Hollywood Musical Films and Stardom: Historical Perspective

This essay delves into the captivating world of Hollywood musical films, tracing their evolution from early classics to contemporary productions. It examines the key elements that define the genre, including the integration of song and dance into the narrative, the development of characters through musical performances, and the role of stardom in shaping the industry. The essay explores the historical context of Hollywood musicals, highlighting significant films such as "A Star is Born" and "La La Land," and analyzes the impact of these movies on audiences and the film industry. It discusses the importance of musical elements like ballads, rhythm songs, and choreography in creating an emotional response, advancing the plot, and capturing the audience's attention. The essay emphasizes the collaboration of various art forms, including acting, dance, and singing, in the creation of musical films, and how these elements combine to form the final product. The essay also touches upon the evolution of musicals, from the early days of catchy songs to the later emphasis on the book or libretto, and provides an overview of the different types of musicals. Overall, the essay provides a detailed analysis of Hollywood musicals and their enduring appeal.

Hollywood Musical and
Stardom

Contents
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY.............................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES........................................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
A musical film can be referred to as a film genre wherein songs are interwoven into the
narrative by the characters and is sometimes accompanied by dancing (Bennett, 2019). The
songs in the film usually develop the film’s characters or advance the plot. But in some of the
cases, they only serve as breaks in the storyline. Musical films contain elements that are similar
to theatre and the performers often treat their song as well as dance numbers as if they are
performing in front of a live audience. It can be said that the viewer becomes the audience
because the performer looks directly into the camera and performs to it. Many people like
watching musical films because they represent a magical as well as heightened world that is
different from the real world that we live in. Therefore, watching a musical film can be referred
to as an escape into a different, more interesting as well as a more beautiful place. Musical genre
films are best viewed in the theatre.
MAIN BODY
Musical films are one of the richest forms of storytelling because they comprise of the
collaboration of all art forms. Musical theatre combines acting, dance and singing in a way that is
emotionally appealing as well as supportive of the intended audience. This genre of films can
create a live performance-acting out certain stories, unlike books. A good musical film includes
the use of different colorful props and music tunes that would capture the attention of the
audience. Musical films can be referred to as cinematic forms emphasize and showcase full-scale
song as well as dance routines in a significant way. Musical films is one of the cinema’s most
unique genres is the musical film in which song and dance routines are primarily utilized to
advance the narrative to the audience (Blim, 2017). Genres are important in films because they
create expectations for the audience to opt for a specific experience. For example, when
watching buying tickets for a musical movie, the expect a light experience that comes from
hearing music. Musicals gained popularity among the public in late 1920s and over time, there
are different musical genre films that have been made in Hollywood. In the year 1930,
Hollywood released over one hundred musical films, including “A Star is Born” in the year 1954
and “La La Land” recently in the year 2016.

“A Star is Born” is an American musical drama that was written by Moss Hart in the year
1954. It is one of the Hollywood’s most remade stories and a well-loved theme that has many
variations. The original movie was released in the year 1937 and 20 years after its release, the
second version of the film was released with Judy Garland as the showstopper. In a musical
genre film, a trope can be referred to as a melodic section that is added to a pre-existing melody
or a combination of text or dramatic literature. On the other hand, a theme in musical genre films
develop from a playwright’s personal values that are expressed through a play’s plot as well as
characters. The time from 1930-1950 can be referred to as the first musical era as a lot of musical
theatre films were released during this time (DiLeo, 2017). The main elements of a musical
theatre are catchy music in a popular style, duets, solo songs, choruses, spoken dialogue, dance
sequences, stage spectacles along with magnificent costumes. All of these combine together and
form musical genre films and these movies have been liked by a large audience over the years.
During all this time, a lot of musical theatre films that have been made and the different elements
have been advanced in some form or the other. Musicals express emotions, sometimes in a very
powerful manner and the 2016 released musical romantic-comedy drama film “La La Land”
devotes a lot of time as well as energy to movement and music, not just limiting itself to the
lyrics. Modern day musicals are often based on Broadway shows and they are focused heavily on
songs that further develop the plot in the film.
“La La Land” opens with a bit of a faux-out in that it’s a huge ensemble wide variety of a
variety that we gained absolutely see again in the movie. Cars are caught inside the notoriously
lousy L.A. Site visitors while the drivers determine to interrupt into track called “Another Day of
Sun”—a piece about how each day brings new wish for these young wannabe artists—jumping
out of the motors and dancing on the freeway (Fantinato, 2018). Instantly, Chazelle’s course and
the dance choreography feels specific. Here, and for the duration of the movie, he works in long,
unbroken takes. You can't only see the dance moves, but you could see the dancer’s complete
body when he or she plays them. And after the refrain-like introduction to a city of dreamers, we
meet two such sun-gazers: pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and actress Mia (Emma Stone). Like
any properly musical, the 2 have some false starts off evolved and playfully mock each other’s
flaws of their first scenes. But we understand where that is headed and Gosling & Stone have the
chemistry to make us lengthy for them to get collectively.

The first main centerpiece scene is a protracted walk between Sebastian and Mia because
the sun is setting over the Hollywood Hills. They start to see similarities in one another. Mia is
tired of occurring worthless auditions, ones in which the manufacturer doesn’t even appearance
up from their cellphone. Sebastian holds on to an ideal version of jazz, trying to open his own
membership rather than selling out and gambling greatest hits for tourists. And Sebastian and
Mia have a clean, instantaneous enchantment. So, whilst they sing about how they’re not truly a
pair, and how this appropriate night is wasted due to the fact they’re no longer with their
authentic companions, their bodies tell any other story with a highly choreographed dance
variety. Stone and Gosling aren’t natural singers or dancers; however, they convey a lot
individual and commitment to every motion that it doesn’t depend. They’re engaged and
enthralling.
The different themes as well as tropes in musicals combine through different types of
music and dance. There are many functions of a musical film such as they shape the emotional
response, create a rhythm to the different segments as well as scenes of the film and comments to
the actions. Music is not easy for everyone to sense and thus, musical films allow the audience to
experience the music (Garvey, 2017). Every musical involves different elements that come
together to form the final film and it is important to ensure that these elements combine in an
effective manner. the different elements include ballads, action songs, rhythm songs, character
songs etc. Musical genre movies have evolved to a great extent over time. In the early days of the
musical, what mattered maximum have been the songs, and it becomes crucial that they had been
catchy sufficient to amuse the target audience or offer material for dancers or comedians. But,
beginning in the 1930s, the situation, the e-book or libretto, of the musical began to reap number
one significance. There are some musicals in Hollywood that can said to be the best of all times.
La La Land opens up directly into a precredit musical quantity of the antique-school
MGM range: a one-take cinematic phenomenon wherein everyday humans (even though wearing
color-coordinated clothes) are stuck in an L.A. Freeway jam on a bright, sunny day. They
emerge from their vehicles and dance in CinemaScope, and when they end, the credits roll
(Godfrey, 2018). This is ready as accurate an established order of a musical universe as may be
deliberate. The choreography might not be first-rate, the song won't be a hummer, but the idea is
impeccable: regular human beings on their manner to paintings sing and dance, which means an

audience hasn’t had to transition out and into, however simply ease themselves right into a
musical international. The movie maintains with a bit plot for the “meet brute” of the leading
female and main guy, insulting every different with appropriate digits as he honks and he or she -
doesn’t respond rapid enough, so he speeds by way of her in disgust. The heroine (Emma Stone)
goes home to her rental, and her three roommates (quickly to disappear from the plot) try and
persuade her to accompany them to a party—once more finished as a musical variety. An target
audience has sat down, discovered a musical world, found the movie’s title, found its lead
characters, and moved onward into a persisted musical universe wherein all the characters sing
and dance as they live. And then that’s over with. No extra of that stuff. The world doesn’t ever
sing and dance again, despite the fact that musicians play in jazz golf equipment, at parties by
using the pool, and in concert events. The leads, in their private world collectively, end up the
place of musical expression: they come to be the folks that sing and dance, even though neither
of them can actually do both thoroughly. The subculture of the American musicals the movie
units out to emulate—an area wherein anybody and everything is musical—is gone.
La La Land isn’t concerned about any of that. Why? Because its “an homage.” It’s
approximately nostalgia, despite the fact that the filmmakers are nostalgic for something they -
didn’t revel in while it become new (Kelly, 2019). Their nostalgia is about nostalgia, and it’s also
about superiority: “We love vintage musicals and we’ve visible them—have you?” There are
references to Singin’ inside the Rain and The Umbrellas of Cherbourg; and critics hopped on
others, including Goldie Hawn’s floating upward in Everyone Says I Love You, backdrops much
like An American in Paris, or Astaire and Eleanor Powell tapping throughout a sparkling floor in
Broadway Melody of 1940. Few stated Marge and Gower Champion dancing across a blue sky
with stars in Lovely to Look At, due to the fact that remake of the Astaire/Rogers Roberta isn’t
considered elegant. It’s no longer on the list of movies you need to have seen—it’s were given
Red Skelton, for heaven’s sake, and Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel, now not cool humans.
It can be said that musicals form an important part of the Hollywood film industry and they have
evolved to a great extent over the last few years.
For a musical to be a hit, it is important for it to have a big name, a catchy theme that the
audience will be able to relate to and performers who are experienced. The focus of the
choreography is on the theme of the musical film (McGowan, 2017). This ensures that the

different elements of the film come together and that it is successful. Easy musical should have
something to say or convey a message to the audience so that they are able to relate to the same.
As mentioned above, there are different types of musicals. Both “A Star is Born” as well as “La
La Land” are different from each other as discussed. Different elements as well as characteristics
make up a musical such as stage direction, story, set or backdrop, the lyrics, background and
most importantly, the songs. It is important to ensure that the songs of musical films are
entertaining and that they advance the plot of the film. This will help in capturing the attention of
the audience and ensure that the film is successful in theatres. Musicals were a totally popular
style of theatre for many centuries. There are one-of-a-kind styles of musicals in India and the
sector and you'll discover hundreds of thousands of fans and theatre lovers for each type.
Typically, the artists in a musical are skilled at either making a song or dancing or performing or
all of them. Ideally you will need to master all these talents in case you need to become a
performer in any of the different musicals.
There are many factors or characteristics that make up a musical. Most critical of those
are the story, degree direction, backdrop or set, song, heritage score, the lyrics, and the songs
(McNally, 2020). The songs, mainly ought to be pleasing and yet be able to build the tale rather
than simply be an accessory to it. They have to add to the performance of the characters and help
in the narration of the story. This is why they're known as musicals and not just theatre. Thanks
to so many one-of-a-kind kinds of musicals, this specific style stays a famous choice among
many people. And when you search for musicals close to me or musicals in my metropolis, you'll
not be disappointed with the options.
A book musical is defined as performance where musical numbers and dances are
completely incorporated into a right narrative with defined dramatic dreams. A e book musical is
usually made up of three major elements; track, lyrics and script (book). In the majority of cases,
the script or story is created first, and then the score (track and lyrics) is created afterwards as a
way of growing the characters and furthering the narrative. A jukebox musical is a musical even
as is created the usage of pre-present songs (Oyeleye and Gbadegesin, 2020). These songs are
put together to create a tale. The songs may additionally all be by way of the equal artist or
institution, however a jukebox musical can also be created through blending tune with the aid of
unique artists. The songs can be sung in their unique state; however the lyrics or the track may be

adapted barely to lead them to in shape in higher with the story. A revue is a sort of musical
theatre which combines making a song, dancing, tune and sketches. The contents of a revue are
generally related together by way of a not unusual subject matter. Although a revue will have a
storyline, that is normally vulnerable and is normally considered to be secondary to the content
of person pieces and performances within the revue. Revues are a famous form of amusement
among pupil drama societies, because they allow members to have the danger to showcase an
array of various competencies.
Another commonplace detail of extremely good musicals, that is related to the connection
thing, is that they're a hit at transporting us. By that, I mean they manage to take us away from
nowadays and our daily issues and come what may control to take us mentally and emotionally
to whatever time or vicinity the musical is providing. So, Fiddler transports us to show of the
century Russia. Fair Lady transports us to London, and that includes places ranging from Covent
Gardens to Ascotte Gavotte. Hello Dolly transports us to turn-of-the-century New York and an
entire global advanced with the aid of its creators (Palmer, 2020). Ultimately, if the target market
isn’t transported and involved, a musical can’t be awesome. The concoction that comes
collectively and manages to move us is a tough one to define, although. Often, it's far a mix of a
brilliant e-book, charming characters, and a super story that does so. Pretty lots every exquisite
musical begins with one or more of these. For a musical drama, it's far vital. Darker shows that
qualify as acclaimed musical dramas, ranging from Carousel to West Side Story to Fiddler to
Sweeney Todd all tell compelling stories with quite a number interesting character. And, the
ones tales create dramatic conditions that make for excellent theater.
The music effectively elevates the complaints, raising the emotional level on common
activities. That’s what tremendous tune can do. I mean, think about what the “Twin Soliloquies”
and “Some Enchanted Evening” do for South Pacific. They come fairly early within the display,
before we've honestly gotten to know the primary characters (Sumner, 2020). But, they
immediately elevate the musical, making it leap, and bring its target market in. In all notable
musicals, there's a moment, or a number of moments, wherein the music enables the show take
flight. Sometimes, as in South Pacific, it supplies that jolt of romance and emotion. Imagine Man
of La Mancha (which I in my view don’t don't forget a fantastic display, but it’s success speaks
for itself) without “The Impossible Dream.” But, musical numbers also can exhilarate and thrill,

as the title wide variety in Hello Dolly and any remarkable showstopper does (Vesey, 2017). So,
what occurs when a musical places these kind of factors together and has all of it: it makes a
connection, it transports, affords robust drama and characters, appeal and enchantment, and
exquisite song. To illustrate this, I want to appearance in more element at what I think can be one
of the high-quality examples of musical theater perfection. It is the closing half of the primary
act of My Fair Lady.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it can be concluded that a musical is composed of different
elements such as story, direction, choreography, songs etc. All these elements come together and
work in co-ordinance with each other in order to ensure that the musical film is a hit and is
successful in the theatres. Musicals have gained a lot of popularity over the recent years and
there are a lot of musical films that have been made over the years. It is important to take into
account that the choreography is based on the effective. When people buy a ticket to a particular
musical film, they expect to receive a light experience. Musical films include the performers
using songs as well as dance in order to advance the plot of the stardom narrative. Therefore, it
can be said that musicals have been receiving a great response.

REFERENCES
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