He painfullydisappointeda full house in March of 1979 when he was given only 7 days to rehearse for The Music Man. After desperately skipping and improvising his way through Weve Got Trouble, he stopped the conductor: This is such a lovely song, I hate to louse it up. Two Broadway flops followed in quick succession. The actor's lungs were hardly suited for the endurance that "Make 'Em Laugh" required. Gwen didnt even wait until it was finalizedto begin an affairwith the actor Dan Dailey. ARKATOV, JANICE. And culminated with a challenge dance with O'Connor and the Nicholas Brothers (Fayard and Harold) trading and one-upping on tap steps. So I don't dance much any more, but I do enough to show people I can still move my legs."[5]. "Our entire family composed an act", he says. Sept. 28, 2003 12 AM PT. However, the art of song and dance had its pioneers long before Kaufman ever stepped up before a crowd. "[2] Both music and lyrics of "Make 'Em Laugh" bear almost exact similarities in form and style to "Be a Clown". While it certainly got him down in real life, he was back at it after the three days of rest had restored him to proper health. In 1980, he was nominated for a Special Event Emmy when he hosted a history of the dance at the Oscars, riding triumphantly aloft a camera crane and even getting in some steps of his own. Ironically, his character was fighting drug addiction. He bought a theatre, the Donald O'Connor Theatre, and would perform in it with his children. O'Connor third billed in both Boy Trouble (1939) and Unmarried (1939), playing John Hartley as a young boy in the latter. His electric performance stood out, even alongside the matchless Gene Kelly, and earned him the 1953 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy or Musical. ", [Source: Constance Valis Hill, Tap Dancing America, A Cultural History (2010)]. Monroe herself was intimidated by the show biz pros dancing aroundher, sometimesfumblingdozens of takes per scene. Donna recalled that it allculminated at the breakfast table one morning, when Donald asked Gwen, What would you like to do today? She answered,I want a divorce. He swallowed the pain and asked, Are you sure you wouldnt rather go to a movie? No, I want a divorce. She fought for and woncustody of Donna, leaving Donald with the dog. I'm not ready to be old."[8]. His family had the answer. Cagney_Seen. So I loved musicals. Watch, itll be marvelous. [7] Although Cole Porter had unchallenged reason to bring suit, he never sued for copyright infringement. O'Connor was billed fourth in Million Dollar Legs (1939) with Betty Grable. The routine tooka heavy tollon OConnors body. He spoke without resentment. "Gene always said, 'You choreograph to the woman,' so he choreographed to Debbie's capabilities.You want your partner to look the best he or she can possibly look. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. Video unavailable Watch on YouTube Watch on The "Broadway Melody Ballet" from Singin' in the Rain (1952). "He came to rehearsals and criticized everything I did and never gave me a word of encouragement. O'Connor claimed to have overcome his depression after being hospitalized for three months after collapsing in 1978. He came to fame in a series of films in which he co-starred with Gloria Jean Peggy Ryan and Francis the Talking Mule. The live audiences created a certain spontaneity. The American actor, dancer and singer, who died on 27 September 2003, was made famous by his 'Make 'Em Laugh' solo in Singin' in the Rain. Here he is unfolding the secrets of theclog step with the greatBuddy Ebsen. - Calabasas, 2003. szeptember 27.) Yet he could never bring himself to give less than 100%, even when it was junk.He and Debbie Reynolds were cast together in a dudcalled ILove Melvin, which both actors roundly panned, but he still delivered an unforgettabletap dance on roller skates. I capture your attention without giving you time to think about it. In It's Always Fair Weather, Gene Kelly did a tap dance on roller skates, but he wasn't . September 27, 2003 / 9:06 PM / AP Entertainer Donald O'Connor, who combined comedy and acrobatics in the show-stopping "Make 'Em Laugh" number in the classic movie "Singin' in the Rain," died. [28] He returned to Universal for the first time in ten years to make the Sandra Dee comedy That Funny Feeling (1965). Three other siblings died during childbirth. I hope so." One fan had a front-row seat and later recalled, There were so many curtain calls, it was unbelievable. Yeah, he was miserable. The most distinctive characteristic of his dancing style was its athleticism, for which he had few rivals. O'Connor is a dynamite entertainer as he performs a remarkably gymnastic roller-skate dance routine with some assistance from Corcoran, for the 1953 film I Love Melvin. Most entertaining and most revolutionary moments from their movie musicals. You gotta SMILE! Adding insult to injury, Donald had to play the son of her new lover in the garish monstrosityTheres No Business Like Show Business. Broadcast on NBC-TV (January 16, 1966), this mini-musical history of tap dance in America opened with O'Connor as host dancing an Irish jig, Scottish reel, Spanish zapateada, and German spatlasse, followed by a softshoe dance and some sand dancing. Donald O'Connor, the comedic song-and-dance man who inherited and perpetuated a classic tradition of vaudeville tap dancing, was born David Dixon Ronald O'Connor into an Irish theatrical family. I ran around frantic, yelling for some Coca-Cola to cleanse my mouth. His son Fred later recalled, I was very blessed to have my dad as my dad We were never without anything, and the things we really wanted, he told us These are things that you have to work for. And Im glad he did. Daughter Alicia fondly remembered how he would delight the children with quicksilver impressions, saying that You never knew who was coming to dinner. But as OConnor danced closer tothe line between drinker and alcoholic, he fought a rising fear that like his father and brother, hewould not live to the age of 50. He was filled with the wonderment of life, and he would shareittohis dying breath. In 1971, after suffering a heart attack, O'Connor devoted considerably energy to composing music for the concert hall. He did Francis Goes to the Races (1951), another big hit. Danny Kaye inherited the part. Chicago Daily Tribune 18 Oct 1954: b16. When MGM released its compilationThats Entertainment, this was the one that could still makelistless audiences break into spontaneous applause in the theaters. Then Kelly broke the news to Donald that he had to do it all over again, because the footage had beenruined through a camera goof. "He'd sit in his dressing room and stare into space, and I think he had problems at home. O'Connor never went to school. [8][9] In a 2002 interview, Betty Comden recalled, "How [Freed] could have written it in the first place and not realized is still a mystery. It's rather ironic that the "Make 'Em Laugh" sequence begins with O'Connor declaring that "you can't let a little thing like this get you down" to fellow actor Gene Kelly. "I've been on the road forever," he said in 1985, adding "I'd consider another movie or a TV series, but I won't play an old man. He maintained his high standards of excellence through the 60s, as evidenced in some rare clips thathave surfaced on Youtube. He began appearing regularly on television. In a 1989 interview he said "There's an element out there that wants to be entertained-and they can't find this kind of thing I do. Dancing On The Ceiling. The title, once proposed for an autobiographical stage play he was preparing, is apropos for a man who so knew how to create magic and delight as an entertainer. When they graduated from circus into vaudeville, all their children (seven were born, three died in infancy) were initiated into "The O'Connor Family," billed as "The Royal Family of Vaudeville." One bit at the end of this show is achingly poignant. [12], He, Ryan, and the Andrews Sisters were in Private Buckaroo (1942) and Give Out, Sisters (1942); then he was co-starred opposite Jean in four films: Get Hep to Love (1942), When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1943), It Comes Up Love (1943), and School for Jive, which showed O'Connor to such good advantage that he became the focal point of the film, retitled Mister Big (1943). Donald O'Connor Enters Hospital Keaton's ground-breaking physical comedy was a major influence on O'Connor's own work, and he jumped at the chance to pay tribute to a long-time idol. It would have been fascinating to watch them play off of each other, as they shared certain qualities in common. amerikai sznsz s tncos. If you've ever seen "Singin' in the Rain," you probably remember Donald O'Connor's astonishing execution of "Make 'Em Laugh" where his singing and dancing abilities culminate in a superb performance that invokes both slapstick physical antics and regimented choreography. The sequencefeaturesO'Connor as the prime subject with very few auxiliary performers contributing to the spectacle. Born into a family of circus and vaudeville performers, O'Connor made his first stage appearance at the age of 13 months. But as weeks turned to months, he realized that he had finally found the security he sought for so long. "I could do those wings and stuff and I looked very good, but my heavens it was very, very hard for me to pick up on pick up steps. By the end, Reynolds' feet were bleeding and she could barely move. And I had to learn to dance from the waist up. Zylstra, Freida. A young boy who aspires to become asinger has followedhis father into a bar to try to talk to him. By now, the grueling footwork that went into Singin' in the Rain's "Good Morning" scene is the stuff of legend. Television was kinder to him, and he netted an Emmy for his versatile work on the Colgate Comedy Hour. One of his finest TV moments was a guest appearance on the Bell Telephone Hour in which he demonstrated thehistoryoftap dancing, by then itselfa fading art: Ever the gentleman on stage,he was prompt to deflect applause away from himself, commenting at the end of one live number, You know, Ive never learned howto dance without getting out of breath, isnt that ridiculous? It was his first feature film role in 16 years. "[8], When they were not touring they stayed with O'Connor's Uncle Bill in Danville, Illinois. Both the O'Connors struggled to remember where and when exactly Donald was born, due to the family's extensive travel. Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times 19 Apr 1968: c18. The New York Times 29 Sep 2003: B.6. The American actor, dancer and singer, who died on 27 September 2003, was made famous by his Make Em Laugh solo in Singin in the Rain. Donald O'Connor Divorced. They brought me those little Oriental rugswouldnt absorb a sponge. He consulted with his brother Jack on running up the wall,an old trick from his circus days. You could do that with any kid, only I got paid for it.. O'Connor followed the first Francis with comedies: Curtain Call at Cactus Creek (1950), The Milkman (1950), and Double Crossbones (1951). Kelly was 20 years her senior and classically trained in ballet; O'Connor, 27 at the time, was another "triple threat" (actor, singer, and dancer) who had been performing in movies since the age of 12. But his focus moved increasingly to touring live shows.[27]. Donald O'Connor to Marry. Donald O'Connor Returns to Universal Hes disciplined. [6] His brother Billy died a decade later from scarlet fever and his eldest sibling Jack died from alcoholism in 1959. But I had never had any formal training. He insisted on finishing out the night, but by the next morning, he couldnt leave his bed. He then returned to his family act in vaudeville for two years. I didn't have a short cut like the other dancers do. The country seems to be confused about censorship, free speech, and any An American in Amman: A U.S. Brilliant choreography exquisite dancing a clever idea. It was a hopeful year. I couldn't pick up routines because I didn't have any formal training. (Photo by John Swope/Getty Images) Save. Donald O'Connor in Drama Role With Vince Edwards I'm not threatening. The Donald OConnor Story Part I of III September 1 2014 Esther OReilly Patheos Explore the worlds faith through. Its one of the only times in OConnors career that he peels off the jesters mask for a glimpse of the vulnerable soul underneath. His succinct answer:No. A composer and conductor, he was able to enjoythe fruits of a hidden talent for music when he led the Los Angeles Philharmonic in the premiere of his own symphony. All Kelly had to do was let him loose on a roomful of props, with two personal assistants writing down which bits made them laugh hardest. The routine is often cited as a tour de force in physical comedy. Donald O'Connor Billed at Sahara [22], O'Connor's industry and public recognition reached a peak in 1954, when he was asked to emcee that year's Academy Awards ceremony. Kelly particularly liked the "gurning" (making faces) O'Connor could do. Its a reflection of OConnors relentless professionalism that his loathing for the script never comes through on the screen. His first marriage was in 1944 to Gwendolyn Carter, when he was 18 and she was 20. Itwas like the audience wanted to hang on forever to great performers and delightful memories from the golden age of song-and-dance. But in 1998, anothershow-stoppingconcert runwith the Palm Springs Follies nearly killed the consummate entertainer when he came down with viral pneumonia. The New York Times, 10 Oct 1956: 46. "I won't take anything I have for granted again," was written in each letter. Like an old show-horse breaking out of his stall to get back to work, he couldnt stop performing. In his early Universal films, O'Connor closely mimicked the smart alec, fast-talking personality of Mickey Rooney of rival MGM Studio. They were billed as the O'Connor Family, the Royal Family of Vaudeville. Danny Kaye inherited the part. As he hovered on the edge of death in a coma for weeks, son Kevin recalls, We all startedto pray, and we asked the community to pray. OConnor miraculously pulled through. Unfortunately,as thesong-and-dance musical itself faded out of style, this was not to be. The OConnor Born in 1925 Donald OConnors life spanned the 20th Century with its depressions wars and social upheavals. I didnt escape it. At age 47, he got his first warningin 1972, suffering a heart attack while entertaining troops in Vietnam. (May 25, 1997). IN STEP WITH: Donald O'Connor One review in 1952 called him "1952's new star. Born into a vaudeville family OConnor was the youthful figure cutting a rug in several Universal musicals of the 1940s. What movie was dancing on the ceiling in. Thanks for reading! Dale, Steve. Obituary: Donald O'Connor: Dynamic dancer and comedian He instantly picks it up and embraces her with a kiss. However, Donen recalled, the resulting number was "100% plagiarism. a rug in several Universal musicals of the 1940s. O'Connor went back to Universal for Francis Goes to West Point (1952) then returned to MGM for I Love Melvin (1953) a musical with Debbie Reynolds. O'Connor was married twice and had four children. Never mind that other partners, like 19-year-old Debbie Reynolds, nearly worked their feet off. Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital, Irving Berlin's There's No Business Like Show Business, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, "Donald O'Connor, 78, Who Danced His Way Through Many Hollywood Musicals, Is Dead", "Donald O'Connor interview - Mindy Aloff", "Donald O'Connor, 78; Entertainer Immortalized by 'Singin' in the Rain', Mindy Alloff's 1979 interview with O'Connor, Donald O'Connor on "The Colgate Comedy Hour" (1951-54), Donald O'Connor on "Texaco Star Theater" (1954-55), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Donald_O%27Connor&oldid=1138222779, Won - 1954 Primetime Emmy Award for Best Male Star of Regular Series (for, Earned - 1960, Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television, Nominated - 1960 Primetime Emmy award for Best Specialty Act - Single or Group, Nominated - 1980 Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Individual Achievement - Special Events (52nd Annual Academy Awards (1980)), This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at 16:33. O'Connor was born into a Vaudeville family, where he learned to dance, sing, play comedy, even slapstick. This is my most popular month. Actually, they were quite challenging. On tour, he made a beeline for the bar in every new town. Danny Kayesplum sidekick role wasoriginallyconceived for and pitched to him. Which is a lot harder than it sounds.. O'Connor later said regarding Effie, "She wanted me to be as great as I possibly could be. He was billed fifth in Sing You Sinners (1938) playing Bing Crosby's and MacMurray's younger brother.[10]. (Candid footage of the reception shows OConnor surreptitiously piling an extra slice of cake on the boys plate.) Still appearing in films during the 90s and making public I look for the parts where I die and they talk about me for the rest of the movie. The New York Times, 8 Feb 1944: 12. Effie also stopped O'Connor from learning hazardous dance routines, and made sure she always knew where he was when he wasn't performing. The Guardian 29 Sep 2003: 1.21. Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times 12 Apr 1973: g21. "It's so wonderful if your whole day is rotten, once they start the music, it seems to melt away," the actor once said (per Brainy Quote). I'm surprised she still speaks to me. His best-known musical work is probably Singin' in the Rain (1952), in which he did an impressive dance that culminated in a series of backflips off the wall. Upon O'Connor's return from military service Universal did not know what to do with their young star. created 4 months ago. O'Connor credited the patients he met and thanked God for allowing him to recover. Donald David Dixon Ronald O'Connor (August 28, 1925 - September 27, 2003) was an American dancer, singer and actor. a list of 42 titles. Business wasnt just waiting to pick up when he got out of rehab. Disillusionment came swiftly. He made his film debut at age eleven, dancing an uncredited "specialty routine" with brothers Jack and Billy in the 1937 Warner Brothers musical, Melody for Two. At the age of 15 from 15 on, I really had to learn to dance. In 1992, hereleased an instructional tap dance video where he swapped stories and steps with the old, old masters. Los Angeles Times 9 Aug 1953: 3. Im the same as everyone else Im subject to fever and headaches and bad temper just like anybody else. Yet show business was all he knew. Through its pages, they could trace his handwriting, claiming the promises as his own. [7] She was a typical stage mother, often striking him. Donald O'Connor Scheduled for Another 'Francis' Film Bergan, Ronald. Reynolds wrote: 'The camera closed in. As a consequence, his musical career was constantly interrupted by production of one Francis film per year until 1955. O'Connor and Bing Crosby united on Anything Goes (1956) at Paramount. Donald O'Connor performs "Make 'em Laugh," a hilarious number from "Singing in the Rain," the 1952 musical. He also turned in an impressive bit of serious acting on the cop showPolice Story. The man who performed the most sensational solo number in the history of musical comedy is dead. PARAMOUNT SIGNS DONALD O'CONNOR: Actor Will Make 3 Pictures for Studio -- Betty Hutton's Film May Be One of Them By THOMAS M. PRYOR Special to. Films", ""Be A Clown" and "Make 'Em Laugh:" Comic Timing, Rhythm, and Donald O'Connor's Face", "Singin' in the Rain: A Conversation with Betty Comden and Adolph Green", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Make_%27Em_Laugh&oldid=1140046445, This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 04:20. Tune in tomorrow for the third and final chapter in the Donald OConnor story. Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! He would never look back again. He continued to perform live.[38]. O'Connor will be remembered as "The Last Song and Dance Man." [2][3] His father's family was from Ireland. musical work is probably. He somehow managed to pull it off, though not without a degree of minor consequence (per IMDb). Unfortunately for the O'Connor family, world events often coincided with terrible personal losses, requiring Donald to assume adult responsibilities at a very young age. "[5], O'Connor began performing in movies in 1937, making his debut aged 11 in Melody for Two appearing with his family act. God bless you. MOULIN ROUGE DATE: Donald O'Connor Joins Rush to L.A. O'Connor and Ryan were in Top Man (1943), with Susanna Foster, and Chip Off the Old Block (1944), with Ann Blyth. "[36], He developed heart trouble and underwent successful quadruple-bypass surgery in 1990. Another legendary dancer, Fred Astaire, then in his early 50s, was the one to comfort her. Get it done and come back home. In one instance, as all three practiced a step in Good Morning, Kelly himself was unknowinglyrepeating an error while blaming OConnor for it. Click to see full answer. He trained hard with Keaton and threw himself into the role with perhaps even more dedication than usual, literally risking his life to recreate some of Keatons most daring stunts. The late Roger Ebertonce deemed it "one of the most amazing dance sequences ever filmed," and true to form also described it as "breathtaking.". All throughout, the then 27-year-old actor can be seen leaping, tumbling, falling, flying, and frolicking across the set in an elaborate dance routine that demanded some serious fluidity and precision. In an attempt to bring his family together, he wrote her and Donnainto some of his Colgatematerial. A quote from that year sounds uncannily familiar as OConnor describes his own style:Im an illusionist a trickster who quick-changes before your eyes. Picture Show, London, Vol. By the end, Reynolds' feet were bleeding and she could barely move. ", In a 2012 interview with Newsday, Kelly's widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, said her husband designed routines to suit his partners, whether they were professional dancers or not. Paramount held the project for him but he was not able to recover fully enough for the dance numbers in time to make the shooting schedule required for a December release. Hewas finally free from the clutches ofUniversalPictures, having refused to make one more Francis picture until theyreleased him. [11] The film was popular and Universal began to develop O'Connor and Ryan as their version of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. In the 1950s, O'Connor reestablished himself as a comedic actor and tap dancer. "Make 'em Laugh" was like an expression of Mr. O'Connor's showbiz philosophy. He also won a Primetime Emmy Award from four nominations and received. ", Though it's reported that Reynolds eventually took a perspective of gratitude for everything Kelly had put her through, because it made her a better performer, the exacting director later admitted, "I wasn't very nice to Debbie. [9], O'Connor signed a contract at Paramount Studios. [9], In 1941, O'Connor signed with Universal Pictures for $200 a week, where he began with What's Cookin'? Gene Kelly knew what he was doing when he hand-picked Donald OConnor as his right-hand man in Singin In the Rain. A merger in 1946 had reorganized the studio as Universal-International. Heres one of the most famous dance scenes from movie musical history. Shes clearly very shy, and he gets down at her level to run through some jokes. Entdecke 1960 SCHAUSPIELER DONALD O CONNOR Tanzklavier Blumen Vintage Bild Vintage Foto in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! True, O'Connor hailed from a family of vaudeville performers who traversed the country as an exhibitionist troupe, but Donald seemed to have a penchant for the performing arts that transcended what one is able to learn through the application of mere instruction. The New York Times, 17 June 1953: 32. He created the Donald O'Connor Alcoholism Counseling Scholarship. Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times 15 Aug 1966: c21. I went through the booze bit. Chicago Born Donald O'Connor Is a Veteran of Stage and Films at 25 [16] He also received an offer to play Cosmo the piano player in Singin' in the Rain (1952) at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Dancing In the Rain: The Donald O'Connor Story (Part II of III), Dancing In the Rain: The Donald OConnor Story (Part III of III). His entire first episode from 1952 is happily available on Youtube. Hollywood legend states that O'Connor, though only 27 years old at the time but a chain-smoker, was bedridden for several days after filming the sequence. [4], "Make 'Em Laugh" is listed at #49 in AFI's 100 Years100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema.[5]. These included going down with a sinking boat and launching himself head-first into a dangerously narrow wall niche for a disappearing act. He died in Los Angeles at the age . The Brussels Symphony Orchestra recorded some of his work, and in 1956 he conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a performance of his first symphony, Reflections d'Un Comique.[26]. [44] His remains were cremated. There was no longer a place for OConnors particular skill set on the big screen. Through the end of his career, he lived, true to his word: "I was born and raised to entertain other people. Actor Donald O'Connor dancing on roller skates, probably in preparation for filming of I Love Melvin. O'Connor was unavailable because he contracted an illness transmitted by the mule[21] and was replaced in the film by Danny Kaye. Download 'Symphony No.9 in E minor Opus 95 (2)' on iTunes, 11 June 2021, 17:23 | Updated: 11 June 2021, 17:27. "They had to bank one wall so I could make it up and then through another wall. "Gene said, 'Do you think you could do that number again?" [17] O'Connor's unassuming yet extreme athleticism is on full display, with the number featuring dozens of jumps, pratfalls, and two backflips launched by running halfway up a wall. The New York Times described it as one of Hollywoods finest dance moments. O'Connor's performance for "Make 'Em Laugh" is noted for its extreme physical difficulty, featuring dozens of jumps, pratfalls, and two backflips. My lips were shaking all over and I couldnt find Marilyns lips and she couldnt find mineI got it over with as quickly as possibleit was like kissing the sidewalk.When the director asked Donald to stand on a box so they would be the same height, OConnor rebelled. Thats beautiful. Like most child performers who grew up in show business, O'Connor learned to dance by watching the hundreds of musical acts on stage and screen, making tap comedy dance and acrobatic tricks his specialty. Hisown variety show was canceled, and two other attempts to launch a TV series died on the shelves. Born into a vaudeville family, O'Connor was the youthful figure cutting a rug in several Universal musicals of the 1940s. We filmed that whole sequence in one day. "I had three months to learn what Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor had been doing for years," Reynolds wrote in her 2013 memoir Unsinkable. Night Work (1939) Approved | 60 min | Comedy, Drama 6.8 Rate His best-known musical work is probably Singin in the Rain 1952 in which he did an impressive dance that culminated in a series of backflips off the wall. A decade later from scarlet fever and headaches and bad temper just like anybody else takes per.! 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