TCM, beginning at 5 a.m. Actress/dancer/singer Johnnie Lucille Collier, better known as Ann Miller, is celebrated today with a lineup of several of the classic films, mostly musicals, in which she made memorable appearances.
Leading things off is 1948's Easter Parade (pictured), which also stars Judy Garland, Fred Astaire and Peter Lawford. The film features Miller dancing with Astaire as he sings "It Only Happens When I Dance With You" and later dancing to the song as an instrumental, and she also dances solo to "Shakin' the Blues Away." Next is On the Town (1949), co-directed by star Gene Kelly (who also choreographed) and Stanley Donen and also featuring Frank Sinatra and Betty Garrett.
Among the musical numbers featuring Miller here are "Prehistoric Man," "On the Town" and "You Can Count on Me." Following that is Two Tickets to Broadway (1951), also featuring Tony Martin and Janet Leigh and with Miller featured in the Busby Berkeley-choreographed musical number for "The Worry Bird," among others. Berkeley also choreographed several numbers in the next film, Small Town Girl (1953), which co-stars Jane Powell and Farley Granger.
Miller is featured in the numbers for "I've Gotta Hear That Beat" and "My Gaucho." Kiss Me Kate (1953) is next, featuring Miller alongside Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel in a musical adaptation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. She prominently sings and dances in musical numbers including "Too Darn Hot," "Always True to You in My Fashion," .
