Fred Astaire + Michael Jackson – Smooth Criminal [short film] HQ
FRED ASTAIRE in SMOOTH CRIMINAL
Starring Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Leslie Caron
Choreographed by Michael Kidd
‘Smooth Criminal’ by Michael Jackson
Video edited by CFJ
Here’s a high quality version of the video that I posted over a year ago. It was the first of my MJ trilogy videos, made on March 2008. It got about 450,000 views in 14 months.
I don’t know whether MJ had ever watched this, but I wished that he would see it on YouTube and just smile… which would be definitely my biggest pleasure.
Some things I wanted to say by this video are:
1) Fred Astaire was such a great dancer and he could dance beautifully to every type of music… even to a MJ song.
2) MJ is not an originator but such a great successor who inherits various musical legacies and creates his own things.
We must always learn the history.
And now, the next generation must go on just like him.
May you dance in peace with Astaire, MJ.
I will adore you, always.
Fred Astaire in Smooth Criminal (LQ)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gB0UNey-Uk
The following is the original description I wrote for the video.
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I love both Astaire and Michael Jackson. I want young people to know Astaire stuff, that is why I made this. The video features scenes from the Girl Hunt ballet in The Band Wagon (1953) starring Astaire and Cyd Charisse (those supreme legs!! The most perfect body a woman could have. So sensual, so elegant), to which MJ gave homage in his Smooth Criminal vid (also in a performance of Get Happy on the Jacksons show in the 70s as well as You Rock My World in 2001), and, as an intro, a sequence from Daddy Long Legs (1955) featuring Leslie Caron (in motion pictures, you mustn’t put a coin into a jukebox in an ordinary way!).
My initial idea was using also Yolanda And The Thief (1945) where Astaire appeared with the same costume, a white suit, hat and a blue shirt, but I eventually omitted it.
Michael Kidd worked with Janet in the Alright vid in 1990, featuring Cyd Charisse (in the red dress!), the Nicholas Brothers and Cab Calloway.
If you want to see Astaire at the top of his game, watch his ’30s and early ’40s films.
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The other two of my MJ trilogy videos:
Origins of the Moonwalk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxZcLWAmdco
West Side Story (Somebody Call Michael mix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIWTrFVEnaU
Fred Astaire + Robert Palmer – Let’s Face The Music And Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWCijZ-A54M
Duration : 0:7:33
[youtube RKanPsUjP7w]
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
this is brilliant …
this is brilliant well done!
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Michael would have …
Michael would have loved this. Can you imagine the dancing they are doing now!
This is a dancers and music lovers dream. Thanks for creating this masterpiece!
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Wonderful! My …
Wonderful! My favourite dancers and it DOES work with MJ’s great soundtrack.
Great job!
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Fabulous……….. …
Fabulous…………..Loved it.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
brilliant thx!!!!!! …
brilliant thx!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
This is Original …
This is Original smooth criminal video. Fred Astaire kills it.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
wonderful, which …
wonderful, which video editor did you use???
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Amazing! …
Amazing! Absolutely amazing….the editing, the moves, the color choices, the sound….amazing quality! I hope youre doing this for a living cause you should be getting stoopid paid!
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
This is magnificent …
This is magnificent! I like both Fred and Michael. They were both amazing talents and are rightfully legends. I have never seen the movies featured here, but your video has got me thinking that MJ might have had a lot of inspiration for Smooth Criminal from that whole dance sequence – WOW!
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
This is one of the …
This is one of the best things I have ever seen. From the very first shot to the credits – the editing, the care you have taken – such a tribute to both artists. Thank you so much for doing this, it has actually made my day.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
i so need to order …
i so need to order that book
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
i have read his …
i have read his book,he talk a loot there about Fred Astaire and how close was their friendship and how he learn from him a loot of moves.Very good book.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
I’ve read tht, its …
I’ve read tht, its amazing, isn’t it
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Read his book …
Read his book MOONWALK..you will understand all his lessons and admirations of great dancers and how he came out on his own unique way of dancing
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
bellissimo video, …
bellissimo video,originale….due grandi dela musica e della danza…michael e fred…riposino in pace….
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Mr. Cat From Japan, …
Mr. Cat From Japan, what editing sodtware do you use? ( truly amazing work)
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
outstanding, loved …
outstanding, loved it
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
great job!:x
great job!:x
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
great job
great job
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Amazing.
Amazing.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
beautiful
beautiful
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
very good this was …
very good this was probley the origenal insparation for the real smooh crimnal lol
rip mj
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Check out Earl ” …
Check out Earl “Snake Hips” Tucker, Michael borrowed from him too. Check out the video Origins of the Moonwalk on youtube. Astaire was a cool cat and great dancer, so smooth. But Michael took moves from many others also. This video shows it all, the great grandfathers of what we now call breakdancing.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Very Nice vid, …
Very Nice vid, saved to my favs.
thank you
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
great video! <3
great video! <3