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 Pin-Up Girl (1944)
Director: H Bruce Humberstone
Starring: Betty Grable, John Harvey, Martha Raye, Joe E Brown, Eugene Pallette
Betty Grable stars in this flag-waving musical comedy as Lorrie Jones, a military canteen worker during World War I, who dreams of fame entertaining t... Read more
Cover Girl / Gilda (1944)
Director: Charles Vidor
Starring: Rita Hayworth, Gene Kelly, Glenn Ford, George Macready
"Cover Girl" (1944) - This delightful Kern-Gershwin musical has Kelly's brilliant dancing, Silvers' burlesque routines, Arden's wisecracks and Haywort... Read more
Anchors Aweigh (1944)
7.2/10
Director: George Sidney
Starring: Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Kathryn Grayson
Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra play two sailors on leave in Hollywood. While setting up his shy friend Clarence (Sinatra), Gene Kelly, as Joe, falls for... Read more
Going My Way (1944)
7.2/10
Director: Leo McCarey
Starring: Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald, Rise Stevens
Sentimental story of a down-to-earth priest, Father O'Malley (Bing Crosby) who moves to a new parish, run by a somewhat crusty old priest. The new g... Read more
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
The Heat's On (1943)
5.1/10
Director: Gregory Ratoff
Starring: Victor Moore, Mae West, Almira Sessions, Alan Dinehart, William Gaxton
Mae West is cast as Fay Lawrence, a famous Broadway actress who is loved intensely by her producer Tony Ferris (William Gaxton). Rival producer Forres... Read more
The Gang's All Here (1943)
6.9/10
Director: Busby Berkeley
Starring: Alice Faye, Carmen Miranda, Phil Baker, Eugene Pallette, James Ellison
Busby Berkeley's first Technicolor musical finds New York chorus girl Alice Faye meeting and falling for a G.I. the day before he's shipped off to the... Read more
Stage Door Canteen (1943)
6.6/10
Director: Frank Borzage
Starring: Cheryl Walker, William Terry, Marjorie Riordan
This musical blockbuster's story is simple - soldier meets hostess at NYC's fabled canteen and falls in love, but what a cameo supporting cast! Kathar... Read more
Classic Collectables: Holiday Inn & Going My Way (1942)
7.4/10
Director: Mark Sandrich, Leo McCarey
Starring: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Barry Fitzgerald, Rise Stevens
Holiday Inn: 1942. 101mins. This grand musical showcase for Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire about a romantic triangle, and the establishment of a country... Read more
Holiday Inn (1942)
7.6/10
Director: Mark Sandrich
Starring: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds
This grand musical showcase for Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire about a romantic triangle, and the establishment of a country inn that's open only on the... Read more