"Broadway
Melody of 1940" was the first movie Fred
Astaire did after the amicable dissolution
of his partnership with Ginger Rogers.
When the pairing of Eleanor Powell and Fred
Astaire was announced for this movie,
anticipation was sky-high. And, boy, does
this Cole Porter number deliver!
Intro’ed by the singing group The Music
Maids:
this swing version of “Begin the Beguine”
(choreographed once- again by Bobby
Connolly), evolves into a tap-fest without
musical accompaniment. Extraordinary!
Powell and Astaire were both famous for
rehearsing, rehearsing, rehearsing.
They rehearsed this number so much they wore
out the rehearsal pianist.
Begin
the Beguine
OK,
here's one more dance by Eleanor
Powell.
In this number, she's wearing a pair
of harem pants that seem to have their
own energy source.
And she has a most-unexpected dance
partner:
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