Introduction
Hello everyone, and welcome to Where the Stars Live! My name is Marisa, and I would like to thank you for joining me on this journey of exploring golden age Hollywood films, television shows, music, and the stories behind the people who brought them to life.
Where it all started
Growing up in a household with old-school parents, I was accustomed to seeing a James Cagney movie on our TV, or hearing Dean Martin playing from the stereo, but my passion for classic films began with one movie: Roman Holiday. The story is simple; a Princess (Audrey Hepburn) tired of her life as royalty, escapes the palace to embark on a journey of self discovery and independence. Along the way, she meets a handsome newspaper man (Gregory Peck) who helps her find her way through the streets of Rome. Perhaps it was the story of love and self discovery that inspired me, or maybe it was the musical score that told a story of its own, but in that moment I knew that films would become an integral part of my life. Since then, my passion has turned to purpose, leading me to act as an educator and advocate for all things classic entertainment.
The Movies of the Golden Age
The most interesting part of golden age films to me is that they reflect the status of American audiences during those particular periods of time.
In the 1920s, we saw the rise of talking pictures, with musical films being the most popular genre of the time. With the country struggling through the Great Depression, Hollywood films began to reflect the struggle of the American people, with crime noir films dominating theaters.During the height of World War II, Hollywood found a way to bring light to American audiences by once again making films with a lighter and more vibrant mood.With the changing social unrest of the 1960s, Hollywood began releasing films depicting stories that reflected the struggles of our country.
Classic films showcase the talents of the actors, directors, and other creatives who brought these films to life, and have brought generations of film goers memories for years to come.
Melodies of the Past
With every classic film, comes a unique and innovative score that tells the story in a way that no actor could emulate. Just as my experience with the score of Roman Holiday, a films score can evoke emotions in an audience that remain for years to come. Film scores also have the ability to establish a theme instantly recognizable by an audience, that then become a permanent fixture in popular culture. This can be seen in films such as Lawrence of Arabia, Casablanca, and Star Wars.
While I love a good film score, my heart truly lies with the golden age musicals. As a musician myself, I have always held a strong connection with musicals. A tradition dating back to the 1930s, musical films never fail to dazzle an audience with their magnificent scores, elaborate costumes, and wonderful performers. With talents of the likes we have never seen since, the golden age musical has established a permanent place in popular culture.
Timeless Television
Around the times that America’s theater screens were graced with the talents of Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, television was on the rise in popularity. However in Hollywood, television was not seen as the future, but as a dead end. Television was truly an unknown world of innovation, with new changes and risks being taken every moment. But without these innovators, such as Desi Arnaz, we would not have television as we know it today. Classic television has a way of transporting you back in time, and showcases the talents of the actors, writers, and directors that forged the standards of television as we know it today.
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