Fred Astaire – A Life in Film

Fred Astaire is rightfully considered by many critics to be the greatest dancer in the history of movies.

Although the name of Fred Astaire is inevitably remembered alongside that of the underrated and glamorous singer/dancer Ginger Rogers, his career was actually much longer and involved many other partners, Find a Fred Astaire film and you might find him dancing not with Ginger, but with Rita Hayworth, Audrey Hepburn, Nannette Fabray, Eleanor Powell, Judy Garland, Cyd Charisse or Jane Powell. Regardless of his partner, what Fred Astaire brought to the movies was a sense of style, a method of filming dance, and a talent that has never been equaled.

In film after film, Fred Astaire created unforgettable moments. He danced with firecrackers in Holiday Inn, danced on the ceiling in Royal Wedding and danced dressed as a hobo in Easter Parade. 

Several of his partners – including Joan Crawford and Gracie Allen – were unexpected and yet proved to be quite wonderful. Click here to read about other unexpected movie teams. Although will certainly look at his groundbreaking collaboration with the immensely talented and often underrated Ginger Rogers, we will examine the totality of his career and his phenomenal impact on the way we look at movies and the ways in which we appreciate dance.