Fred Astaire (1899-1987) was an American dancer and singer famous for his n… Read Full Bio ↴Fred Astaire (1899-1987) was an American dancer and singer famous for his numerous appearances in the 1920s and 1930s in Vaudeville, on Broadway and on the London stage with sister Adele Astaire; in musical films between the 1930s and 1960s; and on American TV in the 1950s and beyond. Although he teamed with many dancers, including Gene Kelly, his best known screen pairing was with Ginger Rogers, with whom he appeared in 10 films. He continued to act in non-dancing roles in films and TV in the 1960s through 1980s.

In part because of his expressive phrasing and graceful interpretation, Astaire was chosen to introduce many now-classic songs, including standards by Cole Porter (example, "Night and Day"), his friend Irving Berlin ("Let's Face the Music and Dance"), Jerome Kern ("The Way You Look Tonight"), Johnny Mercer ("One for My Baby") and George and Ira Gershwin ("They Can't Take That Away from Me").

Fred Astaire is interred at Oakwood Memorial Park, Chatsworth, California, USA, the same cemetery where Ginger Rogers, is located. (http://encyclopaediaoftrivia.blogspot.com/2011/09/fred-astaire.html)

Coffee Time
Fred Astaire Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Coffee time, my dreamy friend, it's coffee time
Let's sing this silly little rhyme
And have a cup of coffee

Java time, my happy chum, let's have a time
We'll celebrate for just a dime
And have a cup of coffee

Greetin' time, the music box is beatin' time
It's good old-fashioned meetin' time
We're in the pink, so come and clink
And let's drink a cup of coffee

Coffee time, my dreamy friend, it's coffee time
Let's sing this silly little rhyme
And have a cup of coffee

Coffee time, my dreamy friend it's coffee time
Let's sing this silly little rhyme
And have a cup of coffee

And have a cup of coffee
And have a cup of coffee

Overall Meaning

The song "Coffee Time" by Fred Astaire and Chorus is a playful and happy tune that celebrates the simple pleasure of having a cup of coffee with friends. The lyrics speak of the joy of meeting up with friends over a cup of coffee, and the silliness of singing a little rhyme to celebrate. The song invites listeners to join in the celebration and enjoy a cup of joe together.

The lyrics are particularly interesting because they capture the spirit of a time when going out for coffee was a special event, a chance to catch up with friends and socialize. Nowadays, coffee is a ubiquitous part of our daily routines, but in the past, it was more of a luxury. The song reminds us of the importance of taking the time to connect with others and enjoy the simple pleasures in life.

Overall, "Coffee Time" is a charming and nostalgic song that celebrates the joys of friendship and the simple pleasure of a good cup of coffee.

Line by Line Meaning

Coffee time, my dreamy friend, it's coffee time
Time for coffee, my relaxing companion, we should sit back and enjoy this peaceful moment

Let's sing this silly little rhyme
We can cheerfully express ourselves by singing this fun, nonsensical verse

And have a cup of coffee
While we sing and enjoy each other's company, let's indulge in a comforting cup of coffee

Java time, my happy chum, let's have a time
It's time for coffee, my contented friend, we should make the most of this moment

We'll celebrate for just a dime
We can celebrate and enjoy ourselves without spending much money

And have a cup of coffee
We can heighten our enjoyment of this celebration with a good cup of coffee

Greetin' time, the music box is beatin' time
It's a time for greetings, with the music box setting the tempo

It's good old-fashioned meetin' time
This is a classic style of meeting, with friendly faces and warm conversation

We're in the pink, so come and clink
We're feeling great and happy, so let's toast to each other's good health

And let's drink a cup of coffee
As we clink our glasses, let's savor a delicious cup of coffee together

And have a cup of coffee
There's nothing better than ending a good gathering with another cup of coffee

And have a cup of coffee
Let's extend this pleasant time a little longer with one more cup of coffee

And have a cup of coffee
Finally, let's enjoy one last cup of coffee together before we part ways

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ARTHUR FREED, HARRY WARREN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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01Cheek To Cheek3:20

02The Continental

03Heigh Ho, The Gang's All Here

04Puttin' On The Ritz2:35

05Let's Face the Music and Dance2:28

06Shall We Dance2:29

07Night And Day3:12

08A Fine Romance2:49

09Top Hat, White Tie And Tails1:23

10Let's Call The Whole Thing Off3:10

11High Hat2:30

12The Yam Steps2:52

13I'm Old Fashioned2:25

14Astairable Rag2:16

15Ballet Music3:29

16Nice Work If You Can Get It2:42

17A Foggy Day2:23

18I Can't Tell A Lie

19Triplets1:18

20The Way You Look Tonight3:06

21Crazy Feet2:50

22Fascinating Rhythm2:45

23(I've Got) Beginner's Luck

29You're Easy To Dance With2:44

30I Can't Be Bothered Now2:25

31Coffee Time5:49

PT5M49S

Fred Astaire

32A Shine On Your Shoes

33Beggars Waltz2:01

34A Couple Of Swells2:45

35By Myself2:20

36Confession1:03

37Funny Face3:46

38It Only Happens When I Dance With You2:33

39Fated To Be Mated2:14

40Dearly Beloved2:33

41Easter Parade (Easter Bonnet)2:41

42Drum Crazy

43Dancing in the Dark

44He Loves and She Loves5:03

45Paris Loves Lovers2:44

50Let's Kiss and Make Up

51Change Partners3:16

52My Music Box

53I'd Rather Charleston

54Since I Kissed My Baby Goodbye2:58

55So Near And Yet So Far3:03

56Snookey Ookums

57Steppin' out with my baby (From Easter Parade)2:31

58Stereophonic Sound

59That's Entertainment [From 'The Band Wagon']

60Who Cares2:51

61They All Laughed6:08

62A Couple of Song and Dance Men2:19

63The Ritz Roll and Rock2:55

64The Gold Diggers Song - We're in the Money2:16

65I Used To Be Color Blind3:07

66Things Are Looking Up3:10

67I've Got You on My Mind2:43

68I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket2:46

69Let Yourself Go2:34

70Flying Down to Rio2:49

71Isn't This A Lovely Day3:16

72Bandwagon: Part 210:00

73One For My Baby (And One For The Road)

74I'll Capture Your Heart

75Yolanda2:40

76My One and Only3:03

77Shooting the Work for Uncle Sam3:37

78Louisiana2:55

79A Needle In A Haystack2:23

80The Piccolino3:17

81Not My Girl2:27

82The Half of It Dearie Blues2:47

83I Love Louisa3:00

84New Sun in the Sky2:54

85Bojangles of Harlem3:06

86They Can't Take That Away From Me3:04

87Swiss Miss2:55

88Bandwagon: Part 19:43

89White Heat/Dancing In The Dark2:41

90Hang on to Me2:49

91Heat Wave

92Funny Face: S Wonderful

93I'm Building Up to an Awful Let-Down3:05

94I'd Rather Lead a Band2:29

95Never Gonna Dance3:12

96We Saw the Sea2:22

97Will You Marry Me (Dream Ballet)

98The Waltz in Swing Time2:33

99Pick Yourself Up2:56

100Overture3:43

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Comments from YouTube:

Mike Tutek

3y↑17

One of M-G-M's most underrated musical & dance numbers!! Dazzling, superb in every way !!! Thank you, Broadway Classics !!!

Carlos Jorge Stöckel

Although is a very good movie, it didn´t do well at the box office!

Esmee Phillips

1y↑1

No, it took a terrible bath and made Fred decide that his next, 'Blue Skies', would be his last. Luckily Gene Kelly broke his ankle, 'Easter Parade' was retooled for Fred, and the third phase of his movie career was on.

Janet Tucker

3y↑16

The sheer grace of Fred Astaire's movements is astounding.

Devron Conrad

4y↑15

Fred said that this was one of the hardest dance routines he ever did. Thanks for posting and putting in the time beats. Such a brilliant number. The music and orchestration, the costumes, the dancers, the set - MGM at its best. We’ll never see it again.

Broadway Classixs

4y↑3

Do you have a source for that quote? I'd love to read it!

Devron Conrad

4y↑2

Broadway Classixs - I don’t. I just remember reading that in a book many years ago.

DelGuy03

4y↑13

I just today saw the movie for the first time, and when this number started, and I saw & heard the dancers clapping a 5-pattern while the music kept going in 4, my head just about exploded. The movie overall is a mess, but this number is like nothing I've ever seen, and I came to YouTube in hopes that somebody had done what you in fact have done. Thank you so much, @Broadway Classixs!

Broadway Classixs

4y↑2

Thanks - I hate when the only thing people discuss about this number is that damn floor!

Rob Bowman

3y↑2

@Broadway Classixs DelGuy03 and Broadway Classixs, I couldn't agree more!

Esau Bangura

1y↑2

Same here, except I had seen this years ago and never understood its brilliance and sheer difficulty. I've never seen a dance number like this before. It's rhythmically complex and only Fred could pull it off.

Me Mm

1y↑2

"Coffee Time" is another fine example of Vincent Minnelli's brilliant direction! He had worked as a window dresser, photographer, costume and set designer, then as a theater director before arriving at MGM in 1940. Within the Arthur Freed Unit, Minnelli's background and ability culminated in creating art-work on the screen.

Photographed in highly-saturated Technicolor, "Coffee Time" is visually stunning in every aspect and represents a style that unfortunately will never be attempted again on film. As the music plays in 4/4 time, the dancers move in 5/4 time, the camera moves overs a black and white, Rio de Janeiro, serpentine-pattern floor, creating an almost hypotonic effect!

MGM has been called "The Dream Factory" and "Yolanda And The Thief" is just one of many of its great creations! We must give praise to Louis B. Mayer and Arthur Freed for providing Vincent Minnelli the ability to express his talent and genius on the screen!

Broadway Classixs

I don't think any number before or since has attempted to meld opposing time signatures.

angelevelyndoyle

3y↑4

Still my favorite always been. Fred amazing even on 4 step

Broadway Classixs

He's actually dancing in 5, not 4!

Kitty Maehem

5y↑8

The play with time signatures is simply divine! It’s made to look effortless, but in reality, it’s something of real genius. And when the lead dancers switch to 4/4, it has the feel of the whole movement slowing down, and becoming dreamlike. It’s a completely fascinating piece. Thankyou for posting. (And a shout-out to Geo for sending me here 😉 *styro*🥁)

Broadway Classixs

5y↑1

Thanks - so bummed when everyone talks about that damn floor but not the amazing time signature clash! The only time it's ever been attempted.

Kitty Maehem

5y↑1

Broadway Classixs That’s a bit sad… surely choreographers are clever enough today to do something similar (?) 🤷🏻‍♀️?
It’s truly an amazing piece of creative genius. If I were a music/dancing/creative arts/ maths teacher, it’s definitely something I’d show my students! Alas, as a Science Teacher, I’m just not sure I could squeeze it in to a lesson plan, (without a very guilty conscience!)… Maybe it would be a “just because” fun thing, that I do, time permitting 🤗!
Thankyou again for sharing this incredible piece of art. I wish more people could see it, or knew about it. (I’ll tweet a link, anyway…)
Thanks🤗🐱🇦🇺

Qboro66

5y↑11

Fred Astaire never met a dance he couldn't master and a partner he couldn't dance with. Simply THE BEST!

JohnnyM Fan

Fred and Gene Kelly met their match with Vera-Ellen. She was absolutely brillant! I think she even out danced Gene in the fantastic Slaughter on 10th Ave. from the film, Words and Music(1948). Vera-Ellen is very underrated.

Orlando Cordova

3y↑1

My personal favorite! He was just so classy! Chic! Above it all! 😀!

Klaus Oppermann

9y↑31

Lucille was probably one of Fred's most talented partner, as she proved in this fantastic dance number. Love it!

Leprechaun Stud

9y↑7

+Klaus Oppermann Yes! The Limehouse Blues number the two did from Ziegfeld Follies is one of my favorites.

Jay Young

5y↑3

@Leprechaun Stud ...Since time has lapsed both of you may not read my posit.
But I think Bremer was underrated as a partner in the ballets in which she appeared with Astaire. And, Lreprehaun, I agree with you 100 percent. "Limehouse "Blues," which is intricated to say the least, shows her emotional range in the dance.

Barry Hemmings

Klaus Oppermann b

JohnnyM Fan

5y↑3

Vera-Ellen was also superb with Astaire and Kelly

K G

more talented than Ginger and Eleanor or same level?

1 More Replies...

Esmee Phillips

4y↑3

Eugene Loring alternates ensemble and duo passages, slow and fast iterations of the tune, a cappella clapping and full orchestration, with balletic and then ballroom maneuvers as the pair grow closer. All this accumulates tension until at 4:04 everything kicks into the swing arrangement and delirious release of the two stars in a grown-ups' jitterbug. As you think that's all, it goes up another gear and the couple end in a pose which assures us they will be united at the plot's denouement.

Fred said this was one of his toughest shoots- so much for everyone to get right. Years later Loring refused to work with him again b/c he felt Fred had become too set in his ways and un-co-operative, but they surely clicked here.

Broadway Classixs

What do you think of the contrasting meters?

Esmee Phillips

@Broadway Classixs I love the spectral quality they lay over the number, but I am not surprised it was not tried again. Fiendishly hard to sustain.

Broadway Classixs

@Esmee Phillips I'm thinking they had a dance director clapping the 5/4 beat all during filming. I don't know how else they could do it. I wonder if this could ever be done live on stage?

ben-jammin333!

4y↑3

Just want to say you did a great job with this video. It's the only full video of the actual dance routine on Youtube, and you note the differences in time signatures well (also amazing that you added the claps back manually!). It gives the effect of the dancers being constantly in dynamic (quick and darting) motions on top of the music. I'd be super curious to know Loring's thought process behind this number (as well as a few other numbers in the film), and how long it took Astaire , Bremer, and the ensemble dancers to get this routine down. This movie is very briefly mentioned in a few books on Minnelli; I might have to check those out and see if they offer any insight.

epikureer1

5y↑6

I saw this dance scene as a child and was fascinated - but didn't understand the background: Why is it so brilliant?
Now, several decades later, it's as clear as daylight!
Thank you very much for this wonderful explanation
I really don't know any other dance number that plays in 4/4 time, but dances in 5/4 time...
Only one word: Great!

Broadway Classixs

5y↑1

Thanks for finally commenting on something other than that floor!

Darna Bedwell

This film really captured my sense of "safe" fantacy. The music is exceptional and of course the dancing; especially Coffee Time.

Rob Bowman

3y↑1

Breathtaking. Brilliant!!!

Philip Chretien Karlsson

5y↑2

A marvel....beautiful dancing and extraordinary choreography, and beautiful and subtle colors !

Esmee Phillips

Lucille Bremer wears Vincente Minnelli's favorite yellow. He even had his sport coats made in it.

Philip Chretien Karlsson

You don't say...now, well, that's a yeller: good for you!

vincentvangogodancer

6y↑6

I have watched this like 100 times. While I have tried to figure out the dance timing of the dancers vs music, I still don't see it. It's no surprise that no one comments on it.

I watch this because of Fred's perfect form and Lucille Bremer's underrated dancing. She was a great partner.

The floor IS amazing- it's perfect for the surreal theme of the movie. And this is also a great song. Natalie Cole did a great cover a few years ago.

But the timing on the dancers? I give up. I think you see things we don't see.

Broadway Classixs

6y↑2

It's plain as day - I even put the numbers up for you! Just count along with the claps - you'll see they are 1 2 3 4 5, not 1 2 3 4.

vincentvangogodancer

6y↑1

It's like one of those Magic Eye posters where some people see the hidden picture. I didn't see it then and I don't see it now. Thanks for posting anyway.

Broadway Classixs

5y↑2

You don't see it, you hear it. I don't know how I could have made it any clearer. Count 4 beats for the orchestra and 5 for the dancers - that's all.

Douglas Sharpe

We'll, I see and hear it! Takes concentration.

vincentvangogodancer

@Douglas Sharpe I hear it!!!! That magnificent floor was distracting

Bluejeans0701

9y↑13

Lucille Bremer is really amazing in this clip and so is Fred Astaire. I wonder why this film was a flop commercially. I am sure that Lucille Bremer was a very talented actress; she played the piano in "Meet Me In St. Louis." She had class in both of the two films.

Vincent Parisi

8y↑3

+Bluejeans0701 This was Minnelli and MGM at their most baroque and it was probably too much for the audiences even those who loved Minnelli's films and MGM musicals.Also the story device of a conman exploiting the prayers of a convent girl and pretending to be her guardian angel to steal her fortune I imagine the MGM people found amusing and the general audience found distasteful.This is one of the most incredible musical numbers ever put on film and no matter how many times I see it I can't take it all in.Bremer was a great beauty and terrific talent and I'm sorry she didn't do more films. You see this and I Won't Dance from Clouds and Dancing With the Stars is a horrible tasteless joke.The problem with this clip is that it seems to slightly slow down when Astaire and Bremer are dancing and the chorus starts singing.I wish it would be reposted so that the entire clip was at the proper speed.That floor as the background for the dancing is incredible.So many contrasting images that meld together perfectly.

Broadway Classixs

+vincent parisi I made the clip and nothing is slowed down - the entire clip is at the proper speed. And I'm so tired of people commenting on that floor and saying nothing about the opposing time signatures. That's the whole reason I made the clip.

Vincent Parisi

8y↑2

+Broadway Classixs That's so odd because I saw this at MOMA months ago and got no sense of the slow down during the chorus. Here I sensed it immediately.And probably nobody says anything about the opposing time signatures because most of us are not trained musicians and it's too sophisticated and complicated for us to comprehend. Even with your help! I'm not trying to be snarky but I can't even begin to imagine how the dancers keep the rhythm and perfectly keep the time in clapping. No matter how many times I watch it I can't follow it. It really is amazing. And I'm sorry but the dancing against that floor is brilliant.

Broadway Classixs

+vincent parisi I can assure you that I matched the stereo track to the film exactly, with no change in tempo. I just wish someone would applaud Eugene Loring's amazing time experiment instead of that damn floor!

Vincent Parisi

8y↑1

+Broadway Classixs I believe you and Loring's choreography is so wonderful it reminds me of Balanchine. But I could never figure out how his dancers could remember such concentrated choreography or keep in rhythm either. But like I said the people who would see a movie like Yolanda are not going to be aware of what's going on. Often people who would go to Balanchine though they liked it would have no idea how good it was. Yeah it was great but how good it was? No. This kind of thing leaves me in awe.

9 More Replies...

HeyYouGuys!

7y↑3

I love this dance! I love any movie with Fred Astaire, but this was not very good; not his fault. Lucille Bremer was a fantastic dancer; it's a shame her talent was not put to good use. Her legs are long and beautiful; she is quick and agile and graceful. Thanks for all your work on posting this. Please give more detail on the difficulty of the timing because I find this very interesting.

Bob Waldman

4y↑11

In an interview, Lennie Hayton who conducted, said, "I thought the score was just about the best thing I ever did. "

Orlando Cordova

3y↑1

THAT'S SOMETHING COMING FROM HIM! WOW! 😮!

Swingman 56

3y↑2

I can understand that,and of the multitude of Astaire performances on film,this particular number is one of my favorites.

JohnnyM Fan

5y↑2

Thanks for the stereo upload. It sounds great.

Yvonne Fisher

I had a look at the sheet music. The graphics of the orchestral beats should be twice as fast. That said, I find the use of the 4/4 against 5/4 to be really interesting. It must have been hard to pull off, but I think that they succeeded brilliantly.

Broadway Classixs

Technically true - but I thought it was easier for the untrained ear to follow if I highlighted the bass beats.

Andrew Brendan

9y↑14

I'm so glad that this dance, sequences of dances, really, by a combination and variety of people who so beautifully used their various gifts that they worked so hard to develop is again to be seen on You Tube. I appreciate it very much. I've never seen a dance scene that has given and continues to give me so much enjoyment. As fine as others are, for me this is the best and I consider it a privilege to be able to see this and I plan to see it many times in the future. This scene is "a thing of beauty" and it is "a joy forever". I am enriched by seeing and hearing this.

Broadway Classixs

Andrew Brendan How about hearing the first stereo version?

Andrew Brendan

9y↑1

Broadway Classixs "Hear! Hear!"--in more ways than one! Stereo makes it even better. Thank you for all your work in preparing and making this treasure available to us.

Douglas Sharpe

8y↑1

Couldn't have said it better myself... the epitome of swing era dance numbers. A shame really fine eras of music and art reach a zenith then, POOF... over and done with... about 5-7 years it seems then it changes for better or worse.

Global TV and Movies

4y↑2

Superb dancing from Lucille bremer and Fred Astaire.

Broadway Classixs

Bremer

Global TV and Movies

7y↑6

Perfection. Lucille and Fred the best ever.

mca1218

8y↑6

The final analysis seems to be that the film was an experiment that did not quite hit the mark. But wonderful Technicolor, attractive performers, and "Coffee Time-" a remarkable number which has its corps de ballet joyously perform in cafe' au lait colors during the main chorus, and then part way for its two star dancers to perform almost exclusively in hand clap percussion only, with a rollicking, suspenseful chant of cymbals, against the craziest zebra striped floor you ever saw. Lucille Bremer, so I read, was brought to MGM as their answer to Columbia's Rita Hayworth- the other dancing redhead- but whether or not that is actually true, she did just fine opposite Fred Astaire. A shame she did not do more dance musicals.

Broadway Classixs

7y↑1

So tired of hearing about the floor - what about the mixing of time signatures??

mca1218

7y↑1

Sorry- I don't know anything about the mixing of time signatures.

Broadway Classixs

Did you read my note beneath the clip or look at the very big titles I added for the first minute of the clip?

hipsterdoofus1026

I like it best when it slows down around 2:00, it seems more dreamlike. I don't care about the floor and I wish I could dance. If you hadn't pointed out the different times I never would have noticed, I didn't even know dance has its own time signature. Thanks for the info!

Global TV and Movies

4y↑1

Fantastic from Lucille and Fred.

Robert Anderson

6y↑1

I loved this particuler dance "Coffee Time" from Yolanda and the Thief. I liked the film too except the quick climax ending. It confused the audience too. It was as if a scene or two was cut out of the film! But MGM would not do a stupid thing like that - would they? I also thought that Lucille Bremer was wonderful and thought that MGM should have kept her and built her up to become one of their own big stars. Maybe because this film did not go over all that big is why ! Who knows !
Fred Astaire was good in this film too even if his character was a little bit 'too corny'. It was great to see the wonderful Wizard of Oz's Frank Morgan also.
Vincente Minnelli who directed this film also directed another film that was in this same vein called "The Pirate" with Judy Garland & Gene Kelly and this film was also a flop. Judy's only flop. And I think these films may have been ahead of their time for 1948. Who knows?

Jay Young

@Robert...Thank you for clarifying some questions I had in reserve. First, just how was it that Astaire at one time was considered Box office Poison; and 2) just why wasn't Bremer given credit for being one of the foremost ballet dancers in MGM's stable. The film flop. There's nothing more harmful to the career than a flop at the box office. For when it comes to money, all bets are off. Even the great Kate Kepburn was once considered Box Office Poison.

myfavs

5y↑2

Excellent analysis of the difference in dance and song time! I KNEW there was something fascinating and mesmerizing about this number, which I love. That is it. I would never have known it

Broadway Classixs

5y↑1

Thanks for commenting on that!

myfavs

5y↑1

@Broadway Classixs Cheers

Linda Sandahl

8y↑4

Fred Astaire wrote that he dreamed of this rhythm (as he did the original Top Hat number)

James Ryan

6y↑2

Side note : Irene Sharaff, who designed Lucille Bremer's costumes, also was responsible for designers the floor of that scene.

Broadway Classixs

Do you have a cite for that? Very rare for costume designers to take on the role of scenic designers. BTW, the floor is based on the Ipanema Beach walkways in Rio.

James Ryan

Broadway Classixs : I found out that information from the book "Directed by Vincente Minnelli".

Broadway Classixs

The one by Stephen Harvey?

James Ryan

Broadway Classixs : yes

Sascha Stannard

the entire coffee time scene was designed by Tony Duquette for Vincente Minnelli. Duquette was responsible for several ultra glamorous sets for Minnelli films including the Coffee Time sequence, This heart of mine, "Ziegfeld Follies" the Minnelli Finale for "Lovely To Look At", The Fireplace andirons for "Four Horsemen of the Apocolypse, The costumes for Kismet, etc.

Eduardo Fargas

6y↑3

Thanks for putting in all that work! :-)

Orlando Cordova

WOW! PERFECTION! 😮!

Chattyroz

I think some of the negative comments here might be because of the floor design, which is not only distracting but makes the floor look bumpy. I don't suppose you have a clip of the "Will you marry me" part from the ballet when he bring her to life and she pursues him? It's the cutest thing Fred Astaire ever did.

IsaM Molina

5y↑2

Así es .Gran bailarina.Bella y buena actriz💕.Pero al parecer las dos películas que hicieron juntos (participaron en Ziegfield Follies)no gozaron de gran éxito. Y luego llegó el reinado de Cyd Charisse.

アリアーヌ

5y↑1

ダンサーの衣装本当に可愛い。アステアのダンスは本当に素晴らしい。何十年も彼の虜です。様々なダンス、音楽のジャンル、リズムどれも完璧だもの。こんな凄い人いない。

Vincent Parisi

7y↑4

Nobody alive now could choreograph a number of such complexity yet of such drive, momentum and sheer entertainment. At most today they just keep people very busy as in the school of Marshall and Stroman. I get so exhausted watching dancers today sweating for nothing. It's like watching people working out in a gym. I wouldn't say this was ahead of its time. It was of its time and then as somebody noted it just disappeared.

Broadway Classixs

7y↑2

Actually, I would say it's in its own time! No one before or since has ever attempted to mix time signatures as Eugene Loring did in this number.

Paul Jung

47w

"An appendage of additional beauty - is a woman's long flowing, twirling skirt. It lends.. an ethereal atmosphere, and air."

~ ADanceArtPerspective (PaulJung)

karmcwon

4y↑1

Cool. Thanks for this. But don't don't the dancers change the beat briefly just before Astaire & Bremer start their dance? Can you mark out on screen what happens in that transition? (Or am I just losing the beat?)

Broadway Classixs

4y↑1

From my viewing, all the dancers are always in 5/4. But when I try to clap along, I always lose the beat! My guess is that they had someone on set yelling 1 2 3 4 5 for the whole dance. Especially if the music was also playing while filming.

Brian Oyler

47w

@Broadway Classixs you know what I think the director, producer, choreographer, camera men, orchestra and dancers did. They filmed the dancers dancing with an orchestra in 5/4. Then they went back in and rerecorded the orchestra in 4/4 so that the dancers and orchestra were on two different beats. Just like they used to do with pre-recording songs and actors doing lip-sync or with filming tap numbers and dancers going back into "looping" the taps for synchronization.

Broadway Classixs

47w

@Brian Oyler More likely there was a pianist on set playing the song in 4/4 while the dance captain counted loudly in 5/4. Something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLVvvwMoJ0c

Alide van Eerde

7y↑1

amazing!!!!!!!

Saint Michael

5y↑4

I am subject to seizures. The floor in this dance routine gives me the feeling as if I'm going to have a seizure. Really. I had to turn this sequence off. Same thing as the blinking bright lights on top of school buses, and disco balls.

IsaM Molina

5y↑2

Gran número de baile🌹🍃🌹🍃🌹🍃🌹🍃🌹

Caleb S

31w

Astonishingly brilliant dance number!! A big flop in 1945 and killed off Bremer’s Hollywood career. But she was a great match for Astaire in their two films together. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Marzena591

9y↑5

Eerie and fascinating music and dance - effect not from this world...

Douglas Sharpe

Source material? HOW did you separate all the elements to create your stereo version, or did you somehow access the original discrete tracks???

Broadway Classixs

The stereo version has been released (without the hand claps) on Rhino Records. I had to put back all the claps!

bbcisrubbish

Why?

Broadway Classixs

7y↑2

Because the clip doesn't make sense without the hand claps!

Heru- deshet

8y↑2

Until I saw this movie on TCM, I never heard of this beauty before. She is a gorgeous red head that reminds me of Christina Hendricks in a way.

D ODay

The dance itself is terrific, the counter time signatures so effective and interesting. Alas, the movie as a whole is pretty bad, and the set design here awful. That floor and backdrop are so distracting. Lucile Bremer was such a technically perfect match for Astaire. Alas, audiences just didn’t take to her, and she called it quits after about a dozen movies.

Broadway Classixs

The floor is a classic Brazilian design - it's beautiful. But the dance is the important thing here;.

Shmalentine

5y↑5

That floor is trippy... :o

Broadway Classixs

God - the whole reason I made the clip is because I was tired of people only commenting on that damn floor! The contrasting rhythms are far more amazing.

denise simpson

4y↑1

Rehearsals must have been brutal.

Paul Jung

47w

Sacre bleu, Ms. Bremer & Co, is as if, a Renoir came alive.

Bob Downes

What I could never stand with Astaire is that 90% of the time whilst dancing, he looked at his feet.

Robert Anderson

I never noticed that !

Bob Downes

What he is in fact doing is looking to see where his partner's feet are. Making sure they are in syncro with eachother.
Though that is not usually the Job of the 'Lead' dancer.

(Composer/ Musician in the 70s for Modern Dance & Ballet.
Mainly London based companies -
London Contemporary Dance Theatre, Ballet Rambert, Royal Ballet.)

Bruce R

4y↑1

The best movie choreography ever!

But then, after all, it's just fake news!

U.N. Owen

5y↑1

+Broadway Classics; at first, u was a bit agog; 'what's with the timing explanations - and in such detail', them I thought for a moment, and said, you know, 'everyone has to learn beginning siege p somewhere', and i reneger when I was a kid, I had someone explain it to me.

Good idea, and a great piece to place it.

Broadway Classixs

Thanks - I was shocked when I first learned about the two different rhythms - no one else seems aware of it!

Gregory Collins Bosque

Great talents wasted on a stupid production. (One example of stupid is the floor. It detracts from the dance.) Let’s salute Lucille.

Philip Drake

8y↑1

FANTASTIC

Global TV and Movies

7y↑1

Lucille bremer. Gorgeous.

Mag Loyd

Wonderful dancing. So difficult.. Sorry to mention it , but it is a "darn floor".

Broadway Classixs

So tired of people who only comment on that floor - what about the amazing time signatures I highlighted at the beginning??

Beregond1954

9y↑4

If you have seen the film, you know why it flopped. It is a Bemelman fantasy, and fantasy rarely does well with the public; especially one as rarefied as this. It's a shame, because it ended Bremer's shot at stardom, and I think she was terrific.

Robert Anderson

What do you mean by 'rarefied'? I loved the pairing of Astaire & Bremer, but I did think the plot was rather blasfamous. Can't spell THAT word, but I'm sure you know what I mean. I have another 'so called' review at the top here.

Philip Drake

fANTASTIC

Sascha Stannard

Lucille Bremer was producer Arthur Freed's girlfriend.

Jay Young

5y↑2

@Sascha...Relevance? Whatever. She's out there on the dance floor with one of the greatest dancers of all time. So it don't mean a think if the girl's Freed's friend. She's got the swing!

Joseph Worby

Tiny Dancer to me Ginger Rogers the chemistry between the two of them although they he did not realise was enormous you're so funny together as well as they were Soulmates that's why they will always be remembered together dancing forever (the wife)

Neel L. Lumi

Pretty nifty clip but the closed captions are way out of sync

Broadway Classixs

I have nothing to do with that - YouTube generates them.

Neel L. Lumi

@Broadway Classixs You can edit them though. I added captions to my videos manually.

Broadway Classixs

@Neel L. Lumi I never caption my videos. The lyrics are all available online. And the lyrics to this song are completely superfluous.

Ana Cristina Coloneze

Love💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

perpetual61

8y↑1

@Braodway Classixs What is the Name of this movie ?

Lost Vocals

8y↑1

+perpetual61 It's in the title of the clip.

RANDOM VINTAGE FILM

5y↑2

I didnt like this at all and I really like Fred Astaire. I'm surprised he did this. It's actually hard to watch and unpleasant

cybernaut_ev

This was one of the most boring, easy dances he ever did.

Broadway Classixs

4y↑2

@cybernaut_ev If you read my notes, you wold see that it was one of the most difficult dances he ever did! And it's beautiful.

Pinkhoeduster

Negative nacy 😙

Patrice Moran

4y↑2

Fred Astaire was never...ever...boring in any of his musical films. Every dance step and movement he ever made on film was a
treasure.

LazlosPlane

oh!!! THAT explains why this number SUCKS!

Broadway Classixs

One of the best numbers ever.

LazlosPlane

@Broadway Classixs Oh. Oh.. yes.Of course. Greatest ever..

Broadway Classixs

4y↑1

@LazlosPlane As I said, ONE of the best ever.

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