what else were they in?

Keenan Wynn was an fantastic character actor. His bristling mustache and expressive face were his stock in trade, and though he rarely had a lead role, he got prominent billing in most of his film and TV parts.


You might recognize him as:

The Drunk in The Clock
Clarence "Clinker" Krause in Song of the Thin Man
Joe Beckett in Neptune's Daughter
Charlie Davenport in Annie Get Your Gun
Irving/Edgar Klinger in Royal Wedding
Fred Bayles in Angels in the Outfield
Lippy in Kiss Me Kate
Alonzo P. Hawk in The Absent-Minded Professor, Son of Flubber, and Herbie Rides Again
Col. "Bat" Guano in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Old Sailor in The Americanization of Emily
Hezekiah Sturdy in The Great Race
Senator Billboard Rawkins in Finian's Rainbow
Martin Ridgeway in Snowball Express
And many, MANY more!

royal wedding

the year: 1951

the genre: musical



the cast: Fred Astaire (Tom Bowen); Jane Powell (Ellen Bowen); Peter Lawford (Lord John Brindale); Sarah Churchill (Anne Ashmond); Keenan Wynn (Irving Klinger / Edgar Klinger)




the plot: Stage stars Tom and Ellen Bowen are a brother and sister dance act whose show closes in New York. Their agent books them in London for the same period as the Royal Wedding. Innocent-seeming Ellen is a female Don Juan and doesn't take dancing as seriously as brother Tom; on ship she meets her match, Lord John Brindale. Arrived in London, confirmed bachelor Tom auditions and is taken with cool dancer Anne Ashmond. Will romance break up the act?





don’t miss: the fate of Tom’s poor hat during the number “How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Love You When You Know I've Been A Liar All My Life.”





check out: the imaginary shop name "Harridge's." It is an amalgamation of "Harrod's" and "Claridge's"





listen for: “I think you have to enjoy living with yourself before you have the nerve to ask anyone else to.”





also listen for: “Pip, now.”





did you know: the ship's rocking during "Open Your Eyes" was based on the Fred Astaires' own dancing experience on a voyage to London in 1923.





More Astaire magic here and here.

finain's rainbow

the year: 1968

the genre: musical






the cast: Fred Astaire (Finian McLonergan); Petula Clark (Sharon McLonergan); Tommy Steele (Og the Leprechaun); Don Fracks (Woody Mahoney); Keenan Wynn (Senator Rawkins); Barbara Hancock (Susan the Silent)




the plot: Finian McLonergan has emigrated from Ireland to the town of Rainbow Valley in the mythical state of Missitucky with his daughter Sharon. Finian is intent on burying a stolen pot of gold in the shadows of Fort Knox, in the belief it will grow and multiply. Hot on their heels is Og, a leprechaun intent on recovering his treasure, before the loss of it turns him permanently human. Complicating matters are a corrupt senator who makes no effort to conceal his racial bigotry and the wishes made by those unknowingly in the vicinity of the hidden crock.




check out: the groovy llama maypole.






extra bonus points: if you can name the three movies that Keenan Wynn and Fred Astaire co-starred in together before FR.


listen for: “Fairyland was never like THIS!”






count: how many times The Gospeliers sing the word “begat.”

don’t miss: Og singing “When I’m Not Near the Girl I Love, I Love the Girl I’m Near.” here