom dancing in every film he made, he was really doing more Kelly-esque routines, while keeping his more elegant, less aggressive style intact. Another reason I may enjoy Astaire in films without Rogers is that I am not really a fan of hers. I don't know what it is about her; but there's something about her that is just blah. I can't really describe what it is that I don't enjoy about her performances. Link to post Share on other sites
johnm001 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 I can say the same for Rogers. I prefer her without him. I find them both sort of "blah" in their films together. The dancing was the only good thing about it; and you know what they say, Rogers does everything Astaire does, except backwards and in heels! Link to post Share on other sites
DownGoesFrazier Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Finance, I agree with you completely. I really enjoyed Fred Astaire's films with Rita Hayworth-- "You'll Never Get Rich" and "You Were Never Lovelier." When he broke free of the films with Ginger Rogers, he was really able to expand his creativity and have more complicated choreography. He was also able to be paired up with women (or in one case, Gene Kelly), who were much better dancers than Rogers. Vera-Ellen, Cyd Charisse and Rita Hayworth were professional dancers. I would never dream of comparing him with Gene Kelly, as they both have completely different styles; but after not having to do ballroom dancing in every film he made, he was really doing more Kelly-esque routines, while keeping his more elegant, less aggressive style intact. Another reason I may enjoy Astaire in films without Rogers is that I am not really a fan of hers. I don't know what it is about her; but there's something about her that is just blah. I can't really describe what it is that I don't enjoy about her performances. But saying that Hayworth was a better dancer than Rogers is going a bit too far. Link to post Share on other sites
metz44 Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 my favorite is follow the fleet with those great berlin tunes TOP HAT of course is the one that became a classic Link to post Share on other sites
terrya Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 "The Bandwagon". Hands down. I absolutely adore this film. Damn near perfect. Astaire was never better. In my opinion. Link to post Share on other sites
jakeem Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 "The Bandwagon". Hands down. I absolutely adore this film. Damn near perfect. Astaire was never better. In my opinion. I believe Robert Osborne has mentioned this as his favorite movie once or twice! Link to post Share on other sites
CoraSmith Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 1. Top Hat 2. Swing Time 3. Shall We Dance 4. The Gay Divorcee 5. Funny Face 6. Carefree 7. The Band Wagon 8. Daddy Lon Legs 9. The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle 10. Easter Parade Link to post Share on other sites
jamesjazzguitar Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 1. Top Hat 2. Swing Time 3. Shall We Dance 4. The Gay Divorcee 5. Funny Face 6. Carefree 7. The Band Wagon 8. Daddy Lon Legs 9. The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle 10. Easter Parade I have to say Cora; I have seen the many list you have created in the last few days (noir, westerns, this one, etc..), and you have great taste (well taste very similar to mine, which I view as great!). Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.