a day at the races - movie

[luh]

hi
Just watched a day at the races. Nice movie itself, though there are some really sweet dance scenes in there - those scenes are already worth the movie! (tap, charleston, lindy hop, ballett) Can someone tell me if Frankie danced in this movie. there was one guy who looked a little like him, i'm just not sure.

It seems if the black musicians really are musicians. The bigger guy is as far as i could figure out count basie. Can someone tell me who the singer is? Any idea if there are any other known musicians in that movie?

i hope someone has answers to these questions. :)
luh

[luh]

i'm not sure, but it looks if the ballett dancer is vivien fay.

[Diavo]

Great movie, love it for many reasons. Yeah, it's Whitey's Lindy Hoppers in that movie, so Frankie's dancing in it. Don't have it in front of me at the moment or I' play the scene and try to tell you which one I think he is. :wink:

[luh]

Great movie, love it for many reasons. Yeah, it's Whitey's Lindy Hoppers in that movie, so Frankie's dancing in it. Don't have it in front of me at the moment or I' play the scene and try to tell you which one I think he is. :wink:

I'm pretty sure i know who it is. He is often in the background..
luh

[pygmalion]

i'm not sure, but it looks if the ballett dancer is vivien fay.

Yeah. I googled it, and she got the credit as "Solo dancer." I guess that's the same as ballet dancer.

Hmm. I haven't seen this movie. I'd love to see the dance scenes, at a minimum. In fact, I haven't seen any Marx Brothers anything in a long time. Maybe it's time to check my local libraries and video club. 8)

[d nice]

No Frankie is not in A Day at the Races.

[luh]

No Frankie is not in A Day at the Races.

do you know why?
luh

[DWise1]

I am not an expert -- to paraphrase Will Rogers, all I know is what I read through Google. Frankie was a member of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, who are the dancers in the movie. He both danced and choreographed for them. Apparently in this case, he did the choreography but did not actually perform in it himself.

From a review of the movie at http://www.filmsite.org/daya3.html:
Mostly uncredited performers: Jazz singer Ivie (Ivy) Anderson (who was singing with Duke Ellington's band at the time) and the Crinoline Choir performed the gospel song. The gravity-defying, jitter-bugging number was danced by Herbert "Whitey" White's Lindy Hoppers - White was the undisputed king of the Lindy Hop (the original swing dance), and his dancers were originally from the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. The number was choreographed by Frankie Manning. Dorothy Dandridge was also an uncredited performer in the 'All God's Children Got Rhythm' number.

[Diavo]

^Ah, I see. Thanks for the facts!

[pygmalion]

I find it interesting that Whitey's Lindy Hoppers are not listed in the credits. Harumph. :( :?

[DWise1]

There was mention that the dance scenes were not instrumental to the story so that they could be edited out of the reels that played in the Deep South. Maybe mentioning them in the credits would have made that more difficult.

[Diavo]

Unfortunately I have a big Fam'ly party this weekend else I'd go out dancing like I do every single Saturday and ask Frankie himself, since he's in DC Fri & Sat.
:(

[pygmalion]

Rub it in, why don't ya? :roll: :lol: HAve fun at your family get-together, Diavo. 8)

[Diavo]

Thanks! 8)
(I always do...) :D

[luh]

Unfortunately I have a big Fam'ly party this weekend else I'd go out dancing like I do every single Saturday and ask Frankie himself, since he's in DC Fri & Sat.
:(

tooo bad. - well have at least a nice party
luh

[HF]

... Frankie?

[luh]

... Frankie?

Frankie Manning. He created the first air-step in lindy history. If you are interested, read more about him on wikipedia (i don't know if there is a german version of his article - i'm sure there is one in the english version)
luh

[DWise1]

Frankie Manning was a leading Lindy dancer at the Savoy and choreographer for Whitey's Lindy Hoppers who appeared in a number of movies in 30's and 40's. He left show business around 1954 to raise a family and retired from the US Post Office after 30 years. Then around 1986 Erin Stevens and Steven Mitchell talked him into coming out of retirement and teach them how Lindy was done. And he's still travelling around teaching workshops at the young age of 91 (ninty-one), such as two weeks from now in Irvine, Calif -- http://www.atomicballroom.com/frankieweekend.html .

An excellent interview with him is at this site: http://www.thirteen.org/cityarts4/week11/my_html/uncut-week11.html

[Diavo]

Yes, and for being 91 he is remarkable fit, happy, and still cuts a mean rug! I can only wish to be so when I'm 91! :notworth:

[luh]

yes, it's amazing. He really is an impressiv person!
luh