Gene Kelly

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Gene Kelly

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Gene Kelly 1912-96, American dancer, choreographer, movie actor, and director, b. Pittsburgh. Kelly started dancing on Broadway in 1938 and first gained fame in the title role of the Broadway musical Pal Joey (1940). He moved to Hollywood in 1941 and soon starred in his first film, For Me and My Gal (1942). His best-known work was in motion pictures, where he excelled in an inventive combination of camera and dance techniques in such films as On the Town (1949), An American in Paris (1951; Academy Award), Singin' in the Rain (1952)—which contains his single most famous performance—and Invitation to the Dance (1956). Athletically graceful, a skillful and expressive dancer with a joyfully muscular yet lyrical style, he also sang in a thin yet appealing voice. Kelly appeared in such film musicals as Anchors Aweigh (1945), Take Me Out to the Ballgame (1949), Brigadoon (1954), and Les Girls (1957). He also played dramatic film roles, as in Inherit the Wind (1960), and directed several movies, including The Happy Road (1950) and Hello Dolly (1969).

Bibliography: See biographies by C. Hirschhorn (1975) and A. Yudkoff (1999).

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Kelly, Gene

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | © World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Kelly, Gene (1912–96) US dancer, choreographer, film actor, and director. His greatest films, co-directed with Stanley Donen, were On the Town (1949), An American in Paris (1951), and the hugely popular Singin' in the Rain (1951).

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Free Article Gene Kelly: cultural icon.(ARTS & CULTURE)
Magazine article from: Catholic New Times; 6/5/2005
Free Article And now, the real kicker... (interview with actor-dancer Gene Kelly) (Interview)
Magazine article from: Interview; 5/1/1994
Free Article Anniversary gallery hollywood covers.(Cyd Charisse, Rita Hayworth, Audrey Hepburn and Gene Kelly)
Magazine article from: Dance Magazine; 5/1/2007

Facts and information from other sites

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Magazine article from: Dance Teacher; 2/1/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...artform Along with Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly (1912-1996) was the original...redefining the boundaries of dance, Kelly received a special Oscar in 1951...few chances to share your favorite Gene Kelly movies with your students. As a...
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Magazine article from: Catholic New Times; 6/5/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...is that of the legendary Gene Kelly. Eclipsed by the longevity...both fellow Catholics, Kelly was in many ways a fascinating...spread around Pittsburgh, Gene Kelly continued to read...Pittsburgh. At age 25 in 1937, Kelly caught his big break when...
`Singin' in the Rain' Gene Kelly's exuberance swept up audiences; Gene Kelly kept on dancing Career highlights of Gene Kelly: Films (as actor, director, choreographer) For Me and My Gal, 1942 Pilot No. 5, 1943 Du Barry Was a Lady, 1943 Thousands Cheer, 1943 The Cross of Lorraine, 1943 Cover Girl, 1944 Christmas Holiday, 1944 Anchors Aweigh, 1945 Ziegfeld Follies, 1946 Living in a Big Way, 1947 The Pirate, 1948 The Three Musketeers, 1948 Words and Music, 1948 Take Me Out to the Ball Game, 1949 On the Town, 1949 Black Hand, 1950 Summer Stock, 1950 An American in Paris, 1951 It's a Big Country, 1952 Singin' in the Rain, 1952 The Devil Makes Three, 1952 Brigadoon, 1954 Seagulls Over Sorrento, or Crest of the Wave, 1954 Deep in My Heart, 1954 It's Always Fair Weather, 1955 Invitation to the Dance, 1956 The Happy Road, 1957 Les Girls, 1957 Marjorie Morningstar, 1958 Let's Make Love, 1960 Inherit the Wind, 1960 What a Way To Go, 1964 The Young Girls of Rochefort, 1967 40 Carats, 1973 That's Entertainment, 1974 That's Entertainment Part II, 1976 Viva Knievel! 1977 Xanadu, 1980 That's Entertainment III, 1994 Films (as director or producer-director) Tunnel of Love, 1958 Gigot, 1962 A Guide for the Married Man, 1967 Hello, Dolly! 1969 The Cheyenne Social Club, 1970 Theater Leave It to Me, 1938 One for the Money, 1939 The Time of Your Life, 1939 Pal Joey, 1940 Best Foot Forward, 1941 Television Going My Way, 1962-'63 The Funny Side, 1971 Jack and the Beanstalk, 1967 (Special)
Newspaper article from: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; 2/3/1996; ; 700+ words ; Gene Kelly, who splashed through puddles with athletic...Madonna and Michael Jackson consulted him, Kelly died at his home of complications from strokes...dance steps were elegant and measured, Kelly was a muscular, regular-guy showman whose...
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Newspaper article from: The Washington Post; 3/10/2002; ; 682 words ; Gene Kelly made it look easy to sing and dance in the...or to be an American in Paris. "But Kelly had a really phenomenal work ethic," said...Trachtenberg, who wrote and produced "Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer," part of the American...
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Newspaper article from: Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review; 5/25/2008; ; 700+ words ; ...in their budget category at Saturday's Gene Kelly Awards show. This 18th edition of the Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical...Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera awarded merit-based Gene Kelly Scholarships totaling $11,500 to three...
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