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Singin' on Screen: The Musical
Taught by Andrew J. Douglas, Ph.D., Director of Education, BMFI


Have you ever strolled down 42nd Street, just enjoying the sound of music, wishing you were an American in Paris who was singing in the rain? If so, this class is for you. While the musical film has fallen out of favor in recent decades, for a time—especially the 1940s, 50s and early 60s—it was a jewel in Hollywood’s crown.

We examine the different musical modes—backstage, integrated—and consider how these productions, often thought of as pure escapism, reflect the cultural moments in which they were made. Key practitioners of the genre, both well-known (Gene Kelly) and more obscure (Arthur Freed), are discussed.

Taking this class doesn’t mean you will spontaneously burst into song, but it does guarantee you will have a new appreciation for those who do so on screen.