Unit 10 The Age of Versatility 1960s-1990s
Objective
In this unit we will look at the beginnings of a new American Cinema and will include:
In this unit we will look at the beginnings of a new American Cinema and will include:
- Some major changes and attitudes towards the cinema
- Discuss how versatile scores were coming into existence thus setting a new standard in film music
- Emerging trends and new composers
- Declining traditions
1960s Beginning of a New Age
- More of an appreciation for the importance of film and filmmakers
- A search for creativity among filmmakers and discover new avenues
- Start of independent productions-Hollywood studio system no longer in power
- Studios remain as overseers and large distributors
- Decline of full-bodied orchestrations of the 1930s-50s in favor of cost saving smaller instrumental combinations or songs
- See a rise in the hiring of song composers such as Burt Bacharach (1929-) with "Raindrops keep Fallin' On My Head" and Marvin Hamlisch (1944-)"The Way We Were".
- New Ratings System: G, M, R, and X unveiled in 1968
- Weekly attendance at movies dropped off considerably due to television. In 1960 40million people attending. 1969 17.5 million.
- Jazz trend continues-West Side Story (1961) music adapted for the movie by Irwin Kostal
_European Composers At Work
_Several composers are introduced to the United States film industry: