Musicals
As soon as sound was introduced to the movies, the movie musical was born. The musical was one of the most popular movie entertainments from the 1930s through to the 50s, before falling out of favour at the end of the 60s for audiences now being weened on Vietnam, race riots, political assassinations, flower power and psychedelia. The musical still continued onwards, albeit in a different form, with various efforts such as "Cabaret", "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", "Grease", "Hair", "All That Jazz" and "The Blues Brothers" appearing over the next decade. More recently, "Moulin Rouge" and particularly "Chicago" hark back to the glory days of the musical.
Right: Liza Minnelli does "Cabaret"
That'll Be The Day (1973) / Stardust (1974)
Director: Michael Apted
Starring: David Essex, Adam Faith, Larry Hagman, Keith Moon, Rosemary Leach, Ringo Starr,...
'That'll Be The Day' tells the story of a young man (David Essex) growing up in the dreary working-class world of Britain who comes of age and finds h... Read more
That's Dancing! (1985)
7/10
Director: Jack Haley Jr
Starring: Gene Kelly, Liza Minnelli, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Ray Bolger, Sammy Davis Jr
Gene Kelly, Liza Minnelli, Sammy Davis, Jr., Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Ray Bolger take you on a tour of Hollywood musicals. Famous dance scenes from "4... Read more
That's Entertainment! (1974)
7.7/10
Director: Jack Haley Jr
Starring: Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Gene Kelly, Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra, Mickey Roon...
Unforgettable collection of sequences from MGM's greatest musicals. "Anchors Aweigh," "Babes in Arms," "Singin' in the Rain," "The Wizard of Oz," and... Read more
That's Entertainment! III (1994)
7.6/10
Director: Bud Friedgen, Michael J Sheridan
Starring: Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, June Allyson, Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Lena Hor...
Among the many musical highlights featured in this return trip to the MGM Studios library are unused numbers by Debbie Reynolds from "Singin' in the R... Read more
That's Entertainment, Part 2 (1976)
Director: Gene Kelly
Starring: Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Durante, Judy Garland, Greer Gars...
An all-singing, all-dancing musical-comedy treat. More magical MGM moments with "more stars than there are in heaven," including hosts Fred Astaire an... Read more
The Band Wagon (1953)
7.6/10
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Starring: Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Oscar Levant
Delightful musical featuring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse in a story line that revolves around the difficulties of putting on a Broadway show. Astair... Read more
The Barkleys of Broadway (1949)
7.1/10
Director: Charles Walters
Starring: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Oscar Levant, Billie Burke
After 10 years apart, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers re-team for their final film, written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and directed by Charles Wa... Read more
The Beggar's Opera (1953)
6.2/10
Director: Peter Brook
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Stanley Holloway, Hugh Griffith, Athene Seyler, Dorothy Tutin
Based on the first-ever English musical, written by John Gay, this authentic, cynical satire on 18th century London life boasts glorious sets and outr... Read more
The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas (1982)
5.9/10
Director: Colin Higgins
Starring: Burt Reynolds, Dolly Parton, Dom DeLuise
A high-stepping fast-talking musical-comedy with Burt Reynolds as the sheriff assigned to the Chicken Ranch, a brothel headed by feisty Madame Dolly P... Read more
The Boat That Rocked (2009)
Director: Richard Curtis
Starring: Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branagh, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Nick Frost, Tom Sturridge,...
Aka "Pirate Radio". In 1966, a rusty fishing trawler christened Radio Rock floats just outside British territorial waters, broadcasting illicit rock '... Read more