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Mar. 6th, 2005 12:24 amFinally got a chance to watch my recording of the BBC4 documentary series on the Broadway Musical. I missed the first two so they’re up to the 30’s already but not a bad place to start. For some reason I’ve always felt drawn to that time in history. Even the science of it. Our departmental library has a collection of the main genetics journals dating all the way back then and I used to find it quite relaxing browsing through them when I was working late and waiting for some reaction to complete. Good times.
Anyway highly recommend the Broadway series for anyone interested in musicals. It focuses on the writers, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, draws out the contrasts in their work and artistic agendas. One thing that surprised me was quite how radical the stage shows of the time were, artistically and politically, compared with the movies. I mean Strike Up the Band, which is an absolutely typical Mickey and Judy “Lets put on the show right here” movie, turns out to have been based on a satire of the first world war.
Anyway highly recommend the Broadway series for anyone interested in musicals. It focuses on the writers, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, draws out the contrasts in their work and artistic agendas. One thing that surprised me was quite how radical the stage shows of the time were, artistically and politically, compared with the movies. I mean Strike Up the Band, which is an absolutely typical Mickey and Judy “Lets put on the show right here” movie, turns out to have been based on a satire of the first world war.