That's Entertainment, Part II together for the first time since the 1946 film "Ziegfeld Follies", and for only the second time in their careers. (It was the last time 76-year-old Astaire danced on film, though the veteran actor continued to make film and TV appearances into the 1980s; Kelly would go on to appear in the 1980 musical "Xanadu".) According to film historian Robert Osborne, in specially-filmed introductions produced for Turner Classic Movies, it was Astaire who suggested to Kelly that the two take advantage of this potentially last-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform together, something Kelly actually wishes for out loud during his narration of
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers although her career waned post war. Astaire continued to make musicals including "Holiday Inn" (1942) with Bing Crosby, "Sky's The Limit" (1943) with Joan Leslie and "Blue Skies" (1946), his second and last movie with Crosby. He also partnered with numerous other dancers, including Rita Hayworth, Cyd Charisse and Judy Garland. Fearing his career was failing, "Blue Skies" was due to be Astaire's last film, after which he retired for two years. In 1948 Gene Kelly was due to star in MGM's "Easter Parade" alongside Judy Garland, but he broke his ankle, and MGM convinced Astaire to fill in, ending