George... I've found this at
http://www.tcstyle.com/relax_nowshowing.shtmlInterestingly, the only co-starring movie vehicle for Fred Astaire and Judy Garland happened by accident -- literally.
"Easter Parade" was originally set to be directed by Garland's husband at the time, Vincente Minnelli. It was intended as a follow-up vehicle to "The Pirate," the Cole Porter musical Minnelli had directed earlier in the year.
A la "The Pirate," Garland's leading man was again to be Gene Kelly, who had made his movie debut opposite Judy six years earlier in "For Me and My Gal."
Before filming began, however, Kelly broke his ankle, telling the studio he did the deed during a dance rehearsal. The reality: He broke it during a weekend game of (stories vary) football, baseball or tennis. The latest spin, published in a recent autobiography by playwright Arthur Laurents: Kelly was playing tennis, got mad at his fellow players, slammed his foot down -- and broke the bone that helped make his name.
Because it would take Kelly six months to recuperate, Minnelli gave up and moved on to another project. Also moving on were the assigned co-stars, Frank Sinatra, Red Skelton and Kathryn Grayson