The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals(pre-1972), Best to Worst
"Revival" era Musicals (post 1971) list here
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls522240956
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls522240956
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- DirectorStanley DonenGene KellyStarsGene KellyDonald O'ConnorDebbie ReynoldsA silent film star falls for a chorus girl just as he and his delusionally jealous screen partner are trying to make the difficult transition to talking pictures in 1920s Hollywood.The pinnacle of 'Golden Age' Hollywood musicals. Gene Kelly is so effortlessly cool. 10/10
- DirectorMel BrooksStarsZero MostelGene WilderDick ShawnA stage-play producer devises a plan to make money by producing a sure-fire flop.Mel Brooks' funnyest movie, and gloriously politically incorrect, in the best way possible. 10/10
- DirectorMark SandrichStarsFred AstaireGinger RogersEdward Everett HortonAn American dancer comes to Britain and falls for a model whom he initially annoyed, but she mistakes him for his goofy producer.Spectacular and impressive. 9/10
- DirectorVincente MinnelliStarsFred AstaireCyd CharisseOscar LevantA pretentiously artistic director is hired for a new Broadway musical and changes it beyond recognition.A musical about musicals; one of the classics of the 'Golden Age'. The "Girl Hunt Ballet" sequence, parodying Film Noir/gangster movies is incredible, as well as the iconic "dancing babies" scene. 10/10
- DirectorRobert WiseStarsJulie AndrewsChristopher PlummerEleanor ParkerA young novice is sent by her convent in 1930s Austria to become a governess to the seven children of a widowed naval officer.I'm not generally a fan of super-saccharine, squeaky-clean movies like this. But it has so many classic songs, and Julie Andrews really is great in this (altho less fun than she is in 'S.O.B', in the early 80's, which made me appreciate her much more). 10/10
- DirectorVictor FlemingKing VidorStarsJudy GarlandFrank MorganRay BolgerYoung Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto are swept away by a tornado from their Kansas farm to the magical Land of Oz, and embark on a quest with three new friends to see the Wizard, who can return her to her home and fulfill the others' wishes.10/10 If you haven't seen this already, you are just BAD at watching movies.
- DirectorAndrew L. StoneStarsLena HorneBill RobinsonCab Calloway and His Cotton Club OrchestraThe relationship between an aspiring dancer and a popular songstress provides a retrospective of the great African-American entertainers of the early 1900s.10/10 This movie is just wild; Made for black audiences, in the ww2 'Zoot Suit' era, starring influential dancer Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson, and swing/Big-Band legends like Cab Calloway, Lena Horne and Fats Waller. Some of the most outrageous dancing, crazy 40's fashion, and unique, authentic, vaudeville-style performance you'll ever see. Woefully under-watched/under-rated (it's on Youtube, free; Trust me, it's worth checking out this insane, frenetic, unique, unfathomably cool snapshot of the black 'Hep Cat' scene in the 40s. Cab Calloway's suits, alone, are worth the price of admission.)
- DirectorCarol ReedStarsMark LesterRon MoodyShani WallisAfter being sold to a mortician, young orphan Oliver Twist runs away and meets a group of boys trained to be pickpockets by an elderly mentor in 1830s London.Maybe it's just nostalgia, because my Mum used sing songs from this, when I was a kid. But even though it's not really up my alley, I still love this movie. 10/10
- DirectorMervyn LeRoyStarsWarren WilliamJoan BlondellAline MacMahonA wealthy composer rescues unemployed Broadway performers with a new play, but insists on remaining anonymous.For almost a century old, this holds up insanely well. As well as some incredible spectacle, it also communicates the vibe of the 30's, making the era feel authentic and relatable, probably better than an other 30's movie I've seen. 10/10
- DirectorMel StuartStarsGene WilderJack AlbertsonPeter OstrumA poor but hopeful boy seeks one of the five coveted golden tickets that will send him on a tour of Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory.
- DirectorFrank TashlinStarsTom EwellJayne MansfieldEdmond O'BrienA gangster hires a down-and-out press agent to make his airheaded girlfriend a singing star.A bunch of great early rock n' roll. 8/10
- DirectorDavid ButlerStarsDoris DayHoward KeelAllyn Ann McLerieThe story of Calamity Jane, her saloon, and her romance with Wild Bill Hickok.Doris Day at her most fun. 7/10
- DirectorCharles WaltersStarsBing CrosbyGrace KellyFrank SinatraWith socialite Tracy Lord about to remarry, her ex-husband - with the help of a sympathetic reporter - has 48 hours to convince her that she really still loves him.Kinda flawed as a movie, but still insanely cool, with Sinatra at his coolest, plus Grace Kelly and Bing, with the Louis armstrong cameo. And some of my personal favourite songs, from any musical ("Did you Evah", "Who Wants to be A Millionaire", "High Society") 7/10
- DirectorLloyd BaconStarsWarner BaxterBebe DanielsGeorge BrentWhen the leading lady of a Broadway musical breaks her ankle, she is replaced by a young unknown actress, who becomes the star of the show.Another spectacular, from the genre's heyday. 8/10
- DirectorGeorge StevensStarsFred AstaireGinger RogersVictor MooreRoguish gambler/dancer "Lucky" Garnett is challenged by his fiance's father to come up with $25,000 to prove he's worthy of her hand. But after he falls in love with a dance instructor, Lucky'll do anything to keep from earning the bucks.Classic Fred & Ginger movie, with some timeless songs ("A Fine Romance", and "Pick Yourself Up"), but probably most notable for Fred Astaire's incredible, frenetic, over-the-top tribute to Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, now super-controversial, because of Astaire's wearing blackface
- DirectorRobert StevensonStarsJulie AndrewsDick Van DykeDavid TomlinsonIn turn of the century London, a magical nanny employs music and adventure to help two neglected children become closer to their father.
- DirectorHoward HawksStarsJane RussellMarilyn MonroeCharles CoburnShowgirls Lorelei Lee and Dorothy Shaw travel to Paris, pursued by a private detective hired by the suspicious father of Lorelei's fiancé, as well as a rich, enamored old man and many other doting admirers.
- DirectorMichael CurtizStarsJames CagneyJoan LeslieWalter HustonThe life of the renowned musical composer, playwright, actor, dancer, and singer George M. Cohan.
- DirectorJoshua LoganStarsLee MarvinClint EastwoodJean SebergTwo unlikely prospector partners share the same wife in a California gold rush mining town.A western, about Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin building a frontier brothel, possibly the most manly musical ever made.
- DirectorBob FosseStarsShirley MacLaineJohn McMartinRicardo MontalbanTaxi dancer Charity continues to have faith despite endless disappointments at its hands, and hope that she will finally meet the man to romance her away from her sleazy life. Maybe, just maybe, handsome Oscar will be the one to do it.Very wierd, high-camp attempt attempt at Hollywood, cashing in on the peak of the 'hippy' movement... in the form of a musical, for some reason... Worth checking out, just for the weirdness.
- DirectorGene KellyStarsBarbra StreisandWalter MatthauMichael CrawfordMatchmaker Dolly Levi travels to Yonkers to find a partner for "half-a-millionaire" Horace Vandergelder, convincing his niece, his niece's intended, and his two clerks to travel to New York City along the way.
- DirectorGeorge AbbottStanley DonenStarsTab HunterGwen VerdonRay WalstonA frustrated fan of the hopeless Washington Senators makes a pact with the Devil to help the baseball team win the league pennant.
- DirectorIrving CummingsStarsShirley TempleJohn BolesRochelle HudsonWealthy Edward Morgan becomes charmed with a curly-haired orphan and her pretty older sister Mary and arranges to adopt both under the alias of "Mr. Jones." As he spends more time with them, he soon finds himself falling in love with Mary.
- DirectorMark SandrichRobert AllenStarsBing CrosbyFred AstaireMarjorie ReynoldsAt an inn which is open only on holidays, a crooner and a hoofer vie for the affections of a beautiful up-and-coming performer.
- DirectorRoy RowlandStarsPeter Lind HayesMary HealyHans ConriedA young boy dreams that he is in an imaginary world where, assisted by his family's plumber, he must save other piano-playing kids like himself from the dungeons of his dictatorial piano teacher who also mind-controls his mother.BY FAR the best Dr Seuss movie, made under Seuss's oversight (although apparently he was dissappointed with the end product... lucky he never saw Cat in the Hat...), an incredible, surreal kids movie, that does an amazing job of bringing Dr Suess's aesthetic to live action.
- DirectorBilly WilderStarsMarilyn MonroeTony CurtisJack LemmonAfter two male musicians witness a mob hit, they flee the state in an all-female band disguised as women, but further complications set in.
- DirectorNorman JewisonStarsTopolNorma CraneLeonard FreyIn pre-revolutionary Russia, a Jewish peasant with traditional values contends with marrying off three of his daughters with modern romantic ideals while growing anti-Semitic sentiment threatens his village.I don't know why, but I've always thought of 'Fiddler' as the last gasp of the epic Hollywood blolck-busteer musical; All the other big 70s musicals, Cabaret, Grease, New York New York, Rocky Horror, Tommy, etc all feel more like "retro", and an attempt to revive the musical genre. While 'Fiddler' feels like the last big musical to NOT have that "nostalgia" vibe.
- DirectorGeorge SidneyBusby BerkeleyStarsBetty HuttonHoward KeelLouis CalhernThe story of the great sharpshooter Annie Oakley, who rose to fame while dealing with her love/professional rival, Frank Butler.
- DirectorMelvin FrankStarsLeslie ParrishStubby KayePeter PalmerAs Sadie Hawkins Day approaches, Daisy Mae hopes to win the hand of Li'l Abner by catching him in the traditional race.Very weird attempt to to bring an old newspaper comic strip to the silver screen, so (like 'The 5,000 Fingers...') it's like a live-action cartoon; It's like 50's version of that 90s/00s fad of cartoon-based live-action movies, like The Fintstones, Scooby-Doo, the Jim Carry 'Grinch', Mike Myers 'Cat in the Hat;', etc. Extremely fun movie.
- DirectorJoshua LoganStarsRossano BrazziMitzi GaynorJohn KerrOn a South Pacific island during World War II, love blooms between a young nurse and a secretive Frenchman who's being courted for a dangerous military mission.
- DirectorRichard ThorpeStarsElvis PresleyJudy TylerMickey ShaughnessyAfter serving time for manslaughter, young Vince Everett becomes a teenage rock star.
- DirectorGordon DouglasStarsFrank SinatraDean MartinSammy Davis Jr.In Prohibition-era Chicago, two rival gangs compete for control of the city's rackets.Cheesy, fun rat-pack movie, transfering the Robin Hood story to an 'old-timey gangster' setting. 7/10
- DirectorMelvin FrankNorman PanamaStarsDanny KayeGlynis JohnsBasil RathboneA hapless carnival performer masquerades as the court jester as part of a plot against an evil ruler who has overthrown the rightful King.
- DirectorVincente MinnelliCharles WaltersStarsLeslie CaronMaurice ChevalierLouis JourdanWeary of the conventions of Parisian society, a rich playboy and a youthful courtesan-in-training enjoy a platonic friendship which may not stay platonic for long.
- DirectorH.C. PotterStarsOle OlsenChic JohnsonMartha RayeOlsen and Johnson, a pair of stage comedians, try to turn their play into a movie and bring together a young couple in love, while breaking the fourth wall every step of the way.Very weird and fun
- DirectorWilliam WylerStarsBarbra StreisandOmar SharifKay MedfordThe life of Fanny Brice, famed comedienne and entertainer of the early 1900s. We see her rise to fame as a Ziegfeld girl, subsequent career, and her personal life, particularly her relationship with Nick Arnstein.
- DirectorElliot SilversteinStarsJane FondaLee MarvinMichael CallanA young schoolteacher turns into an outlaw to avenge her murdered father.
- DirectorJoshua LoganStarsRichard HarrisVanessa RedgraveFranco NeroThe story of the marriage of England's King Arthur to Guinevere. The plot of illegitimate Mordred to gain the throne and Guinevere's growing attachment to Sir Lancelot, threaten to topple Arthur and destroy his "round table" of knights.
- DirectorMorton DaCostaStarsRobert PrestonShirley JonesBuddy HackettTraveling con artist Harold Hill targets the naïve residents of a small town in 1910s Iowa by posing as a boys' band leader to raise money before he can skip town.
- DirectorGeorge Roy HillStarsJulie AndrewsJames FoxMary Tyler MooreIn New York City during the Roaring Twenties, would-be flapper Millie Dillmount's self-appointed mission to marry her boss is complicated by white slavers and true love.
- DirectorTay GarnettStarsBing CrosbyRhonda FlemingCedric HardwickeA singing mechanic from 1912 finds himself in Arthurian Britain.
- DirectorMark SandrichStarsFred AstaireGinger RogersRandolph ScottA Navy sailor tries to rekindle a romance with the woman he loves while on liberty in San Francisco.
- DirectorKen HughesStarsDick Van DykeSally Ann HowesLionel JeffriesA down-on-his-luck inventor turns a broken-down Grand Prix car into a fancy vehicle for his children, and then they go off on a magical fantasy adventure to save their grandfather in a far-off land.
- DirectorGeorge CukorStarsAudrey HepburnRex HarrisonStanley HollowayIn 1910s London, snobbish phonetics professor Henry Higgins agrees to a wager that he can make crude flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, presentable in high society.Does have some of the best, most memorable songs in any musical, and plenty of genuinely funny moments. But a bit tightly-laced for my tastes, drags on too long, and Higgins is just too unlikable as a character. I can see why many people into musicals love it, but not my personal fave. 9/10
- DirectorJerome RobbinsRobert WiseStarsNatalie WoodGeorge ChakirisRichard BeymerTwo youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy.
- DirectorLewis MilestoneStarsBing CrosbyEthel MermanCharles RugglesA young man falls in love with a beautiful blonde. When he sees her being forced onto a luxury liner, he decides to follow and rescue her. However, he discovers that she is an English heiress who ran away from home and is now being returned to England. He also discovers that his boss is on the ship. To avoid discovery, he disguises himself as the gangster accomplice of a minister, who is actually a gangster on the run from the law.
- DirectorGeorge SidneyStarsRita HayworthFrank SinatraKim NovakJoey Evans is a charming, handsome, funny, talented 1st class, A-Number 1 heel. When Joey meets the former chorus girl and now rich widow Vera Simpson, the pair of lecherous souls seem made for each other.Sinatra at his coolest, before lapsing into self-parody in the early/mid 60's "Rat Pack" era
- DirectorIrving CummingsStarsBetty GrableCarmen MirandaJohn PayneBroadway partners Vicky Lane and Dan Christy have a tiff over Christy's womanizing. Jealous Vicky takes up with her old flame and former dance partner, Victor Price, and Dan's career takes a nosedive. In hopes of rekindling their romance and getting Vicky back on the boards with him, Dan follows her to a ritzy resort in the Canadian Rockies, where she and Victor are about to open their new act. But things get complicated when Dan wakes after a bender to find that he's hired an outlandish Latin secretary, Rosita Murphy, which makes Vicky think he's just up to his old tricks again.
- DirectorRichard AttenboroughStarsWendy AllnuttColin FarrellMalcolm McFeeThe working-class Smiths change their initially sunny views on World War I after the three boys of the family witness the harsh reality of trench warfare.