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 Confrontation (1969)
6.6/10
Director: Miklos Jancso
It is 1947; the Communist Party has just taken power in Hungary. In Jancsó's first color film, young students at a People's College have a debate with... Read more
The Dolly Sisters (1945)
6.5/10
Director: Irving Cummings
Starring: Betty Grable, June Haver, John Payne, S Z 'Cuddles' Sakall, Reginald Gardiner
Betty Grable and June Haver sing and dance their way through the title roles in this breezy musical biodrama about the vaudeville duo Jennie and Rosie... Read more
The End (2024)
5.4/10
Starring: Tilda Swinton, George MacKay, Tim McInnerny
A rich family lives in a salt mine converted into a luxurious home. The earth around them has apparently been destroyed, but their son has never seen... Read more
The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)
5.6/10
Director: Alfred E Green
Starring: Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey
Based on the lives of big-band stars Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, who star as themselves in this biographical chronicle that begins with their childhood in... Read more
The Famous Five: The Musical - Smuggler's Gold (2004)
7.5/10
Director: Roz Storey
Starring: Elizabeth Marshland, Lyndon Ogbourne, Matthew Johnson
A musical interpretation of the Enid Blyton adventure "Smuggler's Gold" featuring the inimitable quintet, the Famous Five. Join George, Dick, Julian,... Read more
The Five Pennies (1959)
7.3/10
Director: Melville Shavelson
Starring: Danny Kaye, Barbara Bel Geddes, Louis Armstrong, Harry Guardino
Danny Kaye stars as jazz great Red Nichols in this excellent biopic chronicling the stormy life of the '20s cornet wizard, including Nichols' domestic... 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
The Girl Can't Help It (1956)
6.9/10
Director: Frank Tashlin
Starring: Jayne Mansfield, Tom Ewell, Edmond O'Brien
A gangster prevails upon a theatrical agent to groom the former's dumb girlfriend for stardom. Featuring wild sight gags, a great comedic turn by Jayn... Read more
The Glass Bottom Boat (1966)
6.5/10
Director: Frank Tashlin
Starring: Doris Day, Arthur Godfrey, John McGiver, Rod Taylor, Dom DeLuise, Paul Lynde, Er...
A lively mix of comedy and romance, this wacky Bond spoof has Doris Day as a public relations specialist for NASA who inadvertantly meets her boss (Ro... Read more
The Glenn Miller Story (1954)
7.3/10
Director: Anthony Mann
Starring: James Stewart, June Allyson, Henry Morgan, Frances Langford, Louis Armstrong, Ge...
James Stewart and June Allyson star as the popular band leader and his wife in this Anthony Mann film bio loaded with swinging music and fine musician... Read more