The MGM Project

HALLELUJAH Release Date August 20, 1929 History The third film of the MGM musicals is one that has been a hot potato in recent years. Hallelujah has been the subject of film criticism in many circles for its stereotypical portrayal of Black people and contributing to an early example of the tone for decades of how Black people were expected to be portrayed on film. Hallelujah was directed by King Vidor, who had been working in Hollywood since 1915, and was an established name in the industry. His most famous silent film was The Big Parade . Hallelujah  would be Vidor's first sound film, and the subject was one Vidor considered himself very close to, based on his claim that he had encountered Black people at his father's sawmill when he was growing up. He was known for having resentments against Black people because of his claim of reverse racism in his childhood. The result was characters who come across as caricatures. And yet, Vidor had the intention of the film being raciall...

  THE HOLLYWOOD REVUE Release Date June 20, 1929 History The Hollywood Revue  was the second musical MGM produced, and this one took a completely different approach than The   Broadway Melody . MGM opted to do away with adding songs to a plot, and instead feature their MGM stars doing variety acts for two hours. The acts vary in form and include songs, dances, tricks, and comedy acts, and are all filmed on a stage to give the illusion that the audience is watching a live performance. As with Broadway Melody,  some of the songs are performed live, while others are lip synced to prerecorded tracks. Where Hollywood Revue  differs from Broadway Melody  though, is that there is no way Hollywood Revue  could have had a silent version to play alongside the sound version like its counterpart and so many other sound films of its time. Because it is mainly song and dance, theaters would have been forced  to get the proper equipment for a sound release if th...