The Fred Astaire Show
[ Cast ] [ Crew ] [ Production Company ] [ Technical Information ]
[ Musical Numbers ] [ Soundtrack ] [ Reviews ] [ Trivia ]
Cast
| Fred Astaire |
| Barrie Chase |
| Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66 |
| The Young-Holt Unlimited |
| The Gordion Knot |
| Simon and Garfunkle |
| The Herb Ross Dancers |
Crew
| Director |
Robert Scheerer |
| Producer |
Fred Astaire |
|
Gil Rodin |
| Screenplay |
Fred Astaire |
| Choreographer |
Herbert Ross |
| Art Director |
James Trittipo |
| Costumes |
Bob Mackie |
| Music Director |
Neal Hefti |
| Musical Coordinator |
Batty Walberg |
|
Joseph Lippman |
Production Company
Ava Productions
Technical Information
| Premiere: |
February 7, 1968, NBC-TV |
| Repeated: |
February 9, 1969 |
| Runtime: |
60 minutes |
| Country: |
USA |
| Language: |
English |
| Color: |
Color |
Musical Numbers
 | "I've a Shooting Box In Scotland"
Performed by Fred Astaire
|
| "I Love To Quarrel With You"
Performed by Fred Astaire
|
| "Look To The Rainbow"
Performed by Fred Astaire
|
| "When The Idle Poor Become The Idle Rich"
Performed by Fred Astaire
|
| "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails"
Performed by Fred Astaire
|
| "Oh, You Beautiful Doll"
Performed by Fred Astaire and Barrie Chase
|
| "The Look Of Love"
Performed by Fred Astaire and Barrie Chase
|
| "Limehouse Blues"
Performed by Fred Astaire and Barrie Chase
|
| "Chinatown, My Chinatown"
Performed by Fred Astaire and Barrie Chase
|
| "Pinky's Dilemma"
Performed by Fred Astaire and Simon and Garfunkel
|
| "Eleanor Rigby"
Performed by Barrie Chase, Simon and Garfunkel and male dancers
|
| "Closing Medley"
Performed by Fred Astaire |
Soundtrack
- “I’ve
a Shooting Box in Scotland”
Written by Astaire
- “I
Love to Quarrel with You”
Written by Astaire
Written by Astaire
- “When
the Idle Poor Become the Idle Rich”
Written by Astaire
- “Top
Hat, White Tie and Tails”
Written by Astaire
- “Oh,
You beautiful Doll,”
- “The
Look of Love,”
- “Limehouse
Blues,”
- “Chinatown,
My Chinatown”
Written by Astaire, Chase
Written by Simon and Garfunkel,
Astaire
Written by Chase, Simon and
Garfunkel, male dancers
Written by Astaire
Reviews
- Dance
Magazine, 3.68, Ann Barzel: “No need to say that Astaire is a great
dancer, happily he is still in top form. Ease, the deceptive result of
mastery of technique, was there. His is dance in its most basic concept,
rhythmic movement with innate grace…Herbert Ross, as choreographer, had to
suit the established styles of the stars and at the same time be original.
He came up with inventive ideas, original movements, adventuresome dance as
well as some deliberate efforts at remembering past successes.”
- Los
Angeles Times, 2.8.68, Don Page: “If the hard-core members of the
flower crowd or psychedelic set were watching, they certainly should have
been enlightened, because that skinny guy from those camp movies of the
‘40s can be as ‘now’ as anyone. Fred Astaire put it in the mod bag and
socked it to ‘em.”
- New
York Daily News, 2.8.68, Ben Gross: “His hour was one that might serve
as a model for anyone presenting a musical variety show on television – no
cumbersome frills or gimmicks; and not a word spoken during the program
until Fred’s closing medley of old songs.”
- New
York Times, 2.8.68, Jack Gould: “Mr.Astaire no doubt could dance to
the dial tone of a telephone”
- Variety,
2.8.68, Helm: “Here was a man 68-years old putting to shame the kid
shows…Every routine had the thought-out look, ingenious to its minutest
details, but then…Astaire has always been the perfectionist…Never in
past Astaire specials was he seen taking falls or being dragged around the
stage. And at his age!”
Trivia
- For
his fourth (and last) television special, Astaire purposely added
contemporary artists to the show: “Planning this show with the style that
comes to me, I believe, I’m always up to date with a bit of nostalgia,
with some of the present and, I hope, some of the future” (B295).
With a minimum of dialogue, the show segued from number to number without
any introductions. He also got a chance to “plug” the upcoming release
of Finian’s Rainbow (F34) with two songs from the film.
- At
68, Astaire’s energy was now limited. Chase was given an extended dance
sequence to “Eleanor Rigby” with Simon and Garfunkel and the male
dancers.
- Using
Herbert Ross as choreographer for the first time, the collaboration seemed
to work well. This was one of Ross’ last choreographic jobs as he would go
on to become one of film’s most acclaimed directors (The Turning Point,
Steel Magnolias, etc.) TV special director Robert Scheerer, another
former dancer, who thrilled to finally work with Astaire.
- In
an interview with Sheilah Graham (B 119), Astaire revealed,
“There’ll be no more television shows for me. The last was a killer. It
takes so much out of you, four months planning, eight weeks rehearsing. I
don’t like doing something unless I have a feeling of wanting to do it. I
thought the last one was the best of my specials. But you know, television
is so difficult, the timing, getting the right cast.”
- Barrie
Chase said that working with Astaire was unique. Just before going on,
he’d smile and say, “Don’t be nervous – But don’t make any
mistakes.” While they were dancing, he talked under his breath to
encourage her, “Now, you’re dancing… That’s it, now you’re
dancing!” (T 69).
- The
show cost $400,000 and was planned to be re-run so that it could recoup its
cost.
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