One More Kiss: The Broadway Musical in the 1970s [Hardcover]

Ethan Mordden (Author)

Book Description

Series: Golden Age of the Broadway Musical | Publication Date: June 1, 2003

Ethan Mordden's new entry in his history of the Broadway musical looks at an era that brought us not only the gritty reality of "A Chorus Line" and the brilliantly bittersweet works of Stephen Sondheim, but also the nostalgic crowd-pleasers "No, No, Nanette" and "Annie." It was a time when Broadway both looked to its past, but also to its future and allowed reality to enter. Mordden writes of the last time we ever saw true greatness on the stage of the Broadway musical.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mordden provides a wealth of informed, highly opinionated and often amusing observations on just about every show.."--Frontiers
",,,a treasure trove for fans of the musical theatre."--Richard Ouzonian, Toronto Star
"For musical theater lovers in general, it's a fast and energetic read, yet a staggeringly smart and complete one."--Marc Miller, TheaterMania.com
"...breezy, witty, and intelligent look at a decade that brought us such memorable and groundbreaking shows..."--Howard Miller, Library Journal
"...Mordden knows his theater and music...dishing about backstage rivalries..."--Nicholas Riccardi, Variety

About the Author

Ethan Mordden is the author of Make Believe, Everything's Coming Up Roses, Beautiful Morning, and Open a New Window.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; 1st edition (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031223953X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312239534
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,304,255 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A thoroughly-detailed, colorful trip through 1970s musicals., July 7, 2003

By 

Matthew Murray (New York City, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: One More Kiss: The Broadway Musical in the 1970s (Hardcover)

There's plenty to admire in Ethan Mordden's series of books about the art and craft of American musical theatre, and examples of some of the best of it can be found in his most recent volume, One More Kiss: The Broadway Musicals of the 1970s. In discussing some of the biggest hits (A Chorus Line, 1975), biggest flops (1600 Pennsylvania Avenue), and most groundbreaking (Follies, from which he derived the title of the book), Mordden provides a wild ride through a difficult decade in which the very nature of what made a musical--and what about the musical appealed to the theatregoing public--was changing irrevocably. His writing style is opinionated, yes, but also neat, with an incredible number of facts, and plenty of references to his exquisite knowledge of matters both musical and theatrical.

The book, however, reads very quickly, and is almost over before it's begun. While the length of the book cannot rightly be considered Mordden's fault, still greater detail about the decade's shows would have improved the overall flow of the book, as would have more of the social and showbiz atmosphere that made his earlier books (particularly <i>Comin' Up Roses: The Broadway Musicals in the 1950s</i>) such a joy. He also runs out of steam right at the end, when he really needs to wrap things up and not just... stop. As this is his last planned volume (chronologically), to let so much just drop is somewhat irresponsible, and prevents the book from achieving its full dramatic power and usefulness as a reference book.

Still, it's a highly entertaining read, and a must-have for those who have followed Mordden through previous decades in the Broadway musical's Golden Age.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alas, the Last Kiss of All, June 6, 2003

By 

S. Berner (Cocoa, Fl USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: One More Kiss: The Broadway Musical in the 1970s (Hardcover)

There have been numerous histories of the American Musical and, like that unique art form itself, their quality has varied. Some have been excellent such as Gerald Bordman's "The American Musical", some dreadful (kindness forbids naming names, but you know who you are Mr. Flinn!). And then there is one that is sui generis. Actually, that one is six. Ethan Mordden's six volumes, each covering a decade from the '20 when what we define as American musicals began through the '70's when, as Mr. Mordden mordantly beilieves, it ended. The genius of these works (really only one long work) lies in both its completeness (what other work on the subject would include "Smith", a Don Murray starring fiasco of the early '70's?) and the brilliant evocation of each show in its time and place in American theater and culture. Mordden manages this feat even for shows he couldn't possibly have seen unless he's old enough to make Bob Hope seem a comparative teen-ager. I am not stating anything radical when I say that this is NOT a book to everyone's taste. We can't get people to GO to musicals anymore, let alone READ about them. But for those who care, this is THE one to read.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended With Caveats, June 9, 2003

By 

Ricky Hunter (New York City, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: One More Kiss: The Broadway Musical in the 1970s (Hardcover)

Ethan Mordden has added another volume to his valuable series of books covering Broadway musicals, decade-by-decade, from the twenties to the seventies. One More Kiss, the Broadway musical in the 1970s, is the most personal of all the volumes. In many ways, this is one of its strong features as the author has personally seen all of the shows and can give an impression of it beyond what the critics have left. This strength, though, can often be the book's weakness as the author's personal feelings spill over all the pages. His political conservatism often shadows his opinions in ways that tell one more about the author than about the shows he is discussing. Still, it is an interesting book, sometimes fascinating and informative, sometimes shrill and bitchy, but always well-informed and particularly strong in its analysis of the major hits (Chorus Line, Chicago, Annie, etc.) and the Sondheim shows. A fascinating, frustrating addition to this series.