The Hollywood Musical
by Jane Feuer
This is such a great book, for students and for moviegoers who love musicals. I was both when I read it, and used it as a part of my research for a term paper in college. From a student’s perspective, it’s extremely informative and could easily be added to required reading lists for relative classes. The book, originally published in 1983, and with a second edition released in 1993, takes readers through the history of movie musicals, from Al Jolson’s singing phenomenon through to Flashdance.
Those reading it for pleasure rather than a class will be equally entertained. Much of the book is dedicated to Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, as it should be, since their techniques and films shaped the entire musical genre forever. Not only does Jane Feuer discuss movie musicals as a whole, but she dissects the power of the camera in show-stopping musical numbers, and how films can bring musicals to audiences in a way the stage never can.
Dozens of stills from movie musicals pepper the pages, and with a list of credits as well as an index in the back of all the films mentioned, you can easily pick out movies you haven’t seen that look interesting and add them to your to-watch list. If you like classic musicals, you’ll like this book. One can only imagine how interesting her third edition would have been, had she discussed the resurgence of movie musicals in the Chicago era!
Those reading it for pleasure rather than a class will be equally entertained. Much of the book is dedicated to Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, as it should be, since their techniques and films shaped the entire musical genre forever. Not only does Jane Feuer discuss movie musicals as a whole, but she dissects the power of the camera in show-stopping musical numbers, and how films can bring musicals to audiences in a way the stage never can.
Dozens of stills from movie musicals pepper the pages, and with a list of credits as well as an index in the back of all the films mentioned, you can easily pick out movies you haven’t seen that look interesting and add them to your to-watch list. If you like classic musicals, you’ll like this book. One can only imagine how interesting her third edition would have been, had she discussed the resurgence of movie musicals in the Chicago era!