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"
Dear Evan Hansen (2021)
6.1/10
Director: Stephen Chbosky
Starring: Ben Platt, Julianne Moore, Kaitlyn Dever, Amy Adams, Danny Pino, Amandla Stenber...
Film adaptation of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical about Evan Hansen, a high school senior with Social Anxiety disorder and his journey of s... Read more
Spinout (1966)
5.8/10
Director: Norman Taurog
Starring: Elvis Presley, Shelley Fabares, Deborah Wally
With three women (a spoiled rich girl, a man-hungry author, and his band's drummer) out to snare him, racecar driver/singer Elvis sure has his hands f... Read more
Rhythm on the Range / Rhythm on the River (1936)
Director: Norman Taurog, Victor Schertzinger
Starring: Bing Crosby, Frances Farmer, Martha Raye, Mary Martin, Basil Rathbone, Oscar Lev...
A Bing Crosby Double Bill. 'Rhythm on the Range' (1936) sees the crooner playing a casual cowpoke opposite feisty love interest Frances Farmer. In '... Read more
Viva Las Vegas ( Blu-ray ) (1963)
6.4/10
Director: George Sidney
Starring: Elvis Presley, Ann-Margret , Cesare Danova, William Demarest, Nicky Blair
In one of his biggest and best films, Elvis Presley is "just a devil with love to spare" as a race car driver looking to enter the Las Vegas Grand Pri... Read more
Girl Happy (1964)
6.4/10
Director: Boris Sagal
Starring: Elvis Presley, Shelley Fabares, Gary Crosby
A nightclub owner hires Elvis as chaperone for his daughter on a Fort Lauderdale vacation. Songs include "She's Evil", "Wolf Call" and "Do the Clam". Read more
Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979)
6.8/10
Director: Allan Arkush
Starring: P J Soles, Vincent Van Patten, Clint Howard, Dey Young, Mary Woronov, Paul Barte...
"Hey, ho, let's go" with free-spirited Vince Lombardi High student P.J. Soles, as she literally blows the roof off the school and overthrows tyrannica... Read more
Don't Knock the Rock (1956)
5.7/10
Director: Fred F Sears
Starring: Alan Dale, Patricia Hardy, Alan Freed, Pierre Watkin, Bill Haley, Little Richard...
Rocker Arnie Haynes (Alan Dale) takes a much-needed break from touring with his band, only to discover teh mayor of his hometown has banned rock 'n ro... Read more
Champagne Charlie (1944)
6.8/10
Director: Alberto Cavalcanti
Starring: Tommy Trinder, Stanley Holloway, Jean Kent
This classic from Ealing Studios follows George Leybourne (Tommy Trinder) as he rises from pub singer to famous entertainer, and his rivalry with The... Read more
Shake, Rattle and Rock! (1956)
5.1/10
Director: Edward L Cahn
Starring: Fats Domino, Sterling Holloway, Touch Connors, Margaret Dumont
The endearingly awful "Shake, Rattle and Rock!" serves as a showcase for four top rock-and-roll talents of the 1950s. Fats Domino heads the cast as "h... Read more
Has Anybody Seen My Gal (1952)
7.2/10
Director: Douglas Sirk
Starring: Charles Coburn, Piper Laurie, Rock Hudson, Gigi Perreau
Wealthy Samuel Fulton is getting older and has no family of his own. He decides to leave his estate to the family of his first love, who turned down h... Read more