160 pages Edited by John Springer Foreword by Françoise Ducout 28 x 21.6 cm Language: French Paperback Publisher: Henri Veyrier 1974
From the kaleidoscopic chorus lines of Busby Berkeley to the rain-soaked grace of Gene Kelly, the film musical has given cinema some of its most dazzling moments. In this richly illustrated volume, John Springer traces the rise of the musical from its early sound experiments to the great studio productions of Hollywood’s golden age. Drawing on studio archives, production stills and rare publicity material, he follows the careers of stars such as Fred Astaire, Judy Garland and Ginger Rogers, while also highlighting the directors, choreographers and composers who turned song-and-dance into pure visual invention. Page after page, La Comédie musicale restores the energy, elegance and sheer exuberance of a genre that reinvented itself with every new tune. Both a reference book and a feast for the eyes, it is essential reading for lovers of classic cinema, collectors, and anyone who still feels a thrill when the orchestra starts to play and the curtains slowly rise.
