No Kidding

Michael Kidd has died. His name might not be quite as famous as other choreographers like Bob Fosse, Gower Champion or Jerome Robbins, though that's partly because they went on to become big directors while his best work was strictly doing the dancing.

But it was a remarkable career. He won five Tonys and was nominated for several more. His most famous work was probably for Guys And Dolls. It included two great dance numbers which brought to life the Broadway gamblers' milieu--the opener, "Runyonland," and the "Crapshooters Dance" (which uses "Luck Be A Lady" for underscoring). Another one of his best-known creations was Li'l Abner's act one curtain, the "Sadie Hawkins Day Ballet."

He also did great work in movies. His most memorable choreography here has got to be his work on the classic musical Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. But he also acted a little. For instance, he holds his own with Gene Kelly as one of the three sailors in what some would call the last great MGM musical, It's Always Fair Weather. Even better, he's wonderful as the sardonic choreographer at the small-time beauty pageant in Smile. You might want to rent these last two films for a nice Kidd double feature.