Gwen Verdon In The MOVIES?

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 1:58pm

I am interested in checking out Gwen Verdon's movies from her later days - after Broadway.

It seems the two movies she has the biggest roles in is..


- Cocoon (1985)
- Marvin's Room (1996)

Does she get to do a lot in these films? Are they worth checking out for Gwen? Also does Gwen do a lot in the COCOON Sequel - or is that just crap?

Hopefully someone can let me know about these films. Thanks.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 2:04pm

She's great in Marvin's Room. Not a huge role but has a few great scenes. There is a scene where she rides on Splash Mountain at Disney World that is worth seeing the movie for. I actually didn't recognize her when I first saw it.

I haven't seen either Cocoon in years...

[Pippin]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 2:14pm

she is in an episode of "fame" called The Crazies. she plays (what else) an aging actress who disagrees with Debbie Allen that the kids need to be taught old-school style. she has this amazing dance off with Allen in the episode. I don't know how old she was at the time, but she could still really, really dance, and she managed to steal the scene, IMO, from the great Debbie Allen.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 2:24pm

She also had a very small role in The Cotton Club as Richard Gere's mom.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 2:29pm

Cocoon is definitely worth seeing.

Cocoon 2 has Elaine Stritch in it.

[Kringas]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 2:55pm

Cocoon is a wonderfully sweet and poignant film. I recommend you see it soon.

[isntitromantic]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 4:17pm

Gwen Verdon didn't feel comfortable with how the camera exaggerated her elongated face and that is why she didn't pursue a film career during her mid-career. What is not widely known is that as Jack Cole's assistant, she taught Monroe how to dance in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, prior to coming East for Can Can. A wonderful little movie exists from the early 80s called Legs -- she plays the Rockettes' dance mistress. There is one fabulous shot of Verdon dancing alone on stage by herself.

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 4:22pm

Damn Yankees! lol

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 4:24pm

She also has a small role in Woody Allen's Alice, and is quite good.

[TheaterAddict7652]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 4:25pm

She was an uncredited assistant choreographer for Singin' In The Rain and Sweet Charity. She also post-dubbed Gene Kelly's taps in his tap dance to the title song and coached Shirley MacLaine on the set.

Updated On: 3/2/06 at 04:25 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 7:00pm

The Farmer Takes a Wife (1953) (uncredited)
The Mississippi Gambler (1953) (uncredited)
The I Don't Care Girl (1953) (as Gwyneth Verdon)
The Merry Widow (1952) (uncredited) .... Specialty Dancer
Dreamboat (1952) (uncredited) .... Girl in commercial
David and Bathsheba (1951) (uncredited) .... Specialty dancer
On the Riviera (1951) (as Gwyneth Verdon) .... Speciality Dancer

source:IMDB Updated On: 3/2/06 at 07:00 PM

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 8:29pm

Ah yes. Marvin's Room.

What a differen person she was then.