Musical Film (Genre)

Musicals in film have evolved throughout time and continue to be a large part of today’s film industry. A Musical is a type of film that incorporates songs performed by the characters in order to justify the narrative of the story, and to move the story along as well. Although we see many musicals in American culture, this genre has touched many other cultures and their film industry as well.
There are many aspects that contribute to the production of a Musical. Overtime, films have had a variety of soundtracks, varying from original compositions to recreations of popularly known artists. Originally, musical films came from stage plays, and eventually evolved into full-length feature films. Another huge part of Musicals are their grand dance numbers which essentially physically demonstrate the purpose of the song, or add more “pizzaz” to the production.
Some of the very first musicals originated from “Europe, which dates back to the theatre of the ancient Greeks, who included music and dance in their stage comedies and tragedies in the 5th century BCE.[10] The dramatists composed their own music to accompany their plays and choreographed the dances of the chorus. The 3rd-century BCE Roman comedies of Plautus included song and dance routines performed with orchestrations.” This trend in theatre turned to the Italians where “aucous clowns improvised their way through familiar stories, and from there, comedic operas ‘opera buffa’.” Then, eventually, musical stage performances grew to be very popular, and in 1927, the first musical film came about. “The Jazz Singer” was released by the Warner Brothers and opened up the door to many more musicals to come. Two of the most noted actors during the rise of Musicals in America are Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. These actors created numerous classics that contributed to this huge industry.
Over the last century, musical films have taken over the American film by a storm. Musicals such as Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), An American in Paris (1951), and Singin' in the Rain (1952) are just a few monumental films that define the American culture in musicals. To mention even more: West Side Story, The Music Man, My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, and The Sound of Music were sensations in the 1960s. (All with original soundtracks)
The American Market is not the only one that famous musicals play part in. The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, and Fiddler on the Roof are just a few musicals that appeal to millions of people of all cultures and races all over the world.
The most known musical composer and songwriter for original plays and musicals is Steven Sondheim. He has written hundreds of original compositions to many of America’s favorite movies such as: West Side Story (1957), Sweeney Todd (1979), and Into the Woods (1987) are just to mention a few.
Musicals also hit the animation industry in the 1980s as well. Movies such as Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Pocahontas. Also, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas are all huge contributors to the film industry.
Today, musical film has taken a different approach. Films such as Mama Mia, Across the Universe, and Moulin Rouge have similar qualities to musicals. However, the music featured in them is not an original soundtrack. Mama Mia(2008) features music from hit 1970s group ABBA. Across the Universe follows a group of young revolutionists through the 60s with music of the Beatles. And Moulin Rouge, an eccentric musical on realizing the most important thing one can learn is to love and be loved in return, is a film with a mixture of songs from quite a variety of artists.
Musicals have always lured in viewers with their magical dance moves and music. The industry is ever-changing in directions, but musicals are one type of film that contribute to appealing the greater whole as viewers.

Musicals.Net. Web. 15 Dec. 2010. .

Musicals101.com - The Cyber Encyclopedia of Musicals. Web. 15 Dec. 2010. .

Shakespearean (#2 Minor Sub-Genre)

William Shakespeare, a writer most known for his plays of tragedy and insults greatly impacts the world of literature, and even the film industry. Almost every Shakespeare play has been created into a film which remains true to the play, or, the film has been applied to modern times and has been created into a film as well. Some directors who first contributed to recreating the shakespearean works into movies were: Orson Welles (Macbeth and Othello), Lawrence Olivier (Henry V, Hamlet, Richard III), Jean Luc Godard (King Lear). Many of these films were recreated several times over decades to come.
After the classics of Shakespeare were adapted onto the silver screen, several directors decided to take a different approach to these movies. For instance, Baz Luhrman recreated Romeo and Juliet into a modern, yet tragic love story incorporating skyscrapers, fast cars, and machine guns to demonstrate the time period the story was being told. Another example would be John Madden, who directed Shakespeare in Love (featuring Gwyneth Paltrow,Judi Dench, and Geoffrey Rush). This film was inspired by several of Shakespeare's works including Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night Or What You Will. Another popular film demonstrating relation to Shakespeare's works is 10 Things I Hate About You directed by Gil Junger and inspired by Taming of the Shrew. By creating these films, directors expose the audience to different meanings of the plays and different ways to interpret them as well. Shakespeare is certainly a huge aspect of drama and famous love stories, and the films made to interpret the legendary plays have played a huge role in many viewer's lives to visually understand the text.

"Shakespeare Movies at AbsoluteShakespeare.com." Absolute Shakespeare - Plays, Quotes, Summaries, Essays... Web. 14 Dec. 2010. .

Slapstick- (#1 minor sub-genre)

According to the online dictionary, a slapstick is "a stick or lath used by harlequins, clowns, etc., as inpantomime, for striking other performers, esp. acombination of laths that make a loud, clapping noisewithout hurting the person struck." In film, a slapstick comedy (heavily implemented in the early 1920s through the 1940s) was a style of film that over exaggerated emotions of the body or face. According to filmreference.com, "Slapstick is a descendent of the comic routines of Italian commedia dell'arte (mid-fifteenth to mid-seventeenth century) touring players, who developed basic plot scenarios and broad, swiftly drawn characters"
Because the films of this era lacked an advancement in sound, the actors used their bodies to clearly show the events they endured.
This sub-genre featured some of the most influential actors known to film: Harold Lloyd, Charlie Chaplin, and Buster Keaton are just to mention a few. In these films, the actors heavily exaggerated their physical reactions because it made it much easier for the audience to connect to the film's gags and narrative. Actors hit each other continuously with "great audible effect," however, little physical harm was caused. This style of film is commonly used in many of today's films such as: There's Something About Mary, "Me, Myself,and Irene", and Disney animation films. Slapstick really changed the viewer's perspective on a humorous situation, and as a viewer, one can easily trace the similarities between then and now in this minor sub-genre.

"Slapstick Comedy - Film, Cinema." Film Reference. Web. 15 Dec. 2010. .

French New Wave (movement)

The French New Wave (1958-1964) was and still is considered to be the most culturally and creatively influential eras of film in the history of cinema. Before World War II, French films were all similar in that they had dictatorial plots similar to literature and narratives to give the audience a certain perspective to view the film. After France’s release from German Occupation, a very important group of men changed French Cinema forever. These men, better known as the “Cahiers du Cinema,” were a group of intellectual critics that aimed for a new form of film. Also, this small group of men was packed with large talent and ambition, which was ultimately responsible for the advances and creativity produced by the New Wave.
The directors of this era tore away from the traditional styles of film France had seen and took new approaches with their productions. Rather than shooting in a studio with artificial lighting, the New Wave brought about natural scenes and on-site shooting of films. This gave the cinema an avant-garde direction. These so-called “natural” films brought a major realistic demographic in this movement and challenged the audience’s views on the film while giving them the liberty to interpret the screenplay. Not only was the film “natural,” so was the acting and the actors playing roles in these movies. As Françoise Brion put it: “The New Wave was a freedom of expression, a new fashion of acting, and a great reform on the level of make-up. I was part of a new generation that refused to wear the two inches of pancake base paint and hair-pieces that were still standard equipment for actors. Suddenly, you saw actors who looked natural, like they had just gotten out of bed.” Aside from the casual and nature-esque films and actors, the directors of the New Wave worked with low budget products. Some may think working with a low budget takes away from a production. However, in my opinion, the low budget gave these directors a whole new perspective on their creations. They were forced to step outside of their element and experiment with stories, scenery, and music. Without the low-budgets, this era would not have the same whimsical reputation it does today.
After viewing several films from the New Wave, I see significant characteristics in the movies that have impacted actors and filmmakers in today’s industry. The New Wave pushed for “self expression” through stories versus literary “morals” or “values,” rather a more spontaneous and charming storyline. Though the impact of the French filmmakers is significant, the viewer’s expectancy has also changed largely due to this movement. The New Wave brought its audience together to form their own opinions and thrive off of a new approach to creating art. We can certainly look back at the New Wave and admire the fresh and witty approach at the wholesome, vivacious lives viewed in the films of the movement.