Upload
henry-copeland
View
215
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
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