Gene Kelly. A name synonymous with grace, charm, and perfection. He made dancing in the rain a fun thing to do; he was poetry in motion. Genius is the ability to take something complicated while making it look easy during performance. This was Gene – making dance look effortlessly easy – like anyone could do it. However, his dance routines were the result of hours of arduous work and personal choreography. He was a perfectionist. Beyond the legendary Hollywood Icon was a man most are not intimate with. 

I had the pleasure of speaking with Patricia Kelly (Gene’s wife) about the man. It was fascinating, inspiring, and revealing.

We know Gene on screen, what was Gene like off-camera?

Gene was a humble guy; Gene was not conceited. Gene was a gentle man and a gentleman. He never took his stardom for granted. He was a joyful presence (full of life). Fans of Gene often ask me ‘’What’s the first word that comes to mind about Gene?” and very often, the word is integrity (decency). He did business on the basis of a handshake – big written contracts were not needed, not for him. Gene was an avid reader and read expansively from subjects on economics (former Economics major), history, and all forms of fiction. Charles Dickens was a favourite. His mind was always in motion – a very cerebral personality (a polyglot). Sleeping was problematic because his creative ideas never stopped. Gene was really a renaissance man. He was a dancer, choreographer, writer, director, and actor. 

What was Gene’s message through dance?

To bring joy. People always say that after watching a Gene Kelly movie, they feel like they know him. Gene wanted to be remembered for changing the look of dance on film. In addition, he wanted to be remembered for creating a particularly American style of dance. Not only is he remembered for being a beautiful, graceful, and athletic dancer on the screen, but that he created what you see. Gene directed the camera. He choreographed the steps. Gene wanted the dance to tell a story –movement to tell a story. It did. His style of dance was not the ballroom style of say, an Astaire. This was more of a European form of dance. Gene wanted to break with this tradition. He did not want to dance on polished floors. Gene wanted to create an American style of dance on the screen. Gene loved sports: baseball and street hockey. He literally took his athletic style of dance into the streets and onto film.     

You have spent years preserving Gene’s legacy – what keeps you going?

Gene entrusted his story with me. This was a “true gift”, though, it is hard work for me. I must say it is a pleasure getting up each morning to this work. He also trusted me with his archives. It has become a passion of mine to preserve the photos, letters, manuscripts, and costumes. Gene trusted me with his name, his voice, and his signature. This comes with a tremendous amount of responsibility – it is more like stewardship. Gene was a citizen of the world, and my interests lie with preserving his legacy for future generations of dance, art, and film. 

What was Gene’s work ethic?

Profound. Gene did his best in everything; he strove for excellence. He was entirely devoted to the work – whatever it took – to do the work to the level he wanted to hit. This is what Gene expected of himself and those he worked with; he expected no less. You will read that Gene was difficult to work with, or that he was a taskmaster. Both descriptions are not fair, because he simply asked of everyone else what he asked of himself. If you did not do this, he did not tolerate it. Close friends were not immune to Gene’s high expectations. Remember, he grew up during the depression, so you do not waste money, food, or time. You do your job, and you always do it as well as possible. He had a high standard. This is why after many decades, people are still watching ‘Singing in the Rain’ and his other classic films. 

Tell me about the friendship between Gene and Fred Astaire. 

Good friends. After a friend’s wife died, Fred would come by in his Rolls-Royce to pick Gene up. They would go have dinner together. Gene and Fred were different from each other. Even their dance styles. Gene was a choreographer director, which was different from Fred. However, they both had a tremendous mutual regard and respect. You see the mutual respect in their movies and interviews on The Tonight Show. Gene was also close to Frank Sinatra. Gene and Frank were more similar. Gene said that he and Sinatra were closer than brothers.

Jason Waddle | Contributing Writer