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Birth
Gene Kelly was born as Eugene Curran Kelly in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He took dance lessons from a young age, although he originally went to school for economics. His family had a dance studio and it was renamed the Gene Kelly Studio of Dance. He left Pennsylvania for New York and made it to Broadway. He was offered a contract in Hollywood and starred in the musical For Me and My Gal with Judy Garland. He is probably most well known for the 1952 musical Singin’ in the Rain (“Biography”). -
Thousands Cheer
In the movie Thousands Cheer, Gene Kelly plays an aerialist who is drafted into the army during World War II. In the mop dance, he begins to dance with a mop and then throws it aside. He dances all over the room and on the furniture (Thousands Cheer). This clip showcases Gene's experiences in dancing. It also shows he's open to trying new things (i.e. dancing with a mop, using brooms as props. and dancing on furniture). -
Gene Kelly: Caught in the Act
An issue of LIFE Magazine published photos by photographer Gjon Mili. These photos featured Gene Kelly. This picture shows two Gene Kellys. The first Gene is jumping up and reaching to the other Gene. The second one is leaping away and turning his head with a frightened look (LIFE Magazine). This photography was new and experimental, and illustrates Gene’s openness to try new things. It also showcases his lively styles of dance. -
Ziegfeld Follies
In the movie Ziegfeld Follies, "legendary showman Flo Ziegfeld imagines the kind of Follies he could produce with MGM's musical stars" (TCM). Gene Kelly appears in the "The Babbitt and the Bromide" sequence. In this dance, Gene meets Fred Astaire and Astaire jokingly does not recognise Kelly. Fred then acknowledges that he knows who Gene is. When it becomes time for them to leave, it turns out they both have to do a dance number. Fred suggests they adlib something, to which Gene replies, “Like -
Ziegfeld Follies cont.
the one we’ve been rehearsing”. The song and dance routine then begins (Ziegfeld Follies). This dance shows that Kelly has a sense of humor and isn't afraid to perform with another legandary dancer (who could also be considered competition). -
Gene Kelly: Rare Photos of a Song and Dance Legend
In 1960, Gene Kelly was invited to choreograph a ballet at the Paris Opera. He created the 45 minute jazz ballet, Pas de Dieux. It starred ballerina Claude Bessy, who appeared in some films with Kelly (LIFE Magazine). Gene’s concentration in the picture shows he cares about his choreography. -
Interveiw Magazine Interview
In this interview for Interview Magainze, Kelly talks about his dancing and why he stopped doing it. He also talks about his feelings of dancing in movies in the current era (current being around 1985, the year of the interview) (Interview Magazine). The interview reveals Gene’s respect for dancing. -
Death
Gene died in 1996 due to complication of a second stroke. His legacy is evident in the ongoing popularity of the films he was in and helped to make. He received many lifetime achievement awards, notably in the Kennedy Center Honors and from the Screen Actors Guild (“Biography”).
