Movie Classic (Mar-Aug 1936)

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Fred Astaire wears a gob hat, not a top hat, in Follow the Fleet, and he does some neat and nifty dancing in what might be called jig-time — sailor's jig-time. On the screen, that dancing will look utterly effortless. And, reading this story, you will understand how Fred gains that effect — to the amazement even of his co-workers This is the Fred Astaire We Know Ginger Rogers and five other co-workers, who see the amazing Fred as he really is, break a long silence about the man . . . chosen to work with him, not because of his personal inclinations, but because of their own particular capabilities in this business of picture-making. They see Fred as he is, therefore, without bias for or against him. They are a famous screen star, a director, a script girl, a studio "grip," a cameraman and a dance director. They are, respectively. Ginger Rogers, Mark Sandrich, Gertrude Wellman, James Kirley, David Abel and Hermes Pan. It was Ginger whom I first asked about Fred. I found her on the Follow the Fleet set, working hard on a solo dance for the picture. But she took a little time out to talk about this other half of the renowned Astaire-Rogers dancing team. "Fred is — tops," she told me. "That is the best word I can find to describe him. He is tops as a dancer and tops as a person. He is talented and clever. His style in dancing is his own and he never seems at a loss for a new idea. If you are a dancer, you can appreciate what that means — being able to think up and execute something new all of the time. Fred and I have made three pictures together and are working on a fourth. [Continued on page 64] By MARIAN RHEA THIS Fred Astaire — what is he like: You have seen him dance, perliaps on both stage and screen — and have thrilled to the magic of his winged feet. You have seen him act in pictures. You have chuckled at his wit and perhaps have sensed the wistful poignancy of his comedy. You are probably an Astaire fan. Most people are. But Fred, himself— what of him? What of the Fred who appears behind the scenes? What of Fred, the man, not the dancer or the actor ? Is he "human" ? Is he likeable ? Is he popular ? Is he respected by those who know him ? . . . What is he really like? . . . Six persons at the RKO Radio Studios have answered this question for you and me — for the first time. They are not Fred's personal friends in the usual sense of the word. They are people with whom he works. They have been 36 Dance V