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Musical Film. A celebration of sound and escape. definition. Interweaves vocal and dance performances into the narrative of a film. Songs can either be used to further the story or simply enhance the experience of the audience.
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Musical Film A celebration of sound and escape
definition • Interweaves vocal and dance performances into the narrative of a film. • Songs can either be used to further the story or simply enhance the experience of the audience. • Primarily an American genre, Japanese, Italian, British, and German film have added to the genre. • Bollywood has resulted in a unique, specific offshoot of the genre.
Theatrical elements • Big, colorful, over the top settings. • Scenery can convey a shift from reality to something dreamlike. • Costuming is lavish. • Characters express feelings and thoughts through song and dance rather than relying on dialogue and body language.
Cinematic elements • Long shots – allow the audience to view the dancers in their entirety • Tracking shots – camera follows the dancers as they move across a set • Extreme long shots – accommodate grand sets • Bird’s-eye or crane – highlight complicated choreography
history • 1930’s – extravagantly imaginative, elaborately staged dance sequences, overused plots (Busby Berkley) • Mid-1930’s – focus shifts to singing/dancing teams like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (Top Hat) • Late 1930’s-1940’s – move towards better unification of plot and music (The Wizard of Oz, Singin’ in the Rain)
history • Mid-1950’s-’60s – demand declining but screen adaptations of Broadways musicals successful (Oklahoma!, The King and I) • Contemporary currents: subtlety (Les Parapluies de Cherbourg); exploitation (Elvis films); experimentation (Beatles; The Who’s Tommy) • Period of decline followed in late ’60s and ‘70s. • Current period of resurgence
Sub-genres • Broadway musical: already successful stage production brought into film; built in anticipation and audience (Chicago, My Fair Lady) • Animated musical: incorporate large musical numbers into the narrative; family appeal; battle of good over evil with likable, memorable characters (Beauty and the Beast) • Family musical: simple storyline with elaborate dance and musical numbers; appeal to wide age range (The Sound of Music, High School Musical)
Musicals everywhere • Western: Annie Get Your Gun • Mystery: Edwin Drood • War: South Pacific, Hair • Science Fiction: Little Shop of Horrors • Horror: Sweeney Todd • Action/Adventure: The Great Race • Fantasy: Mary Poppins • Documentary: This is It • Mockumentary: This is Spinal Tap • Biography: Musical Biography of Quincy Jones