Buzz

November 15, 2010

A singular figure in film history, "dance director" Busby Berkeley won fame for designing kaleidoscopic dance routines for the "all singing, all dancing" era of early talking pictures. In the pre-Motion Picture Production Code days, his erotic yet innocent numbers diverted moviegoers during the depths of the Depression. Film reviewer Spivak presents the first major biography of Berkeley, covering his busy, turbulent life on and off the screen. He was known for his alcoholism, abusive treatment of actors and dancers, multiple marriages, a suicide attempt, and a deadly car crash that required the services of high-priced Hollywood lawyer Jerry Giesler. But Berkeley was respected for his work ethic, creativity, and cost-cutting abilities. Though his career faded in the 1950s, the 1960s nostalgia boom and a successful stage production of No, No, Nanette brought him renewed appreciation. VERDICT In this thoroughly researched book, drawn in part from Berkeley's unpublished autobiography, Spivak shows a keen understanding of Berkeley's talents but does not ignore his flaws. His biography illuminates a fertile period in American film history; recommended for knowledgeable movie buffs.--Stephen Rees, formerly with Levittown Lib., PA

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2010
Spivaks well-written biography of the Hollywood choreographer and director, famous for the complicated, kaleidoscopic dances he choreographed for such films as 42nd Street and Gold Diggers of 1933, has scholarly depth yet is gracefully accessible. Spivaks writing is especially strong when he discusses Berkeleys trademark styleplayful, visually arresting dances, packed with large numbers of chorus girls dancing in lockstepand his myriad artistic influences, which include his mother, who was in the theater and silent movies; and a stint in the military, where he drilled soldiers to march in formation. In his prime, Berkeley worked extremely long hours like a man possessed, driving himself and his dancers to the brink of collapse and, in Berkeleys case, beyond, into an alcoholism that eventually all but destroyed his career. Cineasts will enjoy Spivaks close attention to Berkeleys obsessively detailed planning and execution processes, and Spivaks no-less-detailed descriptions of the final films. And for those who like movie gossip, theres Berkeleys wild, dysfunctional private life (which included parties, love affairs, and multiple marriages, all fueled by too much alcohol).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)