Tag Archives: Fred Astaire

“Have you ever noticed how a cat stretches after a nap? We can learn from watching animals.” — Cyd Charisse

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. … Continue reading

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“Dancing in Tijuana when I was 13 — that was my ‘summer camp.’ How else do you think I could keep up with Fred Astaire when I was 19?” — Rita Hayworth

It’s her birthday today! In early 2016, it was all Rita Hayworth all the time at my humble abode, due to the research I did for my essay on Gilda, included in the Criterion Collection release of Gilda. Gilda represented … Continue reading

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Stuff I’ve Been Reading

Reading for pleasure has taken a hit, what with all the research I’ve been doing, for this or that, and so I haven’t done one of these “stuff I’ve been reading” things in a while. I have barely slept in … Continue reading

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Watch What You Want. Find Comfort Where You Can.

I originally posted this on Facebook. It is not directed (as far as I know) to anyone who reads me here. But I still think it’s important to share, as a general commentary on the VIBE I have noticed post … Continue reading

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November 2015 Viewing Diary

Spotlight (2015; d. Tom McCarthy) Excellent newspaper movie. I reviewed for Rogerebert.com. Supernatural, Season 11, Episode 4, “Baby” (2015; d. Thomas J. Wright) Perfection, both formally and structurally as well as emotionally and spiritually. Truth (2015; d. James Vanderbilt) Another … Continue reading

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September 2015 Viewing Diary

I got a pretty big writing assignment this past month, with a deadline of October 5. So I’ve been working hard, researching, as the below list will probably show. Not ready to talk about it yet, still working on the … Continue reading

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Rita Hayworth and Fred Astaire: You’ll Never Get Rich (1941)

Fred Astaire was once asked who was his favorite dance partner, in all his years performing. He didn’t want to answer (because he knew Ginger would probably be pissed and hurt) but finally he caved and said, “All right, I’ll … Continue reading

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The Books: The Fun of It: Stories from The Talk of the Town, edited by Lillian Ross; ‘Dancing Couple’, by James Thurber

Next up on the essays shelf: The Fun of It: Stories from The Talk of the Town is a collection of “The Talk of the Town” pieces in The New Yorker, grouped by decade, which is a lot of fun … Continue reading

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2010 Books Read

Round-up of the books I read this year, in the order in which I read them. I am nearly finished with one last book (a collection of stories by Miranda July, given to me by my sister Siobhan for my … Continue reading

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Perfection

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