Steps in Time: An Autobiography | 
| Author: Fred Astaire
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Category: Book
List Price: $13.95
Buy New: $7.80
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Avg. Customer Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 64158
Media: Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.3 x 1
ISBN: 0061567566
Dewey Decimal Number: 790
EAN: 9780061567568
ASIN: 0061567566
Publication Date: August 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 3.5 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Order with confidence. Code: B20081119222050T
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Product Description
One of the foremost entertainers of the twentieth century—singer, actor, choreographer, and, of course, the most dazzling "hoofer" in the history of motion pictures—Fred Astaire was the epitome of charm, grace, and suave sophistication, with a style all his own and a complete disregard for the laws of gravity. Steps in Time is Astaire's story in his own words, a memoir as beguiling, exuberant, and enthralling as the great artist himself, the man ballet legends George Balanchine and Rudolf Nureyev cited as, hands down, the century's greatest dancer. From his debut in vaudeville at age six through his remarkable career as the star of many of the most popular Hollywood musicals ever captured on celluloid, Steps in Time celebrates the golden age of entertainment and its royalty, as seen through the eyes of the era's affable and adored prince. Illustrated with more than forty rare photographs from the author's personal collection, here is Astaire in all his debonair glory—his life, his times, his movies, and, above all, his magical screen appearances and enduring friendship with the most beloved of all his dancing partners, Ginger Rogers.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 Gotta love Fred October 9, 2008
I have been a fan of Fred Astaire since the early 1970s when I stumbled upon "Follow the Fleet" on television. I saw just about every movie he had made, over the next year or two, and that was before videotapes and dvds or cable television, so I had to catch them whenever they just happened to show up on the few channels we had.
I bought a few record albums and books, but I don't remember seeing his autobiography, perhaps it was out of print at that time.
When I recently saw that it was available, I couldn't resist. It originally came out in 1959. I'm sure he thought he was finished making musicals by then, but he did make one more, "Finian's Rainbow" in 1968, plus some non-musicals up to 1981.
The book covers all those fascinating decades after the turn of the century (he was born in 1899) including vaudeville, Broadway, and the films of the art deco era.
Astaire was lauded as being the greatest dancer, most influential, one-of-a-kind, a perfectionist.
The great songwriters of his time preferred for him to introduce their new songs in his films.
He was an innovator in American men's fashion.
And, most endearing, his life was free from scandal; he was described as kind, gentle, shy and self-effacing. I have never heard of anyone saying a bad thing about him.
The reader gets a feeling of this down-to-earth personality in the pages of his book.
One warning, however, after reading this autobiography I had the urge to see all the films again and ended up purchasing every single Astaire musical, including several which I had to settle for on VHS tape.
There is a great boxed set available of the Fred and Ginger movies. I wish someone would do the same with the complete collection of Astaire musicals. It would be better than a bottle of Prozac. Whenever I watch Fred Astaire I just can't stop smiling. And this book had the same effect.
Steps in Time by Fred Astaire May 17, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Prior to purchasing this item I read a review that said the book didn't say anything about Fred Astaire's personality. After reading this book, you can tell about every section of Fred's life, his up and downs, his feelings, his experiences. Mr. Astire writes in the style he lived...Elegantly written. I couldn't put the book down because it was exciting to read.
 A Legendary Artist; A Superficial Memoir September 14, 2006
15 out of 15 found this review helpful
Fred Astaire (1899-1987) was, quite simply, a dance genius. He appeared on stage, often with his sister Adele, in such landmark musicals as LADY BE GOOD and FUNNY FACE; he graced at least 43 films, 31 one of which were musicals; he is, for all practical intents and purpose, American dance, and he worked with artists no less legendary than he. But for all this, his 1959 autobiography is most notable for being, well, utterly mundane.
STEPS IN TIME is essentially a catalogue of the various shows in which Astaire performed, ranging from Vaudeville (with sister Adele) to SILK STOCKINGS with Cyd Charisse. He always loves his leading lady; he always likes his director; even when the show was not as good as it could have been he finds something nice to say about it; and he never, ever offers the least bit of insight into his private life, his work, or the many with whom he worked over the years. Indeed, Astaire actually has more to say about his love of the racetrack than he does about any of his films or specific dance routines.
Fans of Astaire and the Hollywood musical will certainly want to read STEPS IN TIME, but even the most ardent fan will likely be disappointed by the superficial quality of the work. One can only hope that a future biographer will give Astaire the full portrait that he himself could not.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
 franceskent June 20, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This book reveals as much about Fred Astaire in what it doesn't say as in what it tells. He was a shy man, of Austrian descent, very little formal education, and was eclipsed by his funny and attractive older sister in his days on the stage. These things shaped him into the perfectionist we saw on film. He had an incredible work ethic and was always looking for a new gimmick or dance style because he was not confident the audiences would keep on coming. He is not a natural story teller and sometimes leaves us wanting to hear more (e.g.can tell you he and a famous person had a lot of laughs together but not what they did or said that was funny). Still it is a good companion to the TV biography the BBC did about him a few years ago. All the best American composers of the day wanted to write for him (He and Gershwin were young unknowns together) and his evolution from vaudeville to Broadway to film happened during key times of all of those media. I do recommend the book if you want to know more about Fred Astaire, but not as a stand-alone source.
A book worth reading... April 21, 2003
11 out of 15 found this review helpful
This book is actually one big anecdote, peppered with little things like Mr. A's first punch, trying to figure out a title for the book, and meeting his wife, Phyllis.However, Fred Astaire does not offer much insight on how he got from point A to Z, or what made him do this and that. In other words, people who want the whys (and plan to psychoanalyze Mr. A's actions) will not find what they are looking for. It's still a great read though, and real entertaining.
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