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

by Cynthia Brideson, Sara Brideson

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.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Film, Celebrity, Biography Memoir, Media Tie In

576 pages, Hardcover

Published May 16, 2017

Reviews

[LAPL Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The legacy of Gene Kelly, the legendary dancer, singer, actor, director and choreographer, is celebrated in this extensive biography by two young film buffs. Kelly emerges as the “Sinatra” (or “Brando”) of dance, an artist whose exacting standards coupled with an athletic, masculine energy produced some of the greatest masterpieces in the history of the film musical, including Singin’ in the Rain, An American in Paris and On the Town. As a dancer, Kelly drew on a distinctly American vernacular for his choreography, in contrast to Fred Astaire’s facsimile of Continental elegance. While Kelly’s influence on American cinema waned after the 1960s, his importance in the development of American dance as popular entertainment cannot be overstated.

Gene Kelly grew up under modest circumstances in Pittsburgh. An educated man, he dropped out of law school when he realized he could make more money teaching dance than being a lawyer in the middle of the Great Depression. After some success on Broadway, he moved to Hollywood in the early 1940s. He quickly became an in-demand dancer and choreographer, co-starring with Frank Sinatra in three films in the late 1940s (Anchors Aweigh, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, On the Town). This period of his life also included his marriage to the actress Betsy Blair, his collaboration with a young dancer named Stanley Donen, a brief stint in the Navy, and the birth of his first child.

The early 1950s brought further triumphs, including an Honorary Academy Award, a Best Picture win for An American in Paris (directed by Vincente Minnelli) and the release of Singin’ in the Rain (co-directed by Stanley Donen), which many consider the greatest film musical of all time. Unfortunately, Gene Kelly had a few flops at the end of the decade. His career recovered in the the 1960s, his last full decade of work, with a dramatic turn in Inherit the Wind, a leading role in the French musical, The Young Girls of Rochefort, and directing Barbra Streisand in Hello Dolly!

After the 1960s, Kelly’s career took a back seat to family matters. His second wife, Jeanne Coyne, died in 1973. He received multiple career honors in the last two decades of his life before his death in 1996. He’s Got Rhythm is a wonderful tribute to Gene Kelly’s vast accomplishments.

Here is another book that provides more detailed information about the contributions of three extraordinary talents who were dancers, choreographers, actors and directors: Dance me a song: Astaire, Balanchine and Kelly, and the American Film Musical.

Reviewed by David B., Librarian, InfoNow

[Mme Forte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love me some Gene Kelly, so the three stars aren't for his life, they're for the writing.

One would think it impossible to make that life boring, but this book comes close.

I don't know what about the tone/pace it is that bugs me, but I found reading this SO TEDIOUS.

On the plus side of the register, it did give me a whole bunch of movies to put on my to-watch list.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this read.

I have always held Gene Kelly high in my heart. He has been an idol of mine since as far back as I can remember. This book did not disappoint.

I love the candid telling of his upbringing, his life as a dancer, his marriage, and his strive for perfection personally and professionally. He had his faults but he also had a big heart and when he loved you there was no way you didn't know it. I would have loved to have been to one of his house parties playing volleyball or playing " the game."

I didn't want the book to end. Getting to know Gene on a more personal level, as personal as one could get considering how private he was, was such a joy. He brought so much happiness to me as a child, watching him dance and sending me to a place where dreams were possible, I will forever be indebted to this phenomenal man and his work. Thank you Gene.

[Tyler Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was beyond excited to read this biography on my favorite dancer/choreographer from the golden age of Hollywood. Gene Kelly’s moves have always been so slick and his classic charm mixed with his chiseled good looks always had me glued to any screen he was on. The first film I saw of his was “An American In Paris” and I was transfixed. I noticed immediately how gracefully masculine he danced, which was something you never really saw before he hit the scene. It was also something I had never really noticed in my life before watching him. In my world dancing was always viewed as effeminate, for girls, or straight up gay. As a young man it was nice to see someone flip the middle finger and say I can be harsh and soft at the same time with movement.

Gene seemed to be, not only a perfectionist, but a jack of all trades. Throughout his career he wore the hats of actor, dancer, choreographer, director, writer, and producer. That’s honestly super impressive. I also think it’s impressive that he started a dance studio with his family before becoming famous. He laid the groundwork, put in the time, and it clearly paid off. The vaudeville and stage work he did also paved the way for his later success in life. It wasn’t until his starring role on Broadway in “Pal Joey” that he reached popularity. His handsome looks mixed with his beautiful movement was irresistible to audiences. He also had a style of his own. I like how the book discusses Gene as a somewhat early fashion icon where he was so ahead of his time, he didn’t really get credit. The slacks and sweaters mixed with loafers and other relaxing attire gave him a sexy laid back look. This mixed with dance numbers outside, in a barn, or other exotic locales immediately set him apart from the prim and proper dancers before him.

Speaking of which, I really enjoyed how the book gets into Gene’s relationship with Fred Astaire. It’s only natural for the public to compare the two. They are easily the two most famous American dancers in history. The thing is, they were very different, not only in dance style, but lifestyle. As lifetime friends, it was nice to see them have each other’s backs many times throughout each of their careers. Gene got Fred to come out of retirement twice, so he must’ve really liked the guy. It was also nice to get some inside info on Gene’s relationships with other Hollywood celebrities like Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds, Liza Minnelli, and many others, such as politicians like JFK and Robert Kennedy. This book gave a who’s who in Hollywood, which added to the book’s overall setting and environment. Gene was very loved in Hollywood. He knew a lot of people and had a lot of pull. He also knew his worth, often bargaining for higher wages and pay, as well as working with unions.

This book also gave juicy details like the fact Gene was supposed to play in Guys and Dolls, but lost the role to Marlon Brando when MGM wouldn’t lend him out to another studio. I also never knew that Gene was originally asked to direct The Sound of Music, but turned it down because he didn’t want to be away from his new family, which is understandable. I also never realized there were people who strongly disliked Gene, like Debbie Reynolds and his lifelong choreographer partner, Stanley Donen, who had mixed feelings about Gene while he was alive and then drug him through the mud once he died. It’s obvious Gene ruffled a few feathers and I honestly think it was because he was a perfectionist and know-it-all. In his defense, he did know what he was doing. It’s clear by watching the amazing dance numbers he envisioned. He was a phenomenon who recreated American musicals in the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s.

Gene was ahead of his time in technicality as well. He was the first person to dance with himself in the Alter Ego dance from “Cover Girl”, and he was the first to incorporate animation, which allowed him to dance with Jerry the mouse in “Anchors Aweigh”. He was also instrumental in adding a ballet element to his films, which focused on pure cinema and movement to tell a story without the use of words, relying only on visuals and dance (also known as cinedance). He did this in several films, but the most noteworthy are his ballets in “An American in Paris” and “Singin’ in the Rain.” I also personally love Gene’s technique of interacting with his environment during numbers. One of my all time faves (and one of his staples) is his number in “Summer Stock” where he makes noise with newspaper, taps on the wooden stage, and brushes his broom all over. He does it in a way that is so simple, yet so flawlessly elegant. I also thought it was impressive that Gene directed, produced, choreographed, and stared in a movie that was dance only and no dialogue, titled “Invitation to the Dance.” While it didn’t make money, it showed the scope of his drive and vision.

The only reason I didn’t give this book a full five star rating is because I could tell there were things being omitted by the authors because they were enamored by Gene. They were also way too relaxed on his relationship with younger women. His first wife Betsy, had to have her parents give approval so he could marry her, since she was still seventeen and he was twenty-eight. While many might brush this off as a sign of the times, I’d like to also point out that Gene’s second wife, Jeanne, started their relationship by being his twelve year old pupil back when he had his dance school. Albeit the book doesn’t say their relationship was physical until later in both of their lives, I still think it would be personally weird for me to be romantic with someone I taught and once viewed as a child. There is something seriously off about this mentality in Gene and I don’t think the book goes too far into it, in fears of tainting the beloved matinee idol. With that being said, if there’s no proof of wrong doing and nothing to back it up, why would they divulge further into info that doesn’t exist. I do think where there’s smoke, there might be fire. I couldn’t find any reports of any women speaking out against Gene in relation to sexual or physical abuse, but I do wonder about pedophilia due to his history. It was moments like these where I had to separate the art from the artist and not let my mind go to dark places.

Apart from my worries about Gene’s relationship with young women, I do think this book was well researched and written. It’s clear the authors have a deep love for Gene. I also appreciate the history given to Gene’s famous dance moves. He was a very studied dancer and this book makes me want to check out a book on the history of dance, as it is a very vast topic. Gene knew it all and for that, I really respect his craft. You know the man was good at dancing when Michael Jackson credits him as an inspiration. I would like to read some of the other books by people in Gene’s life. I think they would be very interesting. I’d most like to read something by his eldest daughter, Kerry. I think she would have a lot more to say than what this book says she says.

Overall, despite my wondering if others in Gene’s life would agree with everything in this book, I think it was a good representation of him as a person and it captured some of the magic that I feel when watching his films. He loved to make people smile with his movies and it’s clear he was very talented. I will always cherish his filmography and find inspiration in his dances for the rest of eternity. The man was talented and he impacted dance culture for years to come.

[Susan Chapek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gene Kelly is an artist I admire and respect. I think I would have liked him as a person, too. So the book's multitude of personal reflections and anecdotes (including a large number from Kelly's oldest daughter) make this a solid read, and provide lots of info I never knew before. Three stars for that.

But I had to deduct a star for the writing, which is serviceable, but lacks personality and sparkle. These deficiencies are especially noticeable in a bio whose subject has such a bravura persona himself.

[Courtney LeSueur · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Gene Kelly so much more than I can put into words but this biography was kind of a snooze! Despite including every detail about Gene’s life, it only managed to graze the surface and didn’t dare expand on his less than favorable characteristics, which effectively prevented the book from humanizing him.

[jeffrey thayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting, entertaining, and frank biography of Gene Kelly's life and career. He was relentlessly devoted to dance, constantly working on ideas and dance routines. He tired me out reading about his tireless work on the dancing art. His career was very straightforward from Broadway stage to Hollywood films, and once the musical era of Hollywood faded, he found work in television and film directing projects. He was a devoted family man, although distant from his children in some ways. Betsy Blair and Barbara Ward are interesting profiles as past wives. Blair is especially interesting for her own memoir and developing maturity as his second wife. Ward is compelling for her devotion and control of Kelly at the end of his life. She was very domineering toward him and his public.

Kelly's greatest accomplishments were the string of MGM movie musicals he made in the 1950's. They are magnificent for their artistry and demanding dancing routines. "On the Town," "An American in Paris," and "Singin' in the Rain" are master classes in choreography and relentless artistry. He brought a masculine presence and physicality with bolder ideas than Fred Astaire's formulaic movies. His dancing was boot camp workouts and utter tenderness in expression.

[Joel Canfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly detailed and candid biography of Gene Kelly. Kelly's impact on the American musical was monumental in the 1950's and "Singin' in the Rain" is, of course, still regarded as a film classic, having been revived as a Broadway production in recent years. In spite of the ongoing affection for his work, there hasn't been a great deal of information on Kelly the man out there. This book solves that problem with a sometimes overwhelming amount of information on each and every Kelly project over the years, but it doesn't solve another--how to make the last twenty years or so of his life interesting. His professional activity in those years consisted of directing films that weren't very good or acting in ones that were close to embarrassing ("Xanadu" and, unbelievably,"Viva Knievel!" where he played Evel Knievel's mechanic! But, up until you reach that period, it's a very good read, giving plenty of insight into Kelly's personality, his relationships and his approach to his craft. Kelly doesn't come across as the most likable of guys, but his drive for excellence is undeniable and his legacy unforgettable.

[Michael Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's nothing new here to add to the story of Gene Kelly that fans like me didn't already know. The minuses: almost no new primary sources except for recent interviews with Gene's daughter Kerry; an over-reliance on fan magazines and newspaper stories and press interviews which are notoriously unreliable; the telling of time-worn anecdotes without being presented in a fresh manner. Quibbling: the authors persist in referring to Dan Dailey as Dan Dailey Jr., a name he stopped using in 1942, long before he worked with Kelly.

The pluses: much of the information here about his childhood and youth was new to me; the authors do a nice job of covering his movies, even his lesser efforts like Pilot # 5 and The Black Hand, and his stage work (I had no idea that Kelly came through Columbus Ohio--my hometown--with a Kenley Players show in the 70s); the book, though long, is an easy read and I would definitely recommend it to readers who have just discovered the genius of Gene Kelly. For older fans, this is not crucial, though it was fun to look back on his great work again.

[Pam Koenig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gene Kelly is one of my favorites, his relaxed style of dancing made everything look so easy, even though I know it wasn't. I've lost count of the number of times I have watched Brigadoon, On the Town, An American in Paris and of course Singing in the Rain, which happened to be on TCM last night. These are some of the best of movie musical ever made and never fail to lift my spirits and make me smile. This book gave me a great look into what made Kelly, Kelly and when the authors described the plots and scenes I could visualize them in detail. I had been trying to find one of his biographies for awhile and found this while looking for something else. I loved that it covered childhood to death and the legacy he left. If you love old movie musicals, I think you will love this book. My only complaint is when the authors were describing the plot of Hello Dolly, which I adore, they mixed up two of the characters. They stated that Michael Crawford and Tommy Tune were the clerks in Vandergelder's store. The clerks were Michael Crawford and Danny Lockin, Tommy Tune was Ermangard's artist boyfriend.

[Augusta · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read about an interesting man. Kelly was an incredibly gifted, determined, and hard working man. His quest for perfection in himself and his work meant that he worked himself and those around him incredibly hard, something that not everyone appreciated. He was limitlessly supportive of some and taught many people how to dance, but could also be intensely critical of others (he made some of his female costars cry with his criticisms of them) - he made lifelong friends as well as enemies. He was supportive of his collaborators, but struggled when they sought the spotlight without him. He was a kind, talented, humble man but at the same time, was arrogant, an egoist, cruel, and a flawed human being.
“His life, he once stated, was a quest for privacy, yet he often sulked when he was not the center of attention.”

I felt like the authors tried very hard to present an unbiased report of Kelly, using a range of sources and different people’s opinions/experiences of him. However, I did feel like sometimes the chapters kind of blurred into a string of “and then he did this movie with these dances” with very indepth descriptions of said movie and dances, I guess, for me personally, I did not want that level of detail.

[Meegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who doesn't love Gene Kelly? (If you are part of the crazy few who don't, then get yourself a copy of "Singin in the Rain" then call me in the morning) I have loved him since my childhood and decided it was time to read a biography about him. Who was the real Gene Kelly underneath the charming actor?

This biography was the most recent, so I found it at the library. It started off great! And then I remembered why biographies are hard to read: because they talk about every little detail. I don't really mind if you combine the 50 times he directed a musical revue into two paragraphs....because I really don't want to read about them over a course of four long chapters. I accidentally blinked and he had gotten married and had a kid. If you want to know about his accomplishments and career, then this is the book for you (the title should give you a hint, "life and career of Gene Kelly"). But if you want to know more about Gene's character, like I do, then we will have to look elsewhere.

[Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very entertaining and very thorough, this book takes us on the astonishing journey of Gene Kelly's life, from his rough Pittsburgh roots to his ultimate status as revered Hollywood superstar. Known for his temper and his perfectionist tendencies, Kelly nevertheless earned the respect of his colleagues and loved children. For most of his early young adult life he operated a dance studio, and was responsible for changing the stigmas associated with males and dance, elevating the concept to one of athleticism, grace, and sex appeal. Readers will enjoy the behind the scenes stories of their favorite movies, and the accounting of Kelly's long-running friendship and professional association with Fred Astaire. Kelly never had a scandal and maintained his positive image throughout his career. An interesting and informative read. Adult.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of old movies and really enjoyed this biography of Gene Kelly. Outside of his movie star persona and movie roles that generally involved dancing, I didn't know much about where he came from or about his life.

I learned that he worked hard to get where he did and he expected others to put forth the effort he did to be as perfect in a role as possible.

If there was any "dirt" on Gene Kelly, it would be in relation to his temper as he was not a Hollywood wildchild. While he married 3 times, he was only divorced once and then widowed when his second wife, who seemed to be the love of his life, died.

This book made me appreciate the drive he had to achieve his dreams and while they didn't always work out the way he wanted them to, he had a pretty good life.

[Luca Buccella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una biografia decisamente interessante che offre un ritratto accurato di uno dei più grandi artisti del 20º secolo, anche se a volte scivola nell'agiografia. Il testo è preciso e ricco di informazioni, e possiede uno stile di scrittura efficace nella sua semplicità. Ho apprezzato in particolare la prima metà, quella dedicata all'ascesa di Kelly nel mondo dello spettacolo e all'età d'oro dei Musical di Hollywood. La seconda metà è un po' più frettolosa. Il difetto più grande è che in diverse occasioni le autrici mettono da parte l'imparzialità biografica ed espongono un po' troppo la propria visione politica, attaccando senza alcuna ragione cose come la new Hollywood o la musica rap.

[Monical · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mostly adoring review of Kelly's career and (quite a bit less) life. Could have used some editing, its long and boring at 412 pages+. He did have an amazing career, though, and the breadth of his work is impressive. While I didn't think much of the book, I am interested in going back to see some of his best films-- For Me and My Gal, On the Town, Singin' in the Rain, and maybe even American in Paris (although I always thought Kelly's attempts at ballet were mostly cringe-worthy).

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved learning more about Gene Kelly and his career. There is so little written about him, and I grew up loving him. This was such a great book. I was so glad to read that he was a faithful husband, loved children and loved performing. He had the classic Irish temper, was extremely competitive and arrogant, but all in all I really enjoyed this book and learning about Gene’s life.

[Carolyn Henckler marinari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved Gene Kelly and have heard if his temper and over the top work ethic. This book did a great job of giving a fair look at his life - his strengths and weaknesses. I came away with an even better appreciation for him as an artist and human being.

[Deborah Skillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I followed up the Hirschorn bio of Kelly with this one. He's Got Rhythm actually referenced the Hirschorn bio. There is some additional information concerning Gene's later years that is interesting. I think if I one were only going to read one bio I'd go with the Hirschorn inn its updated format.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing person. Very well written and very entertaining.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information, stilted, boring narrative style.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very complete, and seemingly fair, depiction of the life and personality and work of Gene Kelly.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. If you like musicals or movie history, you would probably enjoy this story.

[Westley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitive Gene Kelly bio.

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given it 3.5 stars if the app allowed. It was a bit dull in writing but pretty much summed up his whole life from a non-biased perspective, which I appreciate.

[SENNA · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. I WAS INTUNED, REALLY IN GENES ENERGY AND MINDSET. DAMN, NOW I WANNA DANCE. MANS IS EXTROADINARY.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's nice to read about a movie star with a moral compass and normal upbringing.

[Caspar Vega · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't demean the Gene.

[Diana]

DNF
I love Gene Kelly, he’s brought me so much joy over the years, but this is so over-researched and under edited it just became tedious.

[MaryGrace · Rating 4 out of 5]

took me way too long to read but was ultimately very enjoyable! makes me wanna watch a bunch of movies