Another centenary today - the magnificent big-screen dance sensation of the 1950s Vera-Ellen, star of On The Town (with Gene Kelly), The Belle of New York (with Fred Astaire), Call Me Madam (with Donald O'Connor) and White Christmas (with Danny Kaye).
Somewhat overlooked in the "hoofer" stakes in comparison to the likes of Cyd Charisse and Ann Miller, nevertheless several of the mere sixteen movies she made are nowadays recognised as "classics".
Facts:
- Because she was so thin, for her entire life she was dogged by (untrue) rumours of an eating disorder.
- Simliar rumours abounded that Barbie dolls were modelled on her leggy figure; their creator actually based them on a similar German doll called "Bild Lilli".
- Vera-Ellen was not a singer, so all her musical roles were dubbed by others - and in the Sisters duet, both parts were actually sung by Rosemary Clooney!
- Such was her skill and training, she was one of the few Hollywood dancers whose on-screen routines were filmed in one take.
- She married twice, the second time to millionaire Victor Rothschild (which ended in divorce); when they lost their only child to cot death, she retired from public life.
Here's just s small sample of the lovely lady's talents...
Vera-Ellen (born Vera-Ellen Westmeier Rohe, 16th February 1921 – 30th August 1981)
LOVE Vera Ellen. While she wasn't a singer pe se, she actually does sing on the cast album of "A Connecticut Yankee" recorded prior to her Hollywood days, and she sounds just fine.
ReplyDeleteShe was certainly a glittering screen presence, who had the potential to go much further than she did - I can only assume the Hollywood moguls wanted a certain "type" of singing voice for their blockbusters, hence the over-dubs. She was by no means the only one who potentially could have sung more on screen - I have no idea whether Audrey Hepburn, Deborah Kerr, Cyd Charisse, Kim Novak, Ava Gardner or Rita Hayworth (to name but a few whose on-screen "vocals" were not their own) were actually creditable singers or not, but apparently Natalie Wood's voice was not bad at all (and she was dubbed by Marni Nixon without her knowledge), and why on earth Debbie Reynolds received similar treatment in Singin' in the Rain is a mystery... Jx
DeleteI didn't know all this; thanks for the history lesson!
ReplyDeleteYou're more than welcome, my sweet! Jx
DeleteI always loved her she is another one who should have been a bigger star than she was.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! Jx
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