This image lives rent free in my head
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“But the older I get, the more I love song and dance in films.”
I may be Hugh Grant!
Source: youtu.be
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Y for "You're So Sexy"
Summary: In the middle of a dance sequence, Fred loses his mind and makes a public confession. It's all on film.
This interaction!
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Chapter 28 - X for "Sign on the X"
In 1933, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers first danced together in the film, "Flying Down to Rio". Ginger actually got a better screen billing for the first and only time. She had made about twenty as a contract player. Astaire was new to Hollywood, with one anemic film to his name. "Rio" would catapult the pair of background characters to fame, as they stole the film out from under lead actress Delores del Rio.
David O. Selznick was the smart Studio head who signed Astaire, and Producer Pandro Berman would become a fixture on the "Fred & Ginger" films. Watching the dailies of the dance, they set in motion a series of events that would make history.
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W for What Did He Say?
Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire present the Oscars for Writing (Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium) to Robert Bolt for "A Man for All Seasons", and for Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen) to Claude Lelouch and Pierre Uytterhoeven for "A Man and a Woman", at the 39th Academy Awards, the 1967 Oscars. The event was hosted by Bob Hope. Fred was sixty-eight and Ginger fifty-six.
Things did not go quite as planned.
Sometimes it’s the way he looks at her, sometimes it’s the way she looks at him.
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Chapter 26 - V for Veni, Vedi, Veci
It's 1931, and Prohibition is in full effect.
Fred and his girlfriend, Phyllis, are out on the town at the infamous Club 21 in NYC, on a double date with his sister, Adele, and her boyfriend Charlie - or more properly, Lord Charles Arthur Francis Cavendish, the second son of the 9th Duke of Devonshire and the Lord of Lismore Castle in Ireland.
Adele and Fred have been headlining Broadway shows and having tremendous success on the Vaudeville circuit for decades now. The duo were incredibly popular, not just in the States, but abroad. On one of those visits, Adele had met the man she brought to the restaurant tonight.
Not one to be deterred by titles or expectations, Adele makes the move that will take her off the stage forever and into the newspapers for another reason entirely.
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Chapter 25 - U for Ultimatum
In the 30's and 40's, the Hollywood Studios had a hugely inappropriate range of power over the actors and actresses that they held on contract. The studio system told them what they would be acting in that year... there was little choice given for the actors who made the actual money for the studios. The executives in charge had control over their actors, and that included their personal lives. Horror stories abound of executives making life or death decisions for the actors under their thumbs.
Ginger falls afoul of the power of the studio executive in charge of her career.
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Chapter 24 - T for Tennis
Fred was a hard driven man, determined to make his dances perfect, and worked long hours to make it so. Ginger was not only a dancer, but participated in many sports and sporting activities. Fred also golfed, deep sea fished and played tennis. Ginger played tennis, too, and had the only clay court on the west coast in her backyard.
Put these two dancing partners on a tennis court together, and their competitive natures just can't help but come out.
Fred and Ginger make a bet. Who will win?
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Chapter 23 - S for Sour Apples
Quoting the story below: "The Hollywood Women’s Press Club was founded by Louella Parsons in 1928 to organize the women covering Hollywood’s happenings to create social opportunities and “promote pleasure and recreation” per its founding statement."
It quickly became the film industry's tongue in cheek way of rewarding or admonishing the most cooperative and the least cooperative stars of the golden age of Hollywood.
In 1941, the first year that the Apple Awards were awarded, Fred and Ginger won it for Sour Apples.
Ginger said, “I have nothing to say, except that I seem to be listed among some nice people.”
Fred, meanwhile, said, “They should have respect for my age.”
Sounds about right for our two secret lovers and famous actors who liked to keep their lives private.
Freddy and his errant thumb
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Chapter 22 - R for Regarding Barrie, Part Three
Ginger meets Barrie the next day, after her confrontation with Fred.
Putting whatever wisdom she has acquired from her forty-seven years on the planet thus far, she has a frank discussion with the lithe dancer that Fred has taken up with.
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Chapter 21 - R for Regarding Barrie, Part Two
After agreeing that marriage was not in their future, Ginger and Fred had agreed to carry on much as they always had over the past almost year, living their own lives and making time for one another whenever possible and however they could.
Leading busy lives, autumn proves surprising for both of them. For Fred, Barrie Chase has crashed into his life like a breath of fresh air, and their television special is widely lauded as Emmy worthy. For Ginger, watching from the sidelines, she sees a threat to what she and Fred have.
Their relationship has faced many challenges - but never one as cute and talented as Barrie.
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R for Regarding Barrie, Part One
On October 17, 1958, the first "An Evening with Fred Astaire" aired live, featuring his new dance partner, a young woman named Barrie Chase. The show ended up being very successful, winning nine Emmy awards and spawning three further specials over the next decade.
During the show, Fred called out to Ginger, looking straight into the camera.
The world wondered. Fred Astaire, 59, and Barrie Chase, 25. Where did Ginger fit into all this?
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Chapter 19 - Q for Quiet
On the set of "Holiday Inn", Fred just could not force himself to be uncoordinated while acting drunk.
What's a dancing genius to do?
His genius idea was to actually take shots of bourbon whiskey. According to his daughter Ava, he took two shots before beginning - and could still dance just fine. So, he took one shot after every take just to make sure. It took seven more to bring him down. When he fell down in the film... Fred really fell. He was drunk off his ass.
Of course, in my story, Hermes and Ginger have to witness the aftermath, when all Fred wants is a bit of peace and QUIET.