Howard Hawks: Music as Communication in Film

Howard Hawks is one of the best-known Hollywood 'auteurs, but the importance of music in his films has been neglected. This study demonstrates how Hawks use of music and musical treatment of dialogue articulate the group communication that is central to his films.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 116 pages
Publication date: 13 December 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Howard Hawks, renowned for his iconic films such as "His Girl Friday," "The Big Sleep," "Bringing Up Baby," and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," stands as one of the most celebrated Hollywood auteurs. However, the significant contribution of music to his films has often been overlooked by film critics and scholars. In this concise yet comprehensive study, Gregory Camp sheds light on how Hawks masterfully employs music and its musical treatment of dialogue to convey the core of his films' group communication. Spanning five chapters, Camp delves into the potential of music in Hawks' films to transcend the realm of the film score, exploring the techniques employed by Hawks and his collaborators, including actors, screenwriters, composers, and editors, to achieve a heightened musicality.

In the opening chapter, Camp establishes the significance of music in Hawks' films by examining its role in establishing character and mood. He highlights how Hawks uses specific musical cues to convey information about the characters and their relationships, such as the use of jazz in "His Girl Friday" to portray the carefree and spontaneous nature of the protagonist, or the use of classical music in "The Big Sleep" to convey a sense of tension and danger.

Chapter two explores how Hawks uses music to create a sense of place and time in his films. He demonstrates how the choice of music can evoke a specific era or location, such as the use of swing music in "Bringing Up Baby" to evoke the 1930s or the use of Latin music in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" to evoke the glamour of Hollywood.

Chapter three examines how Hawks uses music to enhance the narrative and emotional impact of his films. He explores how the use of music can heighten the tension and drama of a scene, such as the use of a dramatic score during a chase scene in "His Girl Friday" or the use of a romantic ballad during a tender moment in "Bringing Up Baby."

Chapter four explores how Hawks and his collaborators use music to create a sense of unity and cohesion within the film's group communication. He highlights how the use of shared musical themes or motifs can bind the different characters and storylines together, creating a sense of coherence and continuity throughout the film.

Chapter five concludes the study by examining how Hawks' use of music and musical treatment of dialogue articulate the group communication that is central to his films. He explores how Hawks uses music to create a sense of shared experience and understanding among the characters, and how it can facilitate the development of relationships and alliances within the film's group dynamic.

In conclusion, this concise study by Gregory Camp demonstrates how Howard Hawks' use of music and its musical treatment of dialogue articulate the group communication that is central to his films. By expanding the notion of music beyond the film score and exploring the techniques employed by Hawks and his collaborators, Camp provides a valuable contribution to the understanding and appreciation of Hawks' cinematic masterpiece.

Weight: 170g
Dimension: 138 x 214 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367489755