Cyd Charisse, 1922-2008

In memory of the gorgeous, magnificent Cyd Charisse, who has just passed away at 86, on the site of her best film, THE BAND WAGON. She was certainly the most beautiful dancer ever to grace the screen, and one of the most (if not the most) talented, as you'd expect from someone trained for the ballet. Remarkable to realize that her career really took off only after she turned 30, late for many actresses and especially dancers (she'd been in films from age 22 or so but didn't become a major star until the early 50s). This may have deprived her of some leading roles that went elsewhere simply because she wasn't yet a star, a loss for film lovers, but her career was great enough. She even looked sensational doing a modified striptease in the Matt Helm movie THE SILENCERS in 1966, at 44! Elegant, sophisticated and lovely, on screen and off. Fortunately, her work will live on on film for future generations to marvel at...if they have the sense to! Thanks, Tula.

(Note: news reports said Cyd was 86, but every reference, on IMDb and elsewhere, gave her birth date as March 8, 1921, which would have made her 87; however, after her death it was generally accepted that she was born March 8, 1922, so I've amended my original post to reflect her "new" age, 86. But why would she have gone all those decades claiming to be a year older, or letting people think she was?)