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

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Gene Kelly is the second most important and influential song and dance man after Fred Astaire in Hollywood history. His legendary movie star status is exemplified by “An American in Paris” and his iconic “Singin’ in the Rain.” Kelly’s life is recounted in “He’s Git Rhythm: The Life and Career of Gene Kelly” by twin sisters Cynthia and Sara Brideson (2017, University of Kentucky Press, 517 pages). He grew up part of a large and financially modest Irish family in Pittsburgh (a lifelong Pirates fan). His ineffectual father liked to drink and mother was the strong force. She possessed show business aspirations hoping one of her brood would make it and placed all the kids in dance class. Kelly began dancing at 7 and eventually decided dance was his vocation not law school as his mother desired. She thought younger brother Fred the better dancer. Kelly was no overnight success as he toiled for years teaching at the Kelly Dance School his mother started, studying ballet in Chicago, staying on top of all dance trends and choreographing local shows before trying his luck on Broadway. The dancer was pushing 30 when finding stardom on stage as “Pal Joey” followed by a Hollywood contract. The book meticulously details the production of his films with emphasis on his dance and choreography. The so-called rivalry with Astaire is discussed. More interesting is delving into his personal life as Kelly guarded his privacy. The star was a homebody shunning the Hollywood nightclub social scene choosing to host weekly Saturday parties at his home for pals like Judy Garland. There was not one whisper of anything scandalous about him. No infidelities. His worst traits were a hot Irish temper, overaggressive competitiveness which annoyed people and tendency to “ride” those like Debbie Reynolds and Esther Williams because he did not care for them. He was a hard driving taskmaster perfectionist on himself and others. His first marriage to actress Betsy Blair (Academy Award nominated for “Marty”) was unusual from the start. She was 17 and he 29 when they finally married. Kelly was a liberal Democrat who escaped the blacklist shadow but Blair was an avowed Communist who was blacklisted placing a strain on the marriage. However, it was her infidelities ending it. Kelly’s second wife Jeanne had been in love with him since being a teenager back in Pittsburgh as one of his students and their happy union tragically ended with her death at at an early age. Third wife and widow Patricia is considered a golddigger (especially by Blair) who tried cutting out his children at the end. His children and grandchildren were effectively left out of his will except for token acknowledgment. The great musical era ended in the 50s and when Kelly severed ties with MGM, his career was somewhat over. Over the next 40 years he did a handful of acting roles, directed a few movies and did some TV specials leaving him somewhat artistically frustrated and finding solace in his young children. Even if not a Gene Kelly fan as I am, the biography is a good read to learn about this hoofer was a complicated man given to brooding and getting a “picture” of Hollywood’s Golden Age by the greatest of all studios MGM.