Tips for Tuesday - Books: Bringing Song and Dance to the Screen: Directors of Golden Age Musicals of Hollywood & Sonora; Movie: Beneath the Light

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Books: Bringing Dance to the Screen: Directors of Hollywood's Golden Age Musicals 

                                                                                   & 

                                                                               Sonora

Today, we recommend Bringing Song and Dance to the Screen: Directors of Golden Age Musicals of Hollywood by  Thomas Hischak.This book is a comprehensive review of musicals from the early talkies through the late 1950s, widely considered the Golden Age of Hollywood musicals, and the auteurs who brought them to life. It ranges from more well-known directors that most people are likely to be familiar with, like Vincente Minnelli and Gene Kelly, to more obscure ones that many people might not be familiar with, like Alan Crosland and Harry Beaumont. It covers directors who directed only one or two musicals, including Victor Fleming and James Whale, as well as directors who regularly directed musicals, including Norman Taurog and Roy Del Ruth. 

The book thoroughly examines each director and their work. It provides an extremely in-depth look at their background and overall career, not just their work on musicals. Information covered includes the films they worked on, including their most significant works besides musicals, their specialties, and what they brought to the genre, if anything. Each musical is discussed in great detail, which includes the plot, the stars, and the box office success or lack thereof of the film, among other things. If you love movie musicals and want to know more about them and/or their directors, this book is a terrific source. 

Today, we recommend Sonora by Jenni L. Walsh. This book is the novelization of the true story of Sonora Webster Carver, who dove with the horses in Atlantic City from the 1930s through the 1970s. Her story was also previously told in the 1991 movie Wild Horses Can't Be Broken. The book offers a more in-depth look into her story and is based more on her actual autobiography and therefore, is truer to life. It takes Sonora from a brave young lady answering a newspaper ad and setting out on her own for a life of adventure to an equally courageous woman continuing to engage in the job she loves despite the added danger of a serious handicap. 

The book is both inspiring and deeply affecting. It is romantic as well, detailing the love story that develops between Sonora and her boss, Al. Although their romance is extremely slow-burning, which may bother some people, it is really sweet and builds nicely, making the eventual payoff feel even more satisfying. There are also plenty of heartwarming family vibes, both real and found. Plus, the story is fast-paced and exciting. If you want to vicariously experience a daring life of adventure, this book is a great choice. 

Movie: Beneath the Light

Today, we are recommending Beneath the Light. A young man with a mysterious past gets a job at a lighthouse on an isolated island. He begins to experience strange apparitions and is convinced he knew the lighthouse keeper's daughter, even though she died tragically the year he was born. This film moves along at a fairly slow pace, but the conclusion is exciting and completely unexpected. It is also violent and gory and completely inappropriate for young children or anyone who has an issue with that sort of thing. 

And that's our view. Bringing Song and Dance to the Screen: Directors of Golden Age Musicals of Hollywood was published on October 16. Sonora was published today. Beneath the Light is now available digitally for purchase or rental.

Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

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