(no subject)

Today is Fred Astaire's birthday. I love the movie dancers--particularly male dancers--of the thirties, forties, and fifties: Donald O'Connor, Gene Kelly, Bob Fosse...but Fred Astaire is my favorite. I realize this is a religious issue: The Church of Astaire vs. the Temple of Kelly. And I love Kelly's muscularity and boyishness. But Astaire is...swoon. Everyone knows the story about his first screen test: "Can't act. Can't sing. Balding. Can dance a little." But he worked pretty much all his life, he worked hard and he liked to work hard. "I suppose I made it look easy, but gee whiz, did I work and worry." Now there's an artist for you.