MovieChat Forums > Roberta (1935) Discussion > Fred Astaire Really Playing the Piano?

Fred Astaire Really Playing the Piano?

posted 14 years ago by canuckteach
4 replies | jump to latest

Later, as the band appears at the club (when Randolph Scott has it out with his soon-to-be-former-flame), Fred opens with a very hot stride piano solo. The camera focuses on his hands most of the time, and he seems to be 'in time' with the music. Is that really Astaire playing? I don't know much about his formal musical background. He doesn't strike me as a guy who would 'fake' a piano solo - it appears that, at the least, he was able to 'finger-sync' the number. Can you help me out?

(lol - a guitar solo I could determine - piano? I'm restricted to 'Heart N Soul') (--:

:-) canuckteach (--:

[–] practicepiano 14 years ago

That's Fred! He played piano and drums.

I think that, regardless of the body part involved, he was just one of those people who combined an incredible sense of rhythm and phrasing with the willingness to practice and practice and practice . . .

[–] atlasmb 9 years ago

Wikipedia says that Fred took up piano, accordion, and clarinet while a child.

[–] cyninbend-149-610489 8 years ago

Well, there you have it! He played piano and at least held the accordion in front of him in this movie, and the clarinet was adjacent...off-screen but heard. TY for clearing this up--I was sure Fred was playing those keys! He was so skilled an entertainer.

[–] Beau_Buffet (332) 2 years ago

It's him indeed.

He does another piano piece in Follow the Fleet : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJgCzA0lpEU

He's great! He and Chico Marx are very, very impressive on the piano.