Fred Astaire, 100 min The first film, You'll Never Get Rich (1941), catapulted Hayworth to stardom. I was always working on dance numbers. [24]:23, 26, 61 Recently, film footage taken by Fred Stone of Astaire performing in Gay Divorce with Luce's successor, Dorothy Stone, in New York in 1933 was uncovered by dancer and historian Betsy Baytos and now represents the earliest known performance footage of Astaire. They revolutionized film dancing and served as an inspiration to future generations.When they first teamed up in 1933’s Flying Down to Rio, they instantly sparked on the screen.There was a certain magic between the pair that has been incomparable ever since. | Fred Astaire would’ve celebrated his 121st birthday on May 10, 2020. 134 min The 1994 documentary That's Entertainment! They became a very popular vaudeville dance act when Fred Astaire was only 7 years old. Comedy, Musical, Romance, Flying Tiger Fred Atwell sneaks away from his famous squadron's personal appearance tour and goes incognito for several days of leave. An American dancer comes to Britain and falls for a model whom he initially annoyed, but she mistakes him for his goofy producer. | "[70] Astaire's will included a clause requesting that no such portrayal ever take place; he commented, "It is there because I have no particular desire to have my life misinterpreted, which it would be."[71]. Fred Astaire, 110 min Later in life, he admitted, "I had to do most of it myself.". Director: 126 min Unlike the 1930s when he worked almost exclusively with Hermes Pan, he tapped the talents of other choreographers to innovate continually. Astaire died of pneumonia on June 22, 1987 at the age of 88. Thelma Ritter. By age 14, Fred had taken on the musical responsibilities for their act. | | | Performances with *Ginger Rogers (10), **Rita Hayworth (2), ***Bing Crosby (2), ****Vera-Ellen (2), *****Cyd Charisse (2).All performances with a { }, indicate the sole appearance of the performer as Astaire's partner. At one point, Astaire offered to return the award, but the Television Academy refused to consider it. Comedy, Musical, Romance. Astaire's dance partner was Petula Clark, who played his character's skeptical daughter. Typically, an Astaire picture would include at least three standard dances. | Director: You have to think of some step that flows into the next one, and the whole dance must have an integrated pattern. She really knocked out a tap dance in a class by herself.". "[24]:420 Astaire maintained this policy from The Gay Divorcee in 1934 until his last film musical Finian's Rainbow in 1968, when director Francis Ford Coppola overruled him. This style differed strikingly from those in the Busby Berkeley musicals. At the opening party of a colossal, but poorly constructed, office building, a massive fire breaks out that threatens to destroy the tower and everyone in it. Charles Walters Year after year I kept doing that. Adventure, Comedy, Crime. In addition to Phyllis Potter's son, Eliphalet IV (known as Peter), the Astaires had two children. $23.37M, See titles to watch instantly, titles you haven't rated, etc. Virginia Dale, Votes: He or his collaborator would think of these routines earlier and save them for the right situation. Marjorie Reynolds, Occasionally Astaire took joint screen credit for choreography or dance direction, but he usually left the screen credit to his collaborator. Balanchine compared him to Bach, describing him as "the most interesting, the most inventive, the most elegant dancer of our times," while for Baryshnikov he was "a genius... a classical dancer like I never saw in my life." Fred Astaire was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to Johanna (Geilus) and Fritz Austerlitz, a brewer. Petula Clark, Gene Raymond, | For example, Robert Benchley wrote in 1930, "I don't think that I will plunge the nation into war by stating that Fred is the greatest tap-dancer in the world. At an inn which is open only on holidays, a crooner and a hoofer vie for the affections of a beautiful up-and-coming performer. The Astaires' son Fred Jr. (1936– ), appeared with his father in the movie Midas Run and later became a charter pilot and rancher. | Stars: He genuinely falls in love, so dedicated to winning over her, Charlie cleans up his act and even gets a job as a driver to impress her. [16] The career of the Astaire siblings resumed with mixed fortunes, though with increasing skill and polish, as they began to incorporate tap dancing into their routines. Instead of using dance as a spectacle as Busby Berkeley did, Astaire used it to move the plot along. With Judy Garland, he sang Irving Berlin's "A Couple of Swells" from Easter Parade (1948); and, with Jack Buchanan, Oscar Levant, and Nanette Fabray he delivered Arthur Schwartz's and Howard Dietz's "That's Entertainment!" | They restored the original videotape, transferring its contents to a modern format and filling in gaps where the tape had deteriorated with kinescope footage.[40]. | John Houseman, Votes: "[24]:16, Michael Kidd, Astaire's co-choreographer on the 1953 film The Band Wagon, found that his own concern about the emotional motivation behind the dance was not shared by Astaire. *Performances with dancing partner Barrie Chase (7).mw-parser-output .portal{border:solid #aaa 1px;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .portal.tleft{margin:0.5em 1em 0.5em 0}.mw-parser-output .portal.tright{margin:0.5em 0 0.5em 1em}.mw-parser-output .portal>ul{display:table;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0.1em;max-width:175px;background:#f9f9f9;font-size:85%;line-height:110%;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .portal>ul>li{display:table-row}.mw-parser-output .portal>ul>li>span:first-child{display:table-cell;padding:0.2em;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .portal>ul>li>span:last-child{display:table-cell;padding:0.2em 0.2em 0.2em 0.3em;vertical-align:middle}, American actor, dancer, singer, choreographer and television presenter, This article is about the American dancer and actor. | Fred went on to achieve success on his own on Broadway and in London with Gay Divorce (later made into the film The Gay Divorcee) while considering offers from Hollywood. On June 24, 1980, at the age of 81, he married a second time. Although he possessed a light voice, he was admired for his lyricism, diction, and phrasing[44]—the grace and elegance so prized in his dancing seemed to be reflected in his singing, a capacity for synthesis which led Burton Lane to describe him as "the world's greatest musical performer. In Buenos Aires, a man who has decreed that his daughters must marry in order of age allows an American dancer to perform at his club under the condition that he play suitor to his second-oldest daughter. Bing Crosby, Frank Morgan, A bandleader woos a Latin flame who is already engaged to his employer. ", "Cheek to Cheek", and "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails" in Top Hat (1935); "Let's Face the Music and Dance" in Follow the Fleet (1936); and "Change Partners" in Carefree (1938). Fred Astaire, | Lorsque The Band Wagon s'arrête, après 260 représentations, Fred incarne le rôle principal de la comédie musicale The Gay Divorcee , écrite par Cole Porter, spectacle qui durera 248 représentations. Still it's never as bad as I think it is. Fred Astaire, born Frederick Austerlitz II in 1899, began show business at the age of four, performing on Broadway and in Vaudeville with his older sister, Adele. In 1912, Fred became an Episcopalian. Stars: Frank Morgan, Passed He'd say, 'Let's do the steps. The Oscar-nominated song and dance man is best remembered for a series of … [11] '"Fritz" was seeking work in the brewing trade and moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where he was employed by the Storz Brewing Company. | [12] Fred and Adele's mother suggested they change their name to "Astaire," as she felt "Austerlitz" was reminiscent of the Battle of Austerlitz. The Band Wagon (1953) received rave reviews from critics and drew huge crowds. Their first act was called Juvenile Artists Presenting an Electric Musical Toe-Dancing Novelty. A nightclub performer hires a naive chorus girl to become his new dance partner to make his former partner jealous and to prove he can make any partner a star. He quickly falls for photographer Joan Manion, ... See full summary », Director: | 108 min After Alyce goes to London to meet a beau... See full summary », Director: Fred Astaire, Edward H. Griffith Can dance a little." They lent him for a few days to MGM in 1933 for his significant Hollywood debut in the successful musical film Dancing Lady. It was Fred Astaire’s last starring role in a musical, and by 1968 some of the pep had obviously gone out of his step. Fred Astaire, Votes: Action, Drama, Thriller. 83 min [12] Phyllis's death from lung cancer, at the age of 46, ended twenty-one years of blissful marriage and left Astaire devastated. His body was buried at Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Chatsworth, California. | Gross: | | Fred Astaire revolutionized dancing in the movies. Comedy, San Francisco debutante, Jessica Poole, is marrying Napa Valley cattle rancher, Roger Henderson, and hopes her peripatetic father, "Pogo" Poole, whom she hasn't seen for years, comes to the... See full summary », Director: Throughout this period, Astaire continued to value the input of choreographic collaborators. Astaire, Steps in Time, p. 8: "At the risk of disillusionment, I must admit that I don't like top hats, white ties and tails. Fred Astaire Celebrity Profile - Check out the latest Fred Astaire photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at Rotten Tomatoes! 109 min Frequently, a dance sequence was built around two or three key ideas, sometimes inspired by his steps or by the music itself, suggesting a particular mood or action. $9.03M, Passed Kay Thompson, Comedy, Musical, Romance. The film was a modest success both at the box office and among critics. | 89 min As a young adult, he headed to Hollywood where he began a successful partnership with Ginger Rogers for nine movies. But because of its high cost, it failed to make a profit on its first release. "—, Astaire p. 65: "We struck up a friendship at once. His dancing career and movie musicals in This episode marked the final time that he danced on screen, in this case with Anne Jeffreys. John Irvin Edna May Oliver, Stars: He was good friends with David Niven, Randolph Scott, Clark Gable, and Gregory Peck. Stars: She writes letters to her mysterious benefactor, nicknaming him from the description given by some of her fellow orphans. Fred Astaire was an American actor and dancer who is widely regarded as one of the most influential dancers of the world. documentaries, in the mid 1970s. | John Hubbard, Passed $11.60M, M Their chance meeting was to affect the careers of both artists profoundly. In the movie, Astaire integrated for the third time Latin American dance idioms into his style (the first being with Ginger Rogers in "The Carioca" number from Flying Down to Rio (1933) and the second, again with Rogers, was the "Dengozo" dance from The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939)). He and his partner, Adele Astaire, made the show pause early in the evening with a beautiful loose-limbed dance."[23]. She got so that after a while everyone else who danced with me looked wrong. An ex-dancer and New York radio star narrates his love story for a band singer who loved a self-centered man who was unable to commit to his nightclub business or his family. It was then that Fred headed for Hollywood, Ginger Rogers, and a string of very successful musical films. Charles Butterworth, Approved The partnership, and the choreography of Astaire and Hermes Pan, helped make dancing an important element of the Hollywood film musical. Fred Astaire, In his autobiography Steps in Time, Astaire remarked, "She 'put 'em down like a man,' no ricky-ticky-sissy stuff with Ellie. Fred Astaire Born: 10 May 1899, Omaha, Nebraska Died: 22 June 1987, Los Angeles, Calif. Tweet. Tommy Steele, Judy Garland, Stars: Fred Astaire, Richard Crenna, Astaire won the Emmy for Best Single Performance by an Actor. Francis Ford Coppola The latter observation will be no news to the profession, which has long admitted that Astaire starts dancing where the others stop hoofing.[28][24]:7. Astaire was reunited with Rogers in 1949 at MGM for their final outing, The Barkleys of Broadway, the only one of their films together to be shot in Technicolor. Stars: Keenan Wynn, Passed An American jazzman and his buddy woo a Russian princess and a fake countess in Paris. While Follies was a hit, Yolanda bombed at the box office. The story of the successful Tin Pan Alley songwriting team of Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby is told loosely and lightheartedly. $8.18M, Passed Mark Sandrich, Fred Astaire’s first dance partner was his older sister Adele. Fred Astaire, 103 min Frame for frame, the two performances are identical, down to the subtlest gesture. It featured a duet to Kern's "I'm Old Fashioned," which became the centerpiece of Jerome Robbins's 1983 New York City Ballet tribute to Astaire. Slightly bald. 1975: Golden Globe for "Best Supporting Actor", 1978: National Artist Award from the American National Theatre Association for "contributing immeasurably to the American Theatre", 1982: The Anglo-American Contemporary Dance Foundation announces creation of the Astaire Awards "to honor Fred Astaire and his sister Adele and to reward the achievement of an outstanding dancer or dancers", 1987: The Capezio Dance Shoe Award (co-awarded with Rudolf Nureyev), 1987: Inducted into the National Museum of Dance's, 1991: Posthumous induction into the Ballroom Dancer's Hall of Fame, 1999: "Just Like Fred Astaire", a single by, 2000: Ava Astaire McKenzie unveils a plaque in honor of her father, erected by the citizens of, 2004: The "Adele and Fred Astaire Ballroom" added on the top floor of, 2011, 2013: "Fred Astaire", a song, in a Portuguese and a later English version by, 2012: "Fred Astaire", a single and video by, This page was last edited on 12 January 2021, at 05:32. He acted nine different roles in The Man in the Santa Claus Suit in 1979. His most memorable dancing partnership was with Ginger Rogers, with whom he co-starred in a series of ten Hollywood musicals, including Top Hat (1935), Swing Time (1936), and Shall We Dance (1937). Soon after, Astaire, like the other remaining stars at MGM, was let go from his contract because of the advent of television and the downsizing of film production. It was also noteworthy for being the first major broadcast to be prerecorded on color videotape. Astaire also co-introduced a number of song classics via song duets with his partners. | Alf Kjellin The Astaires broke into Broadway in 1917 with Over the Top, a patriotic revue, and performed for U.S. and Allied troops at this time as well. Comedy, Musical, Romance. One of their most fun and inventive films was The Band Wagon from 1953 which features several dream-like dance scenes that tell complete stories without any dialogue. George Murphy, | He starred in more than 10 Broadway and West End musicals, made 31 musical films, four television specials, and issued numerous recordings. | Jack Lemmon, Fred Astaire, Oscar Levant, Robert Ryan, Approved Lucille Ball, | Gross: Eleanor Powell, 109 min Richard Thorpe | When their father lost his job, the family moved to New York City in January 1905 to launch the show business careers of the children. He appeared on television as the father of Robert Wagner's character, Alexander Mundy, in It Takes a Thief. Another would be a partnered comedy dance routine. Comedy, Drama, Musical, Donald Elwood meets after the war his former USO partner, Kitty McNeil, who is now a rich widow with a little child. One would be a solo performance by Astaire, which he termed his "sock solo." However, Johnny Mercer, the film's composer, and Fox studio executives convinced him that work would be the best thing for him. Select Your Cookie Preferences. Stars: | Family legend attributes the name to an uncle surnamed "L'Astaire. Michel Auclair, Approved Stars: | Director: He remained physically active well into his eighties. Let's add the looks later.' 84 min Vincente Minnelli, This gave the illusion of an almost stationary camera filming an entire dance in a single shot. Balding. 112 min These included The Gay Divorcee (1934), Roberta (1935, in which Astaire also demonstrates his oft-overlooked piano skills with a spirited solo on "I Won't Dance"), Top Hat (1935), Follow the Fleet (1936), Swing Time (1936), Shall We Dance (1937), and Carefree (1938). Vera-Ellen, Yet his filmography extends well past those titles. Together, they had two children together, son Fred Astaire Jr. born on January 1, 1936, and daughter, Ava Astaire-McKenzie on born on March 19, 1942. He returned to make two more films with Rogers, Carefree (1938) and The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939). Their partnership elevated them both to stardom; as Katharine Hepburn reportedly said, "He gives her class and she gives him sex appeal. Finally, he would include a partnered romantic dance routine. Stars: | [33], Dance commentators Arlene Croce,[29]:6 Hannah Hyam[34]:146–147 and John Mueller[24]:8,9 consider Rogers to have been Astaire's greatest dance partner, a view shared[35] by Hermes Pan and Stanley Donen. [4][5], Fred Astaire was born Frederick Austerlitz on May 10, 1899 in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Johanna "Ann" (née Geilus; 1878–1975) and Frederic "Fritz" Austerlitz (1868-1923). Comedy, Musical. Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American actor, dancer, singer, choreographer, and television presenter. For the album by Pips, Chips & Videoclips, see, 1917–1933: Stage career on Broadway and in London, 1933–1939: Astaire and Ginger Rogers at RKO, 1948–1957: MGM films and second retirement, 1957–1981: Television specials, serious roles, Working methods and influence on filmed dance, Satchell, p. 8: "'Fritz' Austerlitz, the 23-year-old son of Stephen Austerlitz and his wife Lucy Heller", e.g., Croce, 1st edition, 1972, footnote p. 14, removed at Astaire's request in 2nd edition, 1974 – see Giles (p. 24). 110 min Judy Garland, | | And while George Gershwin was somewhat critical of Astaire's singing abilities, he wrote many of his most memorable songs for him. [68] One of his last requests was to thank his fans for their years of support. Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth perform stunning dance numbers in this vibrant musical with a Latin-American touch. Comedy, Musical, Romance. $2.80M, Approved Stuart Heisler, Amazon's Choice for fred astaire movies Classic Musicals - 50 Movie Pack: Royal Wedding - Second Chorus - Stage Door Canteen - Breakfast in Hollywood - Hi-De-Ho + 45 more! Biography, Comedy, Musical. Astaire did not retire from dancing altogether. Astaire asked his agent to obtain a role for him on Galactica because of his grandchildren's interest in the series and the producers were delighted at the opportunity to create an entire episode to feature him. | [61] Instead, he favored a breezy casual style of tailored sport jackets, colored shirts, and slacks—the last usually held up by the distinctive use of an old tie or silk scarf in place of a belt. | "[24]:6 The success of the stage play was credited to this number, and when recreated in The Gay Divorcee (1934), the film version of the play, it ushered in a new era in filmed dance. Director: They began training at the Alviene Master School of the Theatre and Academy of Cultural Arts. Dolores del Rio, Fred Astaire was married twice. Fred Astaire (1899-1987) was born Frederick Austerlitz in Omaha, Nebraska. But by this time, Astaire's dancing skill was beginning to outshine his sister's. Comedy, Musical, Romance. Always insecure and believing his career was beginning to falter, Astaire surprised his audiences by announcing his retirement during the production of his next film Blue Skies (1946). [64] He also had an interest in boxing and true crime. Jane Powell, Mark Sandrich Joan Leslie, Fred Astaire, Soundtrack: Funny Face. ", (Thomas p. 301) Astaire was awarded a life membership in the National Skateboard Society (Satchell p. 221). [39], Rogers described Astaire's uncompromising standards extending to the whole production: "Sometimes he'll think of a new line of dialogue or a new angle for the story ... they never know what time of night he'll call up and start ranting enthusiastically about a fresh idea ... No loafing on the job on an Astaire picture, and no cutting corners."[24]:16. When the son of one of the elderly men returns to his hometown after his brother's mysterious death, they attempt to unravel her story. | What a routine I could have worked up for a film sequence if they had existed a few years ago. Adele's sparkle and humor drew much of the attention, owing in part to Fred's careful preparation and sharp supporting choreography. Isobel Elsom, Votes: George Stevens | H.C. Potter Out of the 50+ films that Fred Astaire appeared in during his five decades spanning career, the one that does it for me every time his his fourth ever appearance on film. Comedy, Musical, Romance. After Adele retired to marry in 1932, Astaire headed to Hollywood. William A. Seiter Fred Astaire, Charles Walters Stars: Daddy Long Legs only did moderately well at the box office. They won popular acclaim with the theater crowd on both sides of the Atlantic in shows such as Jerome Kern's The Bunch and Judy (1922), George and Ira Gershwin's Lady, Be Good (1924), and Funny Face (1927) and later in The Band Wagon (1931). | Gross: Despite the sumptuousness of the production and the good reviews from critics, it failed to make back its cost. Fred Astaire, | Rita Hayworth, Randolph Scott, Stanley Donen In 1978, he co-starred with Helen Hayes in a well received television film A Family Upside Down in which they played an elderly couple coping with failing health. His legacy at this point was 30 musical films in 25 years. Faye Dunaway, Votes: Robert Allen | Gross: Betty Hutton, The end of the partnership was traumatic for Astaire but stimulated him to expand his range. In the movie The Towering Inferno (1974), he danced with Jennifer Jones and received his only Academy Award nomination, in the category of Best Supporting Actor. Mark Sandrich He first presented Jerome Kern's "The Way You Look Tonight" in Swing Time (1936), the Gershwins' "They Can't Take That Away from Me" in Shall We Dance (1937), "A Foggy Day" and "Nice Work if You Can Get it" in A Damsel in Distress (1937), Johnny Mercer's "One for My Baby" from The Sky's the Limit (1943), "Something's Gotta Give" from Daddy Long Legs (1955); and Harry Warren and Arthur Freed's "This Heart of Mine" from Ziegfeld Follies (1946). When time approached for the shooting of a number, Astaire would rehearse for another two weeks and record the singing and music. She still set the tone of their act. Alice Krige, Comedy, Music, Romance, Lady Alyce Marshmorton must marry soon, and the staff of Tottney Castle have laid bets on who she'll choose, with young Albert wagering on "Mr. X". | Rita Hayworth, Cyd Charisse, Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers: The Complete 1930s Collection [9 Films, 3 DVDs, Region Free Import] 4.3 out of 5 stars 25. Don Francks, Votes: Two generations of men find themselves haunted by the presence of a spectral woman. | The Oscar-nominated song and dance man is best remembered for a series of musicals he made alongside Ginger Rogers. Astaire's last major musical film was Finian's Rainbow (1968), directed by Francis Ford Coppola. After a global nuclear war, the residents of Australia must come to terms with the fact that all life will be destroyed in a matter of months. But, in spite of the enormous financial success of both, he was reportedly dissatisfied with roles where he lost the girl to Crosby. Kidd later recounted: "Technique was important to him. | Stars: Fred Astaire, Director: A brother and sister dance act encounter challenges and romance when booked in London during the Royal Wedding. Fred Astaire, | Similarly, Astaire's next project – his final musical at MGM, Silk Stockings (1957), in which he co-starred with Cyd Charisse, also lost money at the box office. Images Press / Getty Images Legacy . The American Film Institute named Astaire the fifth-greatest male star of Classic Hollywood cinema in 100 Years... 100 Stars. There, he overhears a convent-bred rich girl praying to her guardian angel for help in managing ... See full summary », Director: $116.00M, R At first, Astaire refused to answer. Fred Astaire, | Director: Joan Caulfield, When he danced, the whole audience got goosebumps: It was like he was floating over the floor. 82 min He termed his eclectic approach "outlaw style," an unpredictable and instinctive blending of personal artistry. She made everything work for her. Vincente Minnelli [69] He always refused permission for such portrayals, saying, "However much they offer me—and offers come in all the time—I shall not sell. Tweet. Stars: Stars: $0.67M, Approved | Gross: Gracie Allen, | | But, ultimately, he said "Excuse me, I must say Ginger was certainly, uh, uh, the one. Astaire's execution of a dance routine was prized for its elegance, grace, originality, and precision. Comedy, Musical, Romance. Though Astaire acted in several films, it was for his dancing skills that he is best remembered for. Sarah Churchill, Not Rated Tell us what you think about this feature. [3] Among his other most notable films where Astaire gained popularity and took the genre of tap dancing to a new level include Holiday Inn (1942), Easter Parade (1948), The Band Wagon (1953), Funny Face (1957), and Silk Stockings (1957). Other partners during this period included Paulette Goddard in Second Chorus (1940), in which he dance-conducted the Artie Shaw orchestra. Comedy, Musical, Romance. | Ruth Warrick, Not Rated Drama, Horror, Thriller. Mark Sandrich Red Skelton, He remarked "Gene Kelly warned me not to be a damned fool, but I'd seen the things those kids got up to on television doing all sorts of tricks. Mildred Natwick, Approved | | | | Stars: Fred Astaire, Stars: Ginger Rogers, $11.00M, Not Rated [46], Astaire was a songwriter, with "I'm Building Up to an Awful Letdown" (written with lyricist Johnny Mercer) reaching number four in the Hit parade of 1936. Découvrez tous les films et séries de la filmographie de Fred Astaire. She faked it an awful lot. Always immaculately turned out, he and Cary Grant were called "the best dressed actor[s] in American movies. Fred Astaire, Fred Astaire, De ses débuts jusqu'à … Passed | Gross: Astaire was so bereaved that he wanted to shut down the picture and offered to pay the production costs out of his pocket. "About: Liberty's Musical Comedy Star of the Century! | Fred Astaire and second wife Robyn Smith. | In a career spanning over 76 years, he starred in Broadway and London musicals, musical films, television specials, and so on. "[24]:16 As Astaire himself observed, "I've never yet got anything 100% right. He negotiated with RKO to strike out on his own with A Damsel in Distress in 1937 with an inexperienced, non-dancing Joan Fontaine, unsuccessfully as it turned out. "[24]:18 Astaire further observed: Working out the steps is a very complicated process—something like writing music.