An MGM short that starts with a brief history of music in the movies, from accompaniment for silents, to background scores, to elaborate musical productions, and ends up as a highlight reel of recent and upcoming releases from the studio.
This short opens with Judy Garland singing, and dancing to, the title song. A short history of movie music is presented, from silent films accompanied by a single piano, to the elaborate song scores for musicals (with scenes from MGM's musicals) and background music for dramas. Conductor/composer Herbert Stothart conducts the MGM studio orchestra recording the score for Soldato di cioccolata (1941). Busby Berkeley directs a rehearsal of the "Hoedown" number from I ragazzi di Broadway (1941). The film ends with Risë Stevens singing "America the Beautiful."—David Glagovsky <dglagovsky@verizon.net>
