Saluting Cyd Charisse: A remarkable performer

Written by Mark Schumann, Father of Three
Thursday, 26 June 2008 13:50

Whenever a Hollywood icon passes away, a part of the cinema fabric fades. No matter how talented some current performers may be, nothing can compare to the stars that emerged from the Hollywood of the 1930s through the 1950s. They created larger-than-life personas that, thanks to the DVD, live on in our movie enjoyment.

Few of your children will recognize the name Cyd Charisse. Some of you, in fact, may be scratching your heads to place the name. But tune in to one of the grand MGM musicals of Hollywood’s heyday and the talent of this remarkable dancer, singer and actress will jump off the screen. She was, until her recent death, a Hollywood legend who created lasting cinema memories despite her relatively short list of films. Here is the quick course in what to look for online, or at the video store, to get up to speed on the magic of Cyd Charisse:

Singin’ in the Rain. Of course, simply mentioning this classic Hollywood musical begs the question, “have you yet introduced this to your children?” If not, there’s no time like the present. Rarely has a movie musical filled the screen with so many unforgettable images and characters. No one can forget the sight of Gene Kelly dancing through the streets of Hollywood in the rain; Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds tap dancing their way through a very large house; or the hilarious Jean Hagen trying to transition from silent to talking films with a high nasal voice. Few movie images compare to the moment when Charisse first appears in “The Broadway Melody” ballet with Kelly. With her endless legs, haunting eyes, and one-of-a-kind expressive rhythm, Charisse totally captivates without uttering a word. (1952).

The Bandwagon. Even less familiar to your children may be this classic musical, also from MGM and featuring another iconic musical star, Fred Astaire. This time, not only does Charisse get to dance (at top form) she also acts (most convincingly) and sings (but the voice is not really hers). While she is totally captivating as a reluctant star of a Broadway musical, it is her work in the musical numbers that is forever haunting. The simplicity and emotional substance of “Dancing in the Dark,” her dance duet with Astaire set in Central Park, eclipses anything he ever accomplished with famed partner Ginger Rogers. But it is her dual portrayal of two wicked ladies in “The Girl Hunt” ballet that demonstrates, forever, the range and versatility of her work. When she dances, the film is to savor. (1953).

Brigadoon. Nothing Charisse would later bring to the screen would approach the brilliance of her work in the earlier two films. And while the screen adaptation of the Lerner and Loewe musical suffers a bit in the translation — especially in the obvious cost-cutting in scenic design — few things on screen compare to the magic of Charisse dancing alone or with Gene Kelly. This may not be the best of Charisse, but it is wonderful to watch. (1954).

Silk Stockings. By the late 1950s, the allure of MGM musicals had started to dim. The competition from television, the appeal of early rock and roll, and the changes in habits and preferences, led audiences to drift to other forms of movie entertainment. But MGM did not go quietly and it demonstrated, with this outstanding screen adaptation of the Cole Porter Broadway hit, that it could still deliver the goods. For Charisse fans, this is a treat. Not only does she dance with style and class, and sing, courtesy of a ghost performer, she brings a sly comic touch to her role as a cold-hearted patriot during the Cold War. While Charisse never made a complete transition from musical to straight films, this fabulous entertainment reveals all the potential she offered that Hollywood failed to totally utilize. (1957).

Thank goodness for the DVD. It enables us, when a screen icon dies, to quickly assemble an appropriate tribute. Enjoy your opportunity to cherish the films of Cyd Charisse.

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