Singin' on the Screen: The Musical
Taught by Andrew J. Douglas, Ph.D.,
Director of Education, Bryn Mawr Film Institute

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.

A highlight of the course is a 35mm screening of a legendary Hollywood musical. 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.

Film Discussion Series: 1945-Present

The Language of Film

The Italian Cinema II

From Page to Screen: The Literary Adaptation

The Greatest Show on Earth: The Blockbuster

Magnificent Obsession: The Melodrama

Touch of Genius: Orson Welles

Scorsese's Cinema of Loneliness

First Acts: Art and Structure

The Documentary Impulse

The Dark Side of Hollywood: Film Noir

The Italian Cinema

Science Fiction: A Film Odyssey

Vistas and Vengeance: The Western

Conscientious Objectors: Post-War Political Films

The Asian Masters

Must See Movies I

Midnight Cowboys and Taxi Drivers

Preston Sturges: The Prince of Paramount

Must See Movies II

The Language of Film - Tuesday class

The Language of Film - Saturday class

The Language of Film II

Cracking Wise and Falling in Love (Again): The Screwball Comedy

Femmes Fatales and Hard Boiled Patsies: Film Noir and Beyond

Mr. Strangelove: Peter Sellers On Screen and Off

Screenwriting Essentials

Singin' on the Screen: The Musical

Quiet Beauty: Silent Film