He's Got Rhythm: The Life and Career of Gene Kelly

by Cynthia Brideson, Sara Brideson

Overview

He sang and danced in the rain, proclaimed New York to be a wonderful town, and convinced a group of Parisian children that they had rhythm. One of the most influential and respected entertainers of Hollywood's golden age, Gene Kelly revolutionized film musicals with his innovative and timeless choreography. A would-be baseball player and one-time law student, Kelly captured the nation's imagination in films such as Anchors Aweigh (1945), On the Town (1949), An American in Paris (1951), and Singin' in the Rain (1952).

In the first comprehensive biography written since the legendary star's death, authors Cynthia Brideson and Sara Brideson disclose new details of Kelly's complex life. Not only do they examine his contributions to the world of entertainment in depth, but they also consider his political activities—including his opposition to the Hollywood blacklist. The authors even confront Kelly's darker side and explore his notorious competitive streak, his tendency to be a taskmaster on set, and his multiple marriages.

Drawing on previously untapped articles and interviews with Kelly's wives, friends, and colleagues, Brideson and Brideson illuminate new and unexpected aspects of the actor's life and work. He's Got Rhythm is a balanced and compelling view of one of the screen's enduring legends.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813169347
Publisher:	University Press of Kentucky
Publication date:	05/16/2017
Series:	Screen Classics
Pages:	576
Sales rank:	753,295
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.80(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Cynthia Brideson is coauthor of Ziegfeld and His Follies: A Biography of Broadway's Greatest Producer and Also Starring... : Forty Biographical Essays on the Greatest Character Actors of Hollywood's Golden Era, 1930–1965. Sara Brideson (1990–2017) was coauthor of Ziegfeld and His Follies: A Biography of Broadway's Greatest Producer and Also Starring... : Forty Biographical Essays on the Greatest Character Actors of Hollywood's Golden Era 1930–1965.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Ballet Dancer and Swaggering Tough 1

Part 1 "Who wants a choreographer from Pittsburgh?" 1912-1941

1 The Reluctant Dancer 9

2 A Depression-Era Kid 20

3 Kelly Mania 31

4 "It wasn't elegant, but it's me" 45

5 The Time of His Life 58

6 Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered 79

Part 2 Riding on a Rocket: 1941-1957

7 At the MGM University 101

8 New Heights 123

9 "I'm asking for the Navy" 142

10 The American Line 163

11 A Flaming Trail of Masculinity 182

12 The Renaissance Man 201

13 You Can Count on Me 220

14 Who Could Ask for Anything More? 239

15 Laughing at Clouds 259

16 What a Day This Has Been 279

17 The Unhappy Road 299

Part 3 Still Going Strong: 1957-1972

18 A Hundred Million Miracles 321

19 "I wear so many hats" 337

20 Looking for Enchantment 354

Part 4 Ambassador of His Art: 1972-Present

21 True Talent Shows Itself in Kindness 375

22 Contemporary Yet Timeless 392

Epilogue: Think of Him and Smile 409

Acknowledgments 413

Appendix A Selected Stage Work 415

Appendix B Selected Filmography 419

Appendix C Selected Television Work 429

Notes 433

Selected Bibliography 477

Index 481

What People are Saying About This

Page Laws

"Any biographer of Gene Kelly had better be light on his/her literary feet. The Bridesons have given us a thoroughly readable biography of Kelly that is conscientiously researched and authoritative."

From the Publisher

"The authors have created a comprehensive biography of Gene Kelly that balances his extensive career with his complex private life. Although there have been several biographical studies published about this Irish American star, He's Got Rhythm is by far the most detailed and encompassing work on its subject. This book should become the new definitive biography on the multitalented Gene Kelly." — James Robert Parish, author of The Hollywood Book of Extravagance

"Any biographer of Gene Kelly had better be light on his/her literary feet. The Bridesons have given us a thoroughly readable biography of Kelly that is conscientiously researched and authoritative." — Page Laws, Norfolk State University

James Robert Parish

"The authors have created a comprehensive biography of Gene Kelly that balances his extensive career with his complex private life. Although there have been several biographical studies published about this Irish American star, He's Got Rhythm is by far the most detailed and encompassing work on its subject. This book should become the new definitive biography on the multitalented Gene Kelly."

Editorial Reviews

The book meticulously details the production of Kelly's films with emphasis on his dance and choreography. More interesting is delving into his personal life as Kelly guarded his privacy. Even if not a Gene Kelly fan as I am, the biography is a good read to learn about this hoofer.

My Lot

Cynthia Brideson and Sara Brideson have written a wonderful, readable and enjoyable biography of Gene Kelly.

Bismarck Tribune

The book is an engaging, thoughtful, and comprehensive look at the great hoofer.

AV Club

In this superb book, Cynthia Brideson and her late sister Sara Brideson bring us what will likely become the definitive biography of Gene Kelly, as they pay tribute to both an innovative creative artist, who was also a devoted parent and caring citizen of the world.

TheaterJones.com

The authors have created a comprehensive biography of Gene Kelly that balances his extensive career with his complex private life. Although there have been several biographical studies published about this Irish American star, He's Got Rhythm is by far the most detailed and encompassing work on its subject. This book should become the new definitive biography on the multitalented Gene Kelly.

James Robert Parish

The Brideson sisters—the authors of Ziegfeld and His Follies—cover Kelly's professional story in full detail.... He's Got Rhythm provides a comprehensive overview enhanced by references to many previously published works.

New York Times Book Review

Any biographer of Gene Kelly had better be light on his/her literary feet. The Bridesons have given us a thoroughly readable biography of Kelly that is conscientiously researched and authoritative.

Page Laws

He's Got Rhythm is a balanced and compelling view of one of the screen's most enduring legends.

Lane Report

The authors' expansive knowledge of – and equally expansive affection and respect for – their subject is unmistakable, to say nothing of infectious. It's an extensively researched, expertly assembled, and almost compulsively readable chronicle of a talent who made it to the top through sheer determination, hard work, and not a little talent.

Yes! Weekly

This book is an excellent tribute to Kelly, which makes a strong case for his art and his enduring popularity.

Great Old Movies

A solidly written and researched biography.

Book Reviews by David Marshall James

Cynthia and Sara Brideson's comprehensive biography He's Got Rhythm: The Life and Career of Gene Kelly expands on periods in the multihyphenate performer's career not already covered in other biographies.

Movie City News

A stellar new work.

Open Letters Monthly

The Brideson sisters—the authors of Ziegfeld and His Follies—cover Kelly's professional story in full detail.... He's Got Rhythm provides a comprehensive overview enhanced by references to many previously published works.

New York Times Book Review - Jeanine Basinger

"[R]eaders will get a well-documented recounting of a man who, despite shortcomings, believed that 'true talent seems to show itself most often in kindness.'" — Library Journal

From the Publisher

02/01/2017
Actor Gene Kelly (1912–96) will forever be linked with innovative dance routines and Singin' in the Rain, but he also choreographed, acted, directed, sang, produced films, was active in politics and sports, served in the military, and was a loving parent and family man. Kelly spoke several languages and lived in Europe for years. Coauthors Brideson and Brideson (Ziegfield and His Follies; Also Starring…: Forty Biographical Essays on the Greatest Character Actors of Hollywood's Golden Era, 1930–1965) draw from biographies and autobiographies of Kelly and his friends and family, "previously untapped primary sources," reviews, articles, and interviews. Kelly's life was largely in the spotlight, and he knew the promotional value of being accessible to the press. No secrets are revealed here, as it was already known that Kelly could be a harsh taskmaster, prone to the occasional homophobic slur. Overall, readers will get a well-documented recounting of a man who, despite shortcomings, believed that "true talent seems to show itself most often in kindness." VERDICT This title is slightly academic in tone, with a solid focus on Kelly's work life. Suitable for theater and film libraries and public libraries in need of a new biography of the performer.—Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley Sch., Fort Worth, TX

Library Journal