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"
The Sound of Music ( Blu-ray ) (1965)
8/10
Director: Robert Wise
Starring: Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker, Julie Andrews
The hills are alive with the sound of the Von Trapp family in this beloved Rodgers-Hammerstein epic musical. Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer lea... Read more
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
7.8/10
Director: Jacques Demy
Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo, Anne Vernon
A beautifully restored version of Jacques Demy's classic, bittersweet musical of two young lovers (a luminous Catherine Deneuve and handsome Nino Cast... Read more
The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964)
6.8/10
Director: Charles Walters
Starring: Debbie Reynolds, Harve Presnell, Ed Begley
Debbie Reynolds is the feisty title character who earns her moniker by surviving a trip on the Titanic. Based on the true story of the wealthiest woma... Read more
The West Point Story (1950)
6.2/10
Director: Roy Del Ruth
Starring: Doris Day, Gene Nelson, Gordon MacRae, James Cagney, Virginia Mayo
Brassy musical stars James Cagney as a down-on-his-luck stage director who is hired to put on a show at the title military academy. Frustrated by the... Read more
The Wiz (1978)
5.3/10
Director: Sidney Lumet
Starring: Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Nipsey Russell, Lena Horne, Richard Pryor
A film based on the smash Broadway musical, which itself was based on L. Frank Baum's 'The Wizard of Oz'. Featuring Diana Ross as Dorothy, with Nipsey... Read more
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
8/10
Director: Victor Fleming
Starring: Ray Bolger, Judy Garland, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Billie Burke, Frank Morgan, Mar...
Follow Dorothy over the rainbow and down the Yellow Brick Road, along with the Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman, Cowardly Lion and Toto, too, for fun and adven... Read more
The Wizard of Oz ( Blu-ray ) (1939)
8/10
Director: Victor Fleming
Starring: Frank Morgan, Jack Haley, Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamil...
Follow Dorothy over the rainbow and down the Yellow Brick Road, along with the Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman, Cowardly Lion and Toto, too, for fun and adven... Read more
The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967)
7.7/10
Director: Jacques Demy
Starring: George Chakiris, Gene Kelly, Catherine Deneuve, Michel Piccoli
Gloriously filmed musical romance from Jacques Demy ("The Umbrellas of Cherbourg") tells of twin sisters (played by real-life sisters Catherine Deneuv... Read more
There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)
6.5/10
Director: Walter Lang
Starring: Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, Donald O'Connor, Marilyn Monroe, Johnnie Ray, Mitzi Ga...
Dan Dailey and Ethel Merman head a performing family that includes Marilyn Monroe, Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor and Johnny Ray. They all like to sin... Read more
Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)
7/10
Director: George Roy Hill
Starring: Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Channing, James Fox, John Gavin, Beatrice...
The 'Roaring Twenties' live on in this Oscar-winning musical comedy of innocent girls, wild flappers, romance and crime. Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler-... Read more