- Born
- 29 November 1895, Los Angeles, California, United States
- First work
- 1930: Whoopee!
- Peak
- 1933 to 1939 (estimated)
- Last work
- 1970: The Phynx
- Died
- 14 March 1976, Palm Springs, United States; aged 80; natural
Busby Berkeley
Director: director, dancer, United States
Busby Berkeley was an American film director and choreographer whose kaleidoscope musical routines revitalized Hollywood during the Great Depression. Born in Los Angeles in 1895, he honed his staging talents on Broadway before arriving in Hollywood in 1930. Working principally for Warner Bros., Berkeley liberated the musical camera, utilizing crane shots, overhead angles, and intricate geometrical arrangements of chorus dancers. Spectacular numbers in 42nd Street, Gold Diggers of 1933, and Footlight Parade set an imaginative standard for cinematic dance. Later directing vibrant color musicals at MGM and 20th Century Fox, he remained an enduring visual pioneer until his death in Palm Springs in 1976.
Who else was born on 29 November or who died on 14 March.
Compare with Frank Capra Compare with someone else
Signature works
- 42nd Street film1933
- Gold Diggers of 1933 film1933
- Footlight Parade film1933
- Dames film1934
- Gold Diggers of 1935 film1935
- Babes in Arms film1939
- The Gang's All Here film1943
Honours
- Three-time Academy Award nominee for Best Dance Direction
Groups: Warner Bros., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.