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"
Meet Me in St Louis (1944)
7.7/10
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Starring: Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Tom Drake
Judy Garland is the classic American teenager in love, in song, in one of the brightest hours of her career. 'Meet Me in St Louis' is a charming turn-... Read more
High School Musical (2006)
5.3/10
Director: Kenny Ortega
Starring: Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Mon...
Two teens from different worlds come together for a karaoke contest and find they have more in common than they thought. Troy's the high school jock... Read more
Four Last Songs (2005)
6.2/10
Director: Francesca Joseph
Starring: Stanley Tucci, Rhys Ifans, Hugh Bonneville, Jena Malone, Jessica Stevenson, Karl...
Chronically dissatisfied musician and ex-pat, Larry (Stanley Tucci), is living on a beautiful Mediterranean island, where he makes a living playing pi... Read more
The Boat That Rocked (2009)
Director: Richard Curtis
Starring: Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branagh, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Nick Frost, Tom Sturridge,...
Aka "Pirate Radio". In 1966, a rusty fishing trawler christened Radio Rock floats just outside British territorial waters, broadcasting illicit rock '... Read more
Top Hat (1935)
7.8/10
Director: Mark Sandrich
Starring: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edward Everett Horton
Commonly called the quintessential Astaire-Rogers musical, Top Hat is a breathless combination of glorious music, marvelous dance routines which seem... Read more
Oliver! (1968)
7.5/10
Director: Carol Reed
Starring: Harry Secombe, Jack Wild, Mark Lester, Oliver Reed, Ron Moody, Shani Wallis
The musical version of Dicken's classic 'Oliver Twist' adds song and dance to the story of a brave lad trying to survive amidst wretched social condit... Read more
Annie Get Your Gun (1950)
7/10
Director: George Sidney
Starring: Betty Hutton, Howard Keel, Louis Calhern
This long awaited, much-loved musical about sharpshooting Annie Oakley and her romance with Wild Bill Hickock stars Betty Hutton and Howard Keel. Read more
Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
7.5/10
Director: Michael Apted
Starring: Beverly D'Angelo, Levon Helm, Sissy Spacek, Tommy Lee Jones
The film biography of country-western superstar Loretta Lynn. Sissy Spacek won an Academy Award for her performance as the lass from Butcher's Hollow.... Read more
Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
8/10
Director: Norman Jewison
Starring: Topol, Norma Crane, Leonard Frey, Molly Picon
One of Broadway's greatest musicals comes to the screen with rousing dance numbers, emotionally charged performances, and such beloved tunes as "Sunri... Read more
Mamma Mia! (2008)
6.4/10
Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, J...
Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth may not be the first names that spring to mind for an Abba musical, but whoever thought of throwing them... Read more