Fred Astaire wartime drama "The Sky's the Limit" (1943), in which he introduced Arlen and Mercer's "One for My Baby" while dancing on a bar counter in a dark and troubled routine. This film, which was choreographed by Astaire alone and achieved modest box office success, represented an important departure for Astaire from his usual charming happy-go-lucky screen persona, and confused contemporary critics. His next partner, Lucille Bremer, was featured in two lavish vehicles, both directed by Vincente Minnelli: the fantasy "Yolanda and the Thief", which featured an avant-garde surrealistic ballet, and the musical revue "Ziegfeld Follies" (1946), which featured a memorable
Fred Norbert Kelly career both on stage and the screen. He attended the University of Pittsburgh and graduated in 1939. Kelly performed with his older brother Gene as one of the "Kelly Brothers" in Vaudeville. In 1940 Fred replaced Gene in the Broadway production "The Time of Your Life" written by William Saroyan, in the role of "Harry the Hoofer" for which he would go on to win three Tony Awards for this role—one for acting, one for choreography and one for comedy. This was the first show to win both the New York Drama Critics Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize. After