Even Gene Kelly had Costume Malfunctions
Last night I watched “An American in Paris” with my daughter, and in the beginning there is a cute little number in a French cafe about “Waltzes by Strauss.” I confess, I didn’t like the music much (never been one for male cabaret singers) but the dancing was sweet and funny and of course virtuosic.
And at the end, as the people in the cafe were all spinning into their final poses, I saw Gene Kelly’s hat get knocked off by the arm of the matron next to him. The look on his face spoke volumes – recognition of the problem, evaluation of his chances of getting it vs. the importance of it at all, and then you see him jump right back into character and finish the number. I get the feeling, maybe, that this particular take may have been number 10 or so, and perhaps it was going as well as it could. Whatever the reason, the blooper is there, and more than that, there is the simple grace with which he dealt with it, the mark of a true professional.
Like Shan.
And I can’t find the number on YouTube, nor do I really have the time today to digitize my dvd…so I’ll leave you instead with a neat little remix, the finale from An American in Paris set to pop music:
3 Comments
Damn, the music was fantastic, what a great job you did! I’m sure Gene would have loved it.
Wasn’t he gorgeous?
You so did not just compare me, in any capacity, to Gene Kelly.
*screams like Mary Murphy*
Heh….
Cherie: I can’t take credit for the music – it’s part of a larger youtube piece. It does work well, though.
And Shan, Oh Yes I Did. You rock, girl, even with only 1/2 a lung.
Please, though…not like Mary Murphy. It makes my brain melt.