MUH112 Film Music Response
Rachel Daugherty
I really enjoyed the class lecture on Erich Wolfgang Korngold. I had never even heard of him as a classical composer, much less a film score composer. I thought it was pretty amazing that he is considered one of the two or three true child prodigies along side Mendelssohn and Mozart. Of course, according to Dean Hoffman, one of only two. Being successful in both music worlds is a pretty big accomplishment. I really enjoyed listening to his compositions from his teenage years. His music is very beautiful and passionate. It was also really neat hearing how The Adventures of Robin Hood “saved his life” and how his family just barely escaped on the very last train out of Germany. For me, knowing that kind of background on a person makes their music more interesting.
The “Mickey Mousing” effect that we saw and heard in the movies was interesting. I had never really noticed it that much when I watched movies, but when you think about it, it becomes really obvious. Especially in that short, silent clip we watched of the grumpy looking man who tore down the poster. It is very effective in silent films, but it can sometimes be almost silly when it’s done too much. I know that “Mickey Mousing” is still done today, but I do not think it’s done in the magnitude it was done in the earlier days. Also, considering how important music was in the silent era, and then again in the later part of the 1930s, I think it is interesting that there was actually a time when movies had little or no musical underscoring. Apparently during this time most films had only a main title and end credit music.
I thought it was really funny that “Over the Rainbow” almost did not make the cut in The Wizard of Oz. It’s a little absurd to think someone thought it sounded “like a child’s piano exercise,” considering its huge success and ongoing popularity. Believe it or not, I have never seen The Wizard of Oz, but of course I know “Over the Rainbow.” Everyone knows it. It kind of makes you question the judgment of these so called executives in Hollywood. What do they really know? They almost blew that one. Another interesting thing I read in the book was how they started selling concessions at the theatres to increase profits. It was also kind of funny that they had “dish nights.” They do that sort of thing now at sport events, not the movies. Whatever the case, I am glad they persevered and avoided going bankrupt, or else we might not have the big film industry we do today.