The American Film Musical [Paperback]

Rick R. Altman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 22, 1988 | ISBN-10: 025320514X | ISBN-13: 978-0253205148

"... a model of genre criticism and probably the best overall analysis of the film musical to date."
Journal of Popular Films and Television

"The American Film Musical is a truly admirable book which is well worth making a song and dance about. It will immediately assume biblical authority for all who are seriously interested in the dream-factory's most lavish fantasies, and it may even come to stand as a landmark in our understanding of Hollywood as a whole.... Altman's book is thorough, well informed and warmly good-humored. It has brought the study of musical films out of the dark ages." Times Literary Supplement

"... an important addition to both literature and film collections.... a landmark study."
Library Journal

"Altman's important study of the American film musical combines genre theory with film criticism and history.... Recommended... " Choice

The American Film Musical is at once the most advanced statement on genre theory and the most complete treatment of the American musical. Altman's unique interweaving of theory, history, and criticism represents an original and challenging contribution to film studies. Illustrated with over 200 frame enlargements and production stills.

Editorial Reviews

Review

" . . . a model of genre criticism and probably the best overall analysis of the film musical to date." -- Journal of Popular Films and Television

" . . . an important addition to both literature and film collections. . . . a landmark study." -- Library Journal

"Altman's important study of the American film musical combines genre theory with film criticism and history. . . . Recommended . . . " -- Choice

"The American Film Musical is a truly admirable book which is well worth making a song and dance about. It will immediately assume biblical authority for all who are seriously interested in the dream-factory's most lavish fantasies, and it may even come to stand as a landmark in our understanding of Hollywood as a whole. . . . Altman's book is thorough, well informed and warmly good-humored. It has brought the study of musical films out of the dark ages." -- The Times Literary Supplement

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press (February 22, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 025320514X
• ISBN-13: 978-0253205148
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #243,821 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars scholarly masterpiece, July 26, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The American Film Musical (Paperback)

This book may not be what the average fan of film musicals is after, but there are plenty of picture books and reference works on the musical for such readers. This is the most significant and wide-ranging study of the musical as a narrative and cinematic form anyone has yet attempted. No other serious work on the musical comes close, and despite another reviewer's complaint about academic writing, Altman's prose is in fact clear and witty -- which is not to say that he doesn't work through some sophisticated ideas: indeed, half of the book is a consideration of the notion of genre itself, with the musical the specific example for the book's deeper investigation. But for all the "serious" thought and research that went into this work, one always senses Altman's enthusiasm about the musical. Academic writing gets a bad rap: this is what academic writing is supposed to do -- explore, expand, and force the reader to grapple with, rather than just accept, ideas.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brings the study of the musical to another level, July 6, 2006

By 

Catherine G. Hamilton (England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The American Film Musical (Paperback)

Finally, I found in "The American Film Musical" a critic who takes this genre seriously and has worked to understand its intricate and complex layers and patterns. Altman divides his study into three "subgenres" - the fairy tale musical, the show musical, and the folk musical - and demonstrates how most every example of the genre falls into one of these categories to some extent.
As well as being devoted to the musical, Altman also provides a method for genre study in general, which some readers will want to skim or even skip if their only interest is research on the musical. However, to truly understand the workings of the genre it is beneficial to read the whole book, because the musical is surely one of the most complex art forms ever, and Altman does so much to break into the problems that many critics have ignored that it's worth being enlightened as to his process.

The book makes you reconsider all the presuppositions you may have about the film musical and what constitutes a musical. The patterns and workings he reveals, particularly with regard to the dual-focus narrative, are fascinating: instead of just the old "how many songs?" question, Altman uses the criteria of "coupling" to form his theory of what constitues a musical.

A definite YES for anyone searching through the dark for a more modern study of the genre.

3 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars More matter with less blabber please!, April 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The American Film Musical (Paperback)

This is a classic example of a writer letting the constructs of academic verbage get in the way of his message. Altman has some solid original ideas about the history and construction of American screen musicals, but he lets the language get in the way. He also gets too many little facts wrong -- for example, he refers several times to Shirley Jones having a little sister Amarylis in THE MUSIC MAN, but Amarylis was only her piano student and NOT a relative! Its hard to respect someone who is so sloppy about research.