Dazzling the Screen Gene Kelly

American actor, singer, dancer, and choreographer Gene Kelly was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style. During his career, he received the Academy Honorary Award in 1952, the Kennedy Center Honors in 1982, and in 1999 the American Film Institute ranked him as the 15th greatest male screen legend of Classic Hollywood Cinema. His star is located at 6153 Hollywood Boulevard on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Gene Kelly passed away on February 2, 1996, at the age of 83.

Director Vincente Minnelli directed the 1951 American musical romantic comedy “An American in Paris”. The film was inspired by the 1928 jazz-influenced symphonic poem of the same name by George Gershwin. The film starred Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant, Georges Guetary, and Nina Fock. It is set in Paris, France.

The storyline revolves around Jerry Mulligan (Gene Kelly), a WW II veteran who decides to move to France after the war to pursue his painting. He meets up with an heiress, Milo Roberts (Nina Foch), who is interested in this work, and a friendship starts.

Director George Sidney directed the 1945 American musical romantic comedy “Anchors Aweigh”. The film starred Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, and Gene Kelly with a supporting cast.

The storyline revolves around two sailors, Clarence "Brooklyn" Doolittle (Frank Sinatra) and Joseph "Joe" Brady (Gene Kelly), who are on a four-day shore leave in Hollywood. In a sequence, Kelly dances with the animated Jerry Mouse from the “Tom and Jerry” cartoons.

Directors Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen directed the 1955 American musical romantic comedy “It’s Always Fair Weather. The film starred Gene Kelly, Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse, Dolores Gray, and Michael Kidd.

The storyline revolves around three WW II vets, Ted Riley (Gene Kelly), Doug Hallerton (Dan Dailey), and Angie Valentine (Michael Kidd). They celebrate the end of the war and make plans to meet up ten years later. Ten years later, they find that they're completely different men and now have nothing in common. They have a rocky reunion with singing, dancing, and a highlight of Gene Kelly's iconic and impressive roller skating choreography.

Director Busby Berkeley directed the 1942 musical “For Me and My Gal”. The film starred Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, George Murphy, Martha Eggerth, and Ben Blue.

The film was based on a story by Howard Emmett Rogers inspired by a true story about vaudeville actors Harry Palmer (Gene Kelly) and Jo Hayden (Judy Garland), when Palmer was drafted into WWI.

Directors Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen directed the 1952 American musical romantic comedy “Singin’ in the Rain”. The film starred Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds, and others.

The storyline revolves around Donald "Don" Lockwood (Gene Kelly) as a silent movie star who tries to make the difficult change to talkies with the help of his best friend Cosmo Brown (Donald O'Connor) and new love interest Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds).

Director Charles Walters directed the MGM 1950 American Technicolor musical film “Summer Stock”. The film starred Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, and featured Eddie Bracken, Gloria DeHaven, Marjorie Main, and others. This was the last film Garland made for MGM and her last pairing with Kelly.

The storyline revolves around Jane Falbury (Judy Garland), the owner of a family farm in Connecticut, is told by her only two farmhands that they are leaving because she has not paid them in a long time. The farm is in financial straits, so she decides to acquire a tractor to help with the labor, since the farmhands are gone. She goes to her fiancé, Orville Wingait (Eddie Bracken), who runs a local store, about buying a tractor on credit. Orville's father Jasper agrees to loan Jane the tractor on the condition she agrees to marry Orville.

Director George Sidney directed the 1948 film “The Three Musketeers”. The film starred Gene Kelly and Lana Turner. It is an adaptation of the classic 1844 novel of the same name by Alexandre Dumas.

Gene Kelly portrays newcomer d'Artagnan, who runs into three skilled swordfighters and joins their ranks after he helps them avoid capture.