Michael Kidd

American director/choreographer Michael Kidd was deflected from an engineering career when he developed an interest in dance. After a few years of gypsying as a chorus hoofer, Kidd worked his way up to choreographer and presented his first ballet when he was 26. His Broadway work accrued him five Tony Awards, but Kidd's lasting fame is manifested in his film work. Among many other movies, he choreographed Where's Charley? (1952), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), Guys and Dolls (1955), Star (1968) and Hello Dolly (1969). In addition to his dance-direction chores, he acted in It's Always Fair Weather (1955), as Gene Kelly's and Dan Dailey's army buddy who becomes a blue-collar husband in civilian life - but not before joining his costars in the fabled "trash can dance." Kidd was grayed up for his role as Pop Popchick in the spoofish Movie, Movie (1978), doubling as choreographer for the climactic "Blansky's Beauties of 1933" sequence. He also was given solo director credit for Merry Andrew (1958), which starred his frequent collaborator Danny Kaye. Michael Kidd's best film role was in Smile (1975) in which he essentially played himself - an outspoken, quick-tempered dance director who was willing to take money out of his own pocket to repair a faulty stage and thus ensure the safety of his dancers. Kidd died at age 92 in late 2007.

~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide