Let’s celebrate what would have been Gene Kelly’s 108th birthday!
Born on August 23, 1912, Gene Kelly is known as one of the most talented dancers and choreographers of the Golden Era of movies. The first movie that comes to mind is Singin in the Rain. This is also the first movie of his that I ever saw and it hooked me into being a classic movie fan for life, so it holds a special place in my heart.
Check out my posts on why kids should watch classics, including Singin in the Rain, and the best movies to start them with. I’m a big fan of kids watching classic movies and Gene is a joy to watch.
MGM Years
Gene really came into his own when he arrived on the scene in 1941. He played Pal Joey in the stage play the year before. He intended to return to Broadway after fulfilling his measly one-film contract.
That film was For Me and My Gal. Who could walk away from the glitz and talent that MGM housed? Never mind Judy Garland, who taught him a lot during their time together. To have a starring role in his first movie was no small feat and he got to showcase his talents. Not only did he star with Judy in this movie, she was actually the one responsible for Arthur Freed buying his contract and bringing him to MGM.
Gene Kelly deciding to stay in the movies (and Judy really bringing him in), changed film forever. His contributions brought the industry forward and changed how dances were filmed. He made musicals better.
Frequent Coworkers
Judy Garland
In addition to For Me and My Gal, Judy and Gene appeared in two more movies together. These movies were The Pirate and Summer Stock. They played off each other very well. They would have made four pictures together, but his part in Easter Parade went to Fred Astaire because Gene injured himself during a volleyball game. He actually asked Fred to step in and the pairing of Judy and Fred was successful.
I really enjoy Gene and Judy in all of the movies they made together. They have great chemistry and they complement each other well when they dance together.
Frank Sinatra
Frank ties with Judy as Gene’s most frequent costar. They also completed three films together: Anchors Aweigh, Take Me Out to the Ballgame and On the Town. You can read more in-depth in my Take Me Out to the Ballgame/Esther Williams post.
Gene and Frank also work very well together. During the time, Frank’s acting career was not doing as great unless he was paired with Gene. They also have great chemistry and are so fun to watch together.
Jules Munshin
Jules, Frank and Gene starred all together in both Take Me Out to the Ballgame and On the Town. Jules added a fun dynamic. On the Town was unique in its own right, being the first movie actually shot on location. Crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of Sinatra, who had grown in popularity at this point. They had to hold off the bobbysoxers as they gallivanted through the city.
Cyd Charisse
Cyd also appeared with Gene in three movies, although one was just briefly for Singin in the Rain. They were love interests in both Brigadoon and It’s Always Fair Weather.
The most famous scene from that movie is probably the one below. Even though Fred and Ginger did it earlier, Gene still adds his own flare to dancing in roller skates:
Contributions to Film
He used dance to advance the story. Instead of musical numbers being forced, they actually contributed to the plot.
The camera became a participant in the dance. The concept of moving the camera adds a lot to the experience of the numbers. All you need to do is watch the title song from Singin in the Rain to see how this is masterfully done:
With such great contributions to the movie industry, Gene Kelly deserves to be celebrated. What movie will you watch this Sunday to mark the occasion?
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