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Musicals in Film: A Guide to the Genre
This wide-ranging guide introduces (or reintroduces) readers to movie musicals past and present, enabling them to experience the development of this uniquely American art form―and discover films they'll love.
This comprehensive guide covers movie musicals from their introduction with the 1927 film The Jazz Singer through 2015 releases. In all, it describes 125 movies, opening up the world of this popular form of entertainment to preteens, teens, and adults alike.
An introduction explains the advent of movie musicals; then, in keeping with the book's historical approach, films are presented by decade and year with overviews of advances during particular periods. In this way, the reader not only learns about individual films but can see the big picture of how movie musicals developed and changed over time. For each film covered, the guide offers basic facts―studio, director, songwriters, actors, etc.―as well as a brief plot synopsis. Each entry also offers an explanation of why the movie is noteworthy, how popular it was or wasn't, and the influence the film might have had on later musicals. Sidebars offering brief biographies of important artists appear throughout the book.
This comprehensive guide covers movie musicals from their introduction with the 1927 film The Jazz Singer through 2015 releases. In all, it describes 125 movies, opening up the world of this popular form of entertainment to preteens, teens, and adults alike.
An introduction explains the advent of movie musicals; then, in keeping with the book's historical approach, films are presented by decade and year with overviews of advances during particular periods. In this way, the reader not only learns about individual films but can see the big picture of how movie musicals developed and changed over time. For each film covered, the guide offers basic facts―studio, director, songwriters, actors, etc.―as well as a brief plot synopsis. Each entry also offers an explanation of why the movie is noteworthy, how popular it was or wasn't, and the influence the film might have had on later musicals. Sidebars offering brief biographies of important artists appear throughout the book.
- GenresNonfiction
480 pages, Hardcover
Published November 7, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 29, 2026
The explanatory section at the beginning would make a good textbook addition.
Clearly follows it's purpose.
Clearly follows it's purpose.
July 26, 2021
This book is best experienced when skimmed, and the introductions to the eras are fascinating and poignant.
May 11, 2018
Winner of the 2018 Outstanding Reference Sources Award.
For a complete list of Outstanding Reference Sources Award winners, please visit http://www.rusaupdate.org/awards/outs....
For a complete list of Outstanding Reference Sources Award winners, please visit http://www.rusaupdate.org/awards/outs....
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews