The 1930's was the decade when movie goers discovered sound, Garbo Speaks, Music you love, etc. So Hollywood produced a number of movies based on music and dancing. Everyone had to Sing from John Wayne, James Stewart to Rin Tin Tin. The resulted at first was pretty awful movies but finally Hollywood started producing movies with lots of great music and dancing's. Some of the productions were carried to extremes with lavish production, musically number that lasting 15 mins or longer and with dozens of cast member singing and dancing. A special sound stage at MGM was build for these numbers. What most of these movies lacked was a good story. When Astaire and Rogers hit the screen with fabulous dancing, they also had some pretty good storylines which contributed to their success. From that point on the great Musicals had stories to tell.
The Wizard of Oz was based on a story written in 1900 and was made into a silent movie in 1925. It had only moderate success.
MGM's, Louis B. Mayer authorized making of the 1939 version of Oz. He decided that it would unitize the new color film, technicolor and it would be a movie for the whole family, not just kids. He did not believe a children would be that successful. Victor Fleming was selected to direct the film.
Fleming also directed another film you are are probably familiar with, Gone With the Wind. In spite directing two of most famous films ever made, he remains relatively unknown today. Many parts of Oz that made the movie so popular was his ideas such as using sepia for segments in Kansas which created a stark contrast to the land of Oz. Also the depiction of the Magnificent Oz, and the cackle of the Wicked Witch of the West were all his ideas
Originally Oz was not going to be a musical because Shirley Temple was going to star in the movie and it was felt that she did not have a strong enough voice. There would just be a couple musical numbers and the rest would be a drama. However, she had to turndown the part of Dorothy and Garland was selected. Fleming insisted that all new songs be written for the production and Over the Rainbow would be sung by Garland and would be the central piece in the production.
Critic reception was generally good however, the huge hit that Meyer was counting on did not happen, at least not immediately. It made money, and won 2 academy awards but was soon forgotten. In 1949, it was re-released in all sepia but it was not until it's third release in1955 followed by an LP album that established it as one our greatest movies. It was re-release over and over, often at Christmas first in theaters and then on TV. It is regularly shown in countries around the world. Even after 80 years it is still being played.
Are there any other movie musicals of 30's that you believe are noteworthy?
The Wizard of Oz was based on a story written in 1900 and was made into a silent movie in 1925. It had only moderate success.
MGM's, Louis B. Mayer authorized making of the 1939 version of Oz. He decided that it would unitize the new color film, technicolor and it would be a movie for the whole family, not just kids. He did not believe a children would be that successful. Victor Fleming was selected to direct the film.
Fleming also directed another film you are are probably familiar with, Gone With the Wind. In spite directing two of most famous films ever made, he remains relatively unknown today. Many parts of Oz that made the movie so popular was his ideas such as using sepia for segments in Kansas which created a stark contrast to the land of Oz. Also the depiction of the Magnificent Oz, and the cackle of the Wicked Witch of the West were all his ideas
Originally Oz was not going to be a musical because Shirley Temple was going to star in the movie and it was felt that she did not have a strong enough voice. There would just be a couple musical numbers and the rest would be a drama. However, she had to turndown the part of Dorothy and Garland was selected. Fleming insisted that all new songs be written for the production and Over the Rainbow would be sung by Garland and would be the central piece in the production.
Critic reception was generally good however, the huge hit that Meyer was counting on did not happen, at least not immediately. It made money, and won 2 academy awards but was soon forgotten. In 1949, it was re-released in all sepia but it was not until it's third release in1955 followed by an LP album that established it as one our greatest movies. It was re-release over and over, often at Christmas first in theaters and then on TV. It is regularly shown in countries around the world. Even after 80 years it is still being played.
Are there any other movie musicals of 30's that you believe are noteworthy?
