The Karate of Gene Kelly

[HuangKaiVun]

It's a pity that this great KARATE master never made a movie.

I have heard that Gene Kelly earned a black belt in the art, back in the days when having a black belt truly meant one could FIGHT.

Once, he was attacked in an airport parking lot by two thugs. After beating them down, he went on to sue them in civil court.

Supposedly a grainy video of Kelly doing karate was once taken. This was at a party held at Kelly's home, I think.

Does anybody here know anything about Kelly's karate?

Or can anybody name other actors (i.e. John Saxon) who did martial arts on the side and should've been in the movies?

[GeneChing]

Kelly did one of the early version back in the late 40's with Lana Turner, back before there was color. I've always thought that his choreography for this film was underated. It's like early Jackie Chan, very acrobatic and dancelike - very enjoyable.

[David Jamieson]

Well, Gene Kelly was a master at dance that is for sure. His dance often had a martial arts flavour.

I would truly enjoy seeing his karate stylings. I would think that by the look of his dance, it is likely that his Karate was Okinawan :)

peace

[HuangKaiVun]

I always thought Gene Kelly - a "Black Irish" guy - had a ton of Chinese blood in him.

I'd love to have seen Bruce Lee VS. Gene Kelly in a dance/fu flick.

After all, Gene Kelly was a karate black belt and Bruce Lee was the Hong Kong cha-cha champion.

They'd have given each other a run for the money in dancing AND fighting!

[GeneChing]

John Woo said he got much of his inspiration from Fred Astaire. Too bad he's overlooked Gene. I've always felt great sympathy for Kelly.

Still there are some great old swordplay films - not what you'd traditionally call martial arts films. Every see Scaramouche with Stuart Granger and Janet Leigh? It's a classic MA revenge story, complete with fencing training sequences and a great finale duel.

[Chang Style Novice]

Are you positive you're not thinking of Jim Kelly? I've searched google a dozen different ways and got nothing.

[GeneChing]

... huangkaivun, can you give us a reference for your source of info about Kelly's karate?

[HuangKaiVun]

My student used to dance with Robert Joffrey.

She was the one who told me of that home video of Gene Kelly doing karate at a house party. I need to ask her if she saw it herself.

Now that story about the two thugs - that's for real. I don't know the details of it, but it was definitely when Kelly was older than in his movies.

I'd probably take GENE Kelly over Jim Kelly, even from a karate perspective!

[Chang Style Novice]

The accounts I've read of Kelly in the course of this search had him as a pretty rough and tumble cat, but I haven't found any mention of the mugging attempt or Karate.

Not that that proves it isn't so, of course.

[eulerfan]

HKV,

I really like Joe Rogan. He was the electrician on News Radio and he hosts Fear Factor, now. He was a Tae Kwon Do champion before he became a comedian.

I'd love to see him do an action movie. I think he would be good but I also think he would find a clever, original script.

It won't happen, though. I saw him on Conan O'Brian once and Conan asked him if he had any intentions of doing an action movie.

His response:

"No. I would do gay porn before I made one of those movies."

[GeneChing]

I'll have to give fear factor some more attention... Joe Rogan, eh?

[eulerfan]

Forget Fear Factor, he only hosts and it's not his project. His best stuff is his comedy. You can find some clips here:

http://www.sacredcow.com/videos/media_rogan.html

I might be wrong but I do believe he's been an announcer in one or two UFCs.

[azwingchun]

I watched a show were they interviewed him, they mentioned that he now trains in GJJ.;)

[GeneChing]

... no really, there was a kungfu fight scene between Miss Piggy and Joan Cusack, so it was sort of an action flick, in a furry sort of way. Gay porn, here comes Joe!

[@PLUGO]

They need to do a Muppet Matrix...

Miss Piggee as Trinity...

Kurmet as Neo...

still having trouble on casting Morpheus... I keep thinking Bert could do it... he's got the acting range, but maybe that professor would make more sence...

and as for agent Smith... Oscar the Grouch of course...

[eulerfan]

Morpheus is totally the role for Snuffalupagus.

Not sure I even neared the correct spelling of that.

[GeneChing]

He already has the glasses - well, at least a monacle version.

muppet matrix - wasn't that what dark crystal was supposed to be?

[Serpent]

Are you guys crazy? Muppet Morpheus = Clyde, your homey made of foamy!

Man, I love the muppets. :D