Close Reading #1

Count Chocula

Etymology 3

Close Reading #1

13 February 2011

Gene Kelly vs. Fred Astaire

In the scene “Moses Supposes”, Gene Kelly's fluid tap dancing, playful facial expressions, and clownish actions presents a more entertaining and comical viewing than Fred Astaire's “Night and Day.” For much of the scene “Moses Supposes,” Gene Kelly's legs move rapidly as they tap dance and synchronize to the orchestra music played in the background portraying his athletic and entertaining abilities. On the other hand, Fred Astaire's scene “Night and Day” lacks the overall wow factor due to a lack of rapid movement caused by Astaire's constant stiff upper body. Along with the dancing in the scenes, the playful facial expressions that Gene Kelly provides creates a fun-filled mood for the audience while Fred Astaire's more serious tone may establish a less interesting viewing experienc, yet Fred Astaire's constant use of vibrato while singing greatly competes with the voice of Gene Kelly. Kelly takes the cake in the end, however, by his comical storyline in which both Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor stack numerous amounts of items in the room on their vocal instructor which exudes a humorous situation unlike Fred Astaire's storyline that relates to those affiliated with romanticism. Both scenes were greatly made, but “Moses Supposes'” incorporation of humor and plot trumps “Night and Day's” affectionate outcome.