Gene Kelly

Aside from Fred Astaire, it is probably quite true to say that Gene Kelly is in fact the cream of the crop, the crème de la crème, numero uno. He delivered what was probably one of Hollywood's greatest musical segments of all time, which he himself headlined and co-directed; "Singin' In The Rain" (1952). Once a former dance instructor and, believe it or not, gas-station attendant, Kelly decided to move on and signed up for a college theatre class, as well as summer stock, right before his making his Broadway debut, in 1940's "Pal Joey". He was only a ball-kick-change away from landing his next big role with MGM studios a little while after. Some people said that as a dancer, he was the "thunder to Fred Astaire's lightening", but as a choreographer, he was purely genius. It was purely evident in his dance number, in 1945's "Anchor's Aweigh", which accounted for his only Oscar nomination. However, from there on out, he delivered one great classical after another: "On The Town" (1949), "An American In Paris" (1951), "It's Always Fair Weather" (1955), and the famous "Singin' In The Rain" (1952). Kelly was an amazing actor, awesome dancer, passionate singer, and a magnetic lady's man, with his irresistible charm and those ever-impressive dance moves. What great entertainment Kelly brought to the screen! (CD)