Vera-Ellen
One of the greatest of all female movie dancers. She was a perfect star for the late 40s and early 50s--she had a warm smile, a heart-shaped face, and a teeny-tiny waist. She had a very tragic life--both her marriages (including one to a Rothschild) failed, and her only child died at 3 months of SIDS. She also had anorexia (which is why her waist was so tiny), and it prematurely aged her--she also had to end her career early because of arthritic. She spent her later 20 years practically a recluse until she died in her 60s.
Here's one of her finer performances, in "Call Me Madam," dancing with Donald O'Connor (he thought this was his best dancing ever in this number). Her voice is dubbed (she could sing, but did not have a powerful or a fine voice). She reminds me of Mitzi Gaynor except she's prettier and much less annoying.
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | June 6, 2018 3:02 AM
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I'm always amazed by that scene in White Christmas when she is tapping but you can't see her foot move!
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | June 6, 2018 1:39 AM
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She shoulda stayed offa 10th Avenue....
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | June 6, 2018 1:40 AM
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I could watch her doing "Mandy" in "White Christmas" a million times. Talk about an athletic performance! And of course, she will live on as a DL legend just because of the "Sisters" number.
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | June 6, 2018 1:46 AM
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Man, I just adore Donald O'Connor so much. He is one of the very few people I love just as much at age 54 as I did at age 6.
(Jerry Brown falls in that category, as well)
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | June 6, 2018 2:08 AM
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[quote] She reminds me of Mitzi Gaynor
I thought it was Mitzi Gaynor until you said otherwise.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | June 6, 2018 2:24 AM
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Vera-Ellen and John Brascia
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | June 6, 2018 2:31 AM
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I'm pretty sure I read an article where she said she wasn't anorexic and had no eating issues. People that worked with her said she burnt all her weight off dancing.
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | June 6, 2018 3:02 AM
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