The ten minute long "Smooth Criminal" clip is reminiscent of the musical number known as "The Girl Hunt Ballet" which is featured as the final number in the 1952 musical film The Band Wagon starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. "The Girl Hunt Ballet" is a spoof of Mickey Spillane's hard-boiled detective novels. Jackson originally decided to make the music video a western-styled short film in the desert. However, he later decided to change the style into a 1930s nightclub style. He had been influenced by the work of contemporary musicians such as Little Richard, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Diana Ross, David Ruffin, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Sammy Davis, Jr, and the Bee Gees. He said it all the time especially about James Brown and Fred Astaire. He even said the Moonwalk was from the kids on the street but we all know he did it his own way because nobody can Moonwalk like him. MJ was always innovative everything he did was his own thing or in his own way.
