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"
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
8.3/10
Director: Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen
Starring: Millard Mitchell, Jean Hagen, Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Cyd...
Silent movies are giving way to Talking Pictures and a hoofer-turned-matinee idol (Gene Kelly) is caught in that bumpy transition, as well as his budd... Read more
West Side Story (1961)
7.6/10
Director: Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise
Starring: Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn
Leonard Bernstein's classic musical updating of "Romeo and Juliet" stars Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood as Tony and Maria, the doomed lovers caught u... Read more
Chicago (2002)
7.2/10
Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C Reill...
The musical stage sensation becomes the award-winning film of the year! At a time when crimes of passion result in celebrity headlines, nightclub sens... Read more
Oklahoma! (1955)
7.2/10
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Starring: Gordon MacRae, Shirley Jones, Rod Steiger
The Rodgers and Hammerstein epic musical is a classic of immortal songs and fancy steppin'. "Oh What a Beautiful Morning", "The Surrey with the Fringe... Read more
Once (2007)
7.9/10
Director: John Carney
Starring: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova, Hugh Walsh
This stunning musical chronicles the relationship that develops between a struggling Dublin street busker/vacuum cleaner repairman and a poor Czech im... Read more
As It Is In Heaven (2004)
7.6/10
Director: Kay Pollak
Starring: Michael Nyqvist, Frida Hallgren, Lennart Jahkel, Ingela Olsson, Niklas Falk
Daniel (Michael Nyquist) is an internationally acclaimed, though temperamental and lonely, conductor when a physical break-down prompts him to return... Read more
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
7.4/10
Director: Jim Sharman
Starring: Barry Bostwick, Tim Curry, Meat Loaf, Susan Sarandon, Richard O'Brien, Patricia...
This camp musical sci-fi horror movie spoof has become - thanks to elaborate audience participation on the midnight movie circuit - the definitive cul... Read more
Guys and Dolls (1955)
7.2/10
Director: Joseph L Mankiewicz
Starring: Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra
Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Jean Simmons star in Joseph Mankiewicz's quality adaptation of the Broadway hit about the gamblers, missionaries and... Read more
Mary Poppins (1964)
7.8/10
Director: Robert Stevenson
Starring: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Glynis Johns
Beloved Disney film combines brilliant, animated sequences with a delightful story about Julie Andrews as a magical nanny who transforms the lives of... Read more
Hello Dolly (1969)
7.2/10
Director: Gene Kelly
Starring: Barbra Streisand, Walter Matthau, Michael Crawford
Barbara Streisand was born to play fast-talking New York match-maker, Dolly Levi; Walter Matthau is the grumpy target of her craft; and Michael Crawfo... Read more