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Gene Kelly & Leslie Caron performing the Toulouse Lautrec section of the American in Paris ballet (1951)

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Anchors Aweigh Director: George Sidney Stuidio: MGM | USA, 1945

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Gene Kelly & Judy Garland rehearsing before his first film, “For Me & My Gal” (1942)

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Silly lil sailor movie

Movie: Anchors Aweigh (1945)

Song: Harness Your Hopes - Pavement

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Gene Kelly practicing the tightrope…

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Dancin’ Man

Gene Kelly in “Living in a Big Way” (1947)

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Gene Kelly & The art of “Schmeikling”

I realized how much Gene cared about the picture. How much he wanted every detail of it to be good.

Since then I’ve often watched Gene do something we called “schmeikling.”

“Schmeikling” is handling people - tactfully, flatteringly, diplomatically, kiddingly - any way - so long as you get what you want.

Gene is a past master of the art of schmeikling. What takes the curse off his practice of this fine art is that what he wants is always good for the work, good for the picture and not merely what’s good for him personally.

- Isobel Lennart (screenwriter for “Anchors Aweigh”)

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Christmas Holiday (1944)

Gene Kelly & Deanna Durbin

Robert is so sweet & charming Abigail falls for him almost immediately. However, after they’re married she finally sees his darker side

Here it is for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet

https://youtu.be/sBVWLwwkt3I

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on the town thoughts

this is maybe the sweetest character I've seen gene kelly play! he's so earnest and kind of bashful, it's very charming. it's nice to see different notes from him

I love the ballet in this!! I like the use of the kind of abstract set -- a film asking you to watch a stage show for a few minutes. makes sense because it's an adaptation of a Broadway show

actually, the bits of it where you can still feel the stage play are so cute -- like the scene where they first arrive and are talking about

interesting to see frank sinatra this young -- realized I know his music well but not his hollywood career! I know he was a popular singer first but I'm curious as to wether he had an interest in acting or if he was just kind of placed in movies, haha

I think vera ellen is the best dancing partner gene kelly had in one of these freed unit musicals -- she matches him in ballet technique, tap skills, general energy, and comedically in their acting scenes together. their interactions are all so charming and sweet, they have a more compelling connection than he does with leslie caron I think (though she's a wonderful dancer!)

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Julie Andrews dances with Gene Kelly on The Julie Andrews Show (1964)

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Anchors Aweigh ad, 1945

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Gene Kelly in Anchors Aweigh (1945)

Both Gene Kelly & Fred Astaire preferred dancing with as few cuts to their scenes as possible.

This amazing but little talked about sequence was filmed in one shot with no cuts.

And even after the cut…

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musical films leading men [pt. 1]

christopher plummer, the sound of music fred astaire, you were never lovelier danny kaye, on the riviera gene kelly, for me and my gal donald o’connor, call me madam bing crosby, here is my heart

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Gene Kelly in a publicity portrait for the MGM/Vincente Minnelli musical romantic comedy An American in Paris, 1951.

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AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951) dir. Vincente Minnelli

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Director Charles Walters with Judy Garland and Gene Kelly during the making of one of my favorite musicals, SUMMER STOCK (1950)

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From rehearsals to shooting the actual scene “On the Town”