An Evening with Fred Astaire (1958)

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Director:

Bud Yorkin

Writer:

Herbert Baker (special material by)

Stars:

Fred Astaire, Jonah Jones, David Rose

Won 9 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
Fred Astaire	...	Self
Jonah Jones	...	Self
David Rose	...	Self - Orchestra Leader
Barrie Chase	...	Self
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Art Gilmore	...	Self - Announcer
Larri Thomas	...	Self (Hermes Pan Dancer)

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

dance | tv special | character name in title | 

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Genres:

Music

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Was the first color show pre-recorded on Television Tape at NBC's new state-of-the-art "Color City" studios in Burbank, California.

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Connections

Followed by Astaire Time (1960)

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Soundtracks

Top Hat, White Tie and Tails
by Irving Berlin
(also the theme music for the program)

User Reviews

The Dancing Master Himself

For a man with a thin, reedy, but pleasant voice it is astonishing that the best composers America ever produced wrote for this man on both stage and screen. When you've introduced songs by Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, George Gershwin and Vincent Youmans you are keeping step in some mighty good company. Which is the music Fred Astaire stepped to during his entire career.

This first of two specials with the Dancing Master himself has him singing and dancing with partner Barrie Chase, and trumpeter Jonah Jones and his jazz combo. Fred gets to do a number of his famous film and stage songs and the highlight for me was a new dance routine done to the old blues number, The Saint James Infirmary. Jonah Jones sings it and Astaire and Chase dance heavenly.

Frank Sinatra later patented this kind of special with only one or two guests, but Astaire was the one who did two of them first and if not best, different. As a dancer it was not an intimate saloon song that he used, but the full stage to practice his art.

If this is ever broadcast don't miss it. Or the succeeding special the following year.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 October 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fred Astaire singt und tanzt

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ava Productions, National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1