Clip joint: five of the best tap-dancing scenes in the movies
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Version 0 of 1. Tap dance: an art form that Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly made look so deceptively easy. Tap was a favourite as the talkies came in in the 1930s, it was in full swing by the early 1950s, but has also cropped up in the occasional contemporary movie looking for a bit of vintage flair. These scenes are the ones for the ages, and serve as an inspiration for any modern-day Astaire wannabes. Singin’ in the Rain The most remembered and praised scene from the Stanley Donen/Gene Kelly musical is, without a doubt, the legendary number that gives the movie its title. A pity, because it slightly overshadows the song that precedes it, Good Morning. The entire film is a tap dance masterclass, but what makes this cheerful scene special is that it’s the only one that involves the three main actors, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds and Kelly himself. A frenetic number from start to finish, one can only imagine how many hours it took to film under the supervision of perfectionist Kelly. Top Hat This 1935 screwball comedy starring the most famous dancing couple of all time, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, contains the memorable Cheek to Cheek. But when it comes to tap dance, it is Astaire’s solo number, Top Hat, White Tie and Tails, that stands out. An impeccably dressed man, a bunch of dancers behind him … the rest is pure magic. The Artist The Artist was the 2012 Oscar-winning picture that dared to try something different, and it is no wonder that its final moments were all about about dancing – after all, the plot is very similar to the story from Singin’ in the Rain. It reflects what was obvious with the arrival of the talkies: dancing and singing was the way to go. The charms of Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo do the rest. Chicago It has many breathtaking musical numbers to show off, but one of Chicago’s best moments is Richard Gere’s tap-dancing sequence as he interrogates Catherine Zeta-Jones’s Velma Kelly. Gere trained for months for this particular scene and did not disappoint – in fact, he ended up winning a Golden Globe for his role, even though he was later snubbed by the Academy. Billy Elliot What better movie with dance in it can there be than one whose plot is actually about dancing? The inspiring story of the kid who wants to be a dancer gets one of its best moments when, full of rage, the only way that Billy can express his anger and frustration is to tap his troubles away in the street. But what are your own favourites? Perhaps you prefer Easter Parade’s showboating, or Blue Valentine’s understatement? Let us know in the comments below. |