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"
Xanadu (1980)
5.1/10
Director: Robert Greenwald
Starring: Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly, Michael Beck
'Xanadu' is a look at the future and a loving rememberance of the way things were in the heyday of Hollywood. The musical score includes the hit songs... Read more
The Optimists (1973)
7/10
Director: Anthony Simmons
Starring: Peter Sellers
AKA: "The Optimists of Nine Elms." Peter Sellers shines in this charming family drama as a London street performer who befriends two downtrodden child... Read more
Roberta (1935)
7.1/10
Director: William A Seiter
Starring: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Irene Dunne, Lucille Ball, Randolph Scott
The lively dancing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers highlights this Jerome Kern-Otto Harbach musical, set in 1920s Paris and featuring Irene Dunne an... Read more
Glee: Season 1, Volume 1 - Road to Sectionals (2009)
6.7/10
Starring: Jessalyn Gilsig, Chris Colfer, Jayma Mays, Mark Salling, Cory Monteith, Amber Ri...
"Glee" is an irreverent, upbeat, non-cynical take on the cliche-ridden trope of high school life, as seen through the eyes of cheerleaders, jocks, qui... Read more
Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940)
7.4/10
Director: Norman Taurog
Starring: Eleanor Powell, Fred Astaire
Top-flight entertainment highlighted by a marvelous Cole Porter score ("Begin the Beguine"), exciting Fred Astaire-Eleanor Powell dance numbers, and s... Read more
Glee: Season 1, Volume 2 - Road to Regionals (2009)
6.7/10
Starring: Jessalyn Gilsig, Chris Colfer, Jayma Mays, Mark Salling, Cory Monteith, Amber Ri...
As the club prepares for the Regionals, Kurt and Finn share family problems, Rachel experiences simultaneous joy and sorrow, Will's relationship turns... Read more
Annette (2021)
6.4/10
Director: Leos Carax
Starring: Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, Simon Helberg
Los Angeles, nowadays. Henry is a stand-up comedian with a fierce humor. Ann, an internationally renowned opera singer. Together, under the spotlight,... Read more
Go, Johnny Go (1959)
5.9/10
Director: Paul Landres
Starring: Alan Freed, Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran, Ritchie Vallens, Jackie Wilson
Jimmy Clanton gets the top billing as Johnny Melody, a young singer trying for Alan Freed's talent show, but the star of this blast from the past is t... Read more
The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)
5.6/10
Director: Alfred E Green
Starring: Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey
Based on the lives of big-band stars Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, who star as themselves in this biographical chronicle that begins with their childhood in... Read more
Ladies of the Chorus (1948)
6.1/10
Director: Phil Karlson
Starring: Adele Jergens, Marilyn Monroe, Rand Brooks, Nana Bryant, Eddie Garr
Marilyn's second feature film casts her as dizzy burlesque queen, Peggy Martin, who gets a big break after stealing not only the show, but the heart o... Read more