Dancing on the Ceiling: Stanley Donen and his Movies
The more you learn about Stanley Donen, the more he appears to be the Orson Welles of the film musical. Like Welles, he produced his greatest successes at the very beginning of his career, going on to create daringly original films that did not fully satisfy critics and audiences. Born in 1924 in Columbia, South Carolina, he befriended Gene Kelly early in life, became a choreographer for MGM Studios in the 1940s, and rose quickly through the ranks. Before he was 30 years old, he had directedOn the Town,Royal Wedding,Singin' in the Rain, andSeven Brides for Seven Brothers. His later experiments with his medium yielded cult classics such asIt's Always Fair Weather,The Little Prince, andMovie Movie, as well as the nonmusicalCharadeandTwo for the Road.Stephen M. Silverman, the author of this biography, is enthusiastic about Donen's work to the point of ferocity. He defends almost every film Donen himself believed in as a masterpiece and belittles Donen's rivals at MGM, particularly Vincente Minnelli. But Silverman's passion for his subject is infectious and his approach lively. He narrates much of Donen's life by looking at it through the eyes--and the commentary--of the people who knew him. Particularly  engaging is his account of howSingin' in the Rainwas made. It is full of juicy commentary by Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Cyd Charisse, Donald O'Connor, and Donen himself. Audrey Hepburn's warm introductory appreciation is one of the last pieces she wrote before her death.