BWW Book Reviews: Jeffrey Spivaks Fascinating BUZZ -the life and art of Busby Berkeley

Before receiving this detailed biography, Jeffrey Spivak's Buzz, my knowledge of Busby Berkeley was limited to some articles I'd read in a few fan magazines as well as an old trade paperback from 1973 (The Busby Berkeley Book). Spivak's book not only fills in the gaps, but it brings a lot of previously forgotten lore to light, illuminating the troubled life of this musical design genius. The University of Kentucky Press has put together an excellent resource for those seeking, not only the arcane knowledge of his unique talents, but a fresh look at just what did happen to the movie musical after its Golden Age, which was spear-headed by the imaginative and eye-popping work of "Buzz" Berkeley.

No one brought more visual flair to his stagings, and that is the one thing you come away with realizing; the debt of so many filmmakers to his unique style filled with bird's eye point of views, dutch angles, bevys of beauties, and an unerring sense of rhythm. Sure, there are sordid tales that crop up along the way, especially with regards to his many marriages, his doting stage mother Gertrude, and his arrest for drunk driving. But, Spivak is telling the complete story of the man, not just the Hollywood highlights, and readers will benefit greatly from his attention to detail.

Richly written and with panache and a certain amount of dignity for the man himself, Spivak's biography perfectly captures Buzz's spirit as well as the legend, all rolled into one. Spivak covers the man from his humble beginnings, cowering under his brother's wardrobe as he first makes an "appearance" on stage, through to his Broadway successes and failures, and on to the peaks and nadirs he experienced in Hollywood. An even-handed tribute all around.

Buzz is highly recommended.