Betsy Blair is an actress best known for being Oscar nominated from the movie “Marty”, being subject to Hollywood’s blacklist of the 50’s and … being married to Gene Kelly.  I found her biography to be one of the most erudite and insightful Hollywood memoirs and a great window not only into her life and career, but also into the life, talent and quirks of the multi-talented Gene Kelly. 

"Singin' in the Rain" is in the top 10 all time classic movies according to multiple best-of lists, including AFI.  And "Hello Dolly" was nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award. 

I wrote to Gene Kelly on August 10, 1981 and got an immediate return envelope with reply 4 days later, on August 14th. I had never seen any of his movies.  I didn't know of "Singin' in the Rain", dancing with Jerry Mouse in "Anchors Aweigh" or that he was the director of Barbra Streisand's "Hello Dolly!".  I just knew that he was a dancing legend in classic Hollywood musicals, I had his address and he was known to reply to fan letters. 

Fast forward to 2022 and I am watching "Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer" and "The Girls of Rochefort", back to back.  Seeing a documentary with clips of the man in his prime – such athletic energy and form in dance.  And he was so contemporarily handsome with a manly face, great nose, thick lashes, grin with dimples and a lean, fit muscular body that was far from norm at the time.  I followed up “Anatomy of a Dancer” with a movie from 1967 when he simply added his name, appearance and a bit of choreography to a Catherine Deneuve film.  It was just one of those days, seeing the span of a legend on film, where I was so grateful that I wrote to a celebrity before I knew much about them. 

Now I know a lot more about this dancing artiste. His athletic, masculine and sensual dancing was so unique and ahead of its time and this guy was a BOSS!  Now that I'm more familiar with his work and how he did it based on watching the movies and reading biographies - I am truly impressed with his work ethic, intelligence and intense drive.  A known perfectionsist and taskmaster: Debbie Reynolds was made to dance for hours on end until her feet were bleeding; but she was so glad she did it.  Debbie said that the two hardest things she did in life were “Give birth and Singin’ in the Rain”.  The autobiography of his wife Betsy Blair was keen and unsparing (but not unkind) on how Gene's constant pursuit of excellence and competitiveness, at work, at home, even at play were the driving force behind the man. 

If you haven’t seen Gene Kelly dancing with himself (his alter ego) in “Cover Girl”  

with a newspaper and a creaky board in “Summer Stock”  

or with cartoon Jerry Mouse in “Anchors Aweigh” 

I don’t even really LIKE musicals in general!  But he is simply marvelous physical magic embodied.  And oh … can you think of any other Golden Age of Hollywood star who had their glutes highlighted more often than Gene Kelly?!?!  Me thinks not. 

Directing "Hello Dolly" garnered a nomination for best picture, but Barbra Streisand's 2023 memoir of working with him on the film, sums it up this way:  "I was disappointed when the reality of the man didn’t live up to the fantasy I had from watching him onscreen," Streisand writes. "One day he was so rude to a female dancer that I asked him privately, 'Why were you so mean to her?' And he basically laughed it off and said, 'Yeah, I was pretty tough on her, but that’s okay. I used to yell like that at another dancer, and she became my wife.” 

Let’s not forget “Xanad” and his duet with Olivia Newton-John 

 Like I said, he was an excellent dancer (and choreographer) and a boss.  For me, I cherish his best moments from classic Hollywood and the fun memory of watching him roller skate with Olivia Newton-John in "Xanadu" when I was 15.  Here is the batch of autographs that I received from Gene.  The latter day 5x7 headshot was sent by him; the rest I had provided.  The iconic "Singin' in the Rain" 11x14 was bought in a collection in 2017. 

Fill in details about  

Donald O’Connor – Joan Crawford address 

Marilyn Erskine – his date at a premier with Janet & Tony 

Jean Hagen – rare autograph 

Debbie Reynolds – so much to discuss – Good Mornin made her feet bleed! 

Betsy Blair – great biography 

“If you can’t be gay and merry, lock yourself in solitary” – Gene Kelly in his Best Actor nominated role in “Anchors Aweigh”