MovieChat Forums > You Were Never Lovelier (1942) Discussion > Fred Astaire's favorite dancing partner

Fred Astaire's favorite dancing partner


I read recently that Fred Astaire admitted that his favorite dancing partner was actually Rita Hayworth and not Ginger Rogers. This made sense because apparently there was a lot of professional rivalry between the great Rogers and Astaire couple so his fond memories, years later, might have floated back to........Rita instead of the capricious but nevertheless ASTOUNDING Ginger Rogers. After watching the film, I saw that Rita's whole style of dancing was different but this might be attributable to the change in period. Most of Ginger Rogers' dancing with Astaire dated from the '30's; You were never lovelier was released in 1942. In any case, she was certainly a worthy match for Ginger and had started training in dancing at the age of four. Hayworth once quipped that she had learned how to dance before she learned how to walk. A bonus commentary to the film stated that it had required 5 weeks of rehearsals at 10 hours a day! Wow! It certainly delivers sensational results!

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I noticed her style was different too, but I don't think the era has much to do with it since there were only a few years in between. This film has a wonderful dance routine, but I still prefer Ginger. I do have a biased opinion because I really love her, but I think I'm being objective. Rita is rather stiff and Ginger is more relaxed. The "stiffness" works for Rita really well though because it lends her a more regal looking style.

My understanding is that he selected Rita simply because dancing with Ginger was more difficult due to her costuming. They always put her in these dresses that got in his way. The famous chain mail smack from the Let's Face the Music and Dance routine in Follow the Fleet (1936) and the Cheek to Cheek routine in Top Hat (1935). I could be wrong though, but I could swear I read or heard that somewhere. It was the dresses she wore that made her a less than convenient dance partner for him. It's understandable too.

In any case, I did love this film and they were still very fantastic together. I've not seen their earlier film and I look forward to the day I do!

Random Thoughts: http://goo.gl/eXk3O

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I hope you enjoy You'll Never Get Rich.

I liked You'll Never Get Rich very much, but I adore You Were Never Lovelier! Maybe because I do believe she was never lovelier!! (sexier maybe :) And THAT is saying something!

Either way, they have nice chemistry and they're dance scenes in both are terrific...such talent back then! And Rita is simply the most beautiful female to ever grace film!! (now I'M the biased one :)


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