Begin the beguine - Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell

Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell in one of the greatest tap dance performances ever filmed.1940

FRED ASTAIRE (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, actor, singer, choreographer and presenter. He is widely regarded as the "greatest popular-music dancer of all time".
He received numerous accolades including an Honorary Academy Award, three Primetime Emmy Awards, a BAFTA Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy Award. He was honored with the Film Society of Lincoln Center tribute in 1973, the Kennedy Center Honors in 1978, and AFI Life Achievement Award in 1980. He was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960, American Theatre Hall of Fame in 1972, and the Television Hall of Fame in 1989.

Astaire's career in stage, film, and television spanned 76 years. He starred in more than 10 Broadway and West End musicals, made 31 musical films, four television specials, and numerous recordings. As a dancer, he was known for his uncanny sense of rhythm, creativity, and tireless perfectionism. Astaire's most memorable dancing partnership was with Ginger Rogers, whom he co-starred with in 10 Hollywood musicals during the classic age of Hollywood cinema, including Top Hat (1935), Swing Time (1936), and Shall We Dance (1937). Astaire's fame grew in films like Holiday Inn (1942), Easter Parade (1948), The Band Wagon (1953), Funny Face (1957), and Silk Stockings (1957). The American Film Institute named Astaire the fifth-greatest male star of Classic Hollywood cinema in 100 Years... 100 Stars.

ELEANOR TORREY POWELL (November 21, 1912 – February 11, 1982) was an American dancer and actress. Best remembered for her tap dance numbers in musical films in the 1930s and 1940s, she was one of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's top dancing stars during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Powell appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and most prominently, in a series of movie musical vehicles tailored especially to showcase her dance talents, including Born to Dance (1936), Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937), Rosalie (1937), and Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940). She retired from films in the mid-1940s but resurfaced for the occasional specialty dance scene in films such as Thousands Cheer. In the 1950's she hosted a Christian children's TV show and eventually headlined a successful nightclub act in Las Vegas. She died from cancer at 69. Powell is known as one of the most versatile and powerful female dancers of the Hollywood studio era.

[martinhale]

Eleanor Powell, definitely the best female tap dancer of all time. We will never see her likes (or Fred's) again. This clip is pure magic.

[PeterBeickert-kvui]

I never get tired of watching this routine. They were simply the best

[cmc]

That synchronization is wild. Unbeatable

[leejones]

I first saw this clip at age 10 when my mother took me to see the movie "That's Entertainment" in 1974. I was mesmerized from start to finish. 100% pure class.

[habsom]

The style, the costumes, the sets, the choreography, the music, the arrangement, the camerawork, the vitality, the energy, the joy, all exemplary and is my period, I wish I could live in those Fred Astaire movies they seemed such glorious times. Thank you for uploading this video, it brought me great pleasure. 👍❤😎

[lindacordova]

I never get tired of watching watching Fred Astaire. Great talent!

[juanperezmaturana]

Music, dancers, scenary, movie mastering ...
A masterpiece.

[brndxt]

I am a babyboomer and I learned to love the song and dance of the (Big Band) era via my dad and uncles. It was their era. And an admirable one, too, given having survived the hardship of WW2 and all.

[midiacoste]

Now this routine causes mental melt down...!!!

[Sorrentolemons]

One take! Unreal! You'll never see it again.

[lotta]

This level of artristry can only be compared with BTS in our times. 💜🥰

[LaurenceDay-dp]

One thing you can say for MGM - they made some fabulous musicals!

[viemonphilippe]

Incredible, marvellous, and superfragilistic !

[davidb]

Wow! What a beautiful country this was!

[davidglow]

EP is so wonderfully slender.A real beauty

[tomboyer]

You can't take your eyes off Eleanor Powell. Fred Astaire becomes a supporting player. No wonder he didn't partner with her again -- she was too much for him. She had to do solo scenes because she is so athletic and so sparkling.

[lucillereilly]

The sound of their feet is so good that I wonder if microphones to catch all of that were put under the floor or somewhere. Anybody know? This is great tap dancing; I am really into the rhythm!

[michaellazzeri]

YA WANNA KNOW THE VERY WORST ABOUT THIS SCENE ??? IT'S JUST HOW EASY THEY MAKE IT LOOK ! 2 OF THE VERY BEST, EVER. 78 Y/O

[dianethomas]

Ginger said : “ I did everything Fred did . Backwards and in heels!”

[scottjohnson]

It’ll make dance teams like that anymore Fred Astaire And Eleanor Powell or Ginger Rogers those dance team or the big hit? Wayback win before my time but I certainly do enjoy them now after the fact.