Book Review

[kenjari]

Tunes for 'Toons: Music and the Hollywood Cartoon
by Daniel Goldmark

This book is a brief but illuminating look at the music written for and used in classic Hollywood cartoon shorts of the 1930s through 1960s. It was one of the most fun and fascinating books about music I have ever read. Goldmark looks at Carl Stalling (Warner Bros.), Scott Bradley (MGM, especially the Tom and Jerry series), the use of jazz in cartoons, the use of classical music, and the use of opera as both music and setting. Although Goldmark does not address anything in exhaustive depth, his examinations of composers and music are very interesting and shed a great deal of welcome light on cartoon soundtracks, their construction, meaning, and influence. The chapter on the classic Bugs bunny short What's Opera, Doc? is brilliant. I hope that Goldmark continues writing on this music, because I would gladly have read a book twice as long. If you've ever spent way too much time watching old cartoons, this book will delight you.

Comments

[sovay]

I hope that Goldmark continues writing on this music, because I would gladly have read a book twice as long. If you've ever spent way too much time watching old cartoons, this book will delight you.

I'll tell derspatchel!

[ladybird97.livejournal.com]

Ooooh. That sounds like a fabulous book. I'll definitely check it out! What's Opera Doc is one of my favorite cartoons.

[kenjari.livejournal.com]

I made a list of all the cartoons mentioned in the text so that I could watch them at my leisure - I will send it to you for derspatchel.