Berkeley was famous for his complex musical production numbers that often involved complex geometric patterns. Berkeley's quintessential works used legions of showgirls and props as geometric elements in elaborate production numbers. He started up as a theatrical director, just as many other movie directors. Unlike many of them at that time, he felt that a camera should be allowed mobility, and he framed shots carefully from unusual angles to allow movie audiences to see things from perspectives that the theatrical stage never could provide. This is why he played an enormous role in establishing the movie musical as a category in its own right.

Berkeley's drive for perfection led to a number of well-publicised run-ins with MGM stars such as Judy Garland. In 1943, he was removed as director of Girl Crazy because of disagreements with Garland, although the lavish musical number "I Got Rhythm", which he directed, remained in the picture. (Hugh Fordin, The World of Entertainment: The Freed Unit at MGM, 1975)

Berkeley died in Palm Springs, California at the age of 80 from natural causes.