...gene kelly - he sang in the rain...

Back in the Golden Era of Hollywood musicals, emerged many great male dancers ever...who tapped, ballroomed, jazzed, spinned, leaped and yet, maintain their masculity agility on screen. Just to name a few, Gene Nelson, Dan Dailey, Donald O'Connor, James Cagney, Cesar Romero, Gower Champion, Bob Fosse, Tommy Rall, The Nicholas Brothers and of course, two of the greatest ever...the legendary Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. None did achieve the summit of film fame like Fred and Gene.

When the younger Kelly arrived in Hollywood in 1941, Astaire had already starred and made a great deal on screen dancing with Ginger Rogers as a team in ten movies for RKO. Astaire was almost a legend by then.

Gene Kelly (23rd August 1912 - 2nd February 1996), was born Eugene Curran Kelly in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, of Irish descent. His mother had a very strong interest in the theatrical arts, sent Gene and his older brother to dancing school. They were teased by their neighbourhood boys, calling them sissies which usually ended with fistfights. He did not danced again until he was fifteen and by then, Gene had been in several athletic team in schools. He went back to dancing school and found out he had great adaptation for tap dancing. This made him a hero among the girls and no longer had trouble with boys because he was also in the hockey, football, baseball and gymnastic teams.

He went on to direct and choreograph some local productions. He was invited to audition in Cole Porter's "Leave It To Jane" on Broadway and won the part, wearing fur parkas supporting Mary Martin (real mother of Larry Hagman - JR Ewing of television "Dallas" fame). Gene was then given a lead role in "Pal Joey" on the famed stage.

Kelly made his movie debut, opposite Judy Garland in "For Me And My Girl" (1942). The black and white movie was filled with dramatic and musical elements, story of a vaudeville girl who has to choose between two of her leading men (the other was George Murphy). Next assignment was the technicolor comedy musical, set in French court of King Louis XV in the dream, "Du Barry Was A Lady" (1943) with Red Skelton, Lucille Ball and Virginia O'Brien. He was in the air cadet uniform in the drama "Pilot No. 5" and in the army's "Thousands Cheer", a all-star MGM musical opposite the beautiful Kathryn Grayson (with Mary Astor, Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Eleanor Powell, Ann Sothern, Lucille Ball, Red Skelton, Lena Horne and many many more guest starred).

He danced up a storm with the gorgeous Rita Hayworth in Columbia's "Cover Girl" in 1944 and displayed his top-notch dark dramatic role in Universal's "Christmas Holiday" (1944), opposite another beautiful soprano, Deanna Durbin. Just imagine Gene Kelly and Deanna Durbin in a noir (although there were a few songs for Ms Durbin). "Anchors Aweigh" (1945) made him a great musical star, dancing with a famous Jerry the animated mouse (of Tom and Jerry fame). His live co-stars were Kathryn Grayson and Frank Sinatra. Finally, he get to dance with his main on screen rival, Fred Astaire in 1946's "Zeigfeld Follies". They both showed of their dancing abilities in the "The Babbit And The Bromide" number. Judy Garland was his co-star again in "The Pirate" (1948) and he made a very atheletic D'Artagnan in "The Three Musketeers" with the dimunitive June Allyson supplying the romance. He did a memorable "Slaughter On The Tenth Avenue" number with Vera-Ellen.

Two great movies in 1949 - "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" with Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams, Jules Munshin and Betty Garrett and "On The Town" made him a co-director with Stanley Donen (in several other movies), retaining some of the players of the former - Sinatra, Munshin and Garrett adding the wonderful Ann Miller and beautiful Vera-Ellen for their great dancing talents. The famous "lets-put-on-a- show" was the plot in his next, "Summer Stock" (1950) with Garland again.

"An American In Paris" won the Best Picture Award for 1951, became one of the top musicals ever, directed by Vincente Minnelli, music and songs by Gerswhin and Gene's choreography (including the famous seventeen minutes ballet number). Set in France about a G.I. who fell for a local waif. Leslie Caron made her film debut as the waif when she was spotted and casted by Gene.


Who can ever forget Gene Kelly singing, dancing and leaping in the rain under a big brolly in "Singin' In The Rain" (1952)? It became his signature role and the title song became his signature song too. This unforgettable musical is filled with great songs, dance and comedy routines, about a studio's transition from silent to sound and it's casts. Another great hoofer, Donald O'Connor was Kelly's sidekick and Debbie Reynolds, his leading lady and he shared some very comical scenes with Jean Hagen (nominated for Best Supporting Actress). The dancing of the leggy Cyd Charisse in a guest starring role stood out best.

From there on, his status as a musical legend is sealed. He went on to make some dramas and lesser musicals ("Brigadoon" 1954 - opposite Charisse; guest-starred in "Deep In My Heart" 1954; "It's Always Fair Weather" 1955). He was very active both in front and behind the camera starring ("Invitation To The Dance" 1956; "Les Girls" 1957; drama "Marjorie Morningstar" 1958 opposite the younger Natalie Wood; made a strong impact in the court drama "Inherit The Wind" 1960; appeared in Shirley MacLaine's 1964's "What A Way To Go!"), producing some television specials, directing ("The Tunnel Of Love" 1958 starring Doris Day and Richard Widmark; "Gigot" 1962; the film version of "Hello, Dolly!" 1969 starring Barbra Striesand) choreographing throughout his career. His last great dancing effort was put in use in 1980's "Xanadu" opposite Olivia Newton-John. He appeared in many musical specials on television in the 80s (even turned up in an episode of "The Muppets" and "Love Boat" and mini-series "North And South" and "Sins"). Gene also appeared late in his life as host and narrator in many documentaries tributing the Hollywood musicals of the golden era.

He was honoured and awarded with many awards throughout his life among the, Kennedy Center honoured him in 1982, inducted into the Inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in 1992, was awarded the National Medal of Freedom and National Medal of Arts from President Bill Clinton in 1994. Martial arts stars Jackie Chan and David Carradine both cite him as an influence.

He passed away in 1996 due to complations from two strokes.

Thank you Mr Gene Kelly...with every pitter patter, I would always think of you dancing and singing up there in heaven.