Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' Films

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers made nine Depression-era musicals for RKO, including Top Hat and The Gay Divorcee.

Hermes Pan's Role

Hermes Pan, Astaire's choreographer, created his most inventive dances and was called 'the only person I ever saw who could dance like I could.'

“It's the ideas that are the hardest to get, I mean, getting steps in another thing.”

The Astaire-Pan Partnership

Astaire and Pan worked together as inseparable collaborators, with Pan often playing Ginger's role during rehearsals.

“With Fred, I was Ginger, and with Ginger, I was Fred.”

Their Creative Process

Pan and Astaire rehearsed in seclusion, often working on numbers without others present to develop their choreography.

The 'Shoes with Wings On' Number

Pan persuaded Astaire to try a risky lift with Cyd Charisse for Silk Stockings, which Astaire completed after initial hesitation.

“If it hadn't been for Pan, I don't think I ever would have done it.”

The Ghost Dance

In Second Chorus, Astaire danced with a ghostly Pan in a Halloween-themed number that was later cut from the film.

“I did it. I got her, and I was pleased.”

Pan's Influence

Pan's choreography defined Astaire's style, with both men sharing a sense of refinement and a love for the absurd.

Pan's Later Life

Pan met Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, and they became lifelong friends, with Rivera painting a portrait of Pan dancing.

Their Friendship

Astaire and Pan shared daily routines, including cooking simple meals and reading the newspaper together.

The Ghost Dance Legacy

Pan followed Astaire's ghost upstairs three years after his death, honoring their lifelong partnership.