Cyd Charisse Movies

Want to know the best Cyd Charisse movies?  How about the worst Cyd Charisse movies?  Curious about Cyd Charisse box office grosses or which Cyd Charisse movie picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which Cyd Charisse movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences and which got the worst reviews? Well you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information.

Cyd Charisse (1922-2008) was an American dancer and actress.  Charisse gained famed for her many dance routines with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. Her IMDb page shows 56 acting credits from 1941-2008. This page will rank 33 Cyd Charisse movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information.  Her many television appearances and a few movies not released in North American theaters were not included in the rankings.

Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire in 1954’s The Band Wagon

Cyd Charisse Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews and awards.

Cyd Charisse Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table

The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.

  • Sort Cyd Charisse films by co-stars of her movies
  • Sort Cyd Charisse films by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
  • Sort Cyd Charisse films by yearly domestic box office rank
  • Sort Cyd Charisse films by how they were received by critics and audiences.  60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
  • Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each Cyd Charisse film received.
  • Sort Cyd Charisse films by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score.  UMR Score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.

Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly in 1952’s Singin’ In The Rain

Possibly Interesting Facts About Cyd Charisse

  1. Tula Ellice Finklea was born in Amarillo, Texas in 1922.

2. Cyd Charisse started dancing lessons at six to build up her strength after a bout of polio. At 12, she studied ballet in Los Angeles with Adolph Bolm and Bronislava Nijinska.

3. Tula Ellice Finklea’s nickname as a child was “Sis”.  Her first professional name was Lily Norwood (she was billed this way in her first movies).  When she married Nico Charisse…she took her family nickname and her husband’s last name come up with Cyd Charisse.

4. Cyd Charisse lost out on two of MGM’s biggest movie musical roles. She fell and injured her knee during a dance leap on a film which forced her out of 1948’s Easter Parade (1948). She also had to relinquish the lead female role in 1951’s An American in Paris due to pregnancy.

5. Cyd Charisse was one of the few actresses to have danced with both Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly in the movies, other actresses that have also done this includes Judy Garland, Rita Hayworth, Vera-Ellen, Debbie Reynolds and Leslie Caron.

6. Cyd Charisse said her husband could tell who she had been dancing with that day on a MGM set. If she came home covered with bruises on her, it was the very physically-demanding Gene Kelly, if not it was the smooth and agile Fred Astaire.

7. Steve Lensman beat me to the punch.  Check out his most excellent You Tube Cyd Charisse video.

8.  Cyd Charisse was married two times and had two children.

Check out Cyd Charisse’s movie career compared to current and classic actors.  Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.

Academy Award® and Oscar® are the registered trademarks of the Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences. Golden Globes® are the registered trademarks of the Hollywood Foreign Press.

 

38 thoughts on “Cyd Charisse Movies

  1. I have seen 16 movies with the lady who’s legs rivaled Dietrich’s. My first memory of her is in Brigadoon, where she lip- synched and danced her way through “The Heather on the Hill”. Brigadoon has remained a favorite ever since. I also love Singing in the Rain (who doesn’t?), The Band Wagon and It’s always fair Weather. As an actress, she never impressed me as much, though I liked her in Party Girl, Two weeks in another Town and East Side, West Side. Still, as a dancer, I just think she was exceptional. Her elegance and style was a perfect match for both Astaire and Kelly, and it is our loss that Hollywood couldn’t find more roles to showcase her talent for dancing when the 1960’s approached. Great addition to this site 😉

    1. Hey Lupino. Only 16? Then John will be at the top. Tally count….John 23, Flora 18, you 16, Steve 14 and me last with 5. I have actually seen most of the movies you mentioned…which makes me think that I have watched the right Cyd movies. I agree it is a shame that Hollywood did not use her more and in better projects. Thanks for the kind words.

  2. Cyd was never on the Oracle of Bacon Top 1000 Center of the Hollywood Universe list. These are the only people on the 2016 list who have appeared in a film with her, and Arthur Tovey fell off in 2017.

    198 DEAN STOCKWELL Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    245 MICKEY ROONEY Words and Music (1948)
    274 BRUCE DERN Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    438 JOHN RATZENBERGER Warlords of the Deep (1978)
    567 SHANE RIMMER Warlords of the Deep (1978)
    807 TERI GARR Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    912 ARTHUR TOVEY Party Girl (1958)
    937 ROBERT EASTON Deep in My Heart (1954)
    966 KATHLEEN FREEMAN Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

    These are the people on the original 2000 list who appeared in a film with Cyd. Rank is for 2000.

    14 JOHN CARRADINE Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    32 KIRK DOUGLAS Two Weeks in Another Town (1962)
    43 KEENAN WYNN Ziegfeld Follies (1946)
    52 JAMES MASON East Side, West Side (1949)
    54 STUART WHITMAN Brigadoon (1954)
    77 JOSE FERRER Deep in My Heart (1954)
    90 JOHN IRELAND Party Girl (1958)
    99 DENHOLM ELLIOTT Maroc 7 (1967)
    131 VITTORIO GASSMAN Sombrero (1953)
    146 MIKE MAZURKI Mission to Moscow (1943)
    146 MIKE MAZURKI Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    186 AVA GARDNER East Side, West Side (1949)
    191 GEORGE HAMILTON Two Weeks in Another Town (1962)
    192 YVONNE DE CARLO Sombrero (1953)
    192 YVONNE DE CARLO Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    222 BESS FLOWERS On an Island with You (1948)
    222 BESS FLOWERS Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
    222 BESS FLOWERS The Band Wagon (1953)
    222 BESS FLOWERS Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
    222 BESS FLOWERS Two Weeks in Another Town (1962)
    234 AKIM TAMIROFF Fiesta (1947)
    237 PETER LAWFORD On an Island with You (1948)
    237 PETER LAWFORD Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    237 PETER LAWFORD Ziegfeld Follies (1946)
    241 BRODERICK CRAWFORD Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    248 ARTHUR KENNEDY Twilight for the Gods (1958)
    253 ROBERT WEBBER The Silencers (1966)
    256 HANK WORDEN Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956)
    270 FRANK SINATRA Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956)
    270 FRANK SINATRA The Kissing Bandit (1948)
    270 FRANK SINATRA Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
    271 PETER BROCCO Tension (1949)
    272 VITO SCOTTI East Side, West Side (1949)
    272 VITO SCOTTI Party Girl (1958)
    272 VITO SCOTTI Two Weeks in Another Town (1962)
    278 KEYE LUKE Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    280 BILLY BARTY Three Wise Fools (1946)
    280 BILLY BARTY Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    299 FRITZ FELD Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    301 LEE J. COBB Party Girl (1958)
    310 STEVE FORREST The Band Wagon (1953)
    323 GEORGE SANDERS Five Golden Hours (1961)
    326 ANGELA LANSBURY The Harvey Girls (1946)
    326 ANGELA LANSBURY Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
    362 BARRY SULLIVAN Tension (1949)
    376 STELLA STEVENS The Silencers (1966)
    384 GILBERT ROLAND Mark of the Renegade (1951)
    394 ALDO RAY Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    395 WALTER PIDGEON Deep in My Heart (1954)
    395 WALTER PIDGEON Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    420 MAURICE MARSAC Twilight for the Gods (1958)
    424 ZSA ZSA GABOR Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    431 MARIANNE STONE Five Golden Hours (1961)
    459 DABBS GREER Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956)
    463 EDWARD G. ROBINSON Two Weeks in Another Town (1962)
    467 VAN JOHNSON Brigadoon (1954)
    467 VAN JOHNSON Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
    467 VAN JOHNSON Ziegfeld Follies (1946)
    506 DOUGLAS FOWLEY Deep in My Heart (1954)
    506 DOUGLAS FOWLEY Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
    506 DOUGLAS FOWLEY The Band Wagon (1953)
    516 MADELINE KAHN Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    520 WILLIAM SCHALLERT Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
    531 LILYAN CHAUVIN Silk Stockings (1957)
    531 LILYAN CHAUVIN Two Weeks in Another Town (1962)
    532 JIM BACKUS Deep in My Heart (1954)
    532 JIM BACKUS Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956)
    550 ALEXANDRA STEWART Maroc 7 (1967)
    555 HUME CRONYN Ziegfeld Follies (1946)
    562 PAUL BRYAR Brigadoon (1954)
    562 PAUL BRYAR It’s Always Fair Weather (1955)
    562 PAUL BRYAR Silk Stockings (1957)
    571 CHARLES LANE Mission to Moscow (1943)
    583 PAUL STEWART Deep in My Heart (1954)
    589 ROCK HUDSON Twilight for the Gods (1958)
    593 LESLIE PHILLIPS Maroc 7 (1967)
    606 ALBERTO MORIN Mark of the Renegade (1951)
    606 ALBERTO MORIN The Kissing Bandit (1948)
    606 ALBERTO MORIN Two Weeks in Another Town (1962)
    613 JOHN LE MESURIER Five Golden Hours (1961)
    623 RUSS TAMBLYN Deep in My Heart (1954)
    657 DEBBIE REYNOLDS Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
    663 MILTON BERLE Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    682 RAY TEAL The Harvey Girls (1946)
    682 RAY TEAL The Wild North (1952)
    682 RAY TEAL Thousands Cheer (1943)
    682 RAY TEAL Three Wise Fools (1946)
    682 RAY TEAL Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
    682 RAY TEAL Ziegfeld Follies (1946)
    699 ART CARNEY Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    712 FINLAY CURRIE Five Golden Hours (1961)
    732 ARTHUR O’CONNELL The Silencers (1966)
    742 RICARDO MONTALBAN Fiesta (1947)
    742 RICARDO MONTALBAN Mark of the Renegade (1951)
    742 RICARDO MONTALBAN On an Island with You (1948)
    742 RICARDO MONTALBAN Sombrero (1953)
    742 RICARDO MONTALBAN The Kissing Bandit (1948)
    742 RICARDO MONTALBAN Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    745 RICHARD BASEHART Tension (1949)
    746 HERB VIGRAN It’s Always Fair Weather (1955)
    746 HERB VIGRAN Party Girl (1958)
    746 HERB VIGRAN The Band Wagon (1953)
    763 FEODOR CHALIAPIN JR. Mission to Moscow (1943)
    763 FEODOR CHALIAPIN JR. Ziegfeld Follies (1946)
    783 JAMES FLAVIN Mission to Moscow (1943)
    806 NINA FOCH Sombrero (1953)
    817 JACK CARTER Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    824 FRANK WILCOX East Side, West Side (1949)
    824 FRANK WILCOX Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956)
    859 MYRON HEALEY Thousands Cheer (1943)
    867 RORY CALHOUN Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    882 DEAN MARTIN The Silencers (1966)
    886 PHIL LEEDS Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    889 ROBERT BROWN Warlords of the Deep (1978)
    894 PHILIP VAN ZANDT Tension (1949)
    895 TONY RANDALL Two Weeks in Another Town (1962)
    914 DOUG MCCLURE Warlords of the Deep (1978)
    915 IVAN TRIESAULT Mission to Moscow (1943)
    915 IVAN TRIESAULT Silk Stockings (1957)
    935 STEWART GRANGER The Wild North (1952)
    959 LEON AMES On an Island with You (1948)
    963 FRANK FERGUSON Mission to Moscow (1943)
    969 BYRON FOULGER The Kissing Bandit (1948)
    969 BYRON FOULGER Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
    980 VICTOR MATURE Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    982 BILLY BENEDICT Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    984 PETER MAMAKOS Mark of the Renegade (1951)
    990 STEFAN SCHNABEL Two Weeks in Another Town (1962)

    I count 17 Oscar winners Cyd worked with.

    ART CARNEY Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    BRODERICK CRAWFORD Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)
    CLAIRE TREVOR Two Weeks in Another Town (1962)
    DON AMECHE Something to Shout About (1943)
    DONNA REED Thousands Cheer (1943)
    FRANK SINATRA Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956)
    FRANK SINATRA The Kissing Bandit (1948)
    FRANK SINATRA Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
    GALE SONDERGAARD EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE (1949)
    GEORGE CHAKIRIS Brigadoon (1954)
    GEORGE CHAKIRIS Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956)
    GEORGE SANDERS Five Golden Hours (1961)
    JANE DARWELL Three Wise Fools (1946)
    JOSE FERRER Deep in My Heart (1954)
    LIONEL BARRYMORE Three Wise Fools (1946)
    MARY ASTOR Fiesta (1947)
    MARY ASTOR Thousands Cheer (1943)
    RITA MORENO Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
    THOMAS MITCHELL THREE WISE FOOLS (1946)
    VAN HEFLIN East Side, West Side (1949)
    VAN HEFLIN Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
    WALTER HUSTON Mission to Moscow (1943)

    1. Hey Dan…..thanks for the breakdown on Cyd and the Oracle lists. Wow only 9 remain on the first list…..and probably dwindling fast. 6 movies with Ricardo M…..I imagine MGM liked putting them together. 17 Oscar winners is a pretty good tally. I see she and George Chakiris made some movies in the 1950s….I guess I know almost nothing about his career….as I thought West Side Story was one of his first movies. Good information…:)

Leave a Reply to Cogerson Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.