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"
The Beggar's Opera (1953)
6.2/10
Director: Peter Brook
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Stanley Holloway, Hugh Griffith, Athene Seyler, Dorothy Tutin
Based on the first-ever English musical, written by John Gay, this authentic, cynical satire on 18th century London life boasts glorious sets and outr... Read more
Calamity Jane (1953)
7.3/10
Director: David Butler
Starring: Doris Day, Howard Keel, Allyn McLerie, Philip Carey
A sunny musical comedy with Doris Day as the rough-and-tumble frontiers woman who makes up in big-heartedness what she lacks in refinement. Contains t... 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
The Band Wagon (1953)
7.6/10
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Starring: Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Oscar Levant
Delightful musical featuring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse in a story line that revolves around the difficulties of putting on a Broadway show. Astair... 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
By The Light Of The Silvery Moon (1952)
7.1/10
Director: David Butler
Starring: Doris Day, Gordon MacRae, Leon Ames
Doris Day and Gordon MacRae reunite for this sequel to 'On Moonlight Bay', which sees the continuing adventures of the Winfield family after Doris' be... Read more
Hans Christian Andersen (1952)
6.9/10
Director: Charles Vidor
Starring: Danny Kaye, Farley Granger, Jeanmarie
Danny Kaye stars as the Danish cobbler-turned-storyteller extraordinaire in a fanciful family favorite, loosely based on Andersen's life. Lavish sets... Read more
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
8.3/10
Director: Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen
Starring: Millard Mitchell, Jean Hagen, Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Cyd...
Silent movies are giving way to Talking Pictures and a hoofer-turned-matinee idol (Gene Kelly) is caught in that bumpy transition, as well as his budd... Read more
An American in Paris ( Blu-ray ) (1951)
7.2/10
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Starring: Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Nina Foch, Oscar Levant
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
Happy Go Lovely (1951)
6.5/10
Director: H Bruce Humberstone
Starring: David Niven, Vera-Ellen, Cesar Romero
A brisk and breezy musical comedy about an American theatre producer in Edinburgh who hires a young chorus girl in hopes that her millionaire boyfrien... Read more