Hollywood’s studios each had a goal when filming their musicals. MGM and Warner Bros. wanted to portray a wholesome, safe America. Others reflected the somber times and a look to patriotism.
Many of Hollywood’s great musical composing teams, including Rogers & Hammerstein, wrote beautiful music that brought nostalgia and a sense of a changing America from Broadway to the big screen.
This lecture highlights memorable song and dance moments, with video clips of the actors/actresses who made them forever part of classic Hollywood. These include James Cagney in Yankee Doodle Dandy, Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis, Rita Hayworth in Gilda and more.