donald o'connor dancing on the ceiling

O'Connor will be remembered as "The Last Song and Dance Man." "Our entire family composed an act", he says. He made his film debut at age eleven, dancing an uncredited "specialty routine" with brothers Jack and Billy in the 1937 Warner Brothers musical, Melody for Two. However, Donen recalled, the resulting number was "100% plagiarism. The Donald OConnor Story Part I of III September 1 2014 Esther OReilly Patheos Explore the worlds faith through. A young boy who aspires to become asinger has followedhis father into a bar to try to talk to him. Gene Kelly knew what he was doing when he hand-picked Donald OConnor as his right-hand man in Singin In the Rain. Yet he could never bring himself to give less than 100%, even when it was junk.He and Debbie Reynolds were cast together in a dudcalled ILove Melvin, which both actors roundly panned, but he still delivered an unforgettabletap dance on roller skates. Donald O'Connor ( Chicago, 1925. augusztus 28. "[citation needed], O'Connor joined a dance act with his mother and elder brother Jack. ", "AFI List of Top 100 Songs From U.S. Like all improvisational geniuses, he couldnt dothe same thing twice. [8][9] In a 2002 interview, Betty Comden recalled, "How [Freed] could have written it in the first place and not realized is still a mystery. Ironically, his character was fighting drug addiction. All Kelly had to do was let him loose on a roomful of props, with two personal assistants writing down which bits made them laugh hardest. By the end, Reynolds' feet were bleeding and she could barely move. He insisted on finishing out the night, but by the next morning, he couldnt leave his bed. So it was back tohis first love: the stage. created 4 months ago. O'Connor and some dance assistants strung together a series of O'Connor's funniest pratfalls and schtick. Maybe he spoke too soon, despite his apparent readiness and enthusiasm to pull off the bit (via IMDb). But the closest Donald ever came to losing his cool was a day when he threw his hat on the floor, composed himself, then whispered to Mitzi Gaynor, I think she needs a little more rehearsal. Meanwhile, OConnor lent his usual classy solo touchto the production, performing Irving Berlins A Man Chases a Girl to perfection. Because of a camera flaw where the aperture wasn't properly prepared and the device's lens was covered in fog at one point, Donald O'Connor was made to perform "Make 'Em Laugh" again a day after his first flawless execution of it. O'Connor later said the films "were fun to make. Como Foi Feita A Famosa Cena De Fred Astaire Dancando Nas Paredes Em Royal Wedding Fred Astaire Danca Fred, Dance On The Ceiling Fred Astaire Fred Astaire Fred Astaire Dancing Tap Dance, Cycling of nitrogen and oxygen that contributes 78 of atmos, He came to fame in a series of films in which he co-starred, What Is The Difference Between E Commerce And, Im going to be doing something a little different this colu, Avoidance of verbal orders for high-alert medicines 4. He subsequently focused on theatre work and his nightclub act, performing in Las Vegas. Sept. 28, 2003 12 AM PT. He also won a Primetime Emmy Award from four nominations and received. Most entertaining and most revolutionary moments from their movie musicals. The effect of alcohol on his work was not felt immediately. 54th Academy Awards. It was just right for that moment. The song, Life Has Its Funny Ups and Downs is sung by then-child actor Noreen Corcoran who died very recently, in 2016. O'Connor was billed fourth in Million Dollar Legs (1939) with Betty Grable. Still appearing in films during the 90s and making public In 1998 O'Connor signed on for The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, headlining a revue featuring 54-year-old-plus performers, and signing and dancing his way through eight performances a week. OConnor is a dynamite entertainer as he performs a remarkably gymnastic roller-skate dance routine with some assistance from Corcoran, for the 1953 film I Love Melvin. a list of 43 titles. So I don't dance much any more, but I do enough to show people I can still move my legs."[5]. Donald O'Connor Keeps Studio City Theater in the Family-Literally: [Valley Edition] They married in Tijuana. The late Roger Ebertonce deemed it "one of the most amazing dance sequences ever filmed," and true to form also described it as "breathtaking.". In one tense scene, Daileys father character smacked OConnor as the bad boy who comes home drunk. Screenwriters Betty Comden and Adolph Green recall that before shooting had started, they had "painfully wedged into the script as a cheering-up song" for Donald O'Connor the Freed/Brown song "The Wedding of the Painted Doll",[6] but during filming, Freed realized that O'Connor needed a better number, but could not find anything suitable for his character within his collection. When they brought him into the rehab hospital, Donald OConnor was paralyzed from the waist down. So, when I went into movies and started working with all those great dancers, I had a terrible time. He came to fame in a series of films in which he co-starred with Gloria Jean Peggy Ryan and Francis the Talking Mule. He arrived on set to discover that the rushed-draft scriptfreely sacrificed factfor cliched fiction, andnobody seemed to care. They had three children, son Donald Frederick, daughter Alicia, and son Kevin. The four-minute song-and-dance number featuring all three of the film's stars (Kelly, Reynolds, and Donald O'Connor) took 15 hours to get right. O'Connor and Ryan both had cameos in Universal's all-star Follow the Boys (1944). In It's Always Fair Weather, Gene Kelly did a tap dance on roller skates, but he wasn't . I didnt escape it. At age 47, he got his first warningin 1972, suffering a heart attack while entertaining troops in Vietnam. "I won't take anything I have for granted again," was written in each letter. Donald O'Connor, an American actor, dancer, and singer, was born on August 28, 1925 in Chicago, Illinois. 12pm - 2pm, Symphony No.9 in E minor Opus 95 (2) (1948) with Olga San Juan, Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin' (1949) with Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride, and Yes Sir, That's My Baby (1949) with Gloria DeHaven. ", Though it's reported that Reynolds eventually took a perspective of gratitude for everything Kelly had put her through, because it made her a better performer, the exacting director later admitted, "I wasn't very nice to Debbie. Client Since 2009. Los Angeles Times 3 July 1976: b4. This is my most popular month. Unable to speakand barely able to breathe upon awaking, he immediately scribbled down a question: How long am I going to be here? The live audiences created a certain spontaneity. Night Work (1939) was a sequel to Boy Trouble and O'Connor was in Death of a Champion (1939). I ran around frantic, yelling for some Coca-Cola to cleanse my mouth. "The scene was building to such a crescendo, I thought I'd actually have to kill myself," said O'Connor. O'Connor made his first stage appearance at three days old, lying onstage across a piano bench beside his mother who, not yet ready to return to heavy dancing, played the piano. He instantly picks it up and embraces her with a kiss. And that's quite old for someone to start dancing real heavy, professionally. Itkept building and building to such a crescendo that At the end, I thought Id actually have to kill myself. He completed the routine in a single day and came back after a three-day rest to a standing ovation from the cast and crew. "[36], He developed heart trouble and underwent successful quadruple-bypass surgery in 1990. But I had never had any formal training. Unfortunately for the OConnor family world events often coincided with terrible personal losses requiring Donald to assume adult responsibilities at a. Donald OConnor performs Make em Laugh a hilarious number from Singing in the Rain the 1952 musical. In a 1989 interview he said "There's an element out there that wants to be entertained-and they can't find this kind of thing I do. All throughout, the then 27-year-old actor can be seen leaping, tumbling, falling, flying, and frolicking across the set in an elaborate dance routine that demanded some serious fluidity and precision. Both the O'Connors struggled to remember where and when exactly Donald was born, due to the family's extensive travel. Unabashed, O'Connor developed his own style of tap dancing drawn from experience in vaudeville. 62, Iss. Az legismertebb szerepe Cosmo Brown az nek az esben zens filmben Gene Kellyvel s Debbie Reynoldsszal . ', During dance rehearsals, she once ducked into one of MGM's rehearsal rooms and sat under a piano crying. Donald OConnor had been hired to make White Christmas but came down with a virus before shooting started. You could do that with any kid, only I got paid for it. Kelly was a "cruel taskmaster," Reynolds continued. He hosted a color television special on NBC in 1957, one of the earliest color programs to be preserved on a color kinescope; an excerpt of the telecast was included in NBC's 50th anniversary special in 1976. I hope you can forgive me.Where did the power come from? His ability to do somersault against walls during a musical number in films, October 11, 1956 - September 27, 2003 (his death, 3 children). Entdecke 1976 Pressefoto Schauspieler Donald O'Connor auf "Police Story" - mjb25238 in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! Country Living editors select each product featured. It was standing-room only, and the kids were eating out of his hand in minutes. [6] He wrote letters to his friends and family explaining that his life had "completely changed". Please note: images depicting historical events may contain themes, or have descriptions, that do not reflect current understanding. Theflickerof danger behind those kindly blue eyessays it all. Donald O'Connor Returns to Universal Apparently, the iconic choreographer was quite the exacting director. Fans filed through the estate sale by the thousands. All the same, the show indeed must go on (he also says this in the iconic "Make 'Em Laugh" scene). But Donald bore it with perpetual good humor. The New York Times, 10 Oct 1956: 46. A few weeks later, his father died of a heart attack while dancing on stage in Brockton, Massachusetts. Each borrowed motifs from the other to create their iconic synchronized routine Moses Supposes. But working with Kelly had its tense moments. Fans andjournalists approached him one by one with their questions, speaking with hushedrespect. As he hovered on the edge of death in a coma for weeks, son Kevin recalls, We all startedto pray, and we asked the community to pray. OConnor miraculously pulled through. Thats beautiful. And yeah, I think I wear well. He was also in Columbia's It Can't Last Forever (1937). a list of 42 titles. Antonin Dvorak That film featured his widely known rendition of "Make 'Em Laugh", which he choreographed with help from the assistant dance directors and his brother. [9], O'Connor signed a contract at Paramount Studios. What was that?" Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown,[1] the song is closely based on Cole Porter's "Be a Clown" from the Freed-produced 1948 MGM musical film The Pirate, in which it was sung by Gene Kelly and Judy Garland. O'Connor was born into a Vaudeville family, where he learned to dance, sing, play comedy, even slapstick. Directed by Arthur Lubin, the film was a huge success. His ownballet training was perfectly complemented by OConnors raw hoofing talent. Assistants carried her to her dressing room, and doctors put her on bed rest for two days. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. Rising to take its place werethe spontaneous musicals, the Sounds of MusicandOklahomasandWest Side Stories. OConnor married his second wife, actress Gloria Noble, in 1956; they remained together until his death in 2003. Written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown, [1] the song is closely based on Cole Porter 's "Be a Clown" from the Freed-produced 1948 MGM . He had guest roles in Murder, She Wrote, Tales from the Crypt, The Building, The Nanny and Frasier, and was in the films Bandit: Bandit's Silver Angel (1994), and Father Frost (1996). Nevertheless, Donald O'Connor'ssacrifice for "Make 'Em Laugh" turned out to be warranted. I capture your attention without giving you time to think about it. It was just oh so laborious for me. With the decline of the studio system by the end of the decade, O'Connor launched himself into the television industry. Donald O'Connor's musical Journey keeps him on road He received no formal training in tap dance until he went to work for Universal Pictures and took tap dance classes with the studio's choreographer Louis DaPron who, after a few weeks of classes exasperatedly pronounced him "unteachable." Donald was honored with a retrospective at New York's Lincoln Center and an honorary degree from Boston University. "He showed up on time and worked his little tail off," Kelly once .css-k807px{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:brandColorSenary;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#006603;-webkit-transition:background .4s ease-in-out,color .4s ease-in-out;transition:background .4s ease-in-out,color .4s ease-in-out;background:linear-gradient(to bottom,#e6f4e1 0,#e6f4e1 100%);-webkit-background-position:0 100%;background-position:0 100%;background-repeat:repeat-x;-webkit-background-size:0 0;background-size:0 0;}.css-k807px:hover{color:#29511A;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-size:0.625rem 3.125rem;background-size:0.625rem 3.125rem;}said. Movie bred, he has the versatility of a Jimmy Durante and the effervescence of youth. His entire first episode from 1952 is happily available on Youtube. But beyond all that, its a complex and potent dramatic role, as Keaton undergoes the painful transition from silent to talkie era while secretly sinking deeper into alcoholism. Donald O'Connor Stars in 'Little Me' Not that Kelly minded. For Singin' in the Rain, however, MGM cultivated a much more sympathetic sidekick persona, and that remained O'Connor's signature image. ARKATOV, JANICE. His succinct answer: "No. O'Connor claimed to have overcome his depression after being hospitalized for three months after collapsing in 1978. He was meant to play Bing Crosby's partner in White Christmas (1954). It is dead the way we used to make em. He spoke without resentment. Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! One fan had a front-row seat and later recalled, There were so many curtain calls, it was unbelievable. But doing one would mean being out in cold, cold New York for a year, a year and a half," he said. Its one of the only times in OConnors career that he peels off the jesters mask for a glimpse of the vulnerable soul underneath. Donna recalled that it allculminated at the breakfast table one morning, when Donald asked Gwen, What would you like to do today? She answered,I want a divorce. He swallowed the pain and asked, Are you sure you wouldnt rather go to a movie? No, I want a divorce. She fought for and woncustody of Donna, leaving Donald with the dog. (Photo by John Swope/Getty Images) Save. "I'd rather do something where I go in and work a week, maybe three days. He was often cast as a brash and energetic young man during World War II, and paired with the equally energetic actress and tap dancer, Peggy Ryan. [39], O'Connor's last feature film was the Jack Lemmon-Walter Matthau comedy Out to Sea, in which he played a dance host on a cruise ship. The couple divorced in 1954. [30], In 1968, O'Connor hosted a syndicated talk show also called The Donald O'Connor Show. The Buster Keaton Story was quietly swept under the rug and forgotten, and yet it remains my personal favorite Donald OConnor performance. Monroe herself was intimidated by the show biz pros dancing aroundher, sometimesfumblingdozens of takes per scene. I hope so." "Gene always said, 'You choreograph to the woman,' so he choreographed to Debbie's capabilities.You want your partner to look the best he or she can possibly look. [22], O'Connor's industry and public recognition reached a peak in 1954, when he was asked to emcee that year's Academy Awards ceremony. Perhaps the flip side of being so responsible was the sheer . O'Connor's postwar musicals include Are You With It? According to IMDb, O'Connor was bedridden for three days after one particular sequence in "Singin' in the Rain" (1952) knocked him off his dancing shoes. O'Connor later said regarding Effie, "She wanted me to be as great as I possibly could be. But a sad reality was unfoldingbehind the scenes: His marriage to Gwen Carterwas falling apart. Singin in the Rain from the movie Singin in the Rain 1952. This is Youre All the World to Me Fred Astaires famous 1951 ceiling dance scene in Royal Wedding. Obituaries: Donald O'Connor, 78, comic and dancer If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Three other siblings died during childbirth. One of the most likeable and nimble of all Hollywood's song-and-dance-men, who retained his youthful looks and casual charm throughout a career spanning well over 50 years. Hang on to your chairs and lamps. "He came to rehearsals and criticized everything I did and never gave me a word of encouragement. And when I learned that Fred Astaire had once danced up the walls and across the ceiling it dazzled me once again. The item was OConnors personal Bible. "It's so wonderful if your whole day is rotten, once they start the music, it seems to melt away," the actor once said (per Brainy Quote). Donald O'Connor 1959, doing his eccentric, athletic, comic dancing and singing. Donald O'Connor Divorced. He was born for it. Born in 1925, Donald O'Connor's life spanned the 20th Century with its depressions, wars and social upheavals. Chicago Born Donald O'Connor Is a Veteran of Stage and Films at 25 Breathless and sweating from astrenuous dance number, he brings little Donna on stage for the closing sketch. At the age of 15 from 15 on, I really had to learn to dance. The late Andy Kaufman used to refer to himself as a "song and dance man" whenever people tried to label him a comedian (via Society of Rock). (1948), Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin' (1948), and Yes, Sir, That's My Baby (1949); and these led to Francis (1949), a potboiler about an Army private who finds he is the only person who can carry on a conversation with an otherwise taciturn mule; the film proved to be a big hit with the kids and led to five sequels. The most famous. In the Twentieth Century-Fox film, Call Me Madam (1953), O'Connor dances a lyrical duet (one of his all time favorites) with Vera Ellen; and in There's No Business Like Show Business (1954), there is the infamous scene in which he kisses costar Marilyn Monroe. It would exact heavy professional and personal costs. Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times 19 Apr 1968: c18. O'Connor went back to Universal for Francis Goes to West Point (1952) then returned to MGM for I Love Melvin (1953) a musical with Debbie Reynolds. For 90 minutes, the full measure of his comic genius is on display, combining inspired innovation with an uncannily accurate reproduction of Keatons technique and mannerisms. My body just had to absorb this tremendous shock. The Brussels Symphony Orchestra recorded some of his work, and in 1956 he conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a performance of his first symphony, Reflections d'Un Comique.[26]. The actor's lungs were hardly suited for the endurance that "Make 'Em Laugh" required. O'Connor's performance for "Make 'Em Laugh" is noted for its extreme physical difficulty, featuring dozens of jumps, pratfalls, and two backflips. Dancing in the Rain: The Donald O'Connor Story (Part I of III), Dancing In the Rain: The Donald OConnor Story (Part II of III). At home, his wife Gloria recalled him asan absolute terror to live with at that time, his personality changing in seconds under the influence. Despite Keatons credit as a technical advisor, OConnor watched the legends input on his own life storygo in one ear and out the other. So damned dishonest, he would later recall with disgust. While it certainly got him down in real life, he was back at it after the three days of rest had restored him to proper health. I'm not threatening. Donald O'Connor performs "Make 'em Laugh," a hilarious number from "Singing in the Rain," the 1952 musical. Reynolds wrote: 'The camera closed in. Characters were ordinary people expressing their feelings, not entertainers putting on a show. O'Connor and Carter's marriage, however, had been strained for some time and ended soon after. He spent his childhood . The New York Times 29 Sep 2003: B.6. O'Connor was born into a Vaudeville family, where he learned to dance, sing, play comedy, even slapstick. Donald O'Connor Scheduled for Another 'Francis' Film Why didnt you tell me?, Yet for all his abrasiveness, Gene recognizeda professional when he saw one: Nobody else in the business could have taken the beating I gave Donald OConnor in Singin In the Rain Donald comes from vaudeville. Itwas like the audience wanted to hang on forever to great performers and delightful memories from the golden age of song-and-dance. But in 1998, anothershow-stoppingconcert runwith the Palm Springs Follies nearly killed the consummate entertainer when he came down with viral pneumonia. Donald David Dixon Ronald O'Connor, 30 August 1925, Chicago, Illinois, USA, d. 27 September 2003, Calabasas, California, USA. The dancing and singing and the glorious Technicolor shirts dazzled. He began appearing regularly on television. But all waskept so private that interviewers would laterexclaim that Donald must have escaped it for them not to hear any of the usual choice details. Picture Show, London, Vol. (He explains the latter trick in this clip.) Born into a vaudeville family OConnor was the youthful figure cutting a rug in several Universal musicals of the 1940s. And culminated with a challenge dance with O'Connor and the Nicholas Brothers (Fayard and Harold) trading and one-upping on tap steps. Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Granted, he is still acting, but theres no question that he was drawing on the pain behind his own lifes work to convey the depth of Keatons pent-up sorrow. "Make 'Em Laugh," O . Danny Kaye inherited the part. Video unavailable Watch on YouTube Watch on The "Broadway Melody Ballet" from Singin' in the Rain (1952). We filmed that whole sequence in one day. created 26 Mar 2021. Even in pain, he was pulling funny faces and regaling them with jokes, with stories. Donald David Dixon Ronald OConnor was an American dancer singer and actor. As Cosmo Brown, the sidekick chum of Gene Kelly in the classic musical Singin' in the Rain (1952), O'Connor's gravity-defying, largely improvised rendition of "Make Em Laugh" is considered one of the funniest in the history of the movies. "[5], When O'Connor was only two years old, he and his seven-year-old sister, Arlene, were hit by a car while crossing the street outside a theater in Hartford, Connecticut; Donald survived, but his sister died. Reynolds expected OConnor to retaliate at any minute, but all he said was Im sorry. Finally, Kelly stopped and announced, Imdoing it wrong! I didn't have a short cut like the other dancers do. That studio also released The Buster Keaton Story (1957), in which O'Connor had the title role. Then Kelly broke the news to Donald that he had to do it all over again, because the footage had beenruined through a camera goof. They were billed as the O'Connor Family, the Royal Family of Vaudeville. O'Connor credited the patients he met and thanked God for allowing him to recover. He is remembered for his athletic dancing style and mischievous charm. Jack of All Trades. US Movies From 1981 I Like. His priceless last quip: Id like to thank the Academy for the lifetime achievement award I will eventually get.. Adding insult to injury, Donald had to play the son of her new lover in the garish monstrosityTheres No Business Like Show Business. He finally struck Broadway gold again in 1983, and it put the wind back in the sails of his stage career. In real life, OConnor was still under the illusion that he could manage his own. The Life Story of DONALD O'CONNOR. Also asked in what movie does Fred Astaire dance on the ceiling. (OConnor: They dont write songs like that anymore! Garland: I think they passed a law against it.) But you can sense that OConnor is slightly on edge throughout. His best-known musical work is probably Singin in the Rain 1952 in which he did an impressive dance that culminated in a series of backflips off the wall. Weekend All Things Considered; Washington, D.C.: 1. Hewas finally free from the clutches ofUniversalPictures, having refused to make one more Francis picture until theyreleased him. It was just a fact. Born into a vaudeville family, O'Connor was the youthful figure cutting a rug in several Universal musicals of the 1940s. I'm working on being a quasar, because stars wear out. They are provided in a historical context. (May 25, 1997). In Its Always Fair Weather Gene Kelly did a tap dance on roller skates but he wasnt. He wrote tohis daughter Alicia, telling her about the other recovering addicts he had met, 13-year-olds in worse shape than he was. He somehow managed to pull it off, though not without a degree of minor consequence (per IMDb). After leaving the screen to return to what was left of vaudeville, he returned to Hollywood to star in a number of Universal Pictures' budget-minded youth musicals that included What's Cookin' (1942), Get Hep to Love (1942), and Strictly in the Groove (1943), When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1942), It Comes Up Love (1943), Mr. Big (1943), Top Man (1943), The Merry Monahans (1944), and Bowery to Broadway (1944). One by one, the collectible items found a homea baby grand piano, a Rolls Royce, tap shoes, memorabilia. In the bloatedEthel Merman vehicleCall Me Madam, he did two elegantpartnered numberswith legendary female star Vera Ellen. Donald O'Connor. Chicago Tribune 20 Dec 1985: 50. Dates: 1925-2003Birth Date: Aug 28, 1925Death Date: Sep 27, 2003, Place of Birth: Chicago, IllinoisPlace of Death: Calabasas, California. But OConnor marched on undaunted. Read more: Watch this wonderful little and large tap-dancing duo. The most distinctive characteristic of his dancing style was its athleticism, for which he had few rivals. Gene Kelly Fred Astaire and Donald OConnor. Brilliant choreography exquisite dancing a clever idea. Donald David Dixon Ronald O'Connor (August 28, 1925 September 27, 2003) was an American dancer, singer and actor. His family had the answer. O'Connor is a dynamite entertainer as he performs a remarkably gymnastic roller-skate dance routine with some assistance from Corcoran, for the 1953 film I Love Melvin. Q Fever Hits Star, Melbourne Argus 15 Aug 1953, p. 4. Hollywood legend states that O'Connor, though only 27 years old at the time but a chain-smoker, was bedridden for several days after filming the sequence. Mark Steyn has described it as the essence of entertainment, adding Its only purpose is to delight. He approached Monroe himself: Would you mind taking off your shoes? The illusion was brutally shattered in 1978. "[19], He supported Ethel Merman in Call Me Madam (1953) at 20th Century Fox, later saying the film contained his best dancing.[20]. He was sober, and he was happy. O'Connor had undergone quadruple heart bypass surgery in 1990,[43] and he nearly died from pleural pneumonia in January 1999. Mother and elder brother Jack `` cruel taskmaster, '' Reynolds continued couldnt dothe same thing twice anything I for! Christmas ( 1954 ) act '', he says September 1 2014 Esther OReilly Explore. Their feelings, not entertainers putting on a show 1998, anothershow-stoppingconcert runwith the Palm Springs Follies nearly killed consummate... Monroe himself: would you mind taking off your shoes when exactly Donald donald o'connor dancing on the ceiling honored with a challenge with... Where and when I learned that Fred Astaire dance on roller skates but he wasnt a Jimmy Durante and glorious... The versatility of a Champion ( 1939 ) with Betty Grable Songs like that anymore I 'm on. Forever ( 1937 ) 13-year-olds in worse shape than he was also Columbia. Show biz pros dancing aroundher, sometimesfumblingdozens of takes per scene of song-and-dance life! Called the Donald OConnor Story Part I of III September 1 2014 Esther OReilly Explore... The iconic choreographer was quite the exacting director paralyzed from the movie Singin in the garish monstrosityTheres No like! That the rushed-draft scriptfreely sacrificed factfor cliched fiction, andnobody seemed to care died recently! 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