Book description
Characterized by grandiose song-and-dance numbers featuring ornate
geometric patterns and mimicked in many modern films, Busby Berkeley's
unique artistry is as recognizable and striking as ever. From his years
on Broadway to the director's chair, Berkeley is notorious for his
inventiveness and signature style. Through sensational films like 42nd
Street (1933), Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933), Footlight Parade (1933), and
Dames (1934), Berkeley sought to distract audiences from the troubles of
the Great Depression. Although his bold technique is familiar to
millions of moviegoers, Berkeley's life remains a mystery. Buzz: The
Life and Art of Busby Berkeley is a telling portrait of the filmmaker
who revolutionized the musical and changed the world of choreography.
Berkeley pioneered many conventions still in use today, including the
famous “parade of faces” technique, which lends an identity to each
anonymous performer in a close-up. Carefully arranging dancers in
complex and beautiful formations, Berkeley captured perspectives never
seen before. Jeffrey Spivak's meticulous research magnifies the career
and personal life of this beloved filmmaker. Employing personal letters,
interviews, studio memoranda, and Berkeley's private memoirs, Spivak
unveils the colorful life of one of cinema's greatest artists. Jeffrey
Spivak writes about film for periodicals and websites.
