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"
An American in Paris (1951)
7.2/10
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Starring: Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant, Nina Foch
No film can match 'An American in Paris' for all the joy, all the songs, and all the romance in music and dance. Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron star in t... 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
A Star Is Born (Streisand) (1976)
7.8/10
Director: Frank Pierson
Starring: Barbra Streisand, Kris Kristofferson, Gary Busey
Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson are the leads in this third version. A talented wife whose star is on the rise quickly overshadows her husband... Read more
Yentl (1983)
6.6/10
Director: Barbra Streisand
Starring: Amy Irving, Barbra Streisand, Mandy Patinkin
Barbra Streisand directs herself in a sweeping entertainment based on the I B Singer short story about a young woman who disguises herself as a young... Read more
Walk the Line (2005)
7.9/10
Director: James Mangold
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick, Dallas Rob...
Joaquin Phoenix channels the late, great Johnny Cash in this no-holds-barred biopic of the Man in Black. Bookended by the famous Folsom Prison concer... Read more
Sweet Charity (1968)
7/10
Director: Bob Fosse
Starring: Shirley MacLaine, John McMartin, Chita Rivera, Paula Kelly, Stubby Kaye, Ricardo...
Neil Simon adapted the story from Federico Fellini's 'Nights of Cabiria'. Shirley Maclaine is a prostitute who falls in love with a naive young man wh... Read more
Jesus Christ Superstar (2000)
7.3/10
Director: Gale Edwards
Starring: Glenn Carter, Rik Mayall, Jerome Pradon, Rene Castle
The popular Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that puts a rock spin on the story of Christ's final days on Earth is given a stylish presentation in... Read more
A Prairie Home Companion (2006)
6.8/10
Director: Robert Altman
Starring: Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Woody Harrelson, John C Reilly, Kevin Kline, Garrison...
The late Robert Altman's swansong is this whimsical tribute to radio shows of days gone by. Scripted by Garrison Keillor (who plays himself in the fi... Read more
Kiss Me Kate (1953)
7.2/10
Director: George Sidney
Starring: Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Ann Miller
A classic musical from Cole Porter, adapted from the successful Broadway hit, featuring Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel as the once-married couple reu... Read more
De-Lovely (2004)
6.6/10
Director: Irwin Winkler
Starring: Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, Jonathan Pryce
"De-Lovely" is an original musical portrait of American composer Cole Porter, filled with his unforgettable songs. In the film, Porter (Kevin Kline) i... Read more