Classic Hollywood Cinema: Musicals and Comedians

Exam Review

Class #1: That's Entertainment!

"That's Entertainment!" – a 1974 film that got me hooked on the movies.

Brief background on the studio system: MGM, Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal, Columbia.

"Boy, do we need it now" was the slogan during the Vietnam War and Watergate.

It was the 50^th anniversary of MGM.

Road Show Picture: overtures, intermission, souvenir program.

Musical film: an original American art form.

"La La Land" drew inspiration from "Begin the Beguine," "Dancing in the Dark," and "American in Paris Ballet."

An era when movie stars could be singers and dancers, such as Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, and Judy Garland.

Esther Williams starred in "Aqua Musicals."

Blackface: an outgrowth of Minstrel Shows – more later.

Lena Horne and the Nicholas Brothers' segments.

Arthur Freed went from songwriter to the greatest producer of Hollywood musicals.

He saved "The Wizard of Oz" by insisting that "Over the Rainbow" stay in.

The Freed Unit at MGM comprised the greatest musical artists in front of and behind the cameras.

"Meet Me in St. Louis," "On the Town," "An American in Paris," "Singin' in the Rain," "The Band Wagon," "Gigi" – all Freed productions.

Next class: classic comedians – Chaplin, Marx Brothers, and Laurel & Hardy.

Class #2

Class #1 Recap

• The original Hollywood musical - MGM.
• Inspirations for "La La Land."
• One-of-a-kind musical star talents – even swimmers like Esther Williams.
• Arthur Freed.
• Vaudeville.

Charlie Chaplin – First Major Film Superstar

• 1889-1977.
• Charlie Chaplin, British, "The Little Tramp."
• Bowler hat, cane, little mustache.
• First film superstar.
• Started with Mack Sennett.
• Comic pathos.
• "The Kid" (1921) with Jackie Coogan – voice of the poor and afflicted.
• Sound era films: "Modern Times" and "The Great Dictator."
• Became political, no longer welcome in the U.S. Came back to accept a special Oscar.
• Screen "The Kid."
• Out of favor in the US ("The Great Dictator") 1940.

The Marx Brothers

• Groucho, Harpo, Chico, Zeppo, Gummo – NYC roots.
• Part of the tradition of Jewish comedians from the Lower East Side of Manhattan – George Burns, Milton Berle, Eddie Cantor.
• Vaudeville – variety show.
• Minnie and Al Sheen – uncle and famous vaudeville star.
• "I'll Say She Is" – first stage success.
• "The Coconuts" and "Animal Crackers" – Broadway to movies.
• Defined their characters – Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo.
• George S. Kaufman, Irving Berlin, Alexander Woollcott (Algonquin Roundtable) – best wits and writers.
• The five films at Paramount: "The Coconuts," "Animal Crackers," "Monkey Business," "Horse Feathers," and "Duck Soup."
• "Duck Soup" – 1933.
• Directed by Leo McCarey.
• Oscars for "The Awful Truth" and "Going My Way."
• Only director Groucho respected.
• Kalmar and Ruby, Sheekman and Perrin.
• Spoof on government and war.
• Groucho, in later interviews, refuted the alleged message in the movie, saying they were just trying to entertain.
• Not originally successful, now considered a comedic masterpiece.
• Margaret Dumont.
• "Duck Soup" ended the tenure with Paramount.
• MGM films – Irving Thalberg.
• "Opera" was great, others went downhill.
• Groucho and "You Bet Your Life."
• Favorite brother and why?

Laurel & Hardy

Stan Laurel (skinny, from England) and Oliver Hardy (stout, from Georgia) were teamed by Hal Roach in silent two-reel comedies. They made the transition to sound and pumped out films until the mid-1940s. Laurel was the comedic brains behind the duo. They made two-reelers and features like "The Music Box" (1932), the first Oscar for Best Live Action Short. Produced by Hal Roach, distributed by MGM. "Stan & Ollie" is a new film about them.

Buster Keaton

• 1895-1966. Stoic, deadpan. "The Great Stoneface". America's Chaplin. Pork Pie Hat.
• In his dreams, he subsequently escapes into the world of celluloid, a scenario that allows Keaton to indulge his ageless, jaw-droppingly brilliant physical comedy.
• Found out nine years later that he broke his neck in a stunt, grabbing the water spout on the boxcar train – slammed down.
• Look for optical effects and camera tricks (the suitcase).
• Wives, alcohol, downward spiral.
• Rediscovered late in life.

Others: W.C. Fields, Abbott & Costello, Lewis & Martin, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson or Vince Vaughn.