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Quiz about The Fancy Footwork of Fred Astaire

The Fancy Footwork of Fred Astaire Quiz

Fred Astaire is my favourite dancer of all time. If you're a fan, you should do fine.

A multiple-choice quiz by banana92. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
banana92

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
146,064

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
1726

Last 3 plays: Guest 174 (2/10), Coromom (5/10), Guest 73 (8/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was the first style of dance Fred Astaire learnt? Hint

Clog

Tap

Ballet

Russian folk dance

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Question 2 of 10

2. Who was Fred Astaire's first screen dancing partner? Hint

Ginger Rogers

Eleanor Powell

Adele Astaire

Joan Crawford

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Question 3 of 10

3. In the video for Lionel Ritchie's song "Dancing on the Ceiling", he uses a technique that Fred Astaire employed in which movie? Hint

Royal Wedding

The Barkleys of Broadway

Silk Stockings

The Band Wagon

4. Two of these actresses, who went on to become famous in their own right in later years were under contract to RKO in the 1930s, so appeared in some of Fred and Ginger's films. Who were they? Hint

Eve Arden and June Allyson

Betty Grable and Eve Arden

Lucille Ball and Betty Grable

June Allyson and Lucille Ball

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who was Fred Astaire's choreographer for most of his career?

Answer: ( Two words, or just surname ... or just first name ... (think Greek gods))

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Question 6 of 10

6. Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly were the top two tap dancing movie stars of the golden age of Hollywood, but they only appeared together in one movie - not counting "That's Entertainment" (1974). What was it?

Answer: ( Two Words .. think "impresario")

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Question 7 of 10

7. Ginger Rogers was the only partner Fred Astaire made more than two movies with. Which of the following dancers did he only make one film with? Hint

Rita Hayworth

Eleanor Powell

Vera-Ellen

Cyd Charisse

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Question 8 of 10

8. How many musicals did Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers make together? Hint

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Question 9 of 10

9. Alongside the non-dancing Joan Fontaine, what famous comedy duo were Fred Astaire's co-stars in the 1937 movie 'A Damsel in Distress'? Hint

George Burns and Gracie Allen

Bob Hope and Bing Crosby

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello

Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone

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Question 10 of 10

10. Fred Astaire, when he had his arms outstretched when he was dancing, would bend his two middle fingers towards his palm. Why did he do this? Hint

It was a throwback to his ballet dancing days.

It was a superstition he had developed.

It helped him to keep his balance.

He thought his hands were too big so tried to disguise it in this way.

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 08 2024 : Guest 174: 2/10
Feb 26 2024 : Coromom: 5/10
Feb 26 2024 : Guest 73: 8/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was the first style of dance Fred Astaire learnt?

Answer: Ballet

Fred was taken along to his sister's ballet classes and although he wasn't particularly interested at first, his perfectionist streak meant that he ended up even more accomplished than her.

2. Who was Fred Astaire's first screen dancing partner?

Answer: Joan Crawford

The Joan Crawford vehicle 'Dancing Lady", made in 1933, was Fred's screen debut.

3. In the video for Lionel Ritchie's song "Dancing on the Ceiling", he uses a technique that Fred Astaire employed in which movie?

Answer: Royal Wedding

The technique made it look as though Fred was dancing around a room, not horizontally but vertically, so it appeared he was dancing up the walls and then upside down, on the ceiling. In fact (of course!), Fred remained on the 'floor', while the room turned - with the camera fixed to the turning set to create the effect. If you watch the number ("You're all the world to me") carefully, you will see Fred balancing between each wall at the point when he has to move to the next surface.

4. Two of these actresses, who went on to become famous in their own right in later years were under contract to RKO in the 1930s, so appeared in some of Fred and Ginger's films. Who were they?

Answer: Lucille Ball and Betty Grable

Lucille Ball appeared in 'Follow the Fleet', 'Roberta' and as a clerk in a flower shop in 'Top Hat'; Betty Grable appeared in 'Follow the Fleet' and 'The Gay Divorcee'.

5. Who was Fred Astaire's choreographer for most of his career?

Answer: Hermes Pan

Pan stood in for Ginger Rogers when he and Fred worked through routines before rehearsing with Ginger herself.

Answer: Ziegfeld Follies

Fred and Gene performed one number in this MGM showcase from 1946, "The Babbit and the Bromide", a kind of nonsense song about these two guys who keep bumping into each other over the years, including once they arrive in heaven.

7. Ginger Rogers was the only partner Fred Astaire made more than two movies with. Which of the following dancers did he only make one film with?

Answer: Eleanor Powell

Eleanor Powell was widely considered the finest female tap dancer in Hollywood, but only starred in one film with Fred Astaire, 'The Broadway Melody' (1940). This may have been because of other commitments they each had, or because the powers that be felt that it wasn't so interesting to have the male and female leads too similar in style (cf. the famous quote that Fred gave Ginger class, while she gave him sex appeal), or most likely because she was tall - Fred didn't like to dance with partners as tall as he - notice Cyd Charisse's flat heels ....

8. How many musicals did Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers make together?

Answer: 10

Fred and Ginger made 9 movies with RKO in the 1930s, but were reunited 10 years later, in 1949, for MGM's 'The Barkleys of Broadway'.

9. Alongside the non-dancing Joan Fontaine, what famous comedy duo were Fred Astaire's co-stars in the 1937 movie 'A Damsel in Distress'?

Answer: George Burns and Gracie Allen

Based on a short story by P G Wodehouse, 'A Damsel in Distress' is often overlooked as it is weakened by Fred's not having a real dancing partner - Joan Fontaine is pretty, and a decent actress, but is just danced 'around' by Fred in one number. Nevertheless, with a great score by the Gershwins, and great comic relief from Burns and Allen, it is really worth a look - Burns and Allen are pretty nifty dancers too!

10. Fred Astaire, when he had his arms outstretched when he was dancing, would bend his two middle fingers towards his palm. Why did he do this?

Answer: He thought his hands were too big so tried to disguise it in this way.

Source: Author banana92

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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