The First Hollywood Musicals
A Critical Filmography Of 171 Features, 1927 Through 1932
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Book Presentation:
As Hollywood entered the sound era, it was rightly determined that the same public fascinated by the novelty of the talkie would be dazzled by the spectacle of a song and dance film. In 1929 and 1930, film musicals became the industry's most lucrative genre--until the greedy studios almost killed the genre by glutting the market with too many films that looked and sounded like clones of each other. From the classy movies such as Sunnyside Up and Hallelujah! to failures such as The Lottery Bride and Howdy Broadway, this filmography details 171 early Hollywood musicals. Arranged by subgenre (backstagers, operettas, college films, and stage-derived musical comedies), the entries include studio, release date, cast and credits, running time, a complete song list, any recordings spawned by the film, Academy Award nominations and winners, and availability on video or laserdisc. These data are followed by a plot synopsis, including analysis of the film's place in the genre's history. Includes over 90 photographs.
About the Author:
The late Edwin M. Bradley was the associate curator of film at the Flint (Michigan) Institute of Arts. He published four books on early Hollywood film.
Press Reviews:
"Bradley’s thoroughness is commendable…. Recommended"—Choice
"Bradley is the author of another good musical book…. It’s nice to see someone take movie musical seriously, especially since many of these films are rare and even lost"—Classic Images
"a splendid resource, and it makes for good reading…. A thorough work which will likely remain the standard for years to come"—ARBA
"insightful commentary…. Unlikely that one could find in any other book more detailed information about obscure films"—Show Music
"informative…the amount of documentation is impressive…. Recommended"—Classic Images
"an excellent job of researching…. The book’s strength is its reevaluation of underrated gems"—Big Reel
"fascinating"—In the Groove Magazine.
> From the same author:
Hollywood Musicals You Missed (2020)
Seventy Noteworthy Films from the 1930s
Unsung Hollywood Musicals of the Golden Era (2016)
50 Overlooked Films and Their Stars, 1929–1939
> On a related topic:
Must-See Musicals (2017)
50 Show-Stopping Movies We Can't Forget
Storytelling in Motion (2024)
Cinematic Choreography and the Film Musical
Race, Sexuality, and Gender and the Musical Screen Adaptation (2023)
An Oxford Handbook of Musical Theatre Screen Adaptations, Volume 2
Stars, Studios, and the Musical Theatre Screen Adaptation (2023)
An Oxford Handbook of Musical Theatre Screen Adaptations, Volume 3
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