Rita Hayworth's Fancy Footwork
5/14/2012
Rita Hayworth was many things to many people – an actress, an alluring pin-up girl, a wife (five times over). A brunette, a blonde, and (most famously) a redhead. An exotic ethnic beauty and an All-American girl. But Rita Hayworth's favorite role was that of dancer.
 Rita Hayworth (Wikimedia Commons/Studio publicity photo)
In the 1940s, Hayworth was box office gold when she partnered with Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly – and she was the first dancer to partner with both superstars on film. Hayworth loved that period in her career – when she looked back years later, she noted, "I guess the only jewels of my life were the pictures I made with Fred Astaire."
Twenty-five years after her death, we're remembering Rita Hayworth the way we think she would have wanted – as a dancer. Here are a few classic clips showcasing her fantastic talent – as well as her great chemistry with both Astaire and Kelly.
Some snazzy tap from Hayworth and Astaire:
Phil Silvers joins Hayworth and Kelly in Cover Girl. Hayworth's vocals were dubbed, but the great dancing is 100% genuine.
And one more with Hayworth and Astaire – since she remembered their films so fondly, and for Astaire's part, he said Hayworth was his favorite dancing partner.
Written by Linnea Crowther
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