Beautiful Girls Flashcards
1
Q
Movement example: Kaleidoscope
A
the lead male is the in centre of the rest of the chorus as they surround him, left leg bevelled. he looks up with his arms open creating a wide V position, parallel to body, looking up. The chorus girls are on the floor, with left knee pointing up, and right leg extended out on the floor, as their arms are behind them. Outer girls, lean into left leg (on fondu) with right foot extended and pointed outwards. Arms are extended out, with hand connecting each other and again head looks up.
2
Q
what are the actions?
A
- starts upbeat with actions displaying ‘flapper’ and Charleston characteristics (hips, walking with partner)
- time steps in the beginning montage (tap)
- soldier movement (rigid marching)
- Mainly pedestrian style movement. e.g. simple walking/pointing
- arm gestures - presenting, feminine, flowing - depicting elegance, high fashion and the ‘perfect’ woman
- sways
- focus on male singer throughout showing adoration
3
Q
What space is used?
A
- Busby Berkley inspired (heavily in opening montage). Kaleidoscope formations in megaphone, in lines, barbershop men led down
- large array of formations used
- large size of movement
- all mid/high level except men lead down (opening)
- levels used later to frame the lead male
- kaleidoscope image repeated at the end to frame male singer
- directions used to highlight the male, all women face towards him or the audience/camera at the end
4
Q
What are the dynamics?
A
- opening - high energy, sharp, strong, rapid
- tempo slows down which is reflected in the dynamics - soft, sustained, delicate
3.
5
Q
What are the relationships?
A
- canon used repetitively (kick down the line)
- unison - time steps, walking like soilders
- contact - partners walks (opening), girls holding each others waists in snaking walk following male lead, holding hands on end walk forwards
- lead and follow
- mirroring
- little contrast
6
Q
What are Kellys stylistic features?
A
- blending techniques - tap used in opening montage, Jazz, slow pedestrian movement
- inspired by MT/Jazz - montage of pre-existing songs used in theatre/film previously
- use of camera manipulation space - Busby Berkeley inspired formations and camera angles
7
Q
Use on dancers?
A
- one male - singing
- 12 females - dancing
- 6 models who, after being frozen, join in with the formation at the end
- all together in a tight group to begin with, making lines
- Busby Berkley-esque pageant style procession and formations
8
Q
Use of Aural setting?
A
- vocals - ‘doo-wop’ style. Barber shop quartet style. Jazz. Montage of pre-existing songs
- instruments - trumpets, strings, drums (delicate)
- male singing about females - how to be a ‘beautiful girl’
- music is of fast pace at the beginning, then reduces to a slow pace
- music continues over the dialogue when introducing the models
9
Q
What is the lighting and set?
A
- on a film set - on a stage - stage lighting (white wash). This white wash gives a bright, positive atmosphere, emphasises beauty and femininity.
- stage - with stairs upstage - ‘booths’ for the models to stand in, mimicking shop windows
- set is very big - shown by the camera angle - the facade of Hollywood - everything is big and glamourous
10
Q
What’s the costume and props?
A
- main body of dancers are wearing traditional 20s/30s dresses. Pale lilac in colour, short sleeve, a-line, below the knee, floaty, matching headdress - femininity
- models are wearing different outfits of the era - brightly coloured to stand out from the other dancers
- man in a pale blue suit jacket, white shirt, with matching white suit trousers and shoes. Pin stripe tie (lilac and white) with boater hat with pinstripe rim matching tie - pastel colours show his positive attitude to women - subject matter of the song. he matches the dancers
- he dances with a hat and cane to begin with - typical of Jazz style
