Begin the Beguine–Fred and Eleanor Tango

In yesterday’s post, we said that “we will go back to musicals soon enough;” well, is this soon enough?

That is what we thought, too.

We have not been able to find a really good video clip of the tango arrangement of “Begin the Beguine,” performed by Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell in Broadway Melody of 1940. However, we found something that will give you decent audio and a “long shot” of the two dancing. Notice the different costumes, with Fred as a gaucho and Eleanor with a bare midriff.

For this version, not only is the style different to give us the tango rhythm, but the orchestra is subdued and at times almost silent as this “dance of love” is portrayed on the screen.