Figure 1.-- This is the dream sequence from Pennies from Heaven (US, 19??). In the scee a dowdy, bored class is transformed into a brilliant group of child dancers and mussicins all dressed in white. The girls wear white frocks and the boys white suits with white kneesocks. |
Boys have been involved in a few notable dance scenes in movies. There are not a large number of films which come to mind, in part because boys are not often used in movie dance scenes. These scenes are not from films about dance or do not involve a major type of dancing, but are rather production numbers, often from musicals. One such number is a dream sequence from Pennies from Heaven (US, 19??). There is also a charming Fred Ataire number in Easter Parade (US, 1948). And of course there is the marvelous Gene Kelley scene with the children in "Singin' in the Rain" (US, 1952). A much less well-known, but charming, scene comes from "The Girl Most Likely" (1957). The scene is a "Ten little indian" numbers with 10 boys and girls in Indian costumes. There is a humerous dance scene in the modern remake of Our Gang The Little Raccals (US, 1994). It involves Alfalfa and another boy trying to hide in a ballet class, but they stand out because they are so clumsey. It was apparently difficult to film the boy who played Alfalfa had ballet training and liked it and had trouble dancing badly enough for the scene. The more common depiction in American films is boys objecting to dancing. A typical depiction, although in a Renaisance setting is The Flame and Arrow (US, 1950) in which a boy objects to being taught dancing.
And of course there is the marvelous Gene Kelley scene with the children in "An American in Paris" (US, 1952). Kelly playing Joe is vey popular with the local children and the scene is set around an improtu English lesson. Kelly began his show business career working with child dancers. He had a wonderful way with children and it shows in this scene. I assume those are French boys, but I'm not positive where that scene was filmed. They look and sound like French children. The scene has a candid look about it, but I assume was carefully staged. The back and forth between Kelly and the children is quite enchanting, although Kelly does all the dancing.
There is a charming Fred Ataire number in Easter Parade (US, 1948). This is one of those films that is interesting to HBC because of one scene. At the
beginning of the film, Don is choosing Easter gifts for Nadine. He decides on a
stuffed bunny, the only problem is that a little boy has also set his sights on the bunny and is most displeased with Don tries to get t from him. Astaire, in an effort to distract the boy and interest him in toy drums, sings the Irving Berlin number "Drum Crazy" in a dance sequence. He is at first watched by the bemused youngester still clutching the contested stuffed Easter bunny. The boy later joins Astaire, marching in time and enthusiastically banging a toy drum.
The more common depiction in American films is boys objecting to dancing. A typical depiction, although in a Renaisance setting is The Flame and Arrow (US, 1950) in which a boy objects to being taught dancing.
A much less well-known, but charming, scene comes from "The Girl Most Likely" (1957). The scene is a "Ten little indian" numbers with 10 boys and girls in Indian costumes.
Perhaps the most famous child dance scenes in the movies is Shirley Temple's tap routein with Bojangles in the "Little Colonel". She did routines with Bojangles in other films as well as with others like Buddy Ebsen. We know fewer movies where boys do dance routeins.
There is a humerous dance scene in the modern remake of Our Gang The Little Raccals (US, 1994). It involves Alfalfa and another boy trying to hide in a ballet class, but they stand out because they are so clumsey. It was apparently difficult to film the boy who played Alfalfa had ballet training and liked it and had trouble dancing badly enough for the scene.
Andrew is a frustrated but creative English school-teacher (Danny Kaye) on an archeological trip discovers love and the circus. This Danny Kay film is set in an English boarding school. At the beginning of the film there is a scene with a song and dance rotein set in his form (class). They are singing and dancing about the circus. There are also some musical numbers. At thre end of the film Danny leaves the school to join a circus.
There is an elaborte dance scene in "The Music Man" (1962). The most notable dance
sequence of course is the scene in the library which features high school boys. Many of dancers, however, look more like adults than teenage boys despite the costuming.
The musdical "Oliver!" has a great dance scene. For some reason I do not recall seeing it when I first saw "Oliver!". A reader remembers a park scene, "There is a scene in the film showing school uniforms of wealthy pupils. The children are in a park. A group of girls are walking through and a class of boys push them in the water fountain." It is quite a lenthy song and dance sene famed around Oliver (Mark Lester) waking up and seeing a beaitiful morning unfold in the street beneath his balcony. He sings "Who will buy my sweet red roses" beautifully. It is quite a long scene. The children appear near the end, two groups of school children. The girls are dressed in prim yellow frocks with pantalettes. The boys wear caps with blie tunics or smocks. The proper dress at the time would be tunics, but as they button in the back, they are made mote like smocks. And yes the naughtu boys do push the girls in the fointain. My guess is that the boys involved got a real kick out of that.
Boys have been involved in a few notable dance scenes in movies. There are not a large number of films which come to mind, in part because boys are not often used in movie dance scenes. These scenes are not from films about dance or do not involve a major type of dancing, but are rather production numbers, often from musicals. One such number is a dream sequence from Pennies from Heaven (US, 19??). In the scee a dowdy, bored class is transformed into a brilliant group of chold dancers and mussicins all dressed in white.
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