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The Movie Musical!
- Narrated by: Erin Bennett
- Length: 24 hrs and 20 mins
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Publisher's summary
Irresistible and authoritative, The Movie Musical! is an in-depth look at the singing, dancing, happy-making world of Hollywood musicals - an essential audiobook for anyone who's ever laughed, cried, or sung along at the movies.
Leading film historian Jeanine Basinger reveals, with her trademark wit and zest, the whole story of the Hollywood musical - in the most telling, most incisive, most detailed audiobook of her long and remarkable career.
From Fred Astaire, whom she adores, to La La Land, which she deplores, Basinger examines a dazzling array of stars, strategies, talents, and innovations in the history of musical cinema. Whether analyzing a classic Gene Kelly routine, relishing a Nelson-Jeanette operetta, or touting a dynamic hip hop number (in the underrated Idlewild), she is a canny and charismatic guide to the many ways that song and dance have been seen - and heard - on film.
With extensive portraits of everyone from Al Jolson, the Jazz Singer; to Doris Day, whose iconic sunniness has overshadowed her dramatic talents; from Deanna Durbin, that lovable teen-star of the '30s and '40s; to Shirley T. and Judy G.; from Bing to Frank to Elvis; from Ann Miller to Ann-Margret; from Disney to Chicago...focusing on many beloved, iconic films (Top Hat, Singin' in the Rain, Meet Me in St. Louis, The Sound of Music) as well as unduly obscure gems (Eddie Cantor's Whoopee!, Murder at the Vanities, Sun Valley Serenade, One from the Heart), this audiobook is astute, informative, and a pure pleasure to hear.
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- Length: 15 hrs and 6 mins
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The landscape that the Brat Pack memorialized is rich with cultural themes and significance, and has influenced an entire generation who still believe that life always turns out like an '80s movie. You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried takes us back to that era, through Susannah Gora's interviews with key players such as Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Andrew McCarthy, and John Cusack, and mines all the material from the movies to the music to the way the films were made to show how they helped shape our visions for romance, friendship, society, and success.
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Brings me back to my teenage years! Fantastic Narration! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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By: Susannah Gora
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New York Times best-selling author Donald Spoto has brilliantly explored the lives and careers of numerous Hollywood stars and entertainment icons. In Possessed, his subject is the inimitable Joan Crawford, one of the most electrifying divas of the Golden Age of American film. A more thorough, revealing, and sympathetic portrait of the often maligned movie star - most notably lambasted, perhaps, in the scandalous best seller, Mommie Dearest - Possessed is a fascinating study of the real Joan Crawford, a remarkable actress, businesswoman, mother, and lover.
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An concise assessment of Joan's life
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Must Read T.V.
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Why Didn’t Michael Riedel Read This Himself?
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BEST BOOK EVER!!😁
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Excellent filmography of a successful career
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On New Year's Eve, 1970, Paul McCartney told his lawyers to issue the writ at the High Court in London, effectively ending The Beatles. You might say this was the last day of the pop era. The following day, which was a Friday, was 1971. You might say this was the first day of the rock era. And within the remaining 364 days of this monumental year, the world would hear Don McLean's "American Pie", The Rolling Stones' "Brown Sugar", The Who's "Baba O'Riley", Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven", and more.
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A blast from the past
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The age of the rock star, like the age of the cowboy, has passed. Like the cowboy, the idea of the rock star lives on in our imaginations. What did we see in them? Swagger. Recklessness. Sexual charisma. Damn-the-torpedoes self-belief. A certain way of carrying themselves. Good hair. Interesting shoes. Talent we wished we had. What did we want of them? To be larger than life but also like us. To live out their songs. To stay young forever. No wonder many didn't stay the course.
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INSIGHTFULL!
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They stand at the apex of the great age of songwriting, the creators of the classic Broadway musicals Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music, whose songs have never lost their popularity or emotional power. Even before they joined forces, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II had written dozens of Broadway shows, but together they pioneered a new art form: the serious musical play.
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Fabulous book about Rodgers & Hammerstein!!!
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By: Todd S. Purdum
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What listeners say about The Movie Musical!
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- armand
- 11-16-22
a great and entertaining history
not only is this a well written history of film musicals, it manages to also cover pretty well the history of life, Broadway musicals. and it's a lot of fun to read. highly recommended.
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- Walter Solley
- 01-16-21
Brilliant Analysis of a Wonderful Art Form
Epic, always fascinating story of the most fascinating film genre. Jeanine Basinger proves herself to be the most entertaining and erudite of film historians. Lovingly narrated, utterly compelling.
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3 people found this helpful
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- M. Hayes
- 11-21-23
Very Interesting
I learned a from this book. My only problem is the way it’s set up one chapter is hours long. 
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- PBCPA
- 04-04-24
In depth history and commentary
Awesome historical review of musicals but . . . too much listing of credits - like the end of movies. Narrator is terrific.
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- Patricia Ching
- 03-05-20
Excellent Review of Musical
loved her analysis of musicals and musical stars. it helped that I 100% agree with her on lala land
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5 people found this helpful
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- johnnyc
- 04-29-22
Be Prepared For Binge Watching
Thoroughly enjoyable listen of movie musical history. Narrator was excellent. Starts a bit slow but hang in there and you will find yourself seeking out all these films , the well known and not so well known.
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- Joe van Rensburg
- 06-16-20
What happened to Camelot and Paint Your Wagon?
I have always loved musicals, as a young boy as my friends sought out the actioners, I was drawn to the emotional charge of the musical with its magical transition from straight dialogue to song. Aside from the great musicals lauded by the author, she does point out and explain the flawed efforts that don't stand up well. one of the movies that hooked me as a tender lad was the film version of Camelot, surely this uneven gem deserved some discussion? Also Paint Your Wagon which had Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood in song. Wandering Star was even a pop hit. These omissions as well as others like Dr Doolittle and a string of British movies, leave me with the impression that the topic was not adequately researched by the author. What did remain for inclusion in her book was satisfying and well narrated.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall
- David
- 05-15-20
Re: History of American musicals
This is a well researched history of American musicals, with occasional references to more famous international musicals, and covers the field in every significant manner possible including star vehicles, television attempts, animation, cult and speciality titles. While a listener may not agree with all of the author's insights or ratings, every opinion is well justified or explained to the audience. The weakiest, if necessary, section of the title occurs at the outset when the writer defines what will qualify as a musical and what doesn't while emphasizing how each choice advances, extends or brings an original aspect to this type of movie vehicle.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Libby J. Justus
- 03-31-21
Take your time
This was my first purchased in audible. Had I known the flow of the boom I wouldn’t have gone through with it. It’s very very slow and boring and feels like facts after facts after facts
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- Jeff J Martin
- 01-11-20
Great narration! But pronunciations...
The narrator is perfectly suited to the work, which I highly recommend. You will learn more about Vera Hruba Ralston than you ever thought you would!
Bennett is great with Basinger's casual (occasionally too much so) tone, and clearly understands the fact that this is a serious history told in a breezy style. I think she is very talented and would certainly listen to books by her again.
However! Can authors please review the text first and give proper pronunciations when needed? Mispronounced: Chevalier, Donen, Adolphe Menjou, Apache (Native American = ah-PATCHE-ee; French dance = uh-POSH)...and I swear I heard an "eck cetera." It takes you out of the story for just a moment, and it's so avoidable. No fault given to the narrator. Just bad preparation.
I will add that I've read many of Basinger's books, and her easy style makes them a natural for audiobooks. I hope there will be more.
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