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"
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
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
Les Miserables (Jackman) (2012)
7.4/10
Director: Tom Hooper
Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Sacha Baron Cohen, Anne Hatha...
A musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel about a recently-released prisoner named Jean Valjean struggling to survive during the French revo... Read more
Les Miserables (Jackman) ( Blu-ray ) (2012)
7.4/10
Director: Tom Hooper
Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Sacha Baron Cohen, Anne Hatha...
A musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel about a recently-released prisoner named Jean Valjean struggling to survive during the French revo... Read more
Let George Do It! (1940)
Director: Marcel Varnel
Starring: George Formby, Phyllis Calvert, Garry Marsh, Romney Brent, Bernard Lee, Coral Br...
One of British comedian George Formby's most successful films, in this war-time musical he plays ukelele-ist George Hepplewhite who gets on a boat thi... Read more
Lisztomania (1975)
6.5/10
Director: Ken Russell
Starring: Fiona Lewis, Paul Nicholas, Ringo Starr, Roger Daltrey, Sara Kestelman, Rick Wak...
This freewheeling fantasia on the life of pianist Franz Liszt ranks among director Ken Russell's most outrageous efforts. Roger Daltrey, lead singer f... Read more
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
6.9/10
Director: Frank Oz
Starring: Rick Moranis, Steve Martin, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia, James Belushi, John...
The film of the off-Broadway musical of the horror movie spoof... an hilarious, tuneful story of a nerd and his man-eating plant starring Rick Moranis... Read more
Little Shop of Horrors: The Director's Cut ( Blu-ray ) (1986)
6.9/10
Director: Frank Oz
Starring: Bill Murray, Christopher Guest, Ellen Greene, James Belushi, John Candy, Rick Mo...
The film of the off-Broadway musical of the horror movie spoof... an hilarious, tuneful story of a nerd and his man-eating plant starring Rick Moranis... Read more
Live A Little, Love A Little (1968)
5.9/10
Director: Norman Taurog
Starring: Elvis Presley, Michele Carey, Don Porter, Rudy Vallee
Magazine photographer Elvis has to juggle two jobs (one for a stuffy, conservative publisher, the other with a "girlie" mag) in this wild romp. Based... Read more
Liza with a Z (1972)
8.6/10
Starring: Liza Minnelli
See the legendary Liza Minnelli at the height of her powers in this dazzlingly entertaining musical special. After capturing Oscar gold for "Cabaret,"... Read more