Drawing on meticulous research, sharp wit, and insightful analysis, Richard Barrios illuminates the origins of the movie musical in this extensively revised and updated edition of his highly acclaimed A Song in the Dark . From Warner Bros. and Jolson, to the Oscar-winning Broadway Melody and beyond, here is the whole funny and peculiar history of these films, their creators, and their audiences. Ranging from smash hits to bizarre flops, this book illuminates a body of work unlike anything else in the history of popular ...
Read More
Drawing on meticulous research, sharp wit, and insightful analysis, Richard Barrios illuminates the origins of the movie musical in this extensively revised and updated edition of his highly acclaimed A Song in the Dark . From Warner Bros. and Jolson, to the Oscar-winning Broadway Melody and beyond, here is the whole funny and peculiar history of these films, their creators, and their audiences. Ranging from smash hits to bizarre flops, this book illuminates a body of work unlike anything else in the history of popular entertainment.
Read Less
Add this copy of A Song in the Dark: the Birth of the Musical Film to cart. $6.99, very good condition, Sold by Brit Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Milton Keynes, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1995 by Oxford University Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
Add this copy of A Song in the Dark: the Birth of the Musical Film to cart. $12.99, very good condition, Sold by nealsbooks rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Menominee, MI, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Oxford University Press.
Add this copy of A Song in the Dark: the Birth of the Musical Film to cart. $18.95, new condition, Sold by Poverty Hill Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Mt. Prospect, IL, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Oxford University Press.
Add this copy of A Song in the Dark: the Birth of the Musical Film to cart. $18.95, very good condition, Sold by Book Alley rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Pasadena, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Oxford University Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very Good. Light reading creases on spine. Previous owners stamp inside cover. Gently used with NO markings in text; binding is tight. Pasadena's finest independent new and used bookstore since 1992.
Add this copy of A Song in the Dark: the Birth of the Musical Film to cart. $19.00, very good condition, Sold by Aladdin Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fullerton, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Oxford University Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very Good. 8vo-over 7¾-9¾" tall Small, neat, ink name in corner of half-title page, otherwise a tight, clean, very good copy. Flat spine has no cracks or creases.
Add this copy of A Song in the Dark to cart. $21.71, very good condition, Sold by Hollywood Canteen rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Toronto, ON, CANADA, published 1995 by oxford.
Add this copy of A Song in the Dark: the Birth of the Musical Film to cart. $24.04, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Oxford University Press, USA.
Add this copy of A Song in the Dark: the Birth of the Musical Film to cart. $24.04, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Oxford University Press, USA.
Add this copy of A Song in the Dark: the Birth of the Musical Film to cart. $24.06, good condition, Sold by HPB-Red rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Oxford University Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used textbooks may not include companion materials such as access codes, etc. May have some wear or writing/highlighting. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of A Song in the Dark: the Birth of the Musical Film to cart. $27.00, very good condition, Sold by BooksRun rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Philadelphia, PA, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Oxford University Press.
Richard Barrios is a film historian and musician, a perfect combination to write the history of American film musicals.
In A SONG IN THE DARK, he delves into the history of American musicals as Hollywood was changing over from silent films to talkies. Musicals of course played a major part of that transition. Barrios looks as the famous successes and the infamous flops of the time as well as the stars who appeared in these famous films.
In meticulous detail culled from obscure Hollywood records, Barrios examines how Hollywood went from silence to "all singing, all dancing" movies (some in color) in a matter of months. He talks about famous filmmakers like Louis B. Mayer, William Fox, Busby Berkeley, Irving Thalberg, Harry Beaumont, Flo Ziegfeld, and Irving Berlin as well as the stars.
We get an inside look at Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Fanny Brice, Joan Crawford, John Boles, Carlotta King, Bessie Love, Nancy Carroll, Buddy Rogers, Anita Page, William Haines, Clara Bow, Gloria Swanson, Marion Davies, the Duncan Sisters, George Jessel, Charles King, Bebe Daniels, Ben Lyon, Laura LaPlante, Betty Compson, Alice White, Lawrence Gray, Ramon Novarro, and Richard Barthelmess.
We find out who really sang and who was dubbed. We also learned how the stars were coached in dancing and movement as well as how to project their voices for the new talkies. Barrios gives a lot of detail about the various recording devices and systems of the 1920s and how these systems probably scuttled talkie careers for people whose voices didn't record well (a fault of the systems) like John Gilbert, Dolores Costello, May McAvoy, Marilyn Miller, and Frank Fay.
Barrios also talks about the newcomers to films whose careers took off because of their musical abilities. Aside from Jolson and Cantor , we see the rise of Jeanette MacDonald, Irene Dunne, Maurice Chevalier, Claudette Colbert, Dick Powell, Lawrence Tibbett, and even Bing Crosby. Barrios pulls no punches in calling a clunker a clunker and the book is filled with his wit and humorous asides as he looks back on these films from 80 years ago., many of which are still available to the public.
He gives us a fascinating new way to look at films like THE BROADWAY MELODY, ON WITH THE SHOW, THE KING OF JAZZ, WHOOPEE, MARIANNE, HOLLYWOOD REVUE OF 1929, PARAMOUNT ON PARADE, TENDERLOIN, APPLAUSE, THE DANCE OF LIFE, IT'S A GREAT LIFE, and the first filmed version of SHOW BOAT.
