A Kaleidoscopic Examination of Movie Musicals

Barrios, Richard.  Dangerous Rhythm: Why Movie Musicals Matter.  New York: Oxford 
         UP, 2014.

Not satisfied with just writing about the birth of musical films (A Song in the Dark - 1995), Richard Barrios looks at the importance of movie musicals of all types via a kaleidoscope of lenses.  In twelve short chapters, an introduction, and epilogue, he discusses the past and future of movie musicals, the origination of the concept of the musical, who have been the stars, the role of music versus plot, etc., not neglecting animated musicals and television musicals.

The book and the chapter titles all come from song titles or lyrics sung in a movie musical  which is an example of how Barrios infuses a quirky viewpoint into this series of essays.  He also provides informative footnotes that add interest without slowing the reader with extraneous information.  Each chapter is a different lens on movie musicals with focus on a specific aspect such as animated musicals or musicals on television; the reader is not compelled to read the chapters in sequence, but is free to skip to what interests them.

Dangerous Rhythm reads easily and has appropriate and interesting illustrations.  Barrios writes well for the general reader, providing a list of his sources but not documenting enough to be considered as a serious scholarly tome.  He has his own lists of movie musicals he like and dislikes.  As is often the case in these types of books, he does miss certain musicals.  How important that is depends upon your love for that musical. 

In the end, Dangerous Rhythm provides provides plenty of fodder for discussions.  Read it, and start yours!