Legs for weeks, not days.
While there are so many classic and unforgettable dance numbers to choose from, the “Girl Hunt” number from Band Wagon is my favorite.
Please read this wonderful tribute to Charisse by my friend, Dan Callahan. Dan has a detailed eye, and is intuitive and tireless in attempting to describe the sometimes-ephemeral gifts of a performer. Please read Dan’s whole piece, it’s wonderful, but his bit on the “Girl Hunt” number is thrilling:
During “Girl Hunt,” when Astaire enters a dive and sees Charisse seated at a bar, she hesitates for just the right amount of time before doffing her greenish cloak and revealing the reddest damn scarlet woman red dress in movie history, with unapologetic little tassels hanging from her beautiful breasts. When the music speeds up, we’re in a kind of no man’s land: I really don’t know how Charisse does what she does here. Part of the magic is her technical skill, of course, but a huge part of it comes from her, and it has to do with a kind of taunting yet witty sexuality that actually makes the icy Astaire look randy in response. At the height of their pulsating, “are we being serious?” interplay, Charisse extends her epic legs out to Astaire on five horn blasts: one, two, three, four, five, and on the fifth beat she turns. Then, one, two, three, four, five, and on that crucial fifth beat, she flings her whole upper body backwards to the rhythm. That’s math, maybe, or dance. But the way that she throws her head back on that second beat of five is quite possibly the most thrilling single moment I’ve ever seen in a movie.
Yup. Look for that moment. Goosebumps every time.
Just watched ‘The Unfinished Dance’ on youtube a few days ago. It’s a 1947 ballet picture starring Margaret O’Brien and introducing young Cyd. Plenty of Cyd displaying her ballet roots, later to blossom into those fantastic ’50s dances mentioned in Dan’s great post.
I love “The Band Wagon” just for “Girl Hunt” and The “Dancing in the Dark” dance that Ms. Charisse does with Fred Astaire in “The Band Wagon” which is sublime. They’re so beautiful together and movie magic makes a simple dress and a classic suit look marvelous. Ms. Charisse is the epitome of brainy sexy. Amazing.
Yes, they are so gorgeous together! She just oozes sex in a kind of liquidy controlled way, and he’s just perfection. Different dance partners bring out different things in him which I think is fascinating!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzgoWE98jwE
Did you ever see this?
Stevie!! I cannot stop laughing!
No I never saw that! I love that Dawn French was on my Ladies I Love post.
I absolutely love that this exists. I’m crying …
I knew it would crack you up! Dawn is so seriously doing it! Also I love that Dawn is one of the “Ladies You Love” – for good reason. There’s also a skit Dawn did of Ginger Rogers in her barely-pre-death stage (super heavy makeup and in a wheelchair) that’s devastating. Jennifer is playing Hepburn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_ZeKbhdC_w
OMG. That is fantastic and she wasn’t terrible.
I know, right? I can’t stop watching it. She is so so so funny.
I know that La La Land is everybody’s darling but I’m afraid it left me rather cold, probably because I have all these classic musicals in my head. I know that nothing today can live up to them, but still…
I didn’t care for it. I liked it when I saw it, and then by the next day, the smoke had cleared and I perceived all of its problems. And it left no impression on me. It’s not as offensive to me as others seem to find it – but i think it has been WILDLY over-praised – which happens sometimes. I just don’t get it.
It’d a mild tribute to a lost artform, that’s all.
You see something like this number and you realize just how mild and un-ambitious La La Land really was.
“Legs for weeks, not days.” I always loved that line. That’s how they seem.
I also just realized what an incredible name she had. Totally suits her.
That “Girl Hunt” scene is as close to perfect as anything can be. I actually watch it with my eyes wide and my jaw hanging because of that.
It really is just so thrilling!
I cannot for the life of me understand why the only part of “The Heather on the Hill” from BRIGADOON available on YouTube is the dance following the song, but…what a dance it is. Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse, swoon….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB0kKAPYJPI
I’m watching this and it’s gorgeous and then I suddenly realized it’s all done with no cuts.
The camera moves are so gentle and gliding, it’s moving with them.
That brought me to tears. It’s exquisite.
I love his rare combination of athleticism, power and grace. He’s so fluid here.
It’s beautiful when they move together, mirroring each other – but then when they’re apart, they’re still working together – I love how she runs, it’s as though she feels the wind on her face.
Oh and I also LOVE the moment with the tree. How she leaps up gracefully onto the branch, and then they swing around the tree – their arms taut – keeping that connection.
It’s so beautiful!