REPORT: A backwoodsman named Adam Pontipee (Howard Keel) comes to town to search for a bride. He and Milly (Jane Powell) agree to marry despite knowing each other for only a few hours. On returning to his cabin in the mountains, Milly is surprised to learn that Adam is one of seven brothers living under the same roof. The brothers have been named alphabetically from the Old Testament and in chronological order are: Adam (Howard Keel), Benjamin (Jeff Richards), Caleb (Matt Mattox), Daniel (Marc Platt), Ephraim (Jacques d'Ambroise), Frank (short for Frankincense, Old Testament having no names beginning with F) (Tommy Rall), and Gideon (Russ Tamblyn). Milly teaches Adam's rowdy, ill-behaved younger brothers manners and social mores. She also shows them how to dance. The photo at left shows Milly teaching one how to waltz. At the Barn-Raising Dance in the town, Milly curbs the brothers' rowdiness, and does the polka with one of them near the end. The athleticism of dancers in this film was breathtaking and enjoyable to watch.

To perform the electrifying dance numbers and grueling action sequences, choreographer Michael Kidd cast four professional dancers, a gymnast and even a baseball player as Adam Pontipee's six rough and tumble brothers. Adam: Howard Keel appeared as "Adam," the romantic lead and eldest of the seven brothers. Benjamin: Jeff Richards, who played "Benjamin" was a former professional baseball player who topped out at the AAA level of the minor leagues. Although obviously athletic, he is noticeably in the background, seated, or standing during the dance numbers so as to not expose his less than stellar dancing skills. Unfortunately this often relegated his partner, the classically-trained ballet dancer Julie Newmar, to the background as well. Caleb, Daniel, Ephraim and Frank: All four actors (Matt Mattox, Marc Platt, Jacques d'Amboise, and Tommy Rall) were professional dancers— with d'Amboise (Ephraim) appearing on loan from the New York City Ballet. All four balanced on a beam together during their famous barn-raising dance. Gideon: Russ Tamblyn beat Morton Downey Jr. for the role of youngest brother Gideon. Tamblyn showcased his gymnastics training during the action sequences. In searching for dance film photos, found one showing Dante DiPaolo, one of the dancing townfolks still alive at 87.

Longevity of Dancers & Choreographers in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers:
Stanley Donen (born April 13, 1924), director & choreographer— 89 years old
Michael Kidd (8-12-1915 to 12-23-2007), film & stage choreographer— 92 years old†
Marc Platt (born December 2, 1913), ballet dancer & actor— 99 years old
Jacques d'Amboise (born July 28, 1934), dancer & choreographer— 79 years old
Tommy Rall (born December 27, 1929), ballet, tap, & acrobatic dancer— 79 years old
Russ Tamblyn (born December 30, 1934), actor & dancer— 78 years old
Matt Mattox (8-16-1922 to 2-18-2013), jazz & ballet dancer— 90 years old†
Dante DiPaolo (born February 18, 1926), dancer & actor— 87 years old
Jane Powell (born April 1, 1929), singer, dancer, actress— 84 years old
Ruta Lee (born May 30, 1936), actress & dancer— 77 years old
Julie Newmar (born August 16, 1933), actress, dancer & singer— 80 years old
Virginia Gibson (4-9-1925 to 4-25-2013), dancer, singer, & actress— 88 years old†
Nancy Kilgas (born November 7, 1930), dancer & actress— 82 years old
Betty Carr (3-31-1929 to 8-31-2008), dancer & actress— 79 years old
Norma Doggett (b. 1928?, starred in Magdalena 1948), dancer & actress— 85+ years old
Non-Dancers in the Film Seven Brides for Seven Brothers:
Howard Keel (4-13-1919 to 11-7-2004), actor & singer in musicals— 85 years old†
Jeff Richards (11-1-1924 to 7-28-1989), baseball player & actor— 64 years old†

Film Credits of Dancers in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers:
On April 15, 2009, Grover Dale introduces Virginia Gibson and Norma Doggett Bezwick who reminisce about the making of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers with Jane Powell. She has not seen them for 55 years since the making of that film (1954). Jane Powell danced in Royal Wedding (1951) with Fred Astaire. Julie Newmar is a classically trained ballerina. She danced in films Slaves of Babylon (1953) as Dancer-Assassin, and in Serpent of the Nile (1953) as The Gilded Girl. Virginia Gibson and Ruta Lee danced in the film Funny Face (1957). Betty Carr danced as Lola in Damn Yankees (1958). Nancy Kilgas and Marc Platt danced in the film Oklahoma! (1955). Jacques d'Amboise danced in the film Carousel (1956). Tommy Rall danced in the films Kiss Me Kate (1953) & Invitation to the Dance (1956). Matt Mattox danced in the films Yolanda and the Thief (1945), Till the Clouds Roll By (1946), & The Band Wagon (1953). Russ Tamblyn danced in the movie musical West Side Story (1961) as Riff Lorton, leader of the Jets, best friend of Tony.

Dancing Promotes Health & Long Life:
Of the 15 dancers & choreographers in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, a film of 60 years ago 12 are still alive. The film's choreographer, Michael Kidd died in 2007 at age 92. Matt Mattox died this year (2-18-2013) at age 90 as well as Virginia Gibson (4-25-2013) at age 88. Modern dancers who have inspired me to dance also lived to a ripe old age— Modern Dancers: Martha Graham (5-11-1894 to 4-1-1991) aged 96; Merce Cunningham (4-16-1919 to 7-26-2009) aged 90; Erick Hawkins (4-23-1909 to 11-23-1994) aged 85; Mary Wigman (11-13-1886 to 9-18-1973) aged 86; Hanya Holm (3-3-1893 to 11-3-1992) aged 99; Agnes de Mille (9-18-1905 to 10-7-1993) aged 88; Katharine Dunham (6-22-1909 to 5-21-2006) aged 96; Anna Sokolow (2-9-1910 to 3-29-2000) aged 90; Alwin Nikolais (11-25-1910 to 5-8-1993) aged 82; Paul Taylor (born 7-29-1930) age 83; Film Dancers: Fred Astaire (5-10-1899 to 6-22-1987) aged 88; Gene Kelly (8-23-1912 to 2-2-1996) aged 83; Ginger Rogers (7-16-1911 to 4-25-1995) aged 83; James Cagney (7-17-1899 to 3-30-1986) aged 86; George Murphy (7-4-1902 to 5-3-1992) aged 89; Donald O'Connor (8-28-1925 to 9-27-2003) aged 78; Debbie Reynolds (born 4-1-1932) age 81; Ballerinas: Ninette de Valois (6-6-1898 to 3-8-2001) aged 102; Olga Preobrajenska (2-2-1871 to 12-27-1962) aged 91; Mathilde Kschessinska (8-31-1872 to 12-6-1971) aged 99; Alicia Markova (12-1-1910 to 12-2-2004) aged 94; Galina Ulanova (1-8-1910 to 3-21-1998) aged 88; Alexandra Danilova (11-20-1903 to 7-13-1997) aged 93; Margot Fonteyn (5-18-1919 to 2-21-1991) aged 71; Maya Plisetskaya (born 11-20-1925) age 87; Alicia Alonso (born 12-21-1921) age 91. I began learning folk dancing after seeing Martha Graham perform Acrobats of God at Cornell (1966). Merce Cunningham and Paul Taylor inspired me after seeing their live performances. Seeing films of Fred & Ginger, Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, James Cagney, and George Murphy dancing inspired me further to become a better dancer. Dancing brings body & mind in harmony for creative work.