music in film: exam #3 pt.1 Flashcards
At the close of the 1920s, Hollywood faced three serious challenges:
the Great Depression, the technological problems created by the advent of sound films, and public concern with the morality of movies and their makers.
During this time, an impressive roster of composers worked with Hollywood, including:
Max Steiner, Erich Korngold, Franz Waxman, Alfred Newman, and Herbert Stohart.
Motion Pictures Producers and Distributors of America: an organization…
that tried to improve the moral image of Hollywood Movies.
___________ headed the Motion Pictures Producers and Distributors of America.
Will Hays
Hays helped the organization to create a list of “_____” and “________”. The code was published in _____.
a list of “don’ts” and “be carefuls”. The code was published in 1930.
general characteristics of film score
Extensive use of music
Exploitation of the full range of orchestral colors
Reliance on the melody-dominated style of the late nineteenth century.
Frequent borrowing of familiar melodies
Musical support for dramatic moods, settings, characters, and action.
Unity through leitmotifs and thematic transformation.
horror films
king kong (1933) and the bride of frankenstein (1935)
King Kong (1933):
before king kong:
film producers were concerned:
previews:
producer paid who
-Before King Kong sound quality of films were weak and the use of music was often limited to incidental roles.
-Film producers were concerned that if the monster did not terrify audiences, the production would become a disaster.
-Audiences laugh at the image of King Kong in previews.
-Producer Merian C. Cooper paid Max Steiner $50,000 to produce additional music.
-Steiner wrote an astonishing amount of music that was powerful enough to sustain the film. He captured the varied moods of the movie
“a concert of Steiner music with pictures”
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
-Noted for its stylized expressionistic images, exuberant self-parody and the brilliant musical score by Franz Waxman.
-Self-parody: treating the conventions of a genre with humor. (Pirates of the Caribbean)
-Waxman matches the hyperbole of the film with and energetic score that contains its own sense of parody.
-The most celebrated music of the film occurs during the climactic creation scene which parallels a similar scene in Metropolis.
action and adventure films
the adventures of robin hood (1938)
Action films tend to:
However, action sequences can be found in:
Action films tend to emphasize conflict while adventure films often suggests an exotic location. However, action sequences can be found in several genres.
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
warner bros. needed:
the lavish nature of this drama is enhanced by:
music score: length, characteristics,
-Warner Bros. needed someone to adapt music and brought one of Europes brightest young composers Erich Korngold.
-Korngold established a model for underscoring action films.
-The lavish nature of this drama is enhanced by the billiant colors produced by three-strip Technicolor, the first film by Warner Bros. to use this process.
The music score:
-Remarkable for its length (3.5h)
-Full and varied exploitation of the large orchestra, dramatic support, and thematic transformation.
Stablished a model for action films:
-A full symphonic orchestration, emphasizing brass and percussion
-Loud dynamics
-Passages of quick notes
-Irregular and hard accents
-Occasional motivic references.
romance films
wuthering heights (1939)
romance film is a subcategory in:
Is a subcategory in the broad drama genre.
Independent romance will likely have a full orchestral score, a predominant string timbre, and a beautiful central theme.
Wuthering Heights
score created by
the principal leitmotif
the love theme:
-Score created by Alfred Newman.
-The principal leitmotif “Cathy’s theme” is one of the most beautiful melodies written for the screen.
-The love theme , even in Cathy’s death, overwhelms all other emotions and suggests that there is joy in death of the lovers, as it will lead to the ultimate consummation of their love.
