The death of Cyd Charisse last week, marked the passing on a Hollywood icon of a bygone era. The heyday of the musical movie was just beginning to wane when the leggy (as they used to say) dancer made her mark. Billed first as "Lily Norwood" in 1943's "Something to Shout About," and appeared in "Mission to Moscow" the same year, those films wouldn't be long remembered. It was when she was teamed with Fred Astaire that she became an immortal.

They appeared together for the first time in "Ziegfeld Follies' in 1946, though she was uncredited. Amazingly, however, the studio recognized her talent and signed her to a seven year contract, the standard length of star contracts in those days.

Six years later she teamed with Gene Kelly in "Singin' in the Rain", one of her most famous screen appearances. The next year, re-teamed with Asatire in "The Band Wagon," her second screen classic. Add "Brigadoon" to that list, too. Along with Ginger Rogers, Eleanor Powell and Ann Miller, Cyd Charisse was one of the greatest dancers in Hollywood history.