M-G-M's Greatest Musicals

By Hugh Fordin

Book Overview

M-G-M's Greatest Musicals (originally published as The World of Entertainment Hollywood's Greatest Musicals ) is not a biography of Arthur Freed (1894-1973), producer of the most outstanding series of musicals in motion picture history, but a turbulent, behind-the-scenes, film-by-film account of the making of his movies (which, to the exclusion of all else, were his life). From 1940 to 1970, under the auspices of M-G-M's celebrated Freed Unit, Hollywood's master actors, writers, directors, choreographers, composers, and set designers created The Wizard of Oz, Girl Crazy, Meet Me in St. Louis, Annie Get Your Gun, An American in Paris, Show Boat, Singin' in the Rain, Gigi, and nearly forty others. The author brings to vivid life the unexpected crises and everyday magic of the Freed Unit. Richly detailed, profusely illustrated with hundreds of rare photos, this book describes the lives and careers Freed touched and often shaped--Judy Garland, Vincente Minnelli, Gene Kelly, Ginger Rogers, and others like Saroyan, Berlin, Kern, Gershwin--and in the process reveals how a romantic, sentimental man became the uncontested master of the movie musical.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0306807300
• ISBN13: 9780306807305
• Release Date: August 1996
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Length: 576 Pages
• Weight: 1.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

A must!

Everybody who wants to know more about the immortal work of Arthur Freed's unit at MGM - this book is not only a recommendation, it is a must!

A book about the Master by a Master

Hugh Fordin is an expert in his field. His detailed research is clearly evident throughout this work. His love of theater, film and particularly the Hollywood (make that MGM) Musical is revealed in the many interviews he conducted with people involved in every aspect of the productions he writes about.He shares small insights and many heretofore unknown facts about this disappeared genre of movie making. If this isn't a textbook at film schools, it should be. A superb work whose value increases over the years.

Excellent

I was expecting this to be a straight biography of Arthur Freed with discussions on his films but instead I was pleasantly surprised to see that the entire book is a blow-by-blow account of how the films were made (which to a movie buff is pure heaven) and, as the author says, Freed's movies were his life anyway.I think it says something that the title of this book is "M.G.M.'s Greatest Musicals", since the truly amazing thing is that one man was more or less responsible for all of them. Great behind-the-scenes stories.

Sensational -- as history and as entertainment!

There are various books about the golden years at MGM, but this is far and away the best I've ever read. It is an exhaustive look at how each of the great MGM musicals was made, with all sorts of info from producer Arthur Freed's private files -- the costs, the money made or lost, etc. (Imagine, an author who actually went and spoke to the people he was writing about, as opposed to a mere gossip gatherer!) There is lots of solidly researched behind the scenes material, making this believable as well as readable. Loads of great photos you won't see elsewhere. For musical film buffs, this is essential reading!

Wonderful book!!!!!

This book is a must read for any musical fan. I read it in 2 days and couldn't put it down. Each chapter is full of interesting facts and insightful tidbits about how each movie musical in the Arthur Freed unit was filmed. It was a delightful book and I very strongly recommend it!!!