Book Description
America's Songs tells the "stories behind" the most beloved popular songs of the last century. We all have songs that have a special meaning in our lives; hearing them evokes a special time or place. Little wonder that these special songs have become enduring classics. Nothing brings the roarin '20s to life like "Tea for Two" or "I'm just Wild About Harry"; the Great Depression is evoked in all of its pain and misery in songs like "Brother Can You Spare a Dime?; "God Bless America" revives the powerful hope that American democracy promised to the world during the dark days of World War II; "Young at Heart" evokes the postwar optimism of the '50s. And then there are the countless songs of love, new romance, and heartbreak: "As Time Goes By," "Always," "Am I Blue"...the list is endless.
Along with telling the stories behind these songs, America's Songs suggests, simply and succinctly, what makes a song great. The book illuminates the way each great song melds words and music - sentiment and melody - into a seamless whole. America's Songs also traces the fascinating but mysterious process of collaboration, the give-and-take between two craftsmen, a composer and a lyricist, as they combined their talents to create a song.
For anyone interested in the history of the songs that America loves, America's Songs will make for fascinating reading.
Customer Reviews:
Lots of fun info but some annoying errors.......2007-01-16
There was a lot of great info in this book, especially covering songs from the first half of the 20th century. But there were also some annoying errors and omissions. Among the errors: a photo of the original star of Cabaret (Jill Haworth) is labeled as Jan Clayton (who was the original star of Carousel several decades earlier). The authors write that Comden and Green only had three standards, and yet they include four in this book (New York New York, The Party's Over, Just in Time and Make Someone Happy). There are some odd choices, such as "It's Not Where You Start" (from Seesaw) that is not remotely a standard, but they omit "If He Walked Into My Life" (from Mame) and "The Way We Were." And much as we all love the musical Chicago, I don't think it merits a page-and-a-half (I'm not even sure "All That Jazz" qualifies as a standard) but there's no coverage of "Tomorrow" (from Annie) or "What I Did For Love" (A Chorus Line). The authors probably would have been smarter to just stop coverage in the 1950s or 1960s.
Great Details!.......2006-09-29
You really can read this book cover to cover...or the information on each song's background can stand alone. If you're interested in modern musical history, you won't want to miss this.
An invaluable book for those who love the standards........2006-08-31
America's Songs is a wonderful source of fascinating information on the lyricists and composers of the great standards. Anyone who loves those songs will find this book invaluable. Writers Furia and Lasser have produced a tour de force.
America's Songs.......2006-08-01
A delightful journey in melodic nostalgia. Philip Furia and Michael Lasser use their long experience with American popular music to tell us with insight and humor how more than 600 songs dating from 1910 to 1977 came to be written, how they were received, how they touched American culture. The surprise for the reader is the discovery of how many of the songs linger in one's memory, how many of the words one can recall, how many of the tunes one can still sing. Then the message of the place of the songs in American life comes home, how much they say about the way we lived.
Not a book to be read from cover to cover but rather one to be browsed for favorite parts, one to be returned to time and again.
The inside story about many great American Songs!.......2006-06-19
This delightful and informative book caught my eye when I noticed that the much-esteemed songwriter,Ray Evans, wrote a blurb on the back. The book is arranged chronologically, and gives fascinating glimpses into what lead to the creation of many fantastic songs, and also explains what makes these great songs great. To me, the star of the book is Irving Berlin, who really had an incredible genius for songwriting. The clever crafting of Berlin's lyrics hadn't been adequately appreciated by me, until that exciting book showed me the craft and the art which Berlin applied to his songs. Not that other greats are glossed over, Furia and Lasser really give a wonderfully expansive collection of (mostly) fellas, who made American music what is was, and influenced what it is. Highly recommended for those who love, theatre and music.
Book Description
Hollywood Musicals, The Film Reader explores one of the most popular genres in film history. Combining classic and recent articles, each section explores a central issue of the musical, including: the musical's significance as a genre; the musical's own particular representation of sexual difference; the idea of camp, both through stars such as Judy Garland and Carmen Miranda and musicals themselves; and the displacement of race in Hollywood's representations of entertainment. Each section features an editor's introduction setting debates in context.
Book Description
When it comes to living life to its fullest, Rosalind Russell's character Auntie Mame is still the silver screen's exemplar. And Mame, the role Russell (1907-1976) would always be remembered for, embodies the rich and rewarding life Bernard F. Dick reveals in the first biography of this Golden Age star, Forever Mame: The Life of Rosalind Russell.
Drawing on personal interviews and information from the archives of Russell and her producer-husband Frederick Brisson, Dick begins with Russell's childhood in Waterbury, Connecticut, and chronicles her early attempts to achieve recognition after graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Frustrated by her inability to land a lead in a Broadway show, she headed for Hollywood in 1934, and two years later, played her first starring role, the title character in Craig's Wife.
All of her films are discussed along with her triumphal return to Broadway, first in the musical Wonderful Town and later in Auntie Mame. Forever Mame details Russell's social circle of such stars as Loretta Young, Cary Grant, and Frank Sinatra. It traces the trajectory of an extraordinary career, ending with Russell's courageous battle against the two diseases that eventually caused her death: rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. Realizing she had only a short time to live, Russell devoted her last years to campaigning for arthritis research. So successful was she in her efforts to alert lawmakers to this crippling disease that a leading San Francisco research center is named after her.
Customer Reviews:
WHAT A LIFE IT WAS!.......2007-02-13
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this well written biography on one of Hollywood's best loved actress,the one and only Roz Russell.Being born and raised in Waterbury,Ct. myself, it was really interesting to read about my hometown and how it formed Miss Russell to become the person that she did.This is not one of your typical "kiss-and-tell" books. There are no controversial stories in this book which I found to be quite refreshing.Miss Russell was a deeply religious person but at the same time she is not being portrayed as a person without flaws either.Miss Russell lived a very full,rich life with her husband and her son but her life,unfortunately, was cut short at the age of 69 by cancer.All in all,this biography is a fascinating look at a fascinating woman.I highly recommend it!
Delightful Russell Bio.......2007-01-04
This was one of the best biographies I've ever read, especially of a film personality. Mr. Dick has researched his subject thoroughly and has gleaned all facets of her personality. He gives the impression of really having uncovered her inner traits and, in particular, her ability to maintain a private person sharing a life with a rather different screen persona. One senses that members of her immediate family, as well as good friends and colleagues were interviewed in depth, resulting in a full portrait of this fine woman and superb actress. Her triumphs ("Auntie Mame" and "Gypsy")and her disappointments (the 1946 Oscar loss to Loretta Young, for example) are impartially recounted, leaving the impression of a well-rounded woman and professional, able (to paraphrase) Rudyard Kipling, to treat triumph and disaster just the same. A book to savor and enjoy re-reading.
Any serious film library needs this........2006-12-11
While much has been made of the classic film character Auntie Mame, relatively little has been written about Rosalind Russell, who portrayed her: that makes Forever Mame: The Life of Rosalind Russell a 'must' for any serious film library collection specializing in film history. It is, surprisingly, the first full-length biography and uses personal interviews and private archives - including those of her film producer husband - to detail her life. While it includes black and white photos, the meat of the title lies in its biographical sketch of Russell's life and social circle: key to understanding her character and film career. Any serious film library needs this.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
What a disappointment.......2006-11-27
Sadly, the Publisher's Weekly review is right on the money. There is very little about the "life" of Rosalind Russell, as touted in the title. The book is little more than a poorly researched, dryly written synopsis of her movies & stage appearances.
Another point of view.......2006-10-09
I don't know whether or not the reviewer was being facetious but his/her use of His Gal Friday as the title of the Rosalind Russell/Cary Grant movie makes one wonder if he/she should be the one reviewing this work. With Miss Russell long dead and many of her contemporaries as well, it would be hard to offer any more insight than the author has. This being the first work on Russell since her own was published in 1977, it should stand on its own merit as a bibliography of her films as well as an insight into the life of her husband, a man I have long been curious about. Although Rosalind's son was interviewed for the biography, it's possible that he might be saving more information about his mother for his own work should he ever write one. Also, since she appeared to be more "normal" than most stars, her family might have the good sense to keep any dirt about their famous relative to themselves.
Average customer rating:
- Fantastic variety
- Great compilation
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100 Great Songs from Hollywood, Broadway and Television
Manufacturer: Alfred Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0769266630 |
Book Description
Songs include: Aquarius * Because You Loved Me * For You I Will * How Do I Live * I Will Always Love You * I Believe I Can Fly * I'll Be There for You * Kiss from a Rose * Linus and Lucy * Ragtime * The Rose * Searchin' My Soul * Theme from The Simpsons * Star Wars (Main Theme) * Sunrise, Sunset * Theme from New York, New York * Up Where We Belong * X-Files Theme and many, many, many more songs from Hollywood, Broadway, and television.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic variety.......2007-03-08
This book contains wide variety of music from the past. Great for those interested in music of the 60's & 70's. Easy read.
Great compilation.......2002-09-19
This book is so much fun to play. The music is a bit challenging for a hack like me, but the variety of songs is great. This is a great addition to anyone's music library.
Book Description
Music is central to any film, creating a tone for the movie that is just as vital as the visual and narrative components. In recent years, racial and gender diversity in film has exploded, and the making of musical scores has changed drastically.
Hearing Film offers the first critical examination of music in the films of the 1980s and 1990s and looks at the burgeoning role of compiled scores in the shaping of a film . In the first section, "A Woman Scored," Kassabian analyzes desire and agency in the music of such films as Dangerous Liaisons, Desert Hearts, Bagdad Café, Dirty Dancing and Thelma and Louise. In "At the Twilight's Last Scoring," she looks at gender, race, sexuality and assimilation in the music of The Hunt for Red October, Lethal Weapon 2 and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. And finally, in "Opening Scores," she considers how films such as Dangerous Minds, The Substitute, Mississippi Masala and Corrina, Corrina bring together several different entry points of identification through their scores.
Kassabian ensures that modern film criticism has a new chapter written through this book. Her important and long-overdue analysis is not to be ignored. Also includes 11 musical examples.
Customer Reviews:
A rare thorough criticism.......2006-03-03
Jane Feuer's book "The Hollywood Musical" is a rare treat for those who want to get their hands on some actual criticism of this forgotten genre in movie history. She takes an analytical, thematic approach and the book is very much an academic work, not altogether readable for those searching for a friendly and informal introduction. However, if you really care about learning how this genre works and operates this is the most frequently quoted and leading book out there on the subject.
I have some criticisms, just because Feuer seems to assume too much about what constitutes a "musical", naming "Dirty Dancing" and the like, whereas I would prefer an author who gives more critical thought to this complex question. She is very good, however, on the intricacies of the theme of self-reflexivity in the musical and its relationship to its ancestral roots of the live theater.
Definitely buy this if you want to be introduced to a more complex analysis of this fascinating genre.
Carefully and precisely argued.......2004-08-14
The other reviewer doth protest way too much... especially against such a terrifically presented analytical survey of this cinematic genre.
The author certainly knows her subject..........2001-09-20
...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.
I am affraid we're not in Kansas anymore........2000-06-13
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.
Average customer rating:
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Hollywood Musicals Year by Year
Stanley Green
Manufacturer: Hal Leonard Corporation
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Binding: Paperback
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Broadway Musicals - Show by Show
ASIN: 0634007653 |
Book Description
Whose singing voice was substituted for Marjorie Reynolds in Holiday Inn? What movie was the first to combine live action with animated cartoon characters? What movie did Marlon Brando first sing in? These and thousands of other interesting facts about Hollywood's favorite musicals are answered in Hollywood Musicals Year By Year. Following the success of Broadway Musicals Show By Show, this book provides a world of information, facts and trivia about cinema's favorite musicals. Beginning with The Jazz Singer and moving through the 80's, this book documents more than 300 movies. Each entry includes the screenplay writer, producer, director, choreographer, cast list, song list, release date, plot summary and interesting notes surrounding the production, cast and spin-offs that the movie inspired. The book also contains many photographs of memorable moments in celluloid history. Written in Stanley Green's down-to-earth, one-to-one style, this book is a pleasure to read and a virtual encyclopedia that no movie buff should be without.
Average customer rating:
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HOLLYWOOD MOVIE MUSICALS
John, Howard Reid
Manufacturer: Lulu.com
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MORE MOVIE MUSICALS
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MOVIE MYSTERY & SUSPENSE
ASIN: 1411697626 |
Book Description
When most people think of movie musicals, films like "Singin' in the Rain", "Sound of Music", "The Red Shoes", "On the Town", "White Christmas", "Ziegfeld Follies", "Top Hat", "Funny Face" and "Funny Girl" immediately come to mind. Such films are included in this book, as are many of the works of major stars, including Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Gene Kelly, Betty Grable, Shirley Temple, Julie Andrews, Elvis Presley, Lucille Ball, Alice Faye, Jeanette MacDonald, Maurice Chevalier, Nelson Eddy, Doris Day, Dick Powell, Betty Hutton, Eleanor Powell, and Al Jolson. But attention is also drawn to less lavishly produced but very pleasant musical offerings from both major and minor studios (including perhaps the finest "B" musical ever made). In all, 125 pictures are reviewed and detailed with full cast and technical credits, plus songs and musical numbers, awards, release dates and other essential background information.
Book Description
In the first in-depth examination of music written for Hollywood animated cartoons of the 1930s through the 1950s, Daniel Goldmark provides a brilliant account of the enormous creative effort that went into setting cartoons to music and shows how this effort shaped the characters and stories that have become embedded in American culture. Focusing on classical music, opera, and jazz, Goldmark considers the genre and compositional style of cartoons produced by major Hollywood animation studios, including Warner Bros., MGM, Lantz, and the Fleischers. Tunes for 'Toons discusses several well-known cartoons in detail, including What's Opera, Doc?, the 1957 Warner Bros. parody of Wagner and opera that is one of the most popular cartoons ever created.
Goldmark pays particular attention to the work of Carl Stalling and Scott Bradley, arguably the two most influential composers of music for theatrical cartoons. Though their musical backgrounds and approaches to scoring differed greatly, Stalling and Bradley together established a unique sound for animated comedies that has not changed in more than seventy years. Using a rich range of sources including cue sheets, scores, informal interviews, and articles from hard-to-find journals, the author evaluates how music works in an animated universe. Reminding readers of the larger context in which films are produced and viewed, this book looks at how studios employed culturally charged music to inspire their stories and explores the degree to which composers integrated stylistic elements of jazz and the classics into their scores.
Customer Reviews:
Great resource for music educators!.......2006-07-14
I am trying to find better ways to help students learn classical music. This is a fun, yet educational way to help kids learn about classical music and remember it always! Lots of resources and ideas can be drawn from this book. Good luck!
Book Description
This book is about the transition that musicals went through when they traveled from the stage to the screen. While the approach is critical, the style is readable and yields fascinating knowledge on the many things that did and didn't happen as theatre and film have merged throughout the past century.Hischak'sanalysis covers productions from The Desert Song (1927), to Chicago (2002).
Customer Reviews:
A pretty good resource.......2006-03-03
This book is unique in that it examines the film musical with relation to that of Broadway, its direct ancestor. It focuses on the specific movies that were based on earlier Broadway shows, and describes the common changes that happened in this process, including the tragic and often inexplainable cutting of dozens of songs from the original score, the differing casting choices, and the fact that many musicals that flopped in one medium were successes in another. It is a pretty thorough work, including movies that were made during the late 20s with the arrival of the sound film and stretching right to the present day. It is unique in focus, and therefore valuable to anyone who wishes to examine differences between the musical on stage and screen.
Books:
- America's Songs: The Stories Behind the Songs of Broadway, Hollywood, and Tin Pan Alley
- An Incomplete Education: 3,684 Things You Should Have Learned but Probably Didn't
- And the Walls Came Tumbling Down: An Autobiography
- Anime from Akira to Howl's Moving Castle, Updated Edition: Experiencing Contemporary Japanese Animation
- ART OF POCAHONTAS, THE
- Art of Technique, The: An Aesthetic Approach to Film and Video Production
- Batman Begins: The Official Movie Guide
- Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children: What If This Were Heaven, Wouldn't That Be Hell? (Beautiful stories for ugly children)
- Bound and Gagged: Pornography and the Politics of Fantasy in America
- Bring Me That Horizon: (Welcome Book)
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