Top 10 Solo Male Dance Scenes in Classic Hollywood Movies

When you’re Fred Astaire, you don’t need a partner to show off what you can do. But one of the dancer’s strongest talents was the ability to take what might seem like a normal, everyday item and make it magical. He did that very thing in one of his best dances in 1951’s “Royal Wedding.” In this scene, his character’s partner doesn’t show up for dance rehearsal – but he doesn’t let that stop him! Indeed, he proceeds to perform the routine with none other than a hat rack, and honestly? We’d say he never needed a human partner to begin with!

Is it really a solo if you’re dancing with yourself? In this case, we’re going to say yes. In 1944’s “Cover Girl,” Gene Kelly stars opposite Rita Hayworth, giving us one of his most iconic dances. The musical sequence features Kelly’s character Danny grooving through the streets and wrestling with his alter-ego. How did they achieve this? The answer is a little filmmaking trick called superimposition. It also required Kelly to perform two different solos, one as his character, and one as his tricky little shadow. The effect is magical, and just one example of the innovative ideas Kelly had throughout his career.

The world didn’t appreciate what “Invitation to the Dance” had to offer back in its day, but we do. Written and directed by Gene Kelly, who also stars, the film features no dialogue, with the actors largely dancing out their emotions rather than saying them. It was a rather experimental film, and didn’t go over well at the time. But looking back, Kelly had a clear vision, and there are so many wonderful dance sequences throughout. One of the best is this solo from dancer Tommy Rall. Surrounded by dancers in black tuxes, Rall performs a jaunty tap dance. He has energy and precision, proving he deserves to be talked about up there with the likes of Kelly himself.

This one is explosive, folks! Leave it to Fred Astaire to brighten up our days. In “Holiday Inn,” Astaire stars as one heck of a song and dance man. When his partner doesn’t show for a Fourth of July performance, he’s forced to get creative. In true Astaire fashion, he uses this unexpected element as both accompaniment and partner to create a truly unforgettable number. His mesmerizing performance is punctuated by pops and bangs, keeping Astaire and the audience on their toes. The snap of the firecrackers are just as potent as the tap of his shoes.

This one may be short, but it sure is iconic. James Cagney appears in this biographical musical film “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” portraying real-life Broadway star George M. Cohan. There are plenty of delightful musical numbers throughout the film, including "The Yankee Doodle Boy." While that might be the song that stays solidified in Cagney’s legend, it’s not the dance we want to talk about today. If you ask us, the best routine in the movie is also the simplest. Cagney begins by simply walking down the stairs. But about halfway down, he starts to tap, jauntily skipping and hopping his way down the stairs in time with the music. It’s simple, joyful, and a delight to behold.

This one goes out with a bang! “Robin and the 7 Hoods” received mixed reviews at the time. Looking back at it now though, we can’t deny the musical flick is interesting and a whole lot of fun. And one particular member of the cast seemed to be having the most fun out of everyone. Sammy Davis Jr. plays one of the movie’s criminals, Will. In a musical number aptly titled "Bang! Bang!" Will repeatedly fires his weapon in an establishment while singing and dancing up a storm. At one particularly captivating point, he starts alternating slick tap moves with shooting out liquor bottles, among other objects. It’s not subtle, but you can’t deny he’s having a great time.

It’s one of the most epic scenes of all time. How could we ever leave it off? 1952’s “Singin’ in the Rain” is among the most celebrated musicals of the classic era, and for good reason. There are so many memorable moments, including, of course, the title number. After parting ways with his love interest Kathy for the night, Kelly’s Don walks beaming out into the street. The rain is falling, but he couldn’t care less. He’s a man in love, after all! Kelly’s buoyant, bouncing solo is some of his best work, both as a performer and a co-choreographer. It’s impossible to watch it without smiling just as big as he is.

Gene Kelly may have had the beaming effervescence, but Donald O’Connor had more energy than we’ve ever seen in one person. In “Singin’ in the Rain,” O'Connor plays Don Lockwood’s best friend Cosmo Brown. Cosmo isn’t the main character. He doesn’t have the central drama, or the huge romance. But he does have one of the greatest numbers in the film. “Make ‘Em Laugh” is a testament to the power of comedy, and features O'Connor at the height of his physical prowess. His gift for dance and pantomime skills are unmatched here, managing to look equal parts hapless and effortless. It’s basically a dancing and comic masterclass, all in one.

Usually when we say the phrase “dancing on the ceiling,” we don’t mean literally. But in the case of Fred Astaire, we actually do mean what we say. “Royal Wedding” is about two performing siblings played by Astaire and Jane Powell. Throughout the movie, both characters fall in love. In Astaire’s case, that sends him walking on air. Being filled with joy at the prospect of romancing a woman who has as much passion for dance as him gives Astaire’s character a magical presence. He looks just as good moving on the floor as he does on the walls as he does on the ceiling. It’s a feat of dancing and technical filmmaking as well.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Tap Spectacular, “Broadway to Hollywood” (1933)
Young Mickey Rooney Showing Us How It’s Done

"If I Only Had a Brain," “The Wizard of Oz” (1939)
Ray Bolger Nails the Physical Presence of a Scarecrow

"Top Hat, White Tie and Tails," “Top Hat” (1935)
Backed By Amazing Dancers, Fred Astaire Nails His Solo

"I Got Rhythm," “An American in Paris” (1951)
Gene Kelly Singing & Tapping for a Bunch Of French Children – What More Could You Want?

Tap shoes? We raise you roller skates. Throughout the 1940s and ‘50s, Gene Kelly proved he was one of the most prolific dancers of his generation. But he took it to the next level in this 1955 film. Despite the title, “It’s Always Fair Weather” is on the gloomier side, and it never caught on like some of Kelly’s other films. But the central romance between Kelly’s Ted Riley and Cyd Charisse’s Jackie Leighton is a high point, and in this scene especially it becomes a real mood lifter. Rejuvenated by Jackie, Riley rolls around New York – literally. He shows off his athleticism and dancing prowess on literal roller skates. The word incredible doesn’t even begin to describe the routine.