In A Song in the Dark: The Birth of the Musical Film, Richard Barrios writes, “The time that produced the first musical films was as complex as it was fraught, so much so that, until the late twentieth century, most historians preferred to leave the era alone. Such action has naturally marginalized the films and minimized their importance, and this has all been exacerbated by the fact that so many of the films themselves (as well as their creators) are beyond access” (pg. 5). He structures his examination based on the background and production history of the films, changing contemporary perceptions of the films, and the relationship between the films and their audiences in their own times. The result is an extensive work of scholarship that film scholars and cultural historians must consult in their study of the early era of sound film. ( )

This is the second edition of Barrios' book, which is by turns informative, entertaining, occasionally laugh-out-loud funny (do not miss the footnotes, nor the end notes), and frankly, a must-have for cinephiles. The second edition takes advantage of recent developments and discoveries. ( )