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His movies graced soundstages and theaters all across the country, bringing viewers into a magical world of musical elegance. His feet never stopped moving, his mind never stopped hunting for the "perfect dance." His artistic genius spread like wildfire, infecting every dancer, every actor he came in contact with; his quest for perfection infuriated them.Stanley Donen has been called the "Wonder Child" of American dance and the "Mastermind" behind musical choreography, but most of all, he liked to humbly think of himself as just another kid who loved to dance. Born in Columbia, South Carolina in 1924, Donen discovered his love for dance at a very early age. At 16, Donen set out for Broadway to dance; and on the way, he met the most important influence to his career, Gene Kelly. By 1943, the Kelly/Donen team had moved west. At 19, Donen began making his reputation as an innovative choreographer for MGM studios with "Cover Girl," a number in which Gene Kelly dances with a mirror image of himself--an "alter ego" dance that rocketed Donen's buddy to musical superstardom. Donen went on to partner with Kelly on other great films like On the Town (1949), which featured Frank Sinatra, powerhouse Ann Miller and Betty Garrett. Together, Donen and Kelly created one of the most sophisticated and successful musicals of all-time, Singin' in the Rain (1952) and followed that with It's Always Fair Weather (1955)--which could have been called "On the Town Ten Years Later." Like Astaire and Rogers in the 1930s, Kelly and Donen became the premiere misical team of the 1950s. By the time Donen was 30, he had worked on over 20 Hollywood films, with many more to follow. While Donen was, ironically, never nominated for an Oscar for any of his films, the academy honored him last year with an Oscar for lifetime achievement. The then 73-year-old director accepted the award with all the grace and dignity of his choreographic dynasty. Donen sang, danced and tapped his magical feet for the audience and provided a genuinely special performance for Oscar viewers everywhere. While a generation that produced such bright, colorful and entrancing musicals may have passed, the memory of Donen and his works will never fade. His art still has the ability to captivate and entrance movie viewers, pulling them slowly into a whirlwind world of song and dance. And as a humble Donen once said about his own famously successful career, "What can I say? That's just the way it worked."  19 Monday 6:00 PM On the Town (1949) Three sailors wreak havoc as they search for love during a whirlwind 24-hour leave in New York City. Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Vera-Ellen. D: Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen. C 98m. CC DVS 20 Tuesday 6:00 PM Royal Wedding (1951) A brother-and-sister musical team find romance when the tour to London for Elizabeth’s wedding. Fred Astaire, Jane Powell, Peter Lawford. D: Stanley Donen. C 94m. CC DVS 21 Wednesday 6:00 PM Give a Girl a Break (1954) Three young dancers vie for a starring role on Broadway. Marge & Gower Champion, Debbie Reynolds, Bob Fosse. D: Stanley Donen. C 83m. 22 Thursday 6:00 PM Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) When their older brother marries, six lumberjacks decide it's time to go courting for themselves. Howard Keel, Jane Powell, Russ Tamblyn. D: Stanley Donen. C 102m. LBX CC 23 Friday 6:00 PM It’s Always Fair Weather (1955) World War II buddies get mixed up with gangsters and an egotistical TV star when they hold a ten-year reunion. Gene Kelly, Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse. D: Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen. C 102m. LBX |
