The Rough Guide to Film Musicals 1 (Rough Guide Reference) Review

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(More customer reviews)As part of the expanding Rough Guide series covering the entertainment field, Empire Magazine film critic and historian David Parkinson has done a smart, admirable job documenting the history of the film musical genre within the book's 326 pages. The key to its success is the way he divides the volume, first with a cursory look at the stage shows and minstrel revues that preceded film, the concept of silent musicals before talkies arrived, and tracking how the musical film has evolved over the last century. Parkinson spotlights iconic figures both in front of and behind the camera. The usual suspects are here - Astaire, Kelly, Garland, Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein - but also "underused" figures like the Nicholas Brothers and Ethel Waters.

The most interesting section describes how musicals work in terms of plot devices and visual style. Obviously, no guide is complete without a list of the fifty essential cinematic musicals, a relatively sturdy list that combines indisputable classics (Singin' in the Rain, Swing Time, the 1936 version of Show Boat) with long-forgotten gems (Summer Holiday, The Love Parade) and films of a more recent vintage (Chicago, Evita). There is a quick rundown of international musicals broken down by country, as well as lists of the best soundtracks, genre Web sites and books for further reading on the subject. My one overriding criticism is the overly jaundiced comments Parkinson makes about musicals he considers essential but obviously detests (High Society, West Side Story). Regardless, this is a fun read for aficionados of the genre.

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Product Description:
The perfect companion to cinema"s most spectacular genre, The Rough Guide to Film Musicals reveals how an escapist entertainment became Hollywood"s most ingenious art form. From such enduring classics as Singin" In The Rain and West Side Story to recent successes like Evita and Chicago, this book reviews 50 essential musicals, including several forgotten gems. There are profiles of musical icons such as Fred Astaire, Judy Garland and George Gershwin and details of musicals from around the world. Complete with a list of the best soundtracks, websites and books for further reading, this Rough Guide takes a behind the scenes look at this magical movie genre.

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