I love this clip—it’s full of energy and brio. How can you not smile when you watch it? Rita Hayworth makes a great partner for Astaire, and although she can’t match his grace (nobody possibly could), she matches his energy and still makes it look effortless.
They dance to “The Shorty George,” whose name comes from the dancer in the second video below. The song is by Jerome Kern, and the orchestra conducted by Xavier Cugat. As far as I know, the YouTube notes below are completely accurate:
You Were Never Lovelier was Rita’s third and last film released in 1942 and her second time as Fred Astaire’s dancing partner. Except for “The Shorty George” number, all their dances were rehearsed in the attic of a funeral parlor! They had to stop every time a funeral procession came through and couldn’t start up again until all the mourners had left. But if those conditions disrupted rehearsals, it didn’t show on-screen. The results were fabulous. Rita later called this movie one of her favorites, but it was also memorable to her for another reason. During rehearsals of “The Shorty George”, Rita experienced one of her “most embarrassing” moments when she fell down during the dance and knocked herself out cold! The film is set in what was one of Hollywood’s favorite locales at the time, Buenos Aires, and also features Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra to add to the Latin flavor of this memorable musical.
“Shorty George” Snowden was a renowned dancer at the Savoy, one of New York’s great black ballrooms of the jazz era. He’s said to be the one who invented the name “Lindy Hop,” a famous dance of the 30s and 40s that started in Harlem (my parents could do it!). Here’s Shorty Lindy Hopping with his much larger partner:
Shorty George Snowden was the top dancer in the Savoy Ballroom from its opening in 1927 into the early 30’s, when he formed the first professional Lindy Hop troupe, the Shorty Snowden Dancers. They performed with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra at the Paradise Club downtown through most of the thirties.
Although he was barely five feet tall, Snowden made his height an asset rather than a liability. With comic genius, he parodied himself in his signature “Shorty George” step, in which his bent his knees, swinging from side to side, exaggerating his closeness to the ground. [JAC: note that Astaire does this at the beginning of the dance above, and both Astaire and Hayworth do it at 3:51.]
Shorty’s partner, Big Bea, towered over him. They often ended their routines in a comic move in which she carried him off the dance floor on her back. Frankie Manning says that this move inspired him to create his first air step, in which his partner started out on his back and then she flipped over his head and landed on the ground. Ironically, Shorty was defeated by Manning in a major competition when Manning introducted this first air step in 1935. Manning replaced Snowden as reigning king of the Savoy.
Yes. This is also one of my favorites. Very fun to watch. Can’t help but wonder what Ginger might have looked like in dancing this scene, however.
In watching Fred and Rita here, one might notice what she does (or doesn’t do) with her hands and arms. They seem to flail a bit as if she’s not sure what to do with them and while not necessarily inhibiting the energy of the moves, don’t compliment Astaire’s finesse. On the other hand, if you watch Ginger with Fred say, in the second part of “Pick Yourself Up”, or especially in “Cheek to Cheek” when they’re dancing alone, you’ll notice Ginger’s whole torso, hand and arm gestures are directed at flowing with Astaire’s, acting out the dance scene and moving the story forward. I’d say of all the great dance partners with whom Astaire worked, Ginger was the best.
I don’t have an opinion either way yet, but Hayworth do miss one hand clap with Astaire as a scene is cut.
Other than the rare mistake, Hayworth makes a fetching partner for the reasons in the article. The flailing is noticeable in Rogers too, when she has to concentrate on her legs. (IIRC that has been noted in an earlier post.)
[I really shouldn’t look for mistakes as I’m improvising on the floor. Rigorously speaking it is “all a mistake”, or as I like to put it, “a cheat”. But these movies are a great study of context, what makes a great dance or dancer.
When I want choreography and train set steps, I go to some aerobics class and pretend I’m, oh, why not Astaire. (O.o)]
Fred & Rita are killer-dillers alright. With a few bars of boogie-woogie piano, solid dancing & a dreamy Fred bunny hugging the righteous Rita out of the joint, this clip really sends me.
I also love the Shorty George for its vivaciousness and latin elements. There is in fact an exuberant and funny solo from Astaire in the same film. A good quality version can be found in the following YouTube selection, starting at 5:00 (it is preceded by Dearly Beloved sung by Astaire, and a reprise of the song by Hayworth, but dubbed by Nan Wynn):
Thanks for this. I love love the last dance too.