One of our foremost film scholars, Basinger founded both the department of film studies at Wesleyan—now ranked among the country’s top ten film schools—and curates the university’s celebrated cinema archives. She’s also the author of popular, accessible books on film, including The Star Machine and American Cinema: One Hundred Years of Filmmaking, the companion book for a ten-part PBS series. Her new book crowns her achievements with a comprehensive survey of the Hollywood musical from the end of the silent era through today. Written with her trademark enthusiasm and wit, the text offers analyses of both iconic and overlooked films, profiles stars ranging from Fred Astaire to Ann-Margret to Elvis, and includes lavish spreads of both black-and-white and color photos.
