Top 10 Fred Astaire Dance Numbers
With over six hours of dancing on screen, Fred Astaire has provided us with an embarrassment of riches. To whittle all of his dance numbers down to a top 10 is daunting and perhaps polarizing. The upcoming podcast Astaire: Footnotes in a Legacy will explore Fred Astaire’s filmography, including all of his dance numbers, one film at a time.
In the mean time, here is my list of his top 10 dance numbers. Ginger Rogers is only in two of them, but technical innovations in filming almost take a starring role.
Number 10: Begin the Beguine, Broadway Melody of 1940
Let’s begin with the Beguine. Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell dazzle in this dance number surrounded by a revolving mirror, a set that took $120,000 to build. It was worth the price for the way that perspective was utilized in the filming of the dancers. Fred’s choreography intricately weaves together elements of ballroom, flamenco, and samba as he dances among the stars with Eleanor Powell.
Number 9: The Girl Hunt Ballet, The Band Wagon
I have not jumped on the band wagon for this admittedly iconic number. I have a feeling most would not agree with this being so far down the list, but I was not a fan of the movie when I initially saw it. However, personal feelings aside, a twelve minute, show-within-a-movie jazz-ballet number definitely makes it into the top 10. Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse are master storytellers as they dance with each other and the camera. Fred’s vaudeville past comes into play in the over-the-top dramatic elements he incorporated into the choreography. It’s a fun number and the closing dance in the bar is one of the most memorable ever put to film.
Number 8: You’re All the World to Me, Royal Wedding
Another possibly controversial ranking of probably the most recognizable Fred Astaire dance number. It was even used in an advertisement for Dyson vacuums ten years after Astaire’s death. The technological feat it took to film such a number was no small one. The film set and the camera both rotated around while the star dancer stayed upright through the whole number. There is no better example of Astaire’s love for not only dance, but innovative ways to film dance in order to tell a story.
Number 7: The Babbit and the Bromide, Ziegfeld Follies
Speaking of storytelling, in this number from Ziegfeld Follies, the two masters of dance come together to tell a story spanning years and dimensions of two friends through delightful dance and nonsense lyrics. Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire were often compared to each other, though they both had distinct styles and an obvious respect for each other. Gene Kelly once said of being compared to Astaire, “I was the Marlon Brando of dancers, and he the Cary Grant.” It was certainly evident in this number the amount of dancing talent and storytelling chops the two of them brought to the screen.
Number 6: Puttin’ On the Ritz, Blue Skies
It is unfortunately impossible to find a video of this whole dance number. This is one of the few numbers that Fred Astaire did not introduce himself. Clark Gable originally sang and danced “Puttin’ on the Ritz” in Idiots Delight in 1939. Less than 10 years later, Fred Astaire would make it his own in Blue Skies, his second project with Bing Crosby. Astaire’s dance was famously spoofed in one of the best comedies of all time Young Frankenstein, with Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle dressed up in top hats and tails.
Number 5: Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off, Shall We Dance
Ginger Rogers finally appears! It is famously said that Ginger Rogers had to do everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in heels. This dance number takes it a step further: she does everything in heels and skates! She also reportedly came up with the idea to dance in skates in the first place. Fred Astaire’s tap routines are unparalleled and this one is particularly impressive. It also took Fred and Ginger about 150 takes to get just right. That’s dedication! Shall We Dance is one of my favorite Astaire and Rogers pairings and this number is a big reason why.
Number 4: Say It with Firecrackers, Holiday Inn
As if Fred Astaire’s dancing wasn’t explosive enough on its own, this number from Holiday Inn really made a bang. Even after multiple days of rehearsals, this scene took 2 days and 38 takes to shoot. The firework effects were also enhanced with animation in post production. This number showcases Fred Astaire’s impeccable rhythm and his classic mischievous charm. It is also the only dance number in this list without lyrics (at least not in this scene).
Number 3: Shoes with Wings On, Barkleys of Broadway
If there is a theme to this list, it is that Fred Astaire was an innovator. He was not only in a class of his own as a technical dancer, but he was constantly pushing the boundaries of storytelling through dance and technology. In this number (skip to 3:42 in the video), Fred Astaire dances with disembodied shoes, which sounds more like horror than the comedy it turns out to be. Fred’s concept for the number shows his interest in special effects, in this case, green screens. Also the lack of dialogue highlights Fred Astaire’s acute acting abilities, which get recognized less often than his dancing.
Number 2: Cheek to Cheek, Top Hat
Encore for Ginger! This is the quintessential Fred and Ginger dance number complete with the infamous feather dress. Despite the many difficulties and frustrations on the set of Top Hat, Fred and Ginger ooze romance in this dreamy ballroom number. If only we could all be so graceful. Yet even with a hurricane of feathers floating around the set, there is no better example of Fred Astaire’s elegant technique than in “Cheek to Cheek”.
Number 1: Steppin’ Out With My Baby, Easter Parade
Can you tell I love special effects as much as Fred did? This dance number has everything: a big Hollywood set teeming with dancers in vibrant costumes, a classic Irving Berlin tune, and Fred Astaire dancing, even in slow motion. Easter Parade was the first movie I saw Fred Astaire in before I was aware of who he was. It was one of my favorite movies and didn’t realize till years later that it starred the dancer who would become one of my favorite movie stars. So is this ranking biased? Perhaps. But I think it would be hard to argue that this isn’t one of the best musical numbers put to film.
Bonus: Crazy for Drums, Easter Parade
I couldn’t resist adding one more of my favorites, another number from Easter Parade. Fred Astaire once again shows off his impeccable rhythm and love of using props around him to enhance the storytelling of the dance. Thank goodness Easter Parade brought him out of retirement!
With a career span of over 50 years, it is difficult to pare down the best 10 of anything. I’m also far from the first to make such a list. If you effervescently agreed or vehemently disagreed with this list, please comment below. I would love to trade favorites back and forth either way.
Although I did my best to find quality clips of these dance numbers, it was not always possible. It is also surprisingly difficult to watch Fred Astaire films despite the plethora of streaming services there are available. In next week’s post, I will be putting together a list of where to watch Fred Astaire movies and posing a theory about the possibility of a Turner Classic Movie streaming service.
