Beautiful Cyd Charisse was an absolute artist when it came to dancing and watching her is a great joy. She loved dancing more than she did acting, which is understandable. Great artists love what they do!
Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse: Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse
Whenever the question is asked on Twitter, “What are your favorite FEEL GOOD movies,” you can always expect to see Singin’ in the Rain (1952, directed by Stanley Donen) mentioned more than any other movie. It’s just THAT darn good and makes you feel THAT darn happy.
Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor, Jean Hagen, and Cyd Charisse – in addition to the rest of the exceptional cast – work pure movie magic with this musical and it is always the right time to sit down and visit them… whether it’s for the first time or 100th time.
You can buy Singin’ in the Rain on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the iconic musical on Prime Video.
Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse
Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse: The Band Wagon
Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire, The Band Wagon
The Band Wagon (1953), directed by Vincente Minnelli, stars a few names that helped make musicals as successful as they were and as enjoyable as they are: Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Oscar Levant, and Nanette Fabray.
Everything about this film is stunning – the wardrobe, the choreography, the stars.. everything.
As someone who grew up watching ABC soap operas like her life depended on it, I also get a huge kick out of seeing a very young James Mitchell – not at all like the Palmer Cortlandt (All My Children) I’m most familiar with.
Was he ever deliciously wonderful in the role of Palmer?!?! One of the best daytime actors and characters of all time.
Sorry, I got sidetracked.
Something that Fred Astaire doesn’t get nearly enough credit for is the fact that he was a really good actor. He was, obviously, an absolute dancing guru… but, make no mistake about it… the man could act.
If you’ve never seen The Band Wagon, check it out as soon as possible. It’s a lot of fun and very well-directed – Vincente Minnelli was absolutely one of the best.
Rent or Buy The Band Wagon on Amazon Prime Video. You can also buy The Band Wagon on Blu-Ray (Amazon Link).
Cyd Charisse: Party Girl Promotional Picture
Cyd Charisse: Party Girl
Cyd Charisse is often, understandably, remembered for her dancing and legendary legs – but, make no mistake about it, the lady had a lot more going on for her than these three iconic gifts. She had a wonderful screen presence and, when given the chance to actually act, proved that she was very good at it.
She was beautiful, talented, and (by all accounts) a pretty terrific person. If you aren’t familiar with her work, I hope you’ll find as many of her films as you can and check them out.
She was a flawless dancer and made everything seem so easy – when we all know it was anything but!
Cyd Charisse: 12 Fast Facts About a Very Exquisite Star
Cyd Charisse
Cyd Charisse was born Tula Ellice Finklea on March 8, 1921 in Amarillo, Texas. She took her name Cyd from a nickname her brother called her. He called her sid, short for sister. She took the nickname and convinced her agent to keep the name. He feared that Sid was too masculine, so it was changed to Cyd. I’m going on record as saying NOTHING was masculine about Cyd Charisse!
Below are more facts about an uncommonly beautiful and talented actress and dancer.
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- Her first credited film role was “Lily” in the 1943 musical Something to Shout About.
- In 1952, she took a $5-million insurance policy on her legs.
- She was “the other woman” in Marilyn Monroe’s last film Something’s Got to Give (1962).
- Lost out on two of MGM’s most celebrated movie musical roles. She fell and injured her knee during a dance leap on a film, which forced her out of the role of Nadina Hale in Easter Parade in 1948. Ann Miller replaced her as the nasty Nadina. A pregnancy prevented her from taking the lead female role in An American in Paris in 1951. Leslie Caron took the role and became a star.
- She once pointed out that her husband could tell who she had been dancing with that day on the MGM set. If she came home covered with bruises, it was the very demanding Gene Kelly, if not, it was the smooth and agile Fred Astaire.
- Started taking dancing lessons on the advice of her father. She was very frail and sickly at the time (following a bout with polio). Dance lessons were encouraged to build up her strength. She obviously responded beautifully! She was trained as a ballerina in the Russian tradition prior to taking Hollywood by storm.
- Cyd was offered the role of Jo Stockton in Funny Face (1957) but declined. Audrey Hepburn would go on to play the role.
- Appeared with Ricardo Montalban in six movies: Fiesta (1947), On an Island with You (1948), The Kissing Bandit (1948), The Mark of the Renegade (1951), Sombrero (1953) and Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976).
- In his wonderful memoir “Steps in Time“, Fred Astaire referred to Cyd as “beautiful dynamite.”
- She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1601 Vine St. on February 8, 1960.
- Cyd Charisse was one of few actresses to have danced with both Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly onscreen. The other lucky ladies were Judy Garland, Rita Hayworth, Vera-Ellen, Debbie Reynolds and Leslie Caron.
- She had a cameo in Janet Jackson’s music video for “Alright” in 1990.
Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire, The Band Wagon (Picture of the Day)
Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire, The Band Wagon
The Band Wagon (1953) stars Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Oscar Levant, and Nanette Fabray. It was beautifully directed by Vincente Minnelli and is, unquestionably, front to back gorgeous – the stars, the wardrobe, the sets, the choreography, the makeup, the story… everything as flawless as Cyd and Nanette.
Nanette Fabray fascinates me – she somehow manages to be both beautiful and adorable at the same time. I just really enjoy watching her films. She brought so much energy to each role.
If you’ve never seen The Band Wagon, I hope you’ll find it on TV or get your hands on a dvd. Like so many musicals from Hollywood’s magical past, it was a delicious escape from reality and just a whole lot of fun.
How can you beat that?!
Rent or Buy The Band Wagon on Amazon Prime Video. You can also buy The Band Wagon on Blu-Ray (Amazon Link).
Cyd Charisse Quotes About Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly
- Ziegfeld Follies (1945)
- The Band Wagon (1953)
- Silk Stockings (1957)
Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly Films:
- Thousands Cheer (1943)
- Ziegfeld Follies (1945)
- Words and Music (1948)
- Singing in the Rain (1952)
- Deep in My Heart (1954)
- Brigadoon (1954)
- It’s Always Fair Weather (1955)
- That’s Entertainment (1994)
Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly: Singing in the Rain
I love every single second of the iconic Singing in the Rain but there will always be a special place in my heart for Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly’s number. There’s just something hypnotic about watching two legends keeping one another on their toes.
Literally.