The Hollywood Musical

Rating:
Summary: The author certainly knows her subject...
Review: ...but alack, I can't say much for her knowledge of the trends that she claims shape the form of the Hollywood Musical. For example, her explaination of Brecht's verfremdungs-effekt (which she never labels as such, using instead the much maligned 'alienation' translation) completely omits the most important aspect of Brecht's aesthetic: the political one. While it may be valid to maintain that Hollywood Musicals are apolitical, it is a travesty to invoke a political concept without addressing at least the omission of the political aspect. Likewise, her comparisons to Goddard are fallacious, as I would hardly call a musical about what goes on backstage ('Gold Diggers of 1933', for example) any sort of demystification, especially when film is the medium!

On the other hand, she invokes other things like Dwight MacDonald's 'Theory of Mass Culture' quite elegantly. Aesthetic and theory aside, the book is an excellent examination of the trends of a Hollywood musical and the archetypes represented therein. I was also delighted to see that she included a section in the second edition printing on how camp has affected musicals in the past 25 years or so.

As mentioned, the author truly does know her subject - she is a veritable mental compendium of information regarding her subject matter. But I give the book two stars as I think anyone who tires easily of discussions surrounding theory and aesthetic will find the book a bit long in parts, and because anyone looking for incisive views on musicals as they realate to theory will be sorely disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: The author certainly knows her subject...
Review: ...but alack, I can't say much for her knowledge of the trends that she claims shape the form of the Hollywood Musical. For example, her explaination of Brecht's verfremdungs-effekt (which she never labels as such, using instead the much maligned 'alienation' translation) completely omits the most important aspect of Brecht's aesthetic: the political one. While it may be valid to maintain that Hollywood Musicals are apolitical, it is a travesty to invoke a political concept without addressing at least the omission of the political aspect. Likewise, her comparisons to Goddard are fallacious, as I would hardly call a musical about what goes on backstage ('Gold Diggers of 1933', for example) any sort of demystification, especially when film is the medium!

On the other hand, she invokes other things like Dwight MacDonald's 'Theory of Mass Culture' quite elegantly. Aesthetic and theory aside, the book is an excellent examination of the trends of a Hollywood musical and the archetypes represented therein. I was also delighted to see that she included a section in the second edition printing on how camp has affected musicals in the past 25 years or so.

As mentioned, the author truly does know her subject - she is a veritable mental compendium of information regarding her subject matter. But I give the book two stars as I think anyone who tires easily of discussions surrounding theory and aesthetic will find the book a bit long in parts, and because anyone looking for incisive views on musicals as they realate to theory will be sorely disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: I am affraid we're not in Kansas anymore.
Review: The Hollywood Musical is ground breaking book in the area of film studies. Feuer exemplifies a total package, by not only tracing the orgins of the musical, but the affects of the musical to society. Feuer also shows a masterful understanding popular culture in defining the newly found teen musical. Feuer's most genius work can be found in Chapter 4. It is here, where Feuer defines the drean worlds and dream ballets. This chapter not only defines dream sequences for musicals, but the complex dream theory can also be applied to other genres. Feuer's work in the musical should be honored as a true gem for the field. You can almost hear Judy Garland sing as you turn the page. I would also like to personally thank Jane Feuer for teaching me and others the byways of this most complex genre...for that I am forever indebted to her.

Rating:
Summary: I am affraid we're not in Kansas anymore.
Review: The Hollywood Musical is ground breaking book in the area of film studies. Feuer exemplifies a total package, by not only tracing the orgins of the musical, but the affects of the musical to society. Feuer also shows a masterful understanding popular culture in defining the newly found teen musical. Feuer's most genius work can be found in Chapter 4. It is here, where Feuer defines the drean worlds and dream ballets. This chapter not only defines dream sequences for musicals, but the complex dream theory can also be applied to other genres. Feuer's work in the musical should be honored as a true gem for the field. You can almost hear Judy Garland sing as you turn the page. I would also like to personally thank Jane Feuer for teaching me and others the byways of this most complex genre...for that I am forever indebted to her.

Rating:
Summary: Carefully and precisely argued
Review: The other reviewer doth protest way too much... especially against such a terrifically presented analytical survey of this cinematic genre.