Dance, Dance, Dance
An electrifying voyage to Hollywood’s golden era of musicals brings the most memorable dancing moments of cinema.
Through original footage, interviews and photos, Clara Kuperberg tells the history of musicals – narrated by, among others, American choreographer and dancer Hermes Pan, close collaborator of legendary Fred Astaire. Kuperberg’s tales make you tap your feet to several familiar tunes and awakens our perception for vintage sounds.
Very rhythmic and dynamic, the film portrays historical events that were aligned with popular musical themes. The World War II, Great Depression, racial struggles and later the Vietnam War were somewhat mirrored in dance settings.
Breaking through old patterns of silent films, in October 1926 Werner Bros. present the first feature-length talking picture, “The Jazz Singer,” representing a turning point for studios in motion pictures.
Musicals like “42nd Street”, “La Carioca”, “Hair”, “All Black” and “Singing in the Rain” have left lasting impressions in a generation that felt in need of distractions from global turmoil.
With the arrival of censorship in 1930’s, producers found a way to bypass the rigorous supervision by showing through dance in musicals what otherwise could not be shown in scenes. Kuperberg features dancers such as Ginger Rogers, Cyd Charisse, Esther Williams and Bill Robinson.
The apogee of musicals and glamour wrapped Marilyn-like dance routines slowly declined entering into the 1960’s. Musicals with more socially meaningful content slowly entered into scene. “West Side Story” depicts a then tense reality with Puerto Rican immigration.
Finally, “Gigi”, the last grandiose musical directed by Vincente Minnelli, concluded the enchanting era of dazzling Hollywood musicals.
The film is easy to follow and uses a combination of speech, image and movement to leave the audience with a taste of glamour. For less acknowledged viewers, it could bring a historical overview of America’s aspirations and hopes at the time.
