The Fred Astaire Songbook
Brief Synopsis
A loving tribute to Astaire the singer.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Joan Kramer
Creator
Audrey Hepburn
Liza Minnelli
Peter Duchin
Will Friedwald
Melissa Manchester
Film Details
Also Known As
Fred Astaire Songbook, Great Performances (03/08/91)
Genre
Documentary
Music
Musical
Release Date
1991
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 30m
Synopsis
A special featuring classic performances by Fred Astaire of songs by Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and George and Ira Gershwin, among other. Guests discuss Astaire's technique and style. Presentation of "Great Performances."
Cast
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/AudreyHepburn.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Audrey Hepburn
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/LizaMinnelli.132579.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Liza Minnelli
Peter Duchin
Will Friedwald
Melissa Manchester
Richard Schickel
Hermes Pan
June Gale
Burton Lane
Crew
Harold Arlen
Music
Fred Astaire
Song Performer
Fred Astaire
Music
Irving Berlin
Song
Howard Dietz
Theme Lyrics
Scott Doniger
Editor
Edward Eliscu
Theme Lyrics
Dorothy Fields
Theme Lyrics
George Gershwin
Music
Ira Gershwin
Theme Lyrics
David Heeley
Producer
Gus Kahn
Theme Lyrics
Jerome Kern
Music
Joan Kramer
Producer
Burton Lane
Music
Alan Jay Lerner
Theme Lyrics
Roger Mayer
Executive Producer
Jimmy Mchugh
Theme Lyrics
Johnny Mercer
Theme Lyrics
John L. Miller
Writer
John L. Miller
Associate Producer
Cole Porter
Song
Arthur Schwartz
Music
Randi Schwartz
Production Manager
Laura B Trust
Production Assistant
Laura B Trust
Researcher
Jac Venza
Executive Producer
Harry Warren
Music
Vincent Youmans
Music
Film Details
Also Known As
Fred Astaire Songbook, Great Performances (03/08/91)
Genre
Documentary
Music
Musical
Release Date
1991
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 30m
Articles
The Fred Astaire Songbook
The Fred Astaire Songbook is hosted by Audrey Hepburn who starred opposite Astaire in Funny Face (1957). She calls the experience the "fulfillment of a dream" - like every woman she wanted to dance with Fred Astaire. And so too, apparently, every songwriter wanted to write for him. According to the program, Fred Astaire had more songs written expressly for him than any other singer. Astaire worked with everyone from Irving Berlin and Cole Porter to the Gershwins and Johnnie Mercer. Many song clips are featured in the program. Highlights include Astaire performances of Night and Day (Cole Porter), Let's Call the Whole Thing Off (Gershwin) and Cheek to Cheek (Berlin). There's also Astaire romancing Ginger Rogers with the Gershwin tune They Can't Take That Away From Me in two different films, twelve years apart -- Shall We Dance (1937) and The Barkleys of Broadway (1949). Another clip features Astaire playing piano and singing the Cole Porter tune I've Got My Eyes on You in the film Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940).
Rarely before seen footage catches Astaire rehearsing the number Slap the Base on the set of Shall We Dance. There's also a Dick Cavett interview with Astaire and a 1958 appearance on The Oscar Levant Show. And of course The Fred Astaire Songbook captures many of the entertainer's best screen moments. Film clips include: Flying Down to Rio (1933), The Gay Divorcee (1934), Ziegfeld Follies (1946), Easter Parade (1948), Royal Wedding (1951) and The Band Wagon (1953).
The grace and style of Astaire's work speaks for itself though it's still interesting to hear others comment on his talent. The program includes interviews with Liza Minnelli, who says of Astaire, "his interpretation of a song was so pure - he gave equal value to the music and words." Also interviewed is film critic turned filmmaker Richard Schickel who believes Astaire sang the songs the way the songwriters heard them in their heads. "There was a casual elegance to the way they wrote music," says Schickel. "And a casual elegance to the way he performed their music."
But perhaps the most meaningful quote comes from Irving Berlin (who scored six Astaire films, including three at RKO with Ginger Rogers). Berlin said, "Writing for Fred was different from writing for other singers. If I was writing songs for a picture with Bing Crosby or a show with Al Jolson or Ethel Merman, I just wrote the songs and they sang them. But with Fred, I wrote the songs with him in mind." It seems hard to imagine a higher compliment.
Producer: Julie Hope Carter, David Heeley, Joan Kramer, Roger Mayer, Jac Venza
Director: David Heeley
Screenplay: John L. Miller
Cinematography: Robert Long, Jr.
Film Editing: Scott P. Doniger
Cast: Audrey Hepburn (host), Adele Astaire, Peter Duchin, Will Friedwald, Liza Minnelli.
BW & C-65m.
by Stephanie Thames
![The Fred Astaire Songbook](https://prod-images.tcm.com/img/film-participant-detail/Featured-Artilce_Placeholder.png)
The Fred Astaire Songbook
Say the name Fred Astaire and two things usually come to mind - Dancing and Ginger Rogers. But another important element of Astaire's talent is often overlooked - his singing. The 1991 documentary The Fred Astaire Songbook (originally part of PBS's Great Performances series) focuses on Astaire's musical talents. Irving Berlin, who called Astaire his favorite singer, pointed out that while Astaire may not have been a great voice, his rhythm and timing were any songwriter's dream. "He's not just a great dancer," said Berlin. "He's a great singer of songs."
The Fred Astaire Songbook is hosted by Audrey Hepburn who starred opposite Astaire in Funny Face (1957). She calls the experience the "fulfillment of a dream" - like every woman she wanted to dance with Fred Astaire. And so too, apparently, every songwriter wanted to write for him. According to the program, Fred Astaire had more songs written expressly for him than any other singer. Astaire worked with everyone from Irving Berlin and Cole Porter to the Gershwins and Johnnie Mercer. Many song clips are featured in the program. Highlights include Astaire performances of Night and Day (Cole Porter), Let's Call the Whole Thing Off (Gershwin) and Cheek to Cheek (Berlin). There's also Astaire romancing Ginger Rogers with the Gershwin tune They Can't Take That Away From Me in two different films, twelve years apart -- Shall We Dance (1937) and The Barkleys of Broadway (1949). Another clip features Astaire playing piano and singing the Cole Porter tune I've Got My Eyes on You in the film Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940).
Rarely before seen footage catches Astaire rehearsing the number Slap the Base on the set of Shall We Dance. There's also a Dick Cavett interview with Astaire and a 1958 appearance on The Oscar Levant Show. And of course The Fred Astaire Songbook captures many of the entertainer's best screen moments. Film clips include: Flying Down to Rio (1933), The Gay Divorcee (1934), Ziegfeld Follies (1946), Easter Parade (1948), Royal Wedding (1951) and The Band Wagon (1953).
The grace and style of Astaire's work speaks for itself though it's still interesting to hear others comment on his talent. The program includes interviews with Liza Minnelli, who says of Astaire, "his interpretation of a song was so pure - he gave equal value to the music and words." Also interviewed is film critic turned filmmaker Richard Schickel who believes Astaire sang the songs the way the songwriters heard them in their heads. "There was a casual elegance to the way they wrote music," says Schickel. "And a casual elegance to the way he performed their music."
But perhaps the most meaningful quote comes from Irving Berlin (who scored six Astaire films, including three at RKO with Ginger Rogers). Berlin said, "Writing for Fred was different from writing for other singers. If I was writing songs for a picture with Bing Crosby or a show with Al Jolson or Ethel Merman, I just wrote the songs and they sang them. But with Fred, I wrote the songs with him in mind." It seems hard to imagine a higher compliment.
Producer: Julie Hope Carter, David Heeley, Joan Kramer, Roger Mayer, Jac Venza
Director: David Heeley
Screenplay: John L. Miller
Cinematography: Robert Long, Jr.
Film Editing: Scott P. Doniger
Cast: Audrey Hepburn (host), Adele Astaire, Peter Duchin, Will Friedwald, Liza Minnelli.
BW & C-65m.
by Stephanie Thames