Top 20 Most Underrated Dance Scenes in Classic Musicals
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- čas přidán 14. 01. 2023
- These classic musical dance scenes need more love. For this list, we’ll be looking at the jazziest dance movie numbers from before 1980 that we think deserve a little more recognition. Our countdown includes "Yankee Doodle Dandy," "The King and I," "Grease," and more! Which dance scene do YOU think is the most underrated? Let us know in the comments!
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Which dance scene do YOU think is the most underrated? Let us know below, and be sure to also check out our video of the Top 10 Amazing Ensemble Dance Scenes - czcams.com/video/RjEO_laJTnw/video.html
You did a great job putting these dances together. IDK, but I might have gone with "Fit As A Fiddle (and ready for love)" also from Singing in the Rain, the timing on that is sheer perfection. But overall you did so great with this!!!
I think I misunderstood the task. Lol.
I was surprised the ceiling dance from Royal Wedding performed by Fred Astaire. Wasn’t on this list. But people generally don’t underestimate that dance. So I can understand why it wasn’t included.
My Bad. Lol
for me, it‘s always been the jitterbug dance from Hellzapoppin‘
@@inthewindago I love that scene from Royal Wedding too
@@davidruppolo2755 I have to check that out I don't recall ever seeing it, thanks!
The roller skate tap: Amazing...and those are steel clamp-on skates, they weigh a ton. He makes it look effortless. Lately, I was most amazed by Robert Wagner's dancing in 'Say One for Me' from 1950. Who knew he had such moves .
Donald O'Conner more than held his own in that Singing in the Rain tap dance with Gene Kelly, something not everyone could do. They were a brilliant pairing.
The Cagney dance on the stairs was spontaneous-no one knew he was going to do it and he did it in one take!
I LOVE James Cagney!
Whoa!! I have LOVED “Yankee Doodle Dandy” since I first saw it as a youngster. Before videos, DVDs, and streaming existed, I had the soundtrack on a 33 album (still have it). But I didn’t know until your comment that the marvelous staircase dance was spontaneous. Way to go James! Thanks very much for increasing my admiration for Cagney even more than it already was.👍🏾
Oops! I accidentally sent the comment I meant for you John, to Laurel. So let me repeat, thanks so much for sharing the fact that Cagney’s delightful dance down the staircase of the White House was spontaneous. What a great actor! I’ve loved “Yankee Doodle Dandy” since I first saw it when I was ten. Now my admiration for James Cagney has increased even more.👍🏾
@@laurellane1721 My apologies, Laurel I accidentally sent you the reply I meant for John. But I want to add that one of the many reasons I love James Cagney is his open mindedness. He was the only major actor to attend African American actress Hattie McDaniels’ funeral. She was in a film with him and they became friends..And in one of the last interviews Cagney gave before he died, he praised the acting of black actor Howard Rollins in “ Ragtime” knowing that an endorsement from a Hollywood icon like himself would greatly help the young and relatively unknown young actor. James Cagney was a wonderful man who deserved every accolade that he received.
@@joycemiller-bean1814 Have you read his autobiography? I found him one of the few Hollywood actors that did not disappoint me in his personal life, a great guy all the way around. Also I loved the fact he didn't fly (I don't like to fly either and avoid it when it's possible) and he would drive cross-country from his home in Martha's Vineyard to Hollywood to film. He thought the most underrated states for beauty were Arkansas and Missouri (where I live). Really appreciated reading that.
I know it sounds cliche but they don't make them like they used to! I loved them all!
Donald Oconner is my all time great in “make them laugh”. I am gobsmacked at all his feats but especially the humongous leap he does from sitting at the piano to then sitting on top of the piano, with his legs crossed. Unbelievable strength
Donald O'Connor's roller skate dance in I Love Melvin is one of my favorites.
I am 82 now but I was a film buff and I saw all these film except one…Ho! How I wish life was like that now…fabulous innocent times….Thank You for the memories.
Moses Supposes - definitely one of the best dance sequences on film! Not much more can be said about Gene Kelly’s brilliance, but what probably gets overlooked a lot is Donald O’Connor’s ability to hold his own in this number. They match each other step for step and note for note. A truly spectacular scene, in a truly fantastic movie!..👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤩🤩🤩🤩
The trouble with "Singing in the rain" is that there are no bad scenes - it's almost 100% perfect!
Dancing on rollerskates is my favorite. That was incredible.
I absolutely loved, loved loved the dancing with Danny Kaye and vera Ellen from White Christmas. That one is my all-time favorite dance, the rollerskates is second
As a young girl. I was enamored by Danny Kay. I would watch his movies whenever the showed up on the television. As a dancer he had the most limber body I had ever seen, and his facial expressions were so memorable. I think Danny talent wasn't as appreciated as much as he should have been.
I once stood right next to him and was too shy to ask his autograph 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️❤️
Danny Kaye also one of my favorites as well. I wish they showed during "Romancin" the more athletic scenes, dancing on the boat bottoms, and using the dock poles and hand swing. It was a perfect blend of Fred Astaire style with Danny K athleticism with a little bit of comic nod at the Fred Astaire girl/guy just break into dance scene at the end where she is draped over his arm in a dramatic dip just laying there, when some one walks in. The moment is broken, making you laugh at the absurdity. The comic timing throughout White Christmas was just perfect, DK a perfect foile for Bing, IMO. They should have done more together.
@Lindabriggs115 have you seen the concerts where DK was performing as orchestra leader. He is just a genius and just shows he could do whatever he set his mind to. He was allowed to conduct a full philharmonic orchestra, and with his characteristic comic style...but he is really good at it, in fact could probably conduct real life.
I loved Danny too...
I love Danny Kaye, I just wish I’d known more about him while he was still alive. Perfect comedic timing, wonderful dancing, and handsome.
I love the addition of James Cagney who is often most remembered for his tough guy roles rather than his dancing! An often overlooked triple threat!
Totally agree!
Hope was a hoofer from way back before any films he did.
Good to see the Nicolas Brothers Stormy Weathers tap number and Barn Dance from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
One of my favorite movies. Love it, love it,love it 😊
Adam-Gideon. Iykyk💜
Yes, I grew up watching all of these but, what about Bojangles ?????????????? Come On Now !!!!!!!!!!!!!😮😮😮😮😮😮😮
Donald O'Conner and Gene Kelly's 1st number together in Singing in the Rain I've always thought was one of the best. Dancing in unison with the violins, the choreography and timing, they made it look effortless. They are truly mesmerizing to watch.
Agree: supersyncronized, funny, athletic, telling a story, very rythmic and you can't take your eyes from them😍😍
The incredible Cyd Charisse is definitely underrated, in my opinion. The lines on that woman were glorious. She had a stunning body for dance, and I found her mesmerizing.
Astaire's greatest dance partner in my opinion.
I liked it when they paired her with Gene Kelly.
She was well-appreciated at the height of her career. The future hasn't treated her memory well, but I remember her appearing on all the panel shows back when I was a kid. She was surely a beauty beyond compare.
Cyd was said to have the most perfectly proportioned body in Hollywood.
She had gorgeous legs like no other!
Make em laugh is one of my favourite dance scenes from any movie ever.
The amount of talent these old singer/dancer/actors had was truly mind-boggling. They could do pretty much everything ... and then some.
And not in a thousand cut take
I'm 66 I grew up watching a lot of this but I just saw All That Jazz dance scene it was Horrible! & Nasty!
Go Nicholas Brothers !!!!!!!!!!
@@bettycrayton6696 Horrible? Nasty?
That's just Fosse.
Singing in the rain was the movie that got me dancing, i still love that movie, i took tap lessons and had the time of my life!!
I HATE tap dancing but I LOVE Gene Kelly and Singing In The Rain !!!
The Nicholas Brothers make everybody else look like they're in traction.
I heard sometime ago that the Nicholas brothers actually improve the dance scene that their best known for that was shown in this list. To me, that’s one of the most incredible things of all about the whole thing.
Can we all agree that Gene Kelly is one of, if not THE best dancer EVER with his ethic and range in dances. Who else could pull off what he did? Can we get a count down of Gene Kelly's best dances?
Yes he was! Please @MsMojo can we get that?!
The best of the best.
I love watching Gene Kelly dance. Those legs! The Pirate Ballet. Whew!
Yes, and Fred Astaire, Donald O'Connor
Yes, a countdown of Gene's dances. Where do you start?!
I'm so glad you featured that lovely dance with Vera Ellen and Danny Kaye in White Christmas. That was so elegant and packed with talent. Thank you!
I *knew* Gene & Fred would likely get multiple mentions, but I was glad Cyd Charise was recognised, too- she was poised, yet effortless in every one of her numbers...
She was a ballerina and classically trained but excelled at jazz as well.
"Fiddler on the Roof" has two numbers that deserve a mention here: "To Life" and "The Bottle Dance." This beautiful film rarely gets the recognition it should.
The Bottle Dance is amazing!
you just nailed mu lifetime fave movie; I saw it the first time when it was in the theaters wayyyyyy back when. And you're right about those 2 numbers.
I agree 👍 I love that movie!
@@evaprokop6056 I was 11 when it came out, still remember sitting spellbound in the theater. Much later, for years, a friend & I would meet at one of our houses a couple times a year with wine, snacks, & a full box of kleenex each. Incredible movie, & Topol did an INCREDIBLE job.
@@kellyhoward6941 yes I agree! I love the bottle dance and If I were a Rich Man is another great one. Topol was amazing in that part!
The hand jive in Grease is catchy. RIP Olivia Newton John
i love grease and the 2nd movie always
Thank you for Moses Supposes. It truly does get lost in the other iconic numbers in the musical and it deserves the recognition. It is our family's favorite. The dancing on the desk still leaves me in awe every time we watch it
I totally enjoyed it!👯
There is a video out there in CZcams land where the interpretation is spot on. I would like to say one of them is me. They are not.
Moses Supposes is my absolute favorite!
Yes along with every dancing and singing scenes they do! I love the movie! It's also so hard to believe that we lost Debbie Reynolds years ago sadly after her daughter died. I guess Debbie couldn't stay on the earth without Carrie here so she had to die just hours after she left.
My highlight of that movie which ends up being watched a couple of times per year.
The Lonesome Polecat dance from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is beautiful.
The first time I saw “Singing in the Rain” was in 1983, I was thirteen years old, and fell in love with it. “Moses Supposes” is my favorite dance number in the film. In fact, when Debbie Reynolds passed away, I watched “Singing in the Rain”.
I saw "Singing in rge Rain" when it came out, I was 4. One of my earliest life memories is of Donald O'Conner dancing up - - and thru - - the walls
I agree! "Singing in the Rain" is so unique with a great cast, story, and music/lyrics. It truly is a one of a kind.
@@asaluk3149 Wow!!! You are 75? Awesome.
first time I remember seeing Singing in the Rain was when I was about 4-5. it was raining out on the weekend and my mom and sister and I were the only ones home in a family of 8. She dug a box of chocolates out of the freezer and made some Freshie then we cuddled up on the couch and watched the movie. Mom has passed and this movie is the one that brings me closest to her.
My father absolutely ADORED Cyd Charisse and was thrilled when my sister met her and procured a personalized, autographed photo for him!
I taught both my girls to dance using "the best things happen while you dance". We danced it every year at Christmas. It was so memorable for us that my eldest used it for her father daughter dance at her wedding. With an appropriate explanation as to why.😁 I now dance it, slower, with my grand daughters.
I love that! Wonderful!
Gene Kelly said that one of the reasons the dancing looked so great side by side with him and Donald O'Connor was because dancers have a lead foot. Gene leads with his left while most dancers lead with their right. Donald also leads with his left. That's why they look so much more in sync. I could watch them dance all day long. Wish they had done more movies together.
Didn’t know that! Great insight…
So we may say they together had two left feet😅no kidding they world perfectly in Sync in ALL the moves/movies. Simply awesome!❤
@@AnaBowlova 😂😂😂😂 that’s awesome!
No. MEN lead with their left. Women lead with their right. Take a dance lesson and find out.
@@eileenhetherington3704 that came off as kind of hostile reply. Wow! Just repeating what I heard Gene Kelly say.
Gene Kelly, is/was my favorite dancer so HANDSOME! And Ann Miller, she was best known for her spinning and spinning around, can't believe they didn't show her best known move.
I’m so glad you included the Nicholas Brothers, Ann Miller, and Eleanor Powell.
I'd like to add: The Staircase Dance that Shirley Temple performed with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson in the 1935 movie "The Little Colonel. They were the first interracial couple to dance onscreen. So Amazing!. :)
Wow, I didn't know they had that distinction. How cool!
Definitely
In addition to that distinction, as ludicrous as it seems considering they're partners in a dance number, because of the racism of the times Bill Robinson was told he was not allowed to take Shirley Temple's hand on screen. But Shirley clearly realized how preposterous that was and took his hand herself.
Their dance has always been one of my favorites, ever since I was young. I'm 50+ now. Shirley and Mr. Robinson were PERFECTION!! Thank you for mentioning this amazing dance scene!!
Stormy Weather is one of the greatest movies ever! The Nicholas Brothers were so talented, Cab has such energy and Lena is a goddess.
I love watching the Nicholas Brothers! They were performing way up in age and that includes the stairs routine. Amazing.
Absolutely! The Nicholas brothers are almost never heard of, and they were brilliant!
Agreed!
I heard somewhere that Fred Astaire called this Nicholas Brothers number the best dance sequence ever filmed - and that came from someone who knew his stuff.
So true!!! They were phenomenal!
Gene Kelly was the Ultimate Task Master of Dance. Fabulous..Dancer!!❤🎶🎵❤ Oh Boy I really enjoyed watching these dances so Much. I loved all of these under rated Dance Numbers. Barn Dance, my Favorite. Dance Number from My Sister Ilene, Fossie and Tommy R. Today on TV Movie "What A Way To Go". Shirley MacLaine, Assorted Male Stars; Gene Kelly and Shirley MacLaine, together do a really great under-rated Dance Number. Anchors away, boat theme. So Wonderful!! I think it was a 1960s movie. I didn't know Shirley MacLaine could ever Dance like that. Another under-rated Dance number, from "Daddy Long Legs", movie. Fred Astire, Leslie Caron, called "Slewfoot" takes place at a College, scene. Leslie C was a great Dancer, she also Danced with Gene Kelly in "An American in Paris", movie! I miss those wonderful older movies, with these wonderful Dance Numbers. I loved all the Dance Numbers from "Damn Yankees," Verdon and Flossie. "Kiss Me Kate" With Bob Fossie, Tommy Rall. Great Dance numbers.!! ❤🎶🎵❤
Thank you for remembering the great Tommy Rall. He was one of the greatest dancers who could do everything from ballet, acrobatics, tap. He was also an opera singer. He was in the duet with Fosse and also the red shirt in barn dance. I don't believe he ever got the credit he deserved. Also Ray Bolger in Harvey Girls and Russ Tamblyn who was the youngest brother in Seven Brides as well as Riff in West Side Story. Great dancer and gymnast. This was all very enjoyable. Thank you.
I remember seeing Tommy Rall in Invitation to the Dance.
@@davidbrims5825 In Kiss Me Kate with Ann Miller and Bob Fosse, he was amazing. That scene when he leaps out of the window shows unbelievable dancing and gymnastics abilities.
@@troyannbladsacker1811 You took the words out of my mouth about that leap.
@@rogerpropes7129 Tommy Rall was amazing, wasn't he? I wish more people would "discover" him.
Yes!
Thank you for mentioning flower drum song. It's a piece that's been constantly forgotten, but still wonderfully executed.
I love that one!
And the name of the dancer is not mentioned in this post!!!!! Why????
Ahhh! Yes, it's one of my all time favorite musicals. Glad it was brought to this list. 😊
Reiko Sato played the character of Helen Chao in the film. Her singing voice was dubbed by opera singer Marilyn Horne. Sato was also the dancer in the ballet.
It would have been nice, if they'd emntioned the names of the actors.
The Nicolas Brothers dancing to (I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo by Glenn Miller, with The Modernaires and Tex Beneke 1942. They're in the movie Orchestra Wives, and are my gold standard. Just watch a video for the song, and remember they had to go into the studio through a different door.
Loved seeing Cagney dancing down the stairs, it was like he was floating. And 🎶Cool🎶 was the best scene about West Side story.
I always loved "The Music Man," particularly the incredible dance sequence for "Marian the Librarian." It goes from soft-shoe to powerful tap, to silent choreography, to incredible stunts, all while Shirley Jones tries desperately to maintain order in the library. Timelessly entertaining.
Yes!
And the Shipoopi!
I watch The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing scene multiple times a year. The costumes, the energy, the smoothness, the singing, and of course the dancing, ALWAYS puts me in a happy mood.
I come back to the movie itself every other year
I love that song and dance scenes! If you're including the scene of the cast all together singing the song before them 2 announced they were falsely engaged.
You definitely missed one for underrated. Everyone talks about Gene Kelly and his roller skates, but trying doing it with a partner! Fred and Ginger did it 22 years before him in Shall We Dance, 1937. Granted not as much tapping but a good bit of it along with the dancing. I've often wondered if that scene didn't spark or promote ice dancing in the Olympics. Thank you ever so much for giving Cyd Charrisse a shout out because out of all the women dancers she to me was the most elegant and underrated.
I love the Lets Call the Whole Thing Off routine
And don't forget Donald O'Connor's tap dancing on roller skates number, "Life Has its Funny Little Ups and Downs" from "I Love Melvin", a duet with a very young Noreen Corcoran.
Sorry, but I gotta disagree with that. I am an enormous Fred&Ginger fan, but that number is not in the same league with Kelly's. As you point out, there is virtually no tapping and really no difficult steps of any kind. Neither of them seems terrifically comfortable -- especially Ginger. She looks awkward throughout and in a few places seems barely to be holding on. And given that almost all of it involves them skating side by side, there is little partnering going on. Overall, probably the weakest number they ever did together on screen.
Not to mention doing all of those amazing dance moves in HEELS!
@@caroldumond7001 and Donald O'Connor was dealing with stairs with roller skates and a very limited area to tap in. Kelly had long areas of straight skating and fairly large expanses to tap as well as a simple 1 step up and down. Having roller skated I my younger years I understand that Kelly was very good but I thought O'Connor was fantastic
Cyd Charrise had the most amazing legs ever seen on a dancer and Ann Miller’s feet were simply amazing!
Ann’s dance and rendition of Too Darn Hot at the beginning of Kiss Me Kate has been one of my favourite tap routines since I was a kid. It may not have been her fastest feet as she was purported to have in Hollywood at one time, but was definitely one of the best and funnest that she recorded.
I am so glad you included Stormy Weather. The Nicolas Brothers are one of the best dance duos ever.
The Nicholas Brothers' dance cannot be repeated without CGI now. Nobody can do that kind of moves. Also, Donald O'Connor had to do "Make Em' Laugh" twice. The first time there was some problem with the camera or film and it was out of focus. Also, at that time he was two-packs-a-day smoker. He was hospitalized for three days after the second take.
Damn cigarettes. I watch so many old movies and see them killing themselves right in front of us with smoking. Just watched Casablanca and he smoked,one right after the other. And the tobacco companies got away with all this.
wow!
@@patwooster3851 and Bogart died of throat cancer and I started smoking as a 15 year old coz i thought I'd look grown up and sophisticated like Lauren Bacall in To Have and Have Not. duh! It didn't work
@NiiloPaasivirta You know how stupid that sounds right?
Make 'em smoke, Make 'em smoke
Cough your lungs out like some kind of joke.
Now you can get a cancer or a bad heart attack
Or some other kind of problem and end flat on your back
But it shortens you performance by your time in in a sack
Make 'em smoke, Make 'em smoke, Make 'em smoke.
Thank you for including Kansas City. The incredible Gene Nelson has always been underrated. He was the best of the best, and this dance number is so much fun.
I have seen most, if not all of these movies when I was young. Watching this makes me want to see them all, plus more, again. Thank you very much for this walk down memory lane.
Having had the opportunity to do what was VERY close to the original choreography to "Moses Supposes", I was very glad to see that it was the top of this list. 100% deserves that spot. I have never done a more difficult dance in my life. It was amazing!
Everything Gene Kelly does is magical look at The Pirate wow. Still, Bob Fosse mesmerizes beyond belief. Not only is he the greatest choreography ever, but what a dancer wow wow wow This video is great in the whole world needs to see it.. and thank you for recognizing Who's got the Pain with the multi-talented Gwen Verdon and anything from White Christmas with the magical Vera-Ellen.
Do you know that Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon were married?
Yes! Both Fosse and Vera-Ellen are unparalleled.
Holy Crap Gene Kelly was a BEAST!!! How did he make such beautiful dances look so muscular and masculine and athletic? Also they did real stunts with real ppl back then so you know when he went up on that cord for the "pirate ballet" that was him and he was flying! Also shout out to Judy Garland who got some incredible air in the trio dance number where all three kicked up both heels while moving forward. Those stars had Talent! Granted they all died at 45 but y'know... gotta suffer for your art back then lol.
God I wish we had movies like these NOW.
Thank you for placing "Moses Supposes" #1. One of my most favorite tap dances from this time. Can't go wrong with Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor! 💯👍🏽
Love all the choices, but Elenor Powell deserves so much more than an Honorable Mention!
I agree-she’s one of the best of not the best!
OMG yes! She could actually perfectly step-match Fred Astaire.
Yup. Astaire didn't want to be paired with her because she could tap better than him. He was intimidated.
Eleanor Powell is the best dancer of all time (past or present). She can never be underrated. She could do anything. I don't think Gene Kelley could do some of the things she did but I bet she could do all the things he did. Just my opinion but that is because I love Eleanor.
I'm glad you guys added "Singing in the Rain", "White Christmas", and "7 Brides for 7 Brothers" , the others are great too, but these 3 are gems often overlooked. So, thank you again for adding them to the list.
The Red Shoes is a beautiful film and the title ballet sequence is exquisitely done!
Jack Cardiff did the photography, he also did Pandora and the Flying Dutchman 1951 with James Mason, another beautiful film.
Simply fantastic.
❤️
These scenes aren't underrated; it's just that the majority of Mojo's viewership is simply too young to remember them.
Most, if not all, of these scenes are widely acknowledged as absolute, timeless classics.
Exactly. I remember seeing the majority of these clips in the "That's Entertainment" series of movies MGM put out. Only one I wasn't familiar with was the Asian musical which seems pretty interesting...
Young people dont realize the sheer volume of good movies that came out in the golden years of Hollywood. There was a new show to go to almost every week, certainly every two weeks. Hundreds of movies a year. Actors in the studio system worked constantly, producing one great movie after another.
One of my favorite is Fred Astaire dancing with the drums in Easter Parade. And I think the winter lumber ballet is the prettiest in 7 brides for 7 brothers
OMG yes, the lumber ballet is just gorgeous. Fred Astaire is always mesmerizing. Recently rewatched Easter Parade a few months ago, and... Yeah.
Lonesome Polecat is my favorite number in the entire film. And there's nothing wrong with the film. Can't judge older movies by today's standards.
@@laurellane1721 totally! Grew up watching 7 brides. And the whole gender roles? Millie literally threw the boys, including her husband, out of the house to live in the barn, in winter, for stealing the girls. I want to be like Millie. Western women had to be strong, to live that kind of life along side their men.
I think the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz was a great dancer, which had more difficulty due to the costume!
Honorable mention (in my opinion) is the Bonnie Jean song & dance number from Brigadoon.
Yes.
One of my favorites
I absolutely Love that movie. I have to watch it at least once a year!
That is my favorite movie with Gene Kelly. And I had no idea Van Johnson could dance until I saw him in Brigadoon. Charisse and Kelly were beautiful together.
One of the best athletic numbers was done by Doris Day in Calamity Jane. What a talent! Never would have thought she was able to dance like that. Very underrated performer. Many of her early musical films had her dancing up a storm. So many great numbers. I love them all ❤
Doris Day started her show business career as a professional dancer but had to give up pro dancing after an accident. I don't remember if it was a car accident or a ski accident, but she was a pro dancer before she took up singing and acting when her dance career was cut short.
Oh you mean when Doris sang and danced The Windy City? That was absolutely brilliant! Love it! 👌🏼
Most stars of that era were able to do it all (the "triple threat" of: singing, dancing, acting) to some extent...some were better than others; but pretty much ALL were trained in the "studio system".
@@deniaridley Yes. Even "tough guy actor" Clark Gable had to do a song and dance number - "Puttin' on the Ritz" -- since all studio contract actors had do learn all the disciplines of acting, singing and dancing. You're right.
I would have put Buddy Epson here somewhere as well as Dick Van Dyke.
I don’t think anything from Singin in the rain belongs on a list of underrated anything. Anyone who loves this movie loves this scene. Every dance scene in this movie is perfection
I've always loved Gene Kelly and Van Johnson in "Go Home to Bonnie Jean" as well as the lesser known Virginia Bosler and Jimmy Thompson in the wedding dance from Brigadoon, a greatly undervalued musical. Great dance moves in addition to bagpipes, spectacular costumes, and men in kilts, not to mention the singing!
Agree about Brigadoon, a favorite movie.
Brigade on on stage is SO much better.
Yes, we don't even hear about Brigadoon anymore. I loved the music from that.
Funny Face- Audrey Hepburn & Fred Astaire
The Great Ziegfeld-Ray Bolger
Honey Bun from South Pacific- Mitzi Gaynor & Ray Walston
Viva Las Vegas- Ann Margret
Eleanor Powell in Begin the Beguine
@@sheilabloom6735 ♥️
Nicholas brothers, yes.... so talented. very difficult routine, awesome execution
I would have included Louise's dream ballet from Carousel. It runs the gamut of emotions, and had the magnificent Jacques D"Amboise.
He passed away last year i think.
Yes, I was wondering where that went; the bar scene it it makes you feel really nasty which it's supposed to.
Soo happy Cool made the cut. I'd personally throw in the Miss Turnstiles and Day In New York ballets from On The Town (1949). Criminally underrated musical
I’m quite surprised of how underrated On the Town is myself
one of the greatest and most underrated dance musicals of all time. as well as one of the greatest and most underrated bernstein scores! just criminally underrated all around.
I’m here for Miss Turnstiles and On the Town!
How can the ballet sequence of Red Shoes be "underrated"? It makes essentially the whole film! And the film is unanimously deemed a work of art.
Perhaps "lesser-remembered" than "underrated"? It's a breathtaking sequence, regardless. :)
I got A lotta Livin "Bye Bye Birdie" & It's Too Darn Hot "Kiss Me Kate"
Was going to suggest A Lotta Livin' To Do if no one else did! A fabulous number that never gets enough love. I think Too Darn Hot though is highly rated!
Prehistoric Man from ‘On The Town’ is my favorite. It didn’t make this list, though. Ann Miller is soooo good.
I love that movie and Ann Miller!
Thanks for mentioning "Cool", it's more of a dance number than a song, but the choreography is slick and cool.
I like the song better in the newer movie version when it happens before the rumble
@@manuelorozco7760 Mojo gets the 1961 placement of the song wrong and mixes it up with the new version.
@@kathyastrom1315 Right
I love that you got Yankee Doodle Dandy in there. I think it would make Cagney happy to know that people do remember when he got the chance to dance.
And yeah I love Seven Brides and Seven Brothers because of the dance and music scenes. The story is a bit of an eyebrow raiser.
This is a great list, and I'm happy that I've already seen about half the movies here. Means I have fewer that I have to look up...
I too love 7 brides for 7 brothers movie! It's a family favorite with my parents and sister!
yeah, in those days having a male partner twice your age was "normal" for a female,
all for financial stability and standing in the community, some john wayne movies come to mind
It was lovely to see Tommy Rall featured! He was spectacular and stole the barn dance scene in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers! Incredible! He only died a few years ago. 🤩🕺
Tommy Rall was one of the greatest. Very underrated. Just like Russ Tamblyn and George Chakiris, if those three gentlemen were born in an earlier decade I believe they would have had better opportunities especially Tommy Rall. They were born too late when musicals were starting to unfortunately fade out.
@@troyannbladsacker1811 Fred Astaire said Tommy Rall was the best dancer in Hollywood. He had a crossed eye or something that probably impeded his career. See him uncredited in 'Funny Girl' with Streisand years later.
@rogerpropes7129 I didn't know that about Funny Girl. I do believe I heard the same thing about Fred Astaire and Tommy Rall. In my opinion, I do believe Tommy Rall was the greatest dancer who ever lived. He was fabulous.
Another dance that's probably not remembered as much is TheTapioca from Thoroughly Modern Millie
I need to watch that again!
Your number 1 is one of my all time favorite tap numbers. Gene and Donald were so great together. Wish they would have done more movies together. Your honorable mentions with Ann Miller and Bob Hope/James Cagney would be the ones I would put right after your number 1 as the actual best. Not sure how those could not be in your actual countdown. My favorite underrated dance is Gene and Judy in Summer Stock during the barn dance where they start off doing a polite social dance and then end up doing duelin dances with each other. And Judy keeps up with it all. What an amazing dance!
I agree with you about the Summer Stock dance with Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. I have the DVD of that movie and enjoy re-watching it from time to time.
Outstanding compilation, a rich 27 minutes. The visuals were splendid, and the text was intelligent, informative, and lively. That was one great voice performance too. I had not seen any of these films before (ok, parts of WSS), but now I want to see them all. Thank you immensely.
Loved Gene Kelly. I don’t normally enjoy musicals, but if Gene was dancing, I was watching. I felt the same way about Gregory Hines. Just love watching them dance.
I love Leslie Caron and Jean Kelly in American in Paris. But an inderrated dance in the movie Lili is one of my favorites. It is a ballet dream sequence with Leslie, Mel Ferrar and the puppets as live figures. So magical and memorable. I think Leslie was underrated as a dancer.
By far my favorite movie musical. I wasn't included in this list.
We'll never see movies like these again, and it's a sad loss for our culture.
The Barn Dance from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers never seemed overrated, it's the best scene in the movie with the guys trying to win the ladies affection. I used to watch this movie anytime I stayed home from sick from school
And Julie Newmar is so lovely
I love that film but get annoyed with MsMojo putting today’s standards on the plot and mentioning that the sisters were kidnapped. This sort of feminism is so annoying and unnecessary. She didn’t mention that the gangs from West Side story were in the film white/Costa Rican yet today’s gangs are black!
Besides, at root “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” is loosely based on the Roman myth “The Rape of the Sabine Women” (not “rape” as in sexual assault, but from the Latin “rapto” which means abduction) …
The musical gives its nod to that connection through a song called “Sobbin’ Women”
In both the myth and the musical, it was a story of unmatched men looking for wives, and resorting to taking “captives”.
The moviegoers of the time understood the tie-in to the ancient myth - not that this was a good way to get a wife !
Another thing that ticks me off is not appreciating how women generally are respected in this movie . Milly, as wife of the eldest brother Adam has been elevated to alpha-female of the clan , acquiring the respect that was given to their mother. When she says jump , they say how high? .
I would submit the restaurant dance scene in Hello Dolly! Very athletic and the waiters had trays etc, just a fun, energetic scene!
It’s funnier in the stage version. But I agree
Walter Matthau didn’t like Streisand, she behaved like a diva on set.
My entire 10th year of life was watching Jumpin’ Jive over and over. Thanks for including!
Three others I like are Gene Kelly dancing with the mouse in "Anchors Away," Fred Astair dancing witht the coat rack in "Royal Weding" (1951), and Astair's ceiling dance, also in "Royal Wedding."
None of those are generally considered "under-rated". Which is why I'm kind of amazed that the Barn Dance from 7 Brothers, "Make 'Em Laugh", "Shall We Dance" and the Nicholas brothers performance were on this list. In particular "Jumpin' Jive" is regularly considered one of the two or three best dance performances of all time (sometimes even surpassing Kelly's "Singing In The Rain" by the Pros, if not the fans).
But....crowd-sourced, y'know?
@@Travlr013 True. But they do come to my mind for favorite classic dances.
Eleanor Powell in Honolulu is one of my favorites. That power tap dance with her in the grass skirt and lei in front of the orchestra is 💥
I love that you took the time to show enough of the dances that we can truly appreciate them!!
Yes. But as usual with this channel, far too much talking.
In the original Broadway production of West Side Story the number "Cool" is as you describe it. An attempt by Tony to de-escalate conflict before the rumble. But in the 1961 film that you show it was moved to after the rumble and is the Jets way of dealing with their emotions following the death of Riff. It was kept in that new place in the story in subsequent stage productions but moved back to its original spot in Steven Speilberg's 2021 film.
Thank you
Critics agreed it was far more effective moved after the rumble. I’ll take the original movie version of West Side Story any day, it was so much better
Yes! Moses Supposes is my favorite dance number in Singin' in the Rain. 💙
I love most of White Christmas and Vera-Ellen was undeniably talented, but the one thing that has always driven me crazy about “The best Things Happen While You’re Dancing” is how she is constantly looking at the camera. Not spotting - she’s always looking at the camera during what is supposed to be a romantic number. It’s even more marked when you watch Danny Kaye, who’s looking at *her.*
Too true she does seem to look at the camera instead of her partner in that scene. And all others when with a partner she's looking at them.
I don’t think Bing and Danny were struggling to start their production company. In my view, they were incredibly successful and brought that success to the inn.
Yes, one of the major plot points in White Christmas is that the Wallace and Davis team is one of the best in the business.
@@tessluchsinger9200 And why it was so important to get Bob set up with Betty. "45 minutes, all to myself".
That's part of why the general was suspicious of them bringing their crew up. He found it hard to believe that they were willing to bring such a huge production to his inn in the middle of nowhere.
MsMojo, thanks for giving me the felicity to remember all these wonderful musical numbers. I'm 82 years old, so I had the opportunity to see many of them on the big screen.
So pleased this included Ann Miller - probably the best tap dancer of this genre.
No. That was Eleanor Powell, so excellent at her craft that the men eventually would not pare with her.
Ok. 🙂Both pretty amazing I’ll agree to that. And of men, bunny briggs for me.
I’m shocked the ceiling dance from Royal Wedding, performed by Fed Astaire wasn’t on this list!!
Well . I think it wasn't mentioned because it's not underrated .
I love your number one and two picks, but I would switch the order. No one who loves tap dance would call "Moses Supposes" underrated. Maybe overlooked compared to other dance sequences in "Singing in the Rain," but no one can doubt the sheer difficulty of the choreography or the virtuosity of Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor. I think "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing" does tend to be underrated, because it isn't as over-the-top and flashy as other numbers in the musical. It's two people dancing together, beautifully. I think another dance scene from "White Christmas" that tends to be overlooked is "Father Abraham." Once again, not a big flashy production, just Vera Ellen and John Bascia tap dancing and making all of us wish we had that kind of energy, talent, and beauty.
My siblings and I would dance along to Moses Supposes. It was too fun! The other one we liked was Is There Anyone Here for Love. 😆 Getting the ending right was always good. IYKYK. 🌊
You forgot one of the greatest - the Gene Kelly splitting the newspaper in half then in half then in half - unbeatable. As always - hte men are such incredible dancers.
Loved musicals as a kid. These dance scenes brought bittersweet memories. Thank you.
The Nicholas Brothers were absolutely amazing. It's a shame that they were not big stars.
Agreed!
That is hands down one of most amazing dance routines I have ever seen.
The Nicholas Brothers were HUGE STARS! What are you talking about? They made nearly 50 films!
@@eileenhetherington3704but they didn't "star" in any of those 50 films. They were great enough, but the time wasn't right.
"Stormy Weather" is such an amazing film. And that number by the Nicholas Brothers is just... beyond human. 😍
Most of these dance routines are iconic, how are they underrated ?
I think "underrated" refers to how these aren't mentioned first when the movie is mentioned. For example, when "Singing in the Rain" is talked about, Gene Kelly's dance in the rain always comes up first.
@@COMama Of course Gene Kelly's dance in the rain comes up first in a discussion -- it is the title dance of the movie!
Ray Bolger's dance number in The Harvey Girls is definitely underrated. Comical, and he makes it look effortless.
Ray Bolger's dance skills are definitely in the same category as Kelly and Astaire. I honestly believe the man's bones were flexible.
It takes a LOT of effort to make anything look effortless. 😉
My sister and I were privileged to see SINGING IN THE RAIN on the big screen. There were several older ones there like us. However, the younger ones were so impressed they had everyone applauding at the end!
Gene Kellly, the father and founder of modern dance