Desirée J. Garcia

 In this groundbreaking new book, Desirée J. Garcia examines one of the unsung influences on the Hollywood musical—the lower budget folk musicals produced by Mexican, Yiddish, and African-American filmmakers. Far from mere escapist entertainments, these films expressed both the struggles and dreams of immigrants and minorities in America.  Offering a revised history of the American musical, The Migration of Musical Film provides a window into the ways in which Americans and immigrants have negotiated the boundaries of belonging in our society. 

Historically, Los Angeles has been central to the international success of Latin American cinema and became the most important hub in the western hemisphere for the distribution of Spanish language films made for Latin American audiences. This book examines the considerable, ongoing role that Los Angeles played in the history of Spanish-language cinema.