Fred Astaire Appreciation Post | Month of Classics Blog Party

I really can't pinpoint when I first started to really appreciate Fred Astaire as an actor. Probably because he's not the man who instantly jumps to mind when I think of a classic Hollywood leading man. In reality, I would categorize Astaire as a method actor. And I'm only now beginning to realize that I like method actors. While I know Astaire is best known for his dancing, I'm of the opinion that he's better than Gene Kelly, that's really all I'm going to touch on for this post. (I mean, his dancing is flawless, seriously. He made it look so natural.) But anyway, instead, I'm going to focus on a few things I like about Fred Astaire's acting style.

1. His easy smile

I think you could say that I'm smile sensitive.  Next to people's eyes, I notice their smiles. Fred Astaire's smile is one of those smiles that evokes a smile. His whole face, unique as it is, is incredibly bright when he smiles. He always seemed to be on the brink of having a good time and in watching his films you know you're going to end up smiling right along with him. And his smirk was again, only ever amusing never really vindictive.

2. Dry humor

Fred Astaire delivered many of his lines with a very dry humor style. You know he was enjoying himself and intending to provoke a reaction from the viewers and all he did was simply state the line.

One of my favorite exchanges of his comes from The Royal Wedding (1951):

"You should have seen the expression on your face when you saw me

How did I look?

As if I were a dentist." 

3. His facial expressions

Astaire's facial expressions were the best. He had this knack for running through several emotions all in a few seconds like we're watching him process his thoughts on his face. 

4. He was anything but a leading man

One of my favorite things about Fred Astaire was the fact that he really didn't have any of the qualities of the stereotypical leading man. He wasn't the mysterious man of the world. He wasn't a life-hardened down on your luck type, and he wasn't smooth enough to sweep you off your feet. (Unless you were Ginger Rogers.) Actually, he was cheerful, smiling, humorous, and more often than not, was the one with kind common sense. His movies were lighthearted and I love that about them!

5. He never tried to be anyone else

(Actually, on rereading this post, I think I just retitled #4 but read on anyway. Haha.)

I don't know whether Fred Astaire was pleased with the success of his career or not. But the very things that critics might have, and might still bring up, are the things I like about him. His voice is his own. It's not smooth or swoon-worthy like Gregory Peck, and he's no Cary Grant when it comes to looks. However, he was Fred Astaire and he never tried to be anyone else.

I know that I haven't won any awards with this post. I didn't realize how difficult it would be to explain my love of Fred Astaire until I actually put to work on this post. But anyway, in my mind he is a good-hearted gentleman with a dance and a smile.

Yours truly,

Cordy