I saw Blue Skies the other night and instead of going into a lengthy synopsis, I thought I would highlight my favorite parts of the film. Blue Skies was supposed to be Astaire's swan song until fate gave him the chance to work with Judy Garland two years later as a replacement for Gene Kelly in Easter Parade. Though Astaire thought he was getting on in years and wanted to stop dancing in 1946, Easter Parade brought him fully out of retirement and he did several films afterwards.
Watching Bing dance is hilarious!!
I couldn't find the wonderful skit Billy De Wolfe did in Blue Skies but I see they took advantage of the same character for this Ban deodorant commercial from the sixties.
Tonight on TCM! If you like Walter Matthau, you'll get plenty of him here!
Plaza Suite (1971) A New York hotel room is the setting for three stories of romantic squabbles. Cast: Walter Matthau, Lee Grant, Barbara Harris, Maureen Stapleton Dir: Arthur Hiller
Great post! I had no idea that Fred Astaire planned to retire in 1946. Some of my favorites of his are in the fifties - what a loss that would have been! As if I needed another reason to be thankful for Easter Parade! I saw Blue Skies years ago when I was a kid. I will definitely have to check it out again - you've piqued my interest. I'm not sure if you can verify this or not but I've heard Fred Astaire was offered to do White Christmas but turned it down because he didn't want to work with Bing Crosby. Have you ever heard that?
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I've read is that Astaire pulled out due to a weak script and possibly thought he was too old to do the part. Once I am finished with my Tallulah Bankhead autobiography, I am starting on Crosby's "Call Me Lucky" maybe that'll tell me something- I'll let you know!
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