The story of hollywood s most famous dancers profiles the lives and careers of both stars, as well as a comprehensive analysis of their movies together. The chemistry, artistry and craftsmanship of their dancing is discussed. What emerges from these pages is a fascinating view of an american era, seen through the accomplishments of fred astaire, an unassuming but uncompromising performer who transformed entertainment. Apr 21, 2020 ginger rogers, american dancer and actress who was best known as the partner of fred astaire in a series of movie musicals, including the gay divorcee 1934 and top hat 1935. The charm and grace of their dancing in the ten films they made together, including top hat and swing time, elicit nostalgia today. When i learned that she had written an autobiography, i wanted to read it right away. When it comes to the dancing stars of hollywoods golden era, not many, if any, can quite compare to fred astaire. However, her real stardom began when she teamed up with her dance partner, fred astaire.
Howard hughes affair with ginger rogers hollywood producer. Arlen croce, the dance critic for the new yorker, explores each dance in each of their nine films. Wellwritten in an engaging style, the book relates how hard, how much blood, sweat, and tears it took to make each dance seem so effortless. He is regarded by many as the greatest popularmusic dancer of all time. Fred astaire biography life, family, children, parents. We already know about the glories of fred astaire and ginger rogers, but basingers eloquent summation is lovely to read. July 16, 1911 april 25, 1995 was an american actress, dancer, and singer. This book one has the flip pictures in the top right. Marking the beginning of an enduring onscreen partnership that was to continue for 16 years, when ginger rogers met fred astaire, it was a meeting of two of the greatest dancers of the 20th century. Croce followed this with one of the bestloved works in dance literature, the fred astaire and ginger rogers book. Ginger rogers, astaire s longtime dance partner, passed away in 1995. The fred astaire and ginger rogers murder case hardcover february 1, 1997 by george baxt author. Ginger rogers movies, dancing, films ginger rogers biography.
In 1980, as he entered his eighties, astaire married robyn smith, a successful jockey in her midthirties. Meetings that made entertainment history when ginger rogers. Fred astaire was the epitome of charm, grace, and suave sophistication, with a style all his own and a complete disregard for the laws of gravity. The volume also presents background production notes.
Over half of the book is dedicated to his rise through vaudeville performances with his sister, demonstrating that there was so much more to him than the dozen or so films he made with ginger rogers. Not such a fine romance on screen they were the worlds most romantic couple, but away from the cameras fred astaire and ginger rogers were a. He is widely considered the most influential dancer in the history of film. Sol hurok has brought the legendary baronovitch ballet company to america and will feature them with fred astaire and ginger rogers in a highly touted tv. This is the first book about the theatre career of fred and adele astaire, detailing their years in vaudeville, on broadway, and in london, their impact culturally, and the essence of. And yet, even he was a firm believer that his recurring costar, ginger rogers, was a better dancer than him. She also won an oscar for playing the title role in kitty foyle 1940 and later starred in roxie hart 1942.
The long song the continental was awarded with the oscar of best music in 1935 and it is delightful to see the choreography of the dance. The book includes a complete description of every movie and a commentary on each song and dance. The best part are the freezeframes of two dances in the upper margin of the book. The fred astaire and ginger rogers bookarlene croce. Videos from the movie top hat, 1935 starring fred astaire and ginger rogers. Apr 02, 2020 fred astaire, american dancer onstage and in motion pictures who was best known for a number of highly successful musical comedy films in which he starred with ginger rogers, including the gay divorcee, top hat, and swing time. Meetings that made entertainment history when ginger rogers met fred astaire. A feather broke loose from ginger rogers dress and stubbornly floated in mid air around astaires face. If you look closely, you can see the feathers flying off ginger rogers dress as she is being. I am a great fan of fred astaire and ginger rogers. Fred astaire and ginger rogers endure in the american imagination. Rogers and stevens fell in love on the set of swing time, and carried on a relationship for three yearsthree.
She was one of hollywoods greatest stars from the 1930s and 40s. Internet archive contributor internet archive language english. This book was so good and informative, that i read all 450 pages within a few days. Entertaining analysis of the astairerogers films but youd be better off with a copy of john muellers book. Rogers and stevens fell in love on the set of swing time, and carried on. Born in independence, missouri, in 1911, she debuted in vaudeville at age fourteen. Ginger rogers was an american actress, dancer, singer and director.
His stage and subsequent film and television careers spanned a total of 76 years. And it didnt stop there, i immediately had this image of fred astaire and ginger rogers doing their cheek to cheek dance number in the film top hat. Publication date 1972 topics astaire, fred, rogers, ginger, 1911, dancers, musical films. This is a rereleased edition by obelisk books in 1987 and pretty much looks like the original hardcover edition printed in 1972 throughout.
Okay, but no feathers, please, recalling the troubles he had with one of ginger rogers elaborate ostrich feathered gowns in a dance from top hat 1935. In her book, she talks about her childhood, her devotion to her mother, lela, her stage career, her romances, and her movie. Feb 07, 2012 timeless scene from the 1936 movie swing time. An italian couples slow dance with a little help from fred astaire and ginger rogers has helped people smile during a dark time with the country under quarantine from the coronavirus a couple couldnt resist a dance after hearing cheek to cheek from the. Fred astaire and ginger rogers book arlene croce isbn. The astaires, by kathleen riley the new york times. An autobiography reprint by fred astaire, ginger rogers isbn. My mother told me i was dancing before i was born, ginger rogers writes.
Apr 09, 1999 not such a fine romance on screen they were the worlds most romantic couple, but away from the cameras fred astaire and ginger rogers were a lot less friendly, as astaire s biographer michael. Most books about the astairerogers films focus exclusively on the music and dance scenes, but this book shows that the films are much more than the sum of those scenes, which after all only. The first thing that springs to my mind when i think of films and dance is fred astaire. Jeanine basinger recommends the fred astaire and ginger rogers book by arlene croce, hollywood, the dream factory by hortense. I truly enjoyed the insights of the author and it made watching the movies a much more indepth experience. Couple dances along with fred astaire and ginger rogers. Jul 17, 2019 fred astaire was an american dancer of stage and film who is best known for a number of successful musical comedy films in which he starred with ginger rogers. Fred astaire lived until the late 1980s so this feels like part 1 of his life story. No dancers ever reached a wider public, wrote dance critic arlene croce in the fred astaire and ginger rogers book in 1972, and the stunning fact is that astaire and rogers, whose. Ginger rogers, astaires longtime dance partner, passed away in 1995. Fred astaire biography affair, divorce, ethnicity, nationality, salary, net worth married biography who is fred astaire. Mar 19, 2020 an italian couples slow dance with a little help from fred astaire and ginger rogers has helped people smile during a dark time with the country under quarantine from the coronavirus. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
The fred astaire and ginger rogers murder case by george baxt. Fred astaire and ginger rogers fred astaire my one and. She won an academy award for her starring role in kitty foyle 1940, but is best remembered for performing during the 1930s in rkos musical films partnered with fred astaire. May 10, 1899 june 22, 1987 was an american dancer, singer, actor, choreographer, and television presenter. Originally published in 1972 by outerbridge and dienstfrey, this book is an extended appreciation of the astairerogers films. The gay divorcee is a great classic musical, with ginger rogers and fred astaire shining and dancing.
The partnership of fred astaire and ginger rogers was extraordinary and wont be seen again, and any fan wanting to know more should explore this book and hannah hyams fabulous book, fred and ginger. Arlene croce introduces the amazing films fred astaire performed with ginger rogers. This is not a dry history lesson but an interpretive survey of the musical film from its infancy to the present day. The fred astaire and ginger rogers murder case jacob. Ginger rogers and fred astaires 10 films ranked by how. Nov, 2018 ginger rogers and fred astaire in swing time. She has danced her way into the hearts of millions and has starred in both comedy and drama on both stage and screen. Ginger rogers, american dancer and actress who was best known as the partner of fred astaire in a series of movie musicals, including the gay divorcee 1934 and top hat 1935. A key chapter of the book is devoted to astaires somewhat unwilling partnership with ginger rogers, the woman with whom he danced most dazzlingly. He was well known for a number of successful musical comedy films in which he starred with ginger rogers. Her career continued on stage, radio, and television throughout much of the 20th century. The fred astaire and ginger rogers murder case book. Yet, in her descriptions of the astairerogers team in motion, the ingenious literary. Fred was an american dancer, singer, actor, choreographer, and television presenter.
Apr 22, 2019 fred astaire biography affair, divorce, ethnicity, nationality, salary, net worth married biography who is fred astaire. In prose that perfectly rises to the thrill of these classics. Fred astaire was adamant that he didnt want to be teamed with ginger rogers for their followup. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search.
Along with a bibliography and pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about fred and ginger like you never have before. Fred astaire, american dancer onstage and in motion pictures who was best known for a number of highly successful musical comedy films in which he starred with ginger rogers, including the gay divorcee, top hat, and swing time. Simpy the best book ever written about the fred astaireginger roges partnership. From her many marriages to her reported affair with fred. Fred astaire singing the way you look tonight no infringement intended. A feather broke loose from ginger rogers dress and stubbornly floated in mid air around astaire s face. This book started off so much fun hollywood legends, the russian ballet, fred astaire, ginger rogers, the cia, the kgb, spies, double agents, hollywood agents, detectives, gossip columnists, impresarios, terrible puns, and glitzy parties and frenetic rehearsals galore. May 23, 2016 the first thing that springs to my mind when i think of films and dance is fred astaire. Fred astaire may 10, 1899 june 22, 1987 and ginger rogers july 16, 1911 april 25, 1995 were iconic dance partners in a total of 10 films, nine of them with rko radio pictures from 1933 to 1939, and one, the barkleys of broadway, with mgm in 1949, their only color film.
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