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)

Western: Annie Get Your Gun

Mystery: Edwin Drood

War: South Pacific, Hair

Science Fiction: Little Shop of Horrors

Horror: Sweeney Todd

MUSICALS EVERYWHERE

Action/Adventure: The Great Race

Fantasy: Mary Poppins

Documentary: This is It

Mockumentary: This is Spinal Tap

Biography: Musical Biography of Quincy Jones