The Movie Musical

“The Movie Musical covers the genre’s history and conventions well while offering some interesting new perspectives on what the musical is, what it has done, and what it can do.”

— Medien Wissenschaft, Drew Bassett

"In her follow-up to The Migration of Musical Film, Desiree Garcia discards the ‘boom and bust’ narrative stubbornly bonded to the Hollywood musical—along with its link to ‘mindless’ escapism. Through attentive, close readings, The Movie Musical unearths ways that musicals accommodate changing times and audiences, acknowledging their insights about the cultures and audiences in which they work—and actually help construct. A welcome addition to film musical and genre scholarship."

— Caryl Flinn, author of Brass Diva and The Sound of Music (BFI Film Classics)

"Dartmouth College professor and author Desirée J. Garcia’s tightly packed and deeply researched study examines the genre’s illumination of more than just our collective daydreams and escape impulses."

— Chicago Tribune

"‘S Wonderful! ‘S Marvelous! How can such a diverse genre be covered so well in so short a book? Desirée Garcia’s The Movie Musical adeptly surveys its long history and recurring conventions while offering a global perspective that enables her to discuss the genre in original and innovative ways."

— Steven Cohan, author of Incongruous Entertainment, Hollywood by Hollywood, and Hollywood Musicals