My main source material for Fred Astaire movie recommendations was a giant book by Roy Pickard that I’d selected from the used bookstore as a child. I spent many hours poring over the beautiful pictures, even bringing it to school and and sharing “fun facts” about him with my friends and teachers.
From that book, I wrote out a long list of movies I wanted to check out from the library. I still have that list somewhere, and there are many titles on it that I have yet to see. But in the meantime, here are some favorites.
The Band Wagon (1953)
Free on Tubi with English subtitles. Songs are subtitled as well.
“Together with An American in Paris and Singin’ in the Rain, [The Band Wagon] makes up a trio of films (made in successive years) the like of which has never been seen since. Nor is it likely that such a trio will ever be seen again,” Pickard wrote. And I agree. There are so many magical movies that make me long to live in that bygone era, but The Band Wagon really succeeds in taking me there.
This movie was also largely responsible for fueling my interest in theatre. As the characters get ready to put on their show, I feel like I’m rehearsing with them, going to their little cast party, recognizing each member and seeing them in different scenes in the background. I never get tired of watching the company become a family.
I’m sure I drove my parents crazy watching the “I Love Louisa” and “Girl Hunt Ballet” sequences on a loop when I was little! When the latter was being filmed, the production office was becoming upset about the budget, and so it needed to get done quickly. Cyd Charisse remembers Arthur Freed telling her “Cyd, you have to get the scene in which you slide in on the floor and grab Fred’s legs in one take. We haven’t time to keep waxing the floor. So I did it on the first take.”
Extras!
In the opening scene, an auctioneer mentions Fred’s character, Tony, having been in a film called “Swinging Down to Panama.” While I don’t have proof of it, I’ve always assumed this was perhaps a reference to Flying Down to Rio, the first movie Fred and Ginger Rogers were in together. The two were in supporting roles and only share a single dance, but it was the highlight of the film. Critics and the public alike raved, and the rest is history.
Silk Stockings (1957)
I haven’t seen this one in ages, but I ate it up as a kid. A musical remake of Greta Garbo’s Ninotchka (1939), the stunning “makeover” scene danced by Cyd Charisse is iconic all by itself. But there are plenty more musical numbers worth sticking around for, as well as some delightful comedic turns by Jules Munshin and Peter Lorre (Peter Lorre in a musical?!).
This was also the first movie I ever saw Janis Paige in. While I’ve unfortunately only seen her in a few more since then, she always manages to steal the show. (Shoutout to my parents for enduring my singing “Satin and Silk” around the house for several weeks.)
Easter Parade (1948)
Gene Kelly was originally set to be in Easter Parade, but a month into rehearsals, he broke his ankle playing touch football. Producer Arthur Freed made a call to Fred, who stepped out of retirement (though he preferred to call it a “temporary leave of absence” or a “mental retirement”) to star alongside Judy Garland. The result is a joyful Irving Berlin songfest that also features a showstopping “Shakin’ the Blues Away,” danced by Ann Miller.
In the July 1st, 1948 edition of The New York Times, a critic wrote, “Fred Astaire, who has no peer, is dancing at the top of his form and let’s hope that he’ll never again talk about retiring as he did after Blue Skies. Maybe Mr. Astaire has turned his feet to more intricate steps in previous pictures, but for sheer simplicity and poetry of motion his dancing in Easter Parade would be difficult to equal, much less better.”
Extras!
I’m a big fan of his, so I would be remiss not to mention that Peter Lawford is also in this movie. Why is it that so many of his musical roles seem to be the “other man” who’s trying to steal the main girl away from the main guy? If you’re looking for a sweet musical where he gets to be the leading man, you can’t go wrong with the college musical Good News.
Three Little Words (1950)
Even before I found Pickard’s book, I loved seeing the clip of Debbie Reynolds singing* “I Wanna Be Loved By You” to Carleton Carpenter in the first That’s Entertainment film. It was these gorgeous stills in the book, plus my discovery that “Vera-Ellen from White Christmas" was in it, that made me realize I had to see this movie.
Let’s face it: all these movies have fantastic songs, and this one is no different. What sets Three Little Words apart from the others on this list, though, is that it’s a musical biopic about songwriters Bert Kalmar (Astaire) and Harry Ruby (Red Skelton). In my opinion, it’s one of the better biopics I’ve seen; one that celebrates and showcases the subjects’ work as much as it examines their partnership and personal lives.
There are also three stunning singers in this movie who deserve a mention: Gloria DeHaven**, Gale Robbins, and Arlene Dahl. I’m always floored by how much talent can be packed into a single musical!
Extras!
*Reynolds is dubbed by Helen Kane, the song’s originator
**Gloria DeHaven portrays her own mother, actress Flora Parker DeHaven (often billed as Mrs. Carter DeHaven), and sings a song that Flora herself introduced 25 years before! Flora passed away before Three Little Words was released, but she was on the set the day Gloria filmed the scene.
The Band Wagon is the only film that's currently available to view for free online, but you may be able to find the others at your local library!
Have you seen any of these? What's your favorite Fred Astaire movie?
Sources:
Jonas, J. (2016, August 7). She sparkled during the “Golden Age” of movie musicals. Burlington County Times.
Pickard, R. (1985). Fred Astaire. Crescent Books.
Aw! I love Fred Astaire, and I love Three Little Words! Must watch the other three (And Band Wagon!)!