When and How Did Musical Films Originate?

Musicals

A musical film is…

A film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative of the story being told.

When and how did musical films originate?

The musical film genre came to be with the arrival of talkies (films with sound) in the late 20’s. The genre started with musical short films featuring bands, singers and dancers. Still, major film studios were rushing to satisfy the public with sound movies. As a result, The Jazz Singer, released in 1927 by Warner Brothers, was not only the first movie with synchronized dialogue, but the first feature film that was also a musical. By the 40’s, musicals started to become repetitive, so a new era of musicals was soon transitioned into. These musical films consisted of dazzling Technicolor productions scored by some of the 20th century’s greatest songwriters. They also included the era’s Big Three: Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, and Gene Kelly. The musical film genre began declining in the 50s with the arrival of rock n’ roll and the freedom and youth associated with it.

What are the codes and conventions of musical films?

• Actors/ensemble spring into song and dance
• Film musicals are often adaptations from theatre musicals
• Repressed characters – the songs are their “emotions”/inner feelings
• Addresses social or political issues, either directly or metaphorically
• Love is often the great theme of a musical
• Lovers are depicted as destined for each other, and after an inevitable series of delays and obstacles, they get together and presumably live happily ever after.
• Specific line/chorus repeated throughout songs
• Reprise of earlier songs
• Earlier songs are often repeated, usually with slightly changed lyrics to reflect the development of the story. Common for songs sung by the same character or regarding the same literary motif to have similar tunes, or incorporate similar tunes.
• Death of a key character
• Big “9 o’clock number” at end
• Many characters have distinguishable traits, stories, and personalities which add perspective to the main plot

Top Ten Musical Films

Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke