The holiday staple SCROOGE (imo the definitive adaptation- actually patches some holes in the Dickens’ novella and of course Finney* was brilliant in making him both believable and sympathetic, etc.) and several foot tapping moments, but I’d never really noticed til this year the coffin dance segment of “Thank You Very Much Much”.
If you can’t abide showtunes, the dance sequence starts at 1:30. The end result is one of those scenes you don’t really think “Damn, that was impressive!” about until you think of it. Actor/dancer Anton Rodgers dances atop a coffin that is atop a wagon that is in motion. This had to have been one helluva difficult shoot for many of the “treadmill on an airplane” reasons, and when he and the extras begin dancing together on top (2:08) it must have resulted in a lot of falling until it was out of rehearsal. (I’ve wondered if the man who falls off around 1:56 was a real accident they just incorporated in [seamlessly].)
Of course on-stage the Bottle Dance from Fiddler is extremely impressive, but I’ll admit I often wonder if they use velcro or concealed bottle holder to make sure it looks natural but is impressive. Even so, it’s a showstopper.
What are some of your favorite “Damn that was impressive!” dance numbers?
*Can you even imagine the film if Rex Harrison had played the lead? He was the original choice.
I honestly don’t watch many productions with dance numbers in them, but while at the university, I took a Pittsburgh and Film course. We watched many movies that took place in and around Pittsburgh, as well as films starring Pittsburgh natives. One was Singing in the Rain featuring Pitt alum Gene Kelley. That iconic scene where he’s dancing in the rain must have been difficult enough, but I later read that he performed it while down with a fever of 103. He was the most dedicated dancer that I’ve ever known.
I’m partial to Fred Astaire’s drunk dance in Holiday Inn, the New Year’s Eve dance. I don’t know how difficult it is but I was appreciating how few cuts there were in the dance sequences in that movie. Sorry to say I don’t recall his partner’s name, her character name is Linda.
I’ve always been impressed by the Nicholas Brothers in Stormy Weather. I’ve never seen the movie itself, but I remember being seriously blown away by this clip.
They’re always good – they also have a specialty number in the otherwise unnecessary Down Argentine Way.
(BTW – we’ve got Stormy Weather coming up in about a week in the musicals group, so I just watched this again – I think the discussion should be interesting, in case you’d like to join us.)
Re: the OP – I’m going to give a shout-out to the barn-raising scene in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (the most recent film int he musicals group, oddly enough). Apparently Michael Kidd started choreographing by having a slew of construction materials brought in and playing around with the dancers. Some of the jumps onto, off of, and every which way around narrow beams are breath-catching.
“Every Sperm is Sacred” from Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life and the Dude’s bowling dream (with a Valkyrie-attired Julianne Moore and bowling-pin-headressed choirines) from The Big Lebowski are certainly impressive, but not all that difficult, I guess, compared to some others.
Awhile ago someone sent me a YouTube link for two black male dancers from the 1920s or 1930s who were unbelievably athletic, dancing up and down a giant piano. Don’t know their names, though.
I’d like to nominate the dance number for “Make 'em Laugh” also from Singing in the Rain. I can’t even remember the actors name right now, but I love the mesh of physical humor. The way he runs up walls and basically throws himself around is amazing. I love that number.
There is the 17 minute Ballet in An American in Paris–Gene Kelly again. Oh And Slaughter on 10th Avenue in “Words and Music”. But Gene Kelly actually reaches sexy in The Pirate (With Judy Garland) and lesser known musical which has Gene showing his bare legs–Very Impressive!
