Since the release of Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge! in 2001, the film musical has returned to popularity as one of the most important cinematic genres, with box office hits that appeal to audiences of all ages. Yet the history of the musical on film goes back over seven decades earlier, stretching from early examples like The Jazz Singer (1927), the first ever film with synchronized sound, through the Astaire-Rogers musicals of the 1930s, the MGM and Warner Brothers extravaganzas of the 1940s and '50s, and the roadshow era of the 1960s. The genre's renaissance with La La Land (2016) and The Greatest Showman (2017) proves that it remains as appealing as ever, capable of both high critical acclaim and widespread box office success. The Oxford Handbook of the Hollywood Musical, curated by editor Dominic Broomfield-McHugh, reflects and expands on current scholarship on the film musical in a handbook that mixes new discoveries through archival research with new perspectives on familiar titles. It addresses issues such as why audiences accept people bursting into song in musicals; how technology affects the way numbers are staged; and how writers have adapted their material to suit certain stars. It also looks at critical issues such as racism and sexism, and assesses the role and nature of the film musical in the twenty-first century. A remarkable survey at the cutting edge of the field, The Oxford Handbook of the Hollywood Musical will be a resource for students and scholars alike for years to come.

About the Author
Dominic Broomfield-McHugh is Professor of Musicology at the University of Sheffield. He has published widely on the Broadway and Hollywood musicals, including seven previous books, and has collaborated with many of the world's leading arts organizations, ranging from the Sydney Opera House to the Library of Congress.


Book Information
ISBN 9780197503423
Author Dominic Broomfield-McHugh
Format Hardback
Page Count 696
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 1280g
Dimensions(mm) 256mm * 180mm * 40mm