Julie Andrews starred in Hollywood productions that have become iconic movies, winning an Oscar for her performance as Mary Poppins, a symbol of the magic of musicals from the 1960s. And yet, behind the squeaky-clean image hides a much more tortuous career, with its moments of glory and tough times, all of which explain the longevity of a story that is still being written.
Success is inevitable for a musical in which Fred Astaire appears - if it was also written by one of the most talented composers of his time. Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, George Gershwin - all these brilliant composers knew how to deal with the fact that not only Astaire's legs are like an instrument, but that his whole being is filled with music.
