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"
Princess Tam Tam (1935)
Director: Edmond T Greville
Starring: Josephine Baker
A young Bedouin girl, Alwina (Josephine Baker), becomes the object of desire and inspiration for an idealistic French writer, Max (Albert Prejean). Ma... Read more
Roberta (1935)
7.1/10
Director: William A Seiter
Starring: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Irene Dunne, Lucille Ball, Randolph Scott
The lively dancing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers highlights this Jerome Kern-Otto Harbach musical, set in 1920s Paris and featuring Irene Dunne an... Read more
The Littlest Rebel (1935)
6.9/10
Director: David Butler
Starring: Shirley Temple, John Boles, Karen Morley, Jack Holt
Virgie Cary's (Shirley Temple) happy Southern plantation life is shattered when war breaks out and her dear dad (John Boles) must go fight, while her... Read more
Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935)
7.5/10
Director: Busby Berkeley
Starring: Adolphe Menjou, Alice Bradley, Dick Powell, Gloria Stuart
It's the summer season at a swanky resort, and none of the employees have any qualms about fleecing the rich guests for all they're worth in this madc... 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
Baby Take A Bow (1934)
6.6/10
Director: Harry Lachman
Starring: Shirley Temple, James Dunn, Claire Trevor, Alan Dinehart
Shirley Temple stars in this lighthearted musical comedy about an ex-con struggling to stay straight and the adorable daughter who keeps him away from... Read more
Dames (1934)
7.2/10
Director: Ray Enright
Starring: Joan Blondell, Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Zasu Pitts, Guy Kibbee
Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler only have eyes for each other in this tale of stage hopefuls battling a disapproving decency group. And all audience eyes... Read more
Laurel & Hardy: Bogus Bandits ( aka The Devil's Brother ) (1933)
4.7/10
Director: Charles R Rogers, Hal Roach
Starring: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Thelma Todd, James Finlayson
Olio and Stanlio are a couple of incompetent bandits hired by Fra Davolio (the Devil's brother), a real-life bandit also known as Marquis de San Marco... Read more
Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
8.1/10
Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Starring: Warren William, Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Guy Kibbee, Ginger Roge...
The show must go on in Busby Berekeley's classic, crazed Depression-era extravaganza about a trio of dancers and their struggle to pay the rent when t... Read more
42nd Street (1933)
7.6/10
Director: Lloyd Bacon
Starring: Dick Powell, George Brent, Guy Kibbee, Ruby Keeler, Warner Baxter, Una Merkel
The archetypical backstage musical given depth, life and power by the extravagant touch of Busby Berkeley. Warner Baxter is Julian Marsh, the 'musical... Read more