Gene Kelly

Whether as a curiosity or a beloved idol, Gene Kelly (1912-1996) lives on in our cultural memory as a fantastic dancer in M-G-M musicals, especially Singin' in the Rain. But dancing, however extraordinary, was only one of his many gifts. This book, for the first time, offers a full picture of Gene Kelly as the Renaissance man he actually was—dancer, yes, but also choreographer, actor, clown, singer, director, teacher, and mentor. Kelly was a star of radio and television as well as film, an avant-garde as artist and auteur but also ahead of the curve in opening the world of dance to differences of race, ethnicity, and gender. Gene Kelly: The Making of a Creative Legend takes us from Kelly's youth in Depression-era Pittsburgh through his years on Broadway and ascendance to stardom in Hollywood. Authors Hess and Dabholkar pay particular attention to his work with the US Navy and lesser-known but considerable accomplishments in television, radio, and on the stage in later years. The book gives us a rare inside look at Kelly's relationships with dancing partners and peers from Leslie Caron, Vera-Ellen, and Cyd Charisse to Fred Astaire, and at his directorial collaboration with Stanley Donen and Vincent Minnelli; and at his solo directing. The authors show us significant but little-examined facets of Kelly's character and career, such as the political convictions that got him graylisted in Hollywood; his passion for creating cine-dance and serving as an ambassador of dance in America; and his forging of links between dance, civil rights, and the “common man.” Steeped in research and replete with photographs, this career biography uniquely encompasses all phases of Gene Kelly's life and work—and finally gives us a full portrait of this central figure in the history of the film musical during Hollywood's Golden Age.

Earl J. Hess is Stewart W. McClelland Distinguished Chair in History at Lincoln Memorial University. Pratibha A. Dabholkar is emerita professor at the College of Business at the University of Tennessee. Their book Singin' in the Rain: The Making of an American Masterpiece is also published by Kansas.

List of Illustrations Preface 1. Son of Pittsburgh, 1912-1929 2. Dancing through College, 1929-1933 3. Dance Master of Pittsburgh, 1933-1938 4. Starting on Broadway, 1938-1940 5. Triumph on Broadway, 1940-1941 6. Taking on Hollywood, 1941-1944 7. Dancing Sailor, 1944-1946 8. Restarting His Career, 1946-1948 9. Red Scare—First Wave, 1946-1949 10. Surging to the Top, 1948-1949 11. Zenith, 1949-1952 12. Turning Point, 1951-1953 13. Red Scare—Second Wave, 1950-1954 14. Sunset of the Golden Age, 1953-1955 15. New Directions, 1956-1960 16. New Life, 1960-1969 17. Kelly Resurgent, 1970-1979 18 Finale, 1980-1996 19. Renaissance Man Appendix Notes Bibliography Index