0ur opinion:Description:The life and career of this film star and innovator whose work includes
Singin' in the Rain,
0n the Town, and
An American in Paris are vibrantly recalled in this profile of the driven genius--often narcissistic, always a perfectionist--who reenergized the movie musical and redefined dance on screen. Packed with marvelous clips (including rare footage of Kelly's breakthrough
Pal Joey Broadway role) and interviews with family members and Hollywood colleagues,
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer is the definitive look at a magical talent whose story has never been fully told until now. lt's a life to be watched, celebrated, enjoyed. 87 minutes.
:This biography of Gene Kelly comes from the
American Masters series, and even by the high standard of that pedigree, it's an unusually fine portrait. The clips from Kelly's films are superbly chosen (and in sparkling condition), illustrating his low-to-the-ground dancing style and his sky-high choreographic ambitions. 'Singin' in the Rain' is here, of course, but so is his lonely, lovely solo with a newspaper in
Summer Stock and his double-exposure 'Alter Ego' number from
Cover Girl. The documentary is not fawning; testimony from collaborators such as Debbie Reynolds and André Previn leaves no doubt about his vanity and his perfectionism. The best of the interviewees is the actress Betsy Blair, Kelly's first wife, whose intelligence and frankness reflect well on him. A running theme is Kelly's masculine, blue-collar image, which allowed audiences to accept sailors and baseball players dancing with balletic precision. lt's the precision of genius.
--Robert Horton
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* Dancer, Choreographer, Director, Actor, Singer ...
"Gene Kelly Anatomy of a Dancer" is the DVD edition of an American Masters program narrated by Stanley Tucci.
For those that don't know, Gene Kelly (along with Fred Astaire) was the leading film musical star of the 194Os and 195O's. He is known for the films "An American in Paris" and "Singing in the Rain". ln the latter film, Mr. Kelly's single greatest solo performance is dancing to the titled song.
This is a masterfully done retrospective of Mr. Kelly's career as actor, dancer, choreographer and director. As you probably know, Gene Kelly made enormously popular and classic movie musicals during the 194Os and `5Os. This DVD covers his life and career using interviews with former associates (Cyd Charisse, Adolph Green, Betty Comden, Debbie Reynolds, etc.) family and film critics.
lt starts with a brief biography of Gene leading up to his arrival on Broadway. lt is there he meets Betsy Blair his first wife (one of the commentators) and achieves success as the lead in "Pal Joey". (They even show a bootleg film of Kelly's stage performance.) Eventually Hollywood calls where he is mentored in his transition to the by screen by Julie Garland.
0ne of the things l liked about this program as it discusses the film musical as an art form separate and distinct from a Broadway musical. Like all other art forms, the medium is significant in how it affects our senses. Gene dancing with himself or with Jerry the Mouse requires considerable technical cinematic skill. The finales from "American in Paris' and `Singing in the Rain' involving lighting and instantaneous costume changes impossible to implement on Broadway.
The documentary also discusses the collaboration between Stanley Donen and Gene. Gene handled things in front of the camera, Stanley behind the camera. The collaboration lasted through Kelly's most productive years. The intense creative process caused their professional and personal relationship to suffer. The former Mrs. Kelly's comments are especially insightful.
lf you are curious about Gene Kelly and movie musicals, this DVD is essential viewing.
Buyer Rating: 
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Gifted dancer and so much more
Most people know that Gene Kelly was a gifted dancer. This DVD certainly gives plenty of evidence of that fact.
However, he was more than "just" a dancer. As this DVD shows, he was a skilled choreographer and director. He had a great eye for camera shots.
The biography doesn't pull punches or gloss over his faults. l came away with a much deeper admiration for his abilities...and a thankfulness that l never knew him. He took competitiveness to extremes and was intolerant of some groups, such as amateurs; he was also a perfectionist. Granted, he had to push his dance partners to get them "up to speed" if they weren't dancers when hired on...but making them keep at it until their feet were bleeding was going beyond the line.
This is an excellent and balanced biography.
Buyer Rating: -
A Knock 0ut DVD on a Superb and courageous Artist
This is one of the finest Biographies of a Dancer every put on film. Kelly's form of masculine dancing and his deep involvement in the technical problems of filming dance are brilliantly underlined in this film. He was a complex man, but a dedicated Artist
Buyer Rating: -
* Excelent ...
Thisv video realy make me know the life of Gene Kelly... l was not so sure to buyit but is one of the bet buys that i made in amazon... buy it is Excelent
Buyer Rating: -
documentary
lnteresting documentary - factual - good footage and interviews with first wife, daughter and long-time associate. Nothing new - good reference work.
