-
Now on DVD and Blu-ray-Promised Land -
Disney, Hitchcock, and Marilyn Flying Hi ... -
Reacher Coming to DVD and Blu-ray -
Coming to Blu-ray and DVD-Django Unchain ... -
John Ford's Favorite Film
Coming to Blu-ray and DVD-The Impossible
Now on DVD and Blu-ray-Hyde Park on Huds ...
MAKING FILM SCHOLARSHIP FUN
Now on DVD/Blu-ray—This Is 40
Playing Nationwide: On the Road
HOORAY FOR 1933—EIGHTY YEARS LATERTIME TRIPPING WITH FRED & ADELE ASTAIRE
Now we have the next best thing: an evocative biography of the Astaires, who literally grew up in show business, becoming stage-savvy veterans before they were of age. Theater historian Kathleen Riley has conducted exhaustive research, with access to the Astaire family scrapbook and personal correspondence, and laid out their extraordinary success story with grace and charm. It isn’t often that one encounters a show business book as beautifully written as this.
Riley brings to life the workaday world of vaudeville—both big and small-time—as well as the heady excitement of success on Broadway and London’s West End. As popular as Fred and Adele became in New York, they were truly the toast of the town in London, winning over critics, audiences, and even the royal family. There are wonderfully amusing examples of vintage British magazine ads where the duo endorsed a variety of products, from throat lozenges to fountain pens.
Interestingly, it was Adele who commanded the lion’s share of attention and praise; no one disparaged Fred, but in many people’s minds she was the standout of the two, not because she was the better dancer but because she had a thousand-watt personality. When she decided to marry an Englishman and retire from the stage, there was genuine concern as to how Fred would fare on his own. Imagine that!
This book is a rare treat and a worthy substitute for that time machine I keep dreaming about.
THE ASTAIRES: FRED & ADELE by Kathleen Riley (Oxford University Press)
Email Updates
Latest Tweets
-
@RebFef @headgeek666 @leonardmaltin Where ARE you guys?
Posted 5 hours ago -
RT @RebFef: The ultimate trifecta of Film knowledge, hanging out Austin-style. Louis Black, @headgeek666 & @leonardmaltin http://t.co/zMlJTXGU5F
Posted 6 hours ago -
The ultimate trifecta of Film knowledge, hanging out Austin-style. Louis Black, @headgeek666 & @leonardmaltin http://t.co/zMlJTXGU5F
Posted 6 hours ago -
Nice early turnout for @leonardmaltin reception.
Posted 8 hours ago
Monthly Archives
Most "Liked"
-
The Hangover Part IIIlike0 -
Before Midnightlike0 -
Fast & Furious 6like0 -
In Search Of ‘The Searchers’like0
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|  |
 |  |
3 Comments
Dave kirwan | January 10, 2013 11:19 AM
I read Ms. Riley's book last year and it really is quite wonderful. Apparently, Adele did flirt with the idea of appearing in American films around the late thirties-early forties. THE ASTAIRES suggests there may have been open offers from major studios if she had wanted to nab some juicy non-musical character parts. Alas, it seems she was not happy at how she photographed, and chickened out of at least one very sincere offer.
Norm | January 9, 2013 4:34 PM
One for the p(ages)...Must read/view...
Colin | January 9, 2013 3:48 PM
This sounds fascinating. While it's wild to hear that Adele was seen as the star of the duo, it may not be too surprising given Fred's low-key persona. What a shame that they were never filmed. After Fred hit it big in Hollywood, I'm surprised he didn't coerce his sister into just one number for posterity.