For those who really thought Annie had a point when she sang, "There's no business
like show business", these special DVD extras, lasting almost 50 minutes, will definitely
be of interest. Featuring unique footage of Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire's song and
dance performances, as well as interviews, photographs and even personal letters, this
is a genuinely interesting insight into the lives of two legendary performers.
Ava, Astaire's daughter, reminisces with Ken Barnes, a film producer, historian, colleague
and obvious life-long fan of Crosby and Astaire. Although the format is clumsy and
strained - Barnes pretends he is having an intimate chat with Ava about her father,
although it is obviously an entirely scripted interview, with nothing too personal actually
given away - the conversation remains fascinating.
Ava recalls her father's introduction to the stage, as dance partner for his elder sister
Adele. She reveals one or two nice little details about her "daddy", like the fact that the
top hat that became one of his trademarks was actually just a way of making him the
same height as his big sister in the early days of his career, as a five-year-old dancer.
She answers a few questions about his personal life, like whether he and Ginger really
hated each other's guts, as some would have us believe, or why he chose to quit
musicals at the peak of his career in the Fifties.
Besides colour footage of Crosby and Astaire performing A Couple Of Song And Dance
Men, there is plenty of other material to keep musical lovers happy.
There are clips from Top Hat, Cheek To Cheek, Blue Skies and High Society, including
the scene where Astaire dances with nine other images of himself, in what was, at the
time, a ground breaking moment. Other stars pop up, too. There's Bob Hope, acting on
screen with Crosby, Joan Crawford and Ginger Rogers, taking turns to dance with
Astaire. There's singing from Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelly and even a trumpet
performance from Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong.
Overall, a lovely, sparkling, high-kicking montage of great moments in musical history,
with a good deal of facts on the filmmaking business and stars' lives, as well.