Published at: June 17, 2008, 11:16 p.m. CST by headgeek
Hey folks, Harry here. I just got a call from a family member of Cyd Charisse, who let me know that roughly an hour and a half ago she passed away.
Cyd was born 87 years ago in Amarillo, Texas. But for the rest of us, Cyd was born on screen as one of the most beautiful, graceful and magical dancers to ever grace the screen. You can look up her filmography - off the top of your head you'll remember her from SINGIN IN THE RAIN, THE BAND WAGON, IT'S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER, SILK STOCKINGS and my personal favorite Gene Kelly musical... BRIGADOON.
I love BRIGADOON. Directed by Vincente Minnelli - BRIGADOON is a musical fantasy - influenced a tad by LOST HORIZON - it's about a pair of American Hunters in Scotland that come across a magical village that only appears once every 100 years. That way the town would never be subject to change from the outside.
Cyd played Fiona - the woman that Gene Kelly is smitten with - and anyone that ever watched the film - falls for Fiona. Cyd's long legs and graceful dancing was enough to enchant anyone that saw her.
Her type of grace and lyrical movement was a piece of cinematic magic that lived specifically for a period in the fifties at MGM that we'll never ever see the likes of again. She made you envy every man that ever danced with her.
For those that have never seen her beauty - never watched her dance... or that just wish to remember what grace, beauty and physical magic was - watch this:
From SINGIN' IN THE RAIN with Gene Kelly
From THE BAND WAGON with Fred Astaire
From ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU with Ricardo Montalban - music by Xavier Cugat
From MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS - dancing to the singing of Sammy Davis Jr
From SILK STOCKINGS - stunning
From PARTY GIRL
From DEEP IN MY HEART
From THE BAND WAGON with Fred Astaire - 'Dancing in the Dark'
From THE SILENCERS
From BRIGADOON with Gene Kelly
From all of us that have loved Cyd Charisse on screen - we wish her family and friends the best in this trying time. We'll never forget what she brought to the screen.