THE LAST TIME FRED PLAYED LONDON loads o pix

In 1932, Fred Astaire faced a career-altering dilemma.

He and his sister, the beloved Adele Astaire had been a brother-and-sister act for almost three decades. They had starred in numerous shows on Broadway and in London (and on tour on both continents) and were at the very top of their acclaim and abilities when Adele decided to quit the business and marry Lord Cavendish, a peer she met at a swank party in London.

Fred, not wanting to give up yet, decided to roll the dice and star in a show on his own. Cole Porter wrote a good score, including the haunting "Night and Day" but the show's book was weak. It was based on an old-style farce ("Why Mimi, you never told me you were married.... who's behind that door?") and, frankly, there was not one good singer in the cast.

The New York critics were vicious, pointing out that the orchestra often overwhelmed the singers, including Fred, who had a thin but pleasant voice. His leading lady was the gorgeous Claire Luce (not to be mistaken with Claire BOOTH Luce, author of "The Women" and trollop extraordinaire). Claire had been a Follies Girl who went on to great acclaim as a dancer and sometimes singer in various reviews before she teamed up with Fred.

Claire stayed on in London and starred in many shows. When she returned to New York, she starred as "Curly's Wife" and was killed by Broderick Crawford eight performances a week in the original production of "Of Mice and Men."

Updated On: 3/29/08 at 03:19 PM

wow, your moniker is so appropriate!

Moving on, here's one of the London reviews, which were much more generous (they REALLY loved Fred). Look at all the other familiar names in the third review.

Updated On: 3/29/08 at 03:32 PM

Here's Fred at that time. The man was sartorial perfection.

Here is the cover of the New York Production. Photo is flopped and touched up. (I know this because I have the photo itself, white paint, pencil and all).

Updated On: 3/29/08 at 03:53 PM

Claud Alister plays Fred's twit friend as a British Twit, as opposed to the proto-gay versions in the American version. I prefer Edward Everett Horton's version.

Eric Blore, who played the butler at the resort, reprised the role on film. Fred brought Blore, Luce and Eric Rhodes with him from Broadway, probably a sign of his uncertainty at that point.

During the lull between the Broadway and London run, Fred ventured out to Hollywood to film a cameo in "Dancing Lady" and third shared lead in "Flying Down To Rio" with his old friend Ginger Rodgers (they had briefly dated when Fred choreographed a number for her). He still wasn't certain what to do next....

Updated On: 3/29/08 at 10:15 PM

This is how we always remember them. (And Fred seems to have found a better wigmaker in Los Angeles).

Updated On: 3/29/08 at 10:37 PM

Meanwhile, Teddy discovers women.

The show had an unusual cast: Astaire, Luce, Blore, Rhodes, Alister and one or two other men and a chorus of 16 beautiful young girls.

Claire Luce was great beauty of her time - personally glorified by Ziegfeld (although I'm convinced that process actually involved a bedroom just off the office through a secret door...) but by today's standards, half that nose would have to go!

Hard as it is to believe, this is a candid from the period of Claire Luce

Like the beat beat beat of the tom-tom
When the jungle shadows fall
Like the tick tick tock of the stately clock
As it stands against the wall

Like the drip drip drip of the raindrops
When the summer shower is through
So a voice within me keeps repeating
You, you, you

Night and day, you are the one
Only you beneath the moon or under the sun
Whether near to me, or far
It's no matter darling where you are
I think of you
Day and night, night and day, why is it so

That this longing for you follows wherever I go
In the roaring traffic's boom
In the silence of my lonely room
I think of you
Day and night, night and day

Under the hide of me
There's an oh such a hungry yearning burning inside of me
And this torment won't be through
Until you let me spend my life making love to you
Day and night, night and day

by Cole Porter