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"
Liza with a Z (1972)
8.6/10
Starring: Liza Minnelli
See the legendary Liza Minnelli at the height of her powers in this dazzlingly entertaining musical special. After capturing Oscar gold for "Cabaret,"... Read more
Grace of My Heart (1996)
6.7/10
Director: Allison Anders
Starring: Illeana Douglas, Matt Dillon, Eric Stoltz, Bruce Davison, Patsy Kensit, John Tur...
Illeana Douglas gives a riveting performance as fictional singer/songwriter Denise Waverly, who struggles for over a decade to gain the recognition fo... Read more
Follies in Concert (1985)
Director: Herbert Ross
Starring: Andre Gregory, Barbara Cook, Carol Burnett, George Hearn, Lee Remick, Mandy Pati...
At a reunion of the fictional musical revue The Weismann Follies, the long-retired players relive their careers. A 1985 recreation of Stephen Sondheim... Read more
Kissin' Cousins (1964)
5.3/10
Director: Gene Nelson
Starring: Elvis Presley, Arthur O'Connell, Glenda Farrell
Elvis takes a double role, that of an Air Force officer and his hillbilly cousin, feudin' and fightin' over a missile base to be built on the latter's... Read more
Love Me Tender (1956)
6.2/10
Director: Robert D Webb
Starring: Richard Egan, Debra Paget, Elvis Presley, Robert Middleton, William Campbell, Ne...
Elvis Presley's film debut is a story set in the civil war about conflicting politics among sons in a Southern family. Read more
Purple Rain (1984)
6.5/10
Director: Albert Magnoli
Starring: Morris Day, Olga Karlatos, Apollonia Kotero, Prince, Clarence Williams III
Risque rocker Prince stars as "The Kid", a talented, withdrawn singer in this sizzling musical/drama that combines romance, comedy and dazzling on-sta... Read more
Tickle Me (1965)
6/10
Director: Norman Taurog
Starring: Elvis Presley, Julie Adams, Jocelyn Lane, Jack Mullaney, Merry Anders, Bill Will...
A light-hearted Elvis romp, with the handsome crooner playing a former rodeo star who signs on to work at a health ranch whose clientele includes bevi... Read more
Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
8.1/10
Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Starring: Warren William, Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Guy Kibbee, Ginger Roge...
The show must go on in Busby Berekeley's classic, crazed Depression-era extravaganza about a trio of dancers and their struggle to pay the rent when t... Read more
Summer Holiday (1963)
6.1/10
Director: Peter Yates
Starring: Cliff Richard, David Kossoff, Ron Moody, The Shadows, Una Stubbs, Melvyn Hayes,...
Borrowing a double-decker bus for a mobile home, four young mechanics search for fun in the sun from London to Athens. Bachelor boy Cliff Richard dons... Read more
Purple Rain ( Blu-ray ) (1984)
6.5/10
Director: Albert Magnoli
Starring: Prince, Apollonia Kotero, Morris Day, Olga Karlatos, Clarence Williams III
Risque rocker Prince stars as "The Kid", a talented, withdrawn singer in this sizzling musical/drama that combines romance, comedy and dazzling on-sta... Read more