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"
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
Footlight Parade (1933)
7.8/10
Director: Lloyd Bacon
Starring: James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler
One of Busby Berkeley's best, featuring out-of-this-world musical mumbers and songs like 'Honeymoon Hotel" and "Shanghai Lil". James Cagney is a down-... Read more
Love Me Tonight (1932)
7.7/10
Director: Rouben Mamoulian
Starring: Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette MacDonald, Charlie Ruggles, Myrna Loy
An inventive musical romance with Maurice Chevalier as a charming Parisian tailor whose efforts to help shady nobleman Charlie Ruggles out of a jam ma... Read more
Le Million (1931)
7.6/10
Director: Rene Clair
Starring: Annabella , Rene Lefevre
A totally charming musical comedy about two penniless artists who win the lottery and become millionaires. But the lottery tickets are in a coat that... Read more