Scooter -- Those two pics are from What a Way to Go!, a farcical black comedy she made in 1964. The Edith Head costumes and the crazy coiffures were part of the whole send up. The showpiece of the film is a montage where Shirl attends a party, and changes outfits every time she turns a corner or enters a different room!
I read someplace in late 1950s the three best dancers (women) were Cyd Charrisse, Ann Miller, and Shirley MacLaine (however there is Rita Moreno, Mitzi Gaynor, Barrie Chase, Tybee Arfa,....). I wonder of any movies of Shirley showing her dance moves (I cannot think of any).
Off the top of my head, I can only think of Can Can (1960), with Sinatra and Juliet Prowse. I know she was discovered in the chorus of The Pajama Game on Broadway.
I heard of those movies but I've not seen them. Shirley was honored and recognized along with the best of the best dancers at PDS 1995 Gypsy Awards, http://www.professionaldancerssociety.org/Shirley.html
I saw the movie on TCM recently. Interesting how she jumps right into a theatrical arts dance routine. Fast pace and presenting good dance lines with the others.
Shirley Maclaine is a bit of a chameleon, isn't she? I didn't recognize her in the first shot and the second was so completely different.
ReplyDeleteScooter -- Those two pics are from What a Way to Go!, a farcical black comedy she made in 1964. The Edith Head costumes and the crazy coiffures were part of the whole send up. The showpiece of the film is a montage where Shirl attends a party, and changes outfits every time she turns a corner or enters a different room!
DeleteI read someplace in late 1950s the three best dancers (women) were Cyd Charrisse, Ann Miller, and Shirley MacLaine (however there is Rita Moreno, Mitzi Gaynor, Barrie Chase, Tybee Arfa,....). I wonder of any movies of Shirley showing her dance moves (I cannot think of any).
ReplyDeleteOff the top of my head, I can only think of Can Can (1960), with Sinatra and Juliet Prowse. I know she was discovered in the chorus of The Pajama Game on Broadway.
DeleteShe dances in "What a Way to Go" (with Gene Kelly) and of course in "Sweet Charity."
DeleteI heard of those movies but I've not seen them. Shirley was honored and recognized along with the best of the best dancers at PDS 1995 Gypsy Awards, http://www.professionaldancerssociety.org/Shirley.html
Delete>Can Can (1960)
DeleteI saw the movie on TCM recently. Interesting how she jumps right into a theatrical arts dance routine. Fast pace and presenting good dance lines with the others.