History of Musical Films Essay Example for Free

History of Musical Films Essay By 1928, Hollywood was invaded by sound theater. Silent films made an honorable exit. Vaudeville was also being wiped out. It signaled a phenomenon Tinseltown was not quite prepared for. It was the time of sound facilities and infrastructures. Later on Broadway composers were hired to write screen musicals (â€Å"History of Musical Film†, 2004). The first picture to make a transition from silent film to sound was Warner Bros. ’ 1927 The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson who mostly did the singing in the movie (â€Å"Musical Film†, 2006). One MGM musical hit opened the doors to the musical film genre. This was the 1929 Broadway Melody with a score by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed. The story was about two sisters fighting over their love of a song and dance man. It cost $379,000. 00 and grossed for $1. 6 million in its first release. Its title tune is â€Å"You Were Meant for Me. † It was the first sound film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture. MGM’s production chief Irving Thalberg was credited for bringing in a string of musical hits since Broadway Melody. (â€Å"History of Musical Film 1927-1930 Part II†, 2004). Love Parade from Paramount followed on the same year by silent screen director Ernst Lubitch. It is a lighthearted operetta inspired by Broadway to fit the screen starring soprano Jean Macdonald as a young royalty and Maurice Chevalier as the French playboy diplomat. (â€Å"History of Musical Film 1927-1930 Part II†, 2004). The 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s were considered the golden age of musical films. Following are some of the popular musical films: Hollywood Revue of 1929 with Joan Crawford from MGM, Cecil B. Demille’s Madam Satan (1930). 932 mid-Depression saw the making of Love Me Tonight, a collaboration of Richard Rogers, Lorenz Hart, and director Rouben Mamoulian. Rogers and Hart continued with Hallelujah, I’m a Bum (1933) with Al Jolson. (â€Å"History of Musical Film 1930s: Part I†, 2003). Forty Second Street by dance Broadway director Busby Berkeley choreographed the dance sequences while composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dublin created the score. It was a million dollar hit for a $400,000 production. It was followed by Footlight Parade (1933), The Gold Diggers (1933) and Hollywood Hotel (1937). â€Å"History of Musical Film 1930s Part II† 2004). Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers entered the musical scene in 1933 through Flying Down to Rio, The Gay Divorcee (1934), Top Hat (1935) with a score by Irving Berlin. It was also the time of Shirley Temple in movies such as Stand Up and Cheer (1934), The Little Colonel (1935), among others. Disney produced Fantasia (1940). MGM revived its musical genre with the release of The Merry Widow (1934) (â€Å"History of Musical Film 1930s Part IV† 2004). The 1940s saw Warner Brothers’ Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) with James Cagney in his Oscar-winning performance. Then independent producer Samuel Goldwyn found Danny Kaye and made Up in Arms (1944, Wonder Man (1945), among others. It was also the time of Bing Crosby (Road Series, Going My Way, Holiday Inn) and Bob Hope (â€Å"History of Musical Film Screen 1940s: Part I† 2003). Judy Garland starred in Little Nellie Kelly (1940), Ziegfeld Girl (1941), Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) directed by Vincente Minneli, her future husband. She appeared in sixteen MGM musicals. Gene Kelley also was a big MGM star in musical movies like For Me and My Gal (1942), On the Town (1949), among others (â€Å"History of Musical Film 1940s Part III† 2004). The 1950s was the decline of the musical film genre and the emergence of television. Some of the musicals produced from 20th Century Fox were Richard Rodgers Oscar Hammerstein IIs. Oklahoma (1955), Carousel (1956), King and I (1956). South Pacific (1958). Warner Brothers released some Doris Day films, Love Me or Leave Me (1955), The Pajama Game (1957). Paramount produced What Christmas (1954) while Walt Disney released musical animations such as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty. MGM released Kiss Me Kate (1953) and High Society (1956) (â€Å"History of Musical Film Screen 1950s†, 2003).

The Correct Response to Abortion :: Persuasive Essay, Argumentative

The Correct Response to Abortion    Psalm 139 has often been noted as a beautiful expression of the value of human life. Taken as a whole, it is a prayer reflecting on God's intimate knowledge of who we are - a knowledge stretching to the moment we were conceived in the womb and before. The theme of continuity is striking. Notice how the author uses personal pronouns with reference to himself both before and after his birth. Past (v.1), present (vv.2-3), future (v.10), and the pre-natal stage as well (v.13). The psalmist is clearly aware of no discontinuity in his existence. He was, is, and will be the same person...again both during his pre-natal and post-natal life.    Recognizing this, how should we respond to those who would advocate aborting such a life? It's at this point we need to read a little further through Psalm 139 and take a look at vv.19-24. As always, God's Word tells us not only what is right, but also how to do the right thing in the right way. Reflecting on what we've seen so far, the psalmist finds himself filled anew with a zeal for this God who knows him so completely. And he then turns this zeal both to those around him as well as towards himself.    As the psalmist looks at others around him, he recognizes that not everyone responds to God with faith and love. Some respond with blasphemy and hate. And this leads him to use some strikingly harsh language...words that really take us back (READ v.22). How ought we to understand such words? And is it ever appropriate for us to say the same thing? Well, in order to answer these questions, we need to clear some things up...    Who are the people being cursed? (READ v.19a and b) How are they characterized? (READ v.20a and b, v.21a and b) So what then are the curses? We need to recognize that in Hebrew poetry, we often find the usage of vivid and graphic language. Used here, it is not intended to be expressions of a desire for personal vengeance. Rather, the psalmist is filled with moral indignation and a desire for God to exercise justice.    So in terms of application, we need to remember that these words are the prayer of the psalmist, not actions he carries out.

Gun Control in Canada

A national conversation on gun control in Canada has instigated the demand for stricter government control of weapons. Canadians have a strong belief in the established practice of â€Å"peace, order and good government†. Our nation is culturally conditioned with the general cultural norm of non-violence. However, with recent news on the increase of gun violence happening in the country, the need to tighten the guidelines on the use of guns is an urgent matter. Recently, the mayors in Toronto and Montreal have asked the federal government to put in place a ban on handguns and assault weapons, and many people are in support of this concept. However, with close ties and the sharing of a border with the United States, the problem of banning guns would not completely go away. The problem with gun control is that these guns can conveniently be smuggled into the country. Either that, or owners with registered guns may legally sell these weapons to people who cannot purchase guns, hence enabling them to use the weapons for criminal purposes. Furthermore, we see the idea of strong regionalism with an urban-rural divide in the country. People living in these rural areas would be more concerned with the ban of these weapons, mainly because the use of their weapons is for hunting purposes. Certain parts in Canada have strong regionalism due to how gun policy is constructed in that area. For example, if we look at Alberta, the province is more open to the ownership of guns, hence a cultural approach to the issue. A potential solution to the problem of gun violence would be to implement a multi-layered system that filters out anyone that may pose a threat to society. The government should place a restriction on gun sales via a program that controls and tracks the number of guns and holds the owner responsible for any damages caused by the weapon. Background checks and criminal record history should be verified for every individual that wants to purchase a gun. Doing so will ensure civilians that their right to own a weapon is not under threat as long as they accept responsibility/hold themselves liable for whatever danger may come through their property (weapon). This way, guns will not be owned by people with a potential of abusing them, so the person is less likely to use it for the wrong reasons. When compared to the United States, where you can buy guns without any background check, this solution should prove to be much more effective. Lastly, to maintain integrity of these policies, a series of checks should be set in place to ensure the weapon is not being sold privately. A suggestion is a weapons check-in system. Gun owners would get a safety check every few years to make sure they still own and are maintaining their weapons. This will ensure that the weapon is being accounted for and has not been sold. It would be a better way to track firearms, which in return, would help in the reduction of gun crimes. In addition, the owner of the gun would be required to renew their license and ensure that their weapon has not been sold without a record. If the following measures are taken, I am certain gun violence may be minimized.

Teenage Depression and Suicide - 1246 Words

â€Å"A dark brooding cloud was slowly casting a shadow across my mind.† â€Å"I felt weighed down, oppressed by the burden of having to face a new day.† â€Å"A crushing sense of hopelessness that was unlike anything I had ever experienced before† â€Å"It was as if something else had seized control of my mind.† â€Å"The darkness was spreading inside me like a cancer.† — These descriptions are how Cait Irwin, who suffered from depression as a teenager, described it. Teenage depression is a common but serious illness that can ultimately send some on a downward spiral towards suicide that can be averted if recognized and given the proper treatment. Countless teenagers experience some type of depression in their lifetime, but what exactly is depression and just†¦show more content†¦Two main types of psychotherapies—cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT)—are effective in treating depression. Th e goal of CBT is to change habitual patterns of thinking and acting that may be contributing to a person’s problems. In IPT, a person learns to help identify the problem that triggered a bout of depression, then learns the necessary social and communication skills to resolve that problem successfully. While both medication and psychotherapy are proved to help depression, a combination of the two appears to be the best method. In a recent study of 439 depressed adolescents, 71% improved by the combination treatment of medication and psychotherapy, better than the 61% who responded to medication alone and 43% for psychotherapy alone. (Irwin, Evans, and Wasmer 80). Somehow or other, treatment for depression seems to work at least partly by correcting imbalances in brain chemicals. However, many people with a depressive disorder never seek treatment even though the majority, even those with the most severe depression, can get better with treatment (â€Å"National Institute of Me ntal Health†). According to the NDSUH, only 34.7% of teens who had major depression this past year received treatment. This means nearly 2/3 of the teens who had major depression did not receive any treatment (â€Å"Major Depressive Episode and Treatment Among Adolescents: 2009†). It is crucial that teens suffering from depression receive treatment before theyShow MoreRelatedTeenage Depression - Teen Suicide1399 Words   |  6 Pages Teen Suicide Over the past few years’ teenage depression has drastically increased due to multiple factors such as peer pressure and bullying. According to Linda Lamb’s article Young People Can Suffer From Depression, Too,† The suicide rate among teenagers [today] is about 10 per 100,000†. A handout from the Health and Human Services Department and National Institute of Mental Health stated,† in the last 25 years, the rate of suicide among teenagers and young adults has increased dramatically.†Read MoreTeenage Depression and Suicide Essays1790 Words   |  8 Pagesof how Cait Irwin, who suffered from depression as a teenager, described it. They show how awful and frightening depression during the teenage years can be. Depression and suicide are closely linked. â€Å"In fact, about two-thirds of all people who die by suicide have some type of depressive disorder† (Irwin 47). Teenage depression is a common but serious illness that can ultimately send s ome teenagers on a downward spiral towards suicide, but depression and suicide both can be averted if the symptomsRead MoreTeen Depression : The Problem Of Teenage Depression, And Teen Suicide721 Words   |  3 PagesTeen depression is a definite topic most people are unaware of and depression is a worldwide issue and is the leading disability. Depression can lead to many things, from anxiety to thoughts of suicide. Things like social media is a big cause of depression. Everyone has those days where they are feeling sad or maybe even just having a bad day. Sometimes, it goes even more downhill. When it turns into something major, it becomes a real problem. Some people ignore the issue, brushing it off as a â€Å"phaseRead MoreTeenage Suicide1064 Words   |  5 PagesTeenage Suicide Suicide is intentional self-inflicted acts that end in death(Suicide, Comptons). After a series of traumatic events, normal coping abilities can be pushed over the edge; the result may be suicide. In each year, an average of 30,000 suicide deaths occur in the United States. It is estimated that 5,000 of those suicides are committed by teenagers(SA\VE, 2). One major reason that the suicide rate among teenagers is so high, is that the teenage years are a period of commotionRead MoreDepression Is The First Leading Cause Of Suicide1496 Words   |  6 PagesToday in America, depression is the first leading cause of suicide. Reported in recent statistics, every year, thousands of people succeed in taking their lives and even more have attempted suicide at some point (Hyde and Held 8). Although it is an afflicting concern today, depression dates back to centuries ago, but wasn t fully recognized as a clinical illness until the 1960 s. At this point, depression treatment was only available to adults because it was so unlikely for adolescents to experienceRead MoreTeenage Depression And Teen Depression792 Words   |  4 Pages Teen depression, which is also known as adolescent depression, is a growing problem in today’s society. Depression among teenagers is overlooked by many and is often mistaken for â€Å"normal† teenage behavior. This mental illness is one of the most common psychiatric disorders. Depression is predominantly seen amongst young women who are transitioning into adulthood. Teenagers are at a point in their lives where they come face to face with the reality of peer pressure and a milestone in becomingRead MoreSuicide Among Teenagers1095 Words   |  5 Pages Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among 15 to 24-year-old (Green, Paragraph 1) Teenage suicide is the intentional act made by teenagers usually below the age of 19 to take their lives. Suicide is not thought of in a day. It is a series of processes that goes on in the mind before manifesting. Although, during these processes there are visible signs that shows a prospective suicidal person. There are factor s that trigger and cause the act of suicide in a teenager. Most of these factorsRead MoreTeenage Suicide : A Devastating Event1509 Words   |  7 PagesTeenage Suicide When I was undergoing my journey through high school, there was a devastating event that affected the entire school from that point on; one of my fellow classmates had committed suicide. It was heart breaking to hear what had happened to someone at such a young age. A teenage boy drove to a spot in North Carolina where his dad had committed suicide just a few years ago. In that same exact place where his dad committed suicide, he decided to take his own life. According to WorldRead MoreRisk Factors of Teenage Suicide1217 Words   |  5 PagesTeenage suicide is a major national public health concern facing America today. Thousands of teenagers commit suicide each year. Many experts believe that teenage suicide is often due to unpredictable circumstances and can be contributed to hormonal impulses. However, recent case findings and statistics prove that this is not necessarily true. Although some teenage suicides may be the result of youthful and impulsive actions, certain risk factors, signs, and symptoms can contribute to self-inflictedRead More Teenage Suicide Essay1404 Words   |  6 PagesTeenage Suicide Each day 86 Americans take their own lives and another 1,500 attempts to do so. Even more disturbing is that suicide among a young people nation wide have increased dramatically in recent years. In fact thousands of teenagers each year commit suicide. It is the third leading cause of death among young adults aged 15-24. With the first two leading causes being unintentional injury and homicide. There are many reasons why teenagers feel the need to take their own life. They are at