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Smooth Criminal
As educator and film critic Armond White mentioned while praising Michael’s film making talents, Fred Astaire’s “The Band Wagon” is one of the films that should be compared in context to some of Michael’s videos and short films. One in particular – ‘Smooth Criminal‘ – was actually based on ‘The Band Wagon‘.
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There are a few other quite interesting facts about Smooth Criminal here, as well as some interesting comments Fred Astaire himself made about Michael’s amazing dancing abilities. Michael’s biography ‘Moonwalk‘ was dedicated to Fred Astaire in 1988.
Personally, I love watching Fred Astaire and Cyd Cherisse dance, as well as Gene Kelly (who Michael also greatly admired) and Cyd Cherisse. These are such classic pieces of film and dance and it’s really interesting to see how they influenced Michael’s singing, dancing, and film making work. Enjoy!
I didn’t want to leave this world without knowing who my descendant was. Thank you Michael! – Fred Astaire, shortly before his death.
March 12th, 2010 8:37 am
Great quote from Fred Astaire; where did it come from? I knew about the phone call after MJ’s Motown Billie Jean performance, and I knew that Astaire admired Jackson’s style, but I never read that he considered him his successor. Where did you find that info–and is there more?
March 12th, 2010 8:45 am
PS: For fun, people might like to watch the same scene from Band Wagon set to Smooth Criminal. Here’s the link at youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGomzML-m8w&feature=related
March 12th, 2010 10:07 am
Thanks for posting about this book, Seven. I’m reading Mr. White’s book and… he brought up things that had just never occurred to me…I had never seen Band Wagon before (I think I will now…it’s on my list of DVD’s to buy.)…but this …it’s like as much as I appreciated Michael before…Facts like these make me appreciate him even more…I wish he were around to tell (I know I’m not the only one.)….
March 12th, 2010 11:03 am
TLS,
I don’t remember where I found that quote but I have seen it in a few places, apparently said shortly before Fred Astaire died.
And, thanks for the YouTube of ‘Band Wagon’ set to ‘Smooth Criminal’! VERY interesting and cool!
Here are some links to the quote elsewhere:
http://quotations.about.com/od/recentpopularcelebrities/a/aboutmichael.htm
http://michaeljackson-tributes.com/2009/07/03/fred-astaire-thought-michael-jackson-was-the-greatest-dancer/
March 12th, 2010 11:05 am
MizT,
I’m with you. Knowing about these things just makes me appreciate Michael even more – and makes me wish he was still here! Who knows what GREAT stuff he would have come up with next! SUCH a loss of incredible talent.
March 12th, 2010 10:33 pm
Uhm, does Michael have a descendant? I’m stuck–can’t think of anyone. The reasons for feeling as bereft as we do seem endless.
This was a lot of fun–discovering another example of how Michael built on the work of masters. Isn’t that the best that humanity can be?
Almost everyday, I lament Michael not getting the chance to do even more on film. I want Ghost on a DVD next to my TV SO BAD! Something to dream for…..
March 13th, 2010 4:17 am
Nessie–i know I mentioned this before on MJ777, but hopefully it’s okay to repeat it: I don’t think there’s anyone that measures up to MJ as a dancer–now, or ever. And it’s not just about how mesmerizing it is to watch him move; it’s also about the social, political and cultural implications of what he’s done with dance. He reached people at a global level, and no other dancer’s moves are imitated by people the world over the way his are. As people move to his moves, they’re exposed to his message as well: one world, one race–a planet and a people that can be saved one place, one person at a time. And at the root of it all is each individual looking within and making the kind of change that doesn’t require governments or laws, just personal responsibility. So simple. So radical. So brilliant.
April 8th, 2010 2:28 am
[...] Vince Paterson worked with Michael Jackson for 16 of his (Paterson’s) 25-year entertainment career, which included directing, acting, and choreography. Paterson helped choreograph ‘Thriller‘ and was a zombie in that short film. He was the white gang leader in ‘Beat It‘ and he choreographed ‘Smooth Criminal‘. [...]