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"
All That Jazz (1979)
7.8/10
Director: Bob Fosse
Starring: Jessica Lange, Ann Reinking, Roy Scheider, Leland Palmer, Ben Vereen, Cliff Gorm...
Bob Fosse casts Roy Scheider as basically himself in this semi-autobiographical musical extravaganza. He's a talented director/choreographer who loves... Read more
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
8/10
Director: Victor Fleming
Starring: Ray Bolger, Judy Garland, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Billie Burke, Frank Morgan, Mar...
Follow Dorothy over the rainbow and down the Yellow Brick Road, along with the Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman, Cowardly Lion and Toto, too, for fun and adven... Read more
The Last of the Blonde Bombshells (2000)
7.4/10
Director: Gillies MacKinnon
Starring: Judi Dench, Ian Holm, Leslie Caron, Olympia Dukakis, Cleo Laine, Joan Sims, Bill...
Recent widow, Elizabeth (Judi Dench), begins playing her tenor sax again, remembering back to when she was in an all-girl (almost) swing band back in... Read more
Doctor Dolittle (1967)
6.2/10
Director: Richard Fleischer
Starring: Rex Harrison, Samantha Eggar, Anthony Newley, Richard Attenborough, Peter Bull
Rex Harrison is the man who can talk to the animals in this epic musical entertainment for children of all ages, based on the stories of Hugh Lofting.... Read more
The Cliff Richard Movie Collection: The Young Ones / Wonderful Life / Summer Holiday (1961)
Director: Peter Yates, Sidney J Furie
Starring: Cliff Richard, The Shadows, Robert Morley, Carole Gray, Susan Hampshire, Derek B...
A Cliff Richard triple feature! 'The Young Ones' (1961) - Nicky and his friends find their youth club threatened by a property tycoon who intends to b... Read more
Sunshine on Leith (2013)
6.6/10
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Jane Horrocks, Jason Flemyng, Peter Mullan, George MacKay, Antonia Thomas, Freya...
Dexter Fletcher directs "Sunshine on Leith"; a jubilant, heartfelt musical about the power of home, the hearth, family and love. It is the tale of one... Read more
The Sound of Music (1965)
8/10
Director: Robert Wise
Starring: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker, Richard Haydn
Julie Andrews lights up the screen as Maria, the spirited young woman who leaves the convent to become a governess to the seven children of Captain Vo... Read more
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)
7/10
Director: Richard Lester
Starring: Zero Mostel, Phil Silvers, Buster Keaton
This adaptation of the Broadway musical hit about a conniving slave in ancient Rome features comedy legends Zero Mostel (re-creating his Tony award-wi... Read more
The Sapphires (2012)
7.1/10
Director: Wayne Blair
Starring: Deborah Mailman, Chris O'Dowd, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens, Miranda Tapsell
1968. Four young women from a remote Aboriginal mission, sisters Gail, Julie and Cynthia, together with their cousin Kay, are discovered by Dave, a do... Read more
The Soloist (2009)
6.7/10
Director: Joe Wright
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr, Catherine Keener, Tom Hollander, LisaGay Hamilton
Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr star in this biography of Nathaniel Ayers (played by Foxx). Ayers was a musical prodigy who played the cello, but afte... Read more