Fred Astaire: His Friends Talk [Hardcover]

Sarah Giles (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Friends of the late Astaire talk but have little insightful to say in this handsome photo album assembled by Giles, editor-at-large at Vanity Fair . Perhaps the Duke of Devonshire got it right: "He had great charm, but, to be slightly unkind, he wasn't frightfully interesting. But, then, why should he have been?" Born Frederick Austerlitz in Omaha in 1899, the self-effacing Astaire established an unequaled standard of dancingyet few voices here discuss his work with perspicacity. Compared to the generally unenlightening comments from family (daughter Ava: "Daddy always drank Heineken"), the words of Astaire's doctor and housekeeper stand out as the most detailed and intelligent. Conspicuous by their absence are reminiscences by the dancer's sonwho was not approached by Gilesand his second wife, who chose not to cooperate. Despite the disappointing text, the photographs do full justice to a man whose incandescent face rivaled the impeccable optimism of his feet.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Expanding a Vanity Fair article, Giles presents snippets taken from some 75 interviews with Astaire's friends, relatives, colleagues, and admirers, with the intent of providing the reader with a broadened sense of this man who was perfection on screen. The collection of quotes addresses aspects of the public and private man. Those interviewed include some expected namesHermes Pan, Ginger Rogers, Ava Astaire (his daughter), Irving Berlinand some unexpected namesTwiggy, Jerry Hall. Barrie Chase, a favorite partner, and Robyn Smith, Astaire's second wife, are noticeably absent. The quotes are light, chatty, and sometimes informative. They will appeal to gossip column fans. Joan Stahl, Enoch Pratt Free Lib., Baltimore
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 210 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1st edition (October 4, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3852471419
• ISBN-13: 978-3852471419
• ASIN: 0385247419
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,432 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A towering figure in 20th century culture, March 6, 2002

By 

Catherine S. Vodrey (East Liverpool, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fred Astaire: His Friends Talk (Hardcover)

Fred Astaire's richly deserved reputation as one of the world's greatest dancer is enhanced with this book, which does a superb job of moving beyond the dance and into his personal life, his professional relationships, his Anglophile tendencies and more. Did you know that the Gershwins and Irving Berlin composed more songs for Fred Astaire than for any other single person? These men latched onto the carefree, wholly American ease projected by Astaire and made him the vehicle for some of their most memorable classics.

The quotations Giles gleans from Astaire friends, colleagues and family do the trick of supplementing the very little we know of this very private man. Ginger Rogers tartly observes, "Well, I think when you work with somebody all day long, for ten movies, you become good friends, though he was as delighted not to see me at night over dinner as I was." Then here's Liza Minnelli asking Halston to dress her like "Fred Astaire in the daytime and a movie star at night." Cary Grant apparently felt that Astaire was the pinnacle of style--after watching "Broadway Melody of 1940," Grant desparately searched everywhere for a white tuxedo identical to the one worn by Astaire in this film. Even his podiatrist is quoted herein, noting wryly that Fred sometimes had trouble with his toes because he wore his shoes a half size too small so as to convey a neater impression.

The photographs, many of which were published here for the first time, include studio glossies of Astaire with his many famous co-stars, Astaire at home with his family and dogs, and a hilarious shot of Astaire skateboarding in the late 1970s. This examination of a one-of-a-kind talent is summed up most perfectly when Rudolf Nureyev says, "We were all dancing. Fred was doing something else entirely." "Fred Astaire: His Friends Talk" is a must for any movie lover or dance lover's library.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you never knew you wanted to know about Fred!, January 15, 2005

By 

Laurie Eno (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fred Astaire: His Friends Talk (Hardcover)

This book is a little treasure trove of anecdotes from people who worked with or were friends of Fred Astaire. While those anecdotes are interesting and often insightful, for my money it's the photos that make this book a real keeper. The effortless grace and style that Astaire showed in moving pictures is captured in still photos. Fred Astaire was a man who, though he was not conventionally handsome, was appealing to millions and used what he had to make magic. He was effortless charm personified: a gentleman, a wit, and a remarkably snappy dresser too! And as we all know, he could dance like nobody's business. Gravity seemed to have little effect on Fred ... no special effects required!

Though he was brilliant at what he did, Astaire was self-effacing and modest almost to a fault, so a book like this is a nice way of learning more about him. Once you've read the book, you'll want to watch the movies (if you haven't already had that delicious experience). Start with Top Hat or Shall We Dance -- classic Fred and Ginger! Fred was also well paired with Rita Hayworth (in "You'll Never Get Rich"), and -- surprisingly -- simply marvelous with a much younger Audrey Hepburn (Funny Face), which has the added attraction of being set (mostly) in Paris.

Those old films are time capsules from an era when graciousness and gentle humor meant something -- and as the epitome of those things, as well as perhaps the most talented hoofer America has ever produced -- Fred Astaire has earned his place as a large and living footnote in American popular culture. This book is part of a well earned homage, and deserves a place on every Astaire fan's bookshelf!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great insight to the life of a genious., December 5, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (B'ham, Alabama) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fred Astaire: His Friends Talk (Hardcover)

The book deals with the life of one of America's most extraordinary talents as seen by his many acquantances--some famous, some not. Their varied opinions teach us a great deal about Fred Astaire by letting us know how he was viewed by those his life impacted. Giles did a remarkable job putting together a book with as much heart and class as the man himself, Fred Astaire.