Top Hat

"Its considerable claims to Art and its resonant magic are the dual focus of this insightful and highly readable study by Peter William Evans . . . Evans approaches this most celebratory of musical comedies in celebratory mode but also with a deserved seriousness devoid of solemnity." (Times Literary Supplement , 24 June 2011)

 

"Alert and attentive, always respecting the magic of this most magical of movies, Peter Evans nevertheless manages to show how exactly how it works, how its stars discreetly clash as they combine, and how a well-tried formula can turn into unforgettable art.  Good too that the admirable Eric Blore is celebrated, a comic dream of a supporting actor." Michael Wood, Princeton University

"Peter Evans has provided an exemplary account of Top Hat. Packed with information and information and insight, his book is as elegantly structured and presented as the film itself. An excellent addition to an excellent series." Steve Neale, University of Exeter

"An acknowledged authority on the musical, Peter Evans has written an illuminating, often brilliantly so, study of Top Hat. He presents hitherto unknown facts relating to the film’s production history, puts Astaire and Rogers’ star personas and the supporting cast under the spotlight, and provides superb analysis of narrative, song, and dance. Like Astaire and Rogers, the movie and the critic are perfectly matched." Peter Stanfield, University of Kent