American Film Musical Themes And Forms

The musical has been called "the most popular form of entertainment in the world." This work examines the subjects, themes, and contemporary revelance of Hollywood musicals through their long popularity, placing each show in historical and political context and analyzing it in detail.

A chapter is devoted to how Golddiggers of 1933 and Stand Up and Cheer 1934 deal with the economic crises of the Depressions. Another addresses race issues by examining the prevalence of backface minstresly in the 1930's and threatened America with teenage sex and rebellion, is addressed through such hits as Girl Crazy 1943, Bye Bye Birdie 1963, and Grease 1978.

The work also explores dance as a signifier of character, the geography of musicals (such as New York or "the South" ), fantasy settings, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, and the musical biopic (mentioning biographies of such figures as Ziegfeld, Singin' in the Rain 1952, wich refers to many earlier musicals; Kiss Me Kate 1953 wih refers to Taming of the Shrew' and All that Jazz 1970 wich refers to the life and work of Bob Fosse. The work concludes with an examination of the continuing popularity of the musical with such hits as Moulin Rouge 2001 and Chicago 2002.