Musicals/Dance
Music and Dance films emphasize scores, musical numbers, and dance routines - usually incorporated into part of a scene through an "unreal eruption". These unreal eruptions are usually meant to highlight the important aspects of the scene, as well as the feelings of the character(s) who partake in the musical or dance number. This film genre emerged from operettas, stage musicals, musical comedies, revues, and vaudeville. In 1921, The Four Horseman of an Apocalypse came out as one of the first musical films, for main character Rudolph Valentino performed a tango in a smokey cantina. However, the first real Hollywood musical came out in 1929, called The Broadway Melody. It premiered at the Gruamans Chinese Theatre as the first widely distributed sound feature, which ended up engrossing more that $1.6 million and winning an Academy Award for Best Picture. The musical, starring Anita Page, became an inspiration for many more films to come in the 1930s; a decade that marked the beginning of a musical golden age in film. Arthur Freed, who wrote the score for the film, played a large role in producing another infamous film: The Wizard of Oz (1939). Somewhere Over the Rainbow, a solo that Judy Garland sings, is considered one of the most timeless, beautiful songs today.
Through the 1930s and the 1940s, Musical films began to become more prominent in the film industry. Animated films caught on to the trend in the 150s. Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, The Lady and the Tramp, Peter Pan, and Sleeping Beauty were all successful Disney Musicals that left an outstanding mark on the Musical/Dance Genre. Classic broadway shoes hit theaters as well in the 1950s, including Annie Get Your Gun and Kiss Me Kate. In the 1960s, West Side Story hit theaters, winning 10 Academy Awards and becoming one of the highest regarded musicals in the industry. However, the biggest, most profitable musical of all time was The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews. Edelweiss, a number between Maria and the Von Trapp children, is often said to be one of the most beautiful songs ever heard in a musical. The Beatles played a large role in the production of musical films in the 1960s, producing their first film, A Hard Days Night, in 1964 at the peak of their "Beatlemania" popularity. Another film, called Yellow Submarine, was produced in 1968, which both helped the Beatles maintain their popularity and also allowed the Musical/Dance Genre become more popular.
In the 1970s, a revival of dance features occurred in the film industry. One of the most famous dance/musical numbers is a movie called Grease, which came out in 1978 starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. In this scene, Sandy reveals her new and improved self to Danny, her high school sweetheart. Click Me!. Today, some musicals even take stage musicals and plays and incorporate them into a movie. For example, Hairspray, Sweeny Todd, Chicago, Annie, and West Side Story were all once plays before they became musical films. Also, animated films have taken a musical trend, such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, and Tarzan. These films have made their mark on the music industry by producing songs such as Beauty and the Beast(Beauty and the Beast), A Whole New World(Aladdin), Circle of Life(The Lion King), and my personal favorite: You'll Be In My Heart(Tarzan).
In the New Millennium, many more broadway shows were developed into movies, including Phantom of the Opera, Dreamgirls, Rent, The Producers, and Oliver. In 2001, a phenomenal movie called Moulin Rouge burst into theaters and was nominated for eight oscars. This movie was particularly different because it took songs that were once produced by musical artists/bands such as The Police and Elton John. Their version of Your Song, by Elton John, greatly impressed audiences. However, it was the final scene, titled Come What May, that made the movie truly great.
All in all, the Musical/Dance genre has left a huge impact on Cinema and continues to influence future musical films to come.
Through the 1930s and the 1940s, Musical films began to become more prominent in the film industry. Animated films caught on to the trend in the 150s. Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, The Lady and the Tramp, Peter Pan, and Sleeping Beauty were all successful Disney Musicals that left an outstanding mark on the Musical/Dance Genre. Classic broadway shoes hit theaters as well in the 1950s, including Annie Get Your Gun and Kiss Me Kate. In the 1960s, West Side Story hit theaters, winning 10 Academy Awards and becoming one of the highest regarded musicals in the industry. However, the biggest, most profitable musical of all time was The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews. Edelweiss, a number between Maria and the Von Trapp children, is often said to be one of the most beautiful songs ever heard in a musical. The Beatles played a large role in the production of musical films in the 1960s, producing their first film, A Hard Days Night, in 1964 at the peak of their "Beatlemania" popularity. Another film, called Yellow Submarine, was produced in 1968, which both helped the Beatles maintain their popularity and also allowed the Musical/Dance Genre become more popular.
In the 1970s, a revival of dance features occurred in the film industry. One of the most famous dance/musical numbers is a movie called Grease, which came out in 1978 starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. In this scene, Sandy reveals her new and improved self to Danny, her high school sweetheart. Click Me!. Today, some musicals even take stage musicals and plays and incorporate them into a movie. For example, Hairspray, Sweeny Todd, Chicago, Annie, and West Side Story were all once plays before they became musical films. Also, animated films have taken a musical trend, such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, and Tarzan. These films have made their mark on the music industry by producing songs such as Beauty and the Beast(Beauty and the Beast), A Whole New World(Aladdin), Circle of Life(The Lion King), and my personal favorite: You'll Be In My Heart(Tarzan).
In the New Millennium, many more broadway shows were developed into movies, including Phantom of the Opera, Dreamgirls, Rent, The Producers, and Oliver. In 2001, a phenomenal movie called Moulin Rouge burst into theaters and was nominated for eight oscars. This movie was particularly different because it took songs that were once produced by musical artists/bands such as The Police and Elton John. Their version of Your Song, by Elton John, greatly impressed audiences. However, it was the final scene, titled Come What May, that made the movie truly great.
All in all, the Musical/Dance genre has left a huge impact on Cinema and continues to influence future musical films to come.
