Gene Kelly: A Celebration

by Sheridan Morley, Ruth Leon

Gene Kelly was the man who dragged Hollywood musicals into the second half of the twentieth century. If the first was represented by Fred and Ginger in top hat, white tie and tails, then the second was Gene splashing through the puddles of Singin' in the Rain.
Kelly took dancing out of the ballrooms and boudoirs of the 1930s and set it alive on the streets of downtown as befitted the original Pal Joey, he brought a gritty kind of realism to what had always been a fantasy, and above all he liberated dance and dancers on screen at just the postwar moment when the American cinema itself was first coming to grips with the new filmgoers.
He was also of course an actor, choreographer and director, but it is as the first modern screen dancer that Kelly, the boy from the Irish streets of Pittsburgh, will always be remembered. In this lavishly illustrated critical celebration, the critics and biographers Sheridan Morley and Ruth Leon look back at a remarkable and influential career on both sides of the camera.

Genres: Biography, Film

171 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Sheridan A. Morley (5 December 1941 − 16 February 2007) was an English author, biographer, critic and broadcaster. He was the official biographer of Sir John Gielgud and wrote biographies of many other theatrical figures he had known, including Noël Coward.

Morley was the eldest son of actor Robert Morley and grandson, via his mother Joan Buckmaster, of the actress Dame Gladys Cooper.

Reviews

[Monica Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually read many biographies, but something about this one caught my eye. I had actually interloaned it from the Library for blog I was writing about Singing in the Rain and I started flipping through the book and the rest is history. It was fun read with a nice balance of text and photographs. The book doesn't hold back about presenting some of the less than pleasant information about Kelly's personality and career. The book is not overly negative, but presents a balanced view. It is a nice accessible introduction to Kelly that doesn't get too bogged down in words. Other biographies may provide more details, but this one is a nice place to start. It could be read by older teens who has an interest in classic movie musicals.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good! I adore Gene Kelly's movies (even the bad ones!) and am proud to share his birthday and his hometown. This book offers a very informative - if at times hurried - depiction of the rise and fall of his full and unparalleled career.

[Joanne Woodhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must for all Gene Kelly fans!

[J. Else · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pictures are fantastic. Love to go through this book and be reminded of the brilliance of Gene Kelly.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story about a wonderful person. Amazing how life transformed him from what he was as a child, to an adult.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed learning a little bit more about one of my idols, Gene Kelly. He had such talent! It definitely gave me a long list of movies that I need to watch now!!!