Hollywood’s Greatest Year

1939

1939 AFI 5 Films from 1989 made the AFI’s 5 Films from 1989 made the AFI’s

list of 100 greatest films:list of 100 greatest films: Mr. Smith Goes to WashingtonMr. Smith Goes to Washington StagecoachStagecoach Wuthering HeightsWuthering Heights The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz Gone With the WindGone With the Wind

This is the largest number of films This is the largest number of films from any year, and only one less from any year, and only one less than the entire decade of the 80’s.than the entire decade of the 80’s.

The classical Film Score Defined by Steiner, Korngold, and Defined by Steiner, Korngold, and

Waxman.Waxman. Key element in many of the films Key element in many of the films

from this year.from this year. The “Classical Score” has become The “Classical Score” has become

synonomous with the term “The synonomous with the term “The Hollywood Sound”Hollywood Sound”

In 1938 2 categories were created In 1938 2 categories were created for best score: Best Score and for best score: Best Score and Best Original and Best Original and

Adapted Scores: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Has a meager amount of music Has a meager amount of music when compared to when compared to Gone With the Gone With the WindWind

3 reasons for this:3 reasons for this: Related to a comedy, traditionally Related to a comedy, traditionally

comedies tend to have minimal comedies tend to have minimal underscoringunderscoring

Populist film: ordinary person pitted Populist film: ordinary person pitted against the rich, politics, etc. against the rich, politics, etc.

Film takes place in the Senate. Film takes place in the Senate.

Mr. Smith cont… Most music in the film is source Most music in the film is source

musicmusic Only one scene in the Senate Only one scene in the Senate

contains underscoring, near the contains underscoring, near the end of Mr. Smith’s fillabuster.end of Mr. Smith’s fillabuster.

Underscoring is largely based on Underscoring is largely based on well-known patriotic or American well-known patriotic or American folk melodies, and hardly any folk melodies, and hardly any original music.original music.

Stagecoach First Great WesternFirst Great Western Won the Oscar for best Score in 1939Won the Oscar for best Score in 1939 Energetic score by Richard Hageman Energetic score by Richard Hageman

based on American folk and cowboy based on American folk and cowboy tunestunes

Uses several devices that later become Uses several devices that later become traditions:traditions: Fast paced accompaniment with Fast paced accompaniment with

broad lyric tunebroad lyric tune Combination of music and beautiful Combination of music and beautiful

landscapeslandscapes

Original Scores Competition for Best Original Competition for Best Original

Score in 1939 was fierce.Score in 1939 was fierce. 12 films by a number of 12 films by a number of

Hollywood’s finest composers Hollywood’s finest composers competed.competed.

Among them were:Among them were: Alfred Newman Alfred Newman Wuthering HeightsWuthering Heights Herbert Stothart’s Herbert Stothart’s Wizard of OzWizard of Oz Max Steiner’s Max Steiner’s Gone With the WindGone With the Wind

Wuthering Heights One of Hollywood’s greates love One of Hollywood’s greates love

storiesstories Based on Emily BrontBased on Emily Brontëë’s novel’s novel Title is derived from the name of the Title is derived from the name of the

manor house located high on the manor house located high on the English moorsEnglish moors

““Wuthering” is the local word for the Wuthering” is the local word for the fierce winds that blow during storms fierce winds that blow during storms in the regionin the region

Score is predominantly set for stringsScore is predominantly set for strings

Alfred Newman 1901-1070

Began working in vaudeville at age Began working in vaudeville at age 1313

By 17 he was conducting Broadway By 17 he was conducting Broadway ShowsShows

Soon developed a rep. as Hollywood’s Soon developed a rep. as Hollywood’s finest conductor and became general finest conductor and became general music director of 10music director of 10thth century Fox century Fox

Scored around 225 filmsScored around 225 films Received 45 Academy nominationsReceived 45 Academy nominations Earned 9 OscarsEarned 9 Oscars

The Wizard of Oz Greatest film musical of the 1930’sGreatest film musical of the 1930’s 2 creative forces: 2 creative forces:

Harold Arlen: wrote the original songsHarold Arlen: wrote the original songs Won academy award for “Somewhere over Won academy award for “Somewhere over

the Rainbow”the Rainbow” Herbert Stothart: adapted the songs Herbert Stothart: adapted the songs

and composed the underscoringand composed the underscoring Won academy award for Best Original ScoreWon academy award for Best Original Score

Producers almost cut Producers almost cut “Somewhere…” because they “Somewhere…” because they thought it slowed the film.thought it slowed the film.

Wizard of Oz…. Most songs are brief tunes within larger Most songs are brief tunes within larger

musical scenes.musical scenes. Ex: Follow the “Yellow brick Road,” “We’re Ex: Follow the “Yellow brick Road,” “We’re

off to see the Wizard”off to see the Wizard” While the tunes may not be fully developed, While the tunes may not be fully developed,

they are catchy enough to be enjoyed by they are catchy enough to be enjoyed by children and adults alike.children and adults alike.

Relies heavily on borrowed material.Relies heavily on borrowed material. More extensive than other films and contains More extensive than other films and contains

more original materialmore original material

Herbert Stothart (1885-1949)

Began composing at the Univ. of Began composing at the Univ. of Wisc.Wisc.

Wrote for Broadway in the 20’sWrote for Broadway in the 20’s Leading musical figure at MGM for Leading musical figure at MGM for

20 years.20 years. Composed music for many highly Composed music for many highly

acclaimed films and won 12 acclaimed films and won 12 Academy nominations and 1 Academy nominations and 1 Oscar.Oscar.

Gone With the Wind Epic based on Margaret Mitchell’s Epic based on Margaret Mitchell’s

novelnovel Shot in lavish 3-part TechnicolorShot in lavish 3-part Technicolor Won 9 Academy Awards, a record Won 9 Academy Awards, a record

only surpassed by the 11 won by only surpassed by the 11 won by Ben-Ben-Hur, Titanic, andThe Lord of the Hur, Titanic, andThe Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.Rings: Return of the King.

Scored by Max SteinerScored by Max Steiner Contains one of the most extensive Contains one of the most extensive

musical scores ever created in musical scores ever created in Hollywood.Hollywood.

GWTW…. Steiner composed the 2:54 score in Steiner composed the 2:54 score in

4 weeks while supervising 2 films 4 weeks while supervising 2 films and working on another project.and working on another project.

Source music and quotations of Source music and quotations of familiar melodies are common.familiar melodies are common.

Steiner creates a number of full Steiner creates a number of full length melodies to support length melodies to support characters and themes.characters and themes.

The Tara theme is the most The Tara theme is the most popular leitmotif.popular leitmotif.

Hays Code In the 20’s the concern as to the In the 20’s the concern as to the

impact of violence, evil deeds and impact of violence, evil deeds and immoral romances was un known. It immoral romances was un known. It was similar to the concerns about the was similar to the concerns about the internet today.internet today.

1922 Hollywood created the MPPDA1922 Hollywood created the MPPDA Will Hays, a lawyer, helped the Will Hays, a lawyer, helped the

organization create a list of “Don’ts” organization create a list of “Don’ts” and “Be carefuls”and “Be carefuls”

In 1968 a rating system took its In 1968 a rating system took its place.place.

Trailer Gone With the Wind Gone With the Wind with it’s epic with it’s epic

story, colorful cinemetography, story, colorful cinemetography, and lush musical score, will and lush musical score, will always be seen as the pinnacle of always be seen as the pinnacle of the opulent Hollywood style of the opulent Hollywood style of filmmaking from the late 1930’s.filmmaking from the late 1930’s.