Song of the Day: Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor, “Moses Supposes”

Song of the Day 1 Minute

Singer, dancer, actor, director, and choreographer Gene Kelly was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1912. He once said “I didn’t want to be a dancer. I wanted to play shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates.” This scene is from the 1952 film Singin’ In The Rain, where he and Donald O’Connor were receiving instruction from a diction coach, played by Bobby Watson.

Published by John Holton

Internet disc jockey, lover of old TV (especially the commercials), inveterate wise guy.

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8 thoughts on “Song of the Day: Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor, “Moses Supposes””

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  3. This is one of my all time favourite dance routines. Donald O’Connor was a huge talent who could keep up with demanding Kelly’s perfectionism. He shows how well and in sync he was with Gene Kelly. I also just love the way this dance routine and so many others, due to Fred Astaire’s insistence, is filmed with the whole body showing. before and in the 70s onward, they filmed the feet and or the upper torso in between the whole body, distracting you from the actual dance. Donald should be better known.

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    1. He was at least on a par with Gene as a dancer and actor (“Francis, The Talking Mule” notwithstanding). Both came off as regular guys, more athletes than dancers, really. The two together made for a very enjoyable movie.

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  4. There were some great dancers back in the day but the talent of this duo is mind-blowing. Both great dancers, the finesse of Gene Kelly is incomparable while the comedic, ‘acrobatic’ dancing of Donald O’Connor is a marvel. (His “Make ‘Em Laugh” routine is unparalleled. (I could see both these men in the roles of the Tin Man and the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz and their performances would be just as legendary as Jack Haley and Ray Bolger). There’s not much on TV these days – certainly no song and dance routines – but I could watch movies like this all day long. What a treat!

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    1. I was watching the “Make ’em Laugh” routine last night. Donald O’Connor was a very funny guy. I think he was wasted in the “Francis, The Talking Mule” movies…

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