Musical Madness

Musicals, as a film genre, have been around since the late 1920s, though they were mostly silent (and not very well done, even by the standards at that time).They invented new technology called the Vitaphone which allowed them to record sound on a large phonographic disc and play it simultaneously with the movie. No fancy audio and video on the same file here. Of course not. Preposterous!  Witchcraft! …Boring?

Boring it was. In fact, most people who first saw the musicals, or anything with sound, really, were uninterested. They liked the overacting that they saw on screen, it was a normal way to see emotion portrayed. However, the happy tunes had people whistling along cheerily while they skipped around and, in a short time, musicals gained popularity.

In 1927 the first musical The Jazz Singer was released. It grossed $2.6 million and cost $422 thousand to make. I may not be the best at math, but by my calculations it’s not a very groundbreaking, earth-shattering profit. No records were set with The Jazz Singer (unless you count the whole “first full length musical” thing), however, very few theaters had the technology to use sound, so it was fairly impressive considering that.

Musicals revolutionized the way that theatres worked. Had it not been for the gaining popularity with them, we’d probably still be watching silent films, and we all know how much everyone loves those. By 1929 silence was being spoken over and sound had completely taken over the film industry.

Al Jolson was seen as the first main star of a musical, therefore regarded highly within the musical genre. One of the most influential people for the genre would be Busby Berkeley, who took musicals and added in his own unique style of choreography, which we still see elements of today. The way that he choreographed could never be viewed properly on stage for musicals - they demanded high camera angles, getting birds eye view shots of the dancers. He really took choreographing to the screen. The stars of musicals are either just beginning their career in Hollywood and were lucky enough to be spotter, or trying to come back from their falling career, pulling all the strings they have to stay relevant. However, there are no typical "musical" actors. Today, the choreographer and director Kenny Ortega is seen working on a lot of musicals - from Dirty Dancing, all the way to High School Musical (clearly the height of his career).

The thing about musicals is that many of them are so different. Typically, they somehow involve a guy going after a girl he believes is totally out of his league, but she usually ends up already in love with him, and if not she falls for him anyway (probably because of his stellar dance moves. I’m looking at you, Zac Efron!). 

They also include peppy dance numbers and chorus pieces which involve everyone around them getting up and dancing to the choreography and singing to the song which they conveniently happen to know, leaving the audience wondering how on Earth this is happening. But only for a few seconds because those numbers are so catchy you wouldn't believe it and you know yourself you'd be getting in on that dancing action. 

And then there's that moment where your two favourite characters have conflict and a long ballad where they sing about never seeing each other again. They're sad and alone and upset, and what better way to get it out than to sing a song spontaneously and have everyone around you completely oblivious to what's happening. 

But then you also get musicals like The Wizard of Oz, where there is no epic romance to sing love songs to, only happy songs about finding missing organs. There are the same factors, however. Look at this clip, for example.

Clearly all they must do in Emerald City is sit and practice their song and dance for when they have visitors. It is entirely well planned out. It's also completely normal. For a girl from Kansas, Dorothy takes it all pretty well.

Just like in every musical - it's one of the main things people can pick out. Everyone knows all of the dance and all of the song with no practice, no nothing. It's totally, 100% normal. Heck, these days there are musical numbers in musicals about not wanting to sing or dance! (Though how much credibility High School Musical has is totally up for debate.)

Another code and convention of musicals is that they are typically shot in a very bright, happy lighting. It's a reality full of happiness and sunshine. The people are happy and energetic all the time, everyone smiles a lot. Of course, there are exceptions to the rules, but for the most part this is how musicals are.

And then there are Disney musicals, which is a whole sub-genre unto itself. Disney musicals are usually animated with the typical romance I described above, but there's always a very angry villain out to get the girl in the movies, which leaves the prince a great opportunity to swoop in and save his damsel in distress. There's still the constant chorus of song, but since the movies are usually cartoons, it's totally acceptable for the cartoon baker to know the song and when to talk to Belle. That's fine. And the dishes and candlesticks? It would be ridiculous for them not to. What else would they be doing in a magical castle?

Another element commonly found in Disney musicals is the lack of people in the cast. Usually there are talking and singing animals (or dishes and other household items) that take on main roles, and less people than you would think would show up.

Musicals are the ultimate rainy-day movie. Who wouldn't want to sing along with Danny Zuko and the rest of the Greasers while they sing about Grease Lighting? It's the ultimate mood-brightener. And they have been since 1927 when they first came out and people were first introduced to them, though it took some time to warm up to the idea.  They make you dance and sing and hum the tunes all the next few days until everyone around you is ready to snap at you for getting it stuck in their heads. And really, what's more fun than that?