Fred Astaire, born May 10, 1899, spent months perfecting dance routines that lasted just minutes on screen. He began performing at age five with his sister Adele. They became Broadway stars. When Adele retired, Fred moved to Hollywood. His first screen test got a harsh review. One scout wrote, "Can dance a little." That turned out to be one of the worst predictions ever. Astaire made over thirty musical films. His insistence on filming dances in single, unbroken shots set him apart. Most directors used quick cuts to hide mistakes. Astaire demanded the camera show his entire body with no tricks. His most famous scene is the ceiling dance in Royal Wedding (1951). Astaire appears to dance on the walls and ceiling. The illusion was created by building the room inside a rotating barrel. The room spun while Astaire stayed on the floor. It looked like he was defying gravity. Astaire rehearsed each routine for weeks. The result was dancing that looked effortless.