MUSCLG 7 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: The Broadway Melody, The Singing Fool, Al Jolson
Document Summary
Singspiel, melodrama (special effect in opera or spoken dialogue over music or a film where all emotions are heightened), etc. Operetta change in sensibility from opera, feels hyper european clich , everyone is charming, speech songs, dance numbers, stylized love stories. Minstrelsy black face, comic skits, depicting the african decent. Vaudeville popular stage shows, impersonators, belly dancing, , line-up determined by how good you were at your act. Medicine show touring act that gave over the counter remedies, Revue- multi-act theatrical entertainment, done on topical issues. Legitimate theatre actual narrative stories, respectable voice and realism acting. Was easy to find a way around the law medicinal alcohol, smugglers, Make woman stay at home, no jobs, rigid notion of femininity. The jazz singer (1927), warner bros: starring al jolson (1885-1950) The singing fool (1928), warner bros: starring al jolson. The desert song (1929), warner bros: 1st filmed operetta. The broadway melody (1929), mgm: 1st all-talking musical, academy award for best picture.
