Yes, there were the three "That's Entertainment!" musical documentaries, "That's Dancing!" and various others, plus biographies of various musical personalities, but finally there is a series of documentaries on the whole history of the musical film that doesn't just cover MGM. The Oscar-winning Shirley Jones is a gracious and dignified host, using historical references, long unseen movie clips dating back to the early silents and some not so memorable parts of American cultural history to unfold the saga of a 90 + year old genre that may have faded out of popularity for a while but appears to have made a minor come back.
The first part of this hour-long documentary covers the silent era, focusing on how music within the silent movies and experimentation led to the beginning of talking features in 1927. Movie musicals themselves truly exploded in 1929 when the second Academy Award for Best Picture went to a musical film, "The Broadway Melody". Detail glimpses into the technology behind these films shows the use a stationary cameras that made many of these films look like filmed stage plays. Portions are dedicated to the various genres whether being the backstage musical, the film version of a popular Broadway show (usually must altered when Hollywood got his hand on it) and the various stars that were made during this period.
certainly, tastes have changed in the past 92 years so some of the clips may raise eyebrows and certain elements are considered controversial and unacceptable today. But it is a history worth rediscovering and if our culture can give us a glimpse into a long-gone era and the lives that our great-great-grandparents may have lead, it helps us understand why changes were necessary yet can also provide insight into why certain types of entertainments remain relevant today.
I have seen many of these early musical films dated between 1929 and 1932 when they had become box-office poison because of the number of low quality films. This is the type of documentary that covers pretty much everything and if you are awaiting one of your favorite performers to be discussed, they just met show up. Certainly, Eddie Cantor, Al Jolson, Marilyn Miller, Jeanette MacDonald, Maurice Chevalier and the Marx Brothers are mentioned.
But then all of a sudden, there's Erich von stroheim in his only musical (not singing fortunately) and the riotous team of Wheeler and Woolsey in a very funny acrobatic dance with the perky Dorothy Lee. A glimpse into the artistic genius of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson discusses the prejudices of the time yet also reveals how producers and directors went out of their way to make sure that talented minority performers like him got noticed. The first part of the lengthy documentary shows the zany staging and setups of some of the most bizarre musical numbers ever, campy in one respect and tacky in a few others.
We had to start at Point A when Hollywood got sound to get to Point B, and like anything in life, trial and error made for perfect continuation into part two where the musicals made a comeback and started a genre that lasted for another 25 years before more changes in society took it away again. But it's all here, certainly much of it obscure but a lot of it delightful, and if it opens up future filmmakers into getting ideas from the past, then this is must viewing. Musical stars from stage and screen and film historians offer interesting insight, and if one thing comes out of this oh, it's that our cultural past must continue to inspire our cultural future.
The first part of this hour-long documentary covers the silent era, focusing on how music within the silent movies and experimentation led to the beginning of talking features in 1927. Movie musicals themselves truly exploded in 1929 when the second Academy Award for Best Picture went to a musical film, "The Broadway Melody". Detail glimpses into the technology behind these films shows the use a stationary cameras that made many of these films look like filmed stage plays. Portions are dedicated to the various genres whether being the backstage musical, the film version of a popular Broadway show (usually must altered when Hollywood got his hand on it) and the various stars that were made during this period.
certainly, tastes have changed in the past 92 years so some of the clips may raise eyebrows and certain elements are considered controversial and unacceptable today. But it is a history worth rediscovering and if our culture can give us a glimpse into a long-gone era and the lives that our great-great-grandparents may have lead, it helps us understand why changes were necessary yet can also provide insight into why certain types of entertainments remain relevant today.
I have seen many of these early musical films dated between 1929 and 1932 when they had become box-office poison because of the number of low quality films. This is the type of documentary that covers pretty much everything and if you are awaiting one of your favorite performers to be discussed, they just met show up. Certainly, Eddie Cantor, Al Jolson, Marilyn Miller, Jeanette MacDonald, Maurice Chevalier and the Marx Brothers are mentioned.
But then all of a sudden, there's Erich von stroheim in his only musical (not singing fortunately) and the riotous team of Wheeler and Woolsey in a very funny acrobatic dance with the perky Dorothy Lee. A glimpse into the artistic genius of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson discusses the prejudices of the time yet also reveals how producers and directors went out of their way to make sure that talented minority performers like him got noticed. The first part of the lengthy documentary shows the zany staging and setups of some of the most bizarre musical numbers ever, campy in one respect and tacky in a few others.
We had to start at Point A when Hollywood got sound to get to Point B, and like anything in life, trial and error made for perfect continuation into part two where the musicals made a comeback and started a genre that lasted for another 25 years before more changes in society took it away again. But it's all here, certainly much of it obscure but a lot of it delightful, and if it opens up future filmmakers into getting ideas from the past, then this is must viewing. Musical stars from stage and screen and film historians offer interesting insight, and if one thing comes out of this oh, it's that our cultural past must continue to inspire our cultural future.
