Genius. I seriously considered not writing up anything for this guy except that one word, typing it over and over again. This man was beyond genius. It took time for me to realize how truly talented he was, but I’m glad I finally woke up!
Some say that Gene Kelly entered Hollywood a decade too late. Fred Astaire was the dancing king of Hollywood and no one was to even come close. Enter Gene Kelly. He proved himself very quickly as a genius dancer and choreographer. His first film role was in the 1942 film For Me And My Gal with Judy Garland.
He made some memorable films along the way to his true great films. Some of those films were Cover Girl with Rita Hayworth and Anchors Aweigh, Take Me Out To The Ball Game and On The Town with Frank Sinatra. Frank said that Gene not only taught him how to dance, but how to be comfortable in front of a camera.
In 1951 he made his first of his two most legendary films and the two films that truly show his genius, An American In Paris. The end of An American In Paris includes a 17 minute ballet scene that was the pinnacle of his genius. The Academy couldn't even overlook it and gave Gene an honorary Oscar that year. The next year he made probably his most popular film, Singin' In The Rain. And even though his 17 minute ballet sequence in An American In Paris was genius, he'll always be remembered for the memorable scene where he's singing and dancing in the rain in the number Singin' In The Rain. The film got totally jipped at the Oscars. Only receiving two nominations, for Best Supporting Actress and Music, winning neither. The fact that An American In Paris swept the Oscars the previous year is probably the cause of this result. Nevertheless, it's the highest of Gene's career and his best work ever.
Dancer. Choreographer. Singer. Actor. Director. Producer. Writer.
Genius.
And above all...Perfectionist
The man could do it all.
1945 (18th) ACTOR -- Anchors Aweigh {"Joseph Brady"}
1951 (24th) * HONORARY AWARD To Gene Kelly in appreciation of his versatility as an actor, singer, director and dancer, and specifically for his brilliant achievements in the art of choreography on film.
