A fast-paced, backstage movie musical, set on the famous Manhattan street of that name, one that changed the film musical forever and was so financially successful that it saved Warner Bros. Studios from bankruptcy.
42nd Street (1933)
Has been made into a movie three times and the 1936 version is considered by nearly all film critics to be one of the classic film musicals of all time. The song "Bill" featured lyrics by P. G. Wodehouse, and famous songs include, "Goodbye, My Lady Love" and "After the Ball."
Show Boat (1929, 1936, 1951)
Based on the musical which in turn is based on the the book Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon.
The King and I (1956)
Adaptation of the stage musical of the same name which is based in turn on the play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw.
My Fair Lady (1964)
A 1935 screwball musical comedy in which Fred Astaire plays an American dancer named Jerry Travers. The most successful picture of Astaire and Ginger Rogers' partnership and remains the partnership's best-known work.
Top Hat (1935)
A semi-biographical plot based on the life and career of Broadway and film star and comedienne Fanny Brice.
Funny Girl (1968)
The first and only animated picture to ever be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Best known of Disney's studio films.
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
The film explores the themes of celebrity and scandal in Jazz age Chicago and was the first musical film to win the Best Picture Oscar since Oliver! (1968).
Chicago (2002)
Based on the series of children's books written by P. L. Travers. Popularized the word "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!"
Mary Poppins (1964)
Musical about George Cohan, considered the father of American musical comedy. A popular myth about this movie, or at least a stretching of the truth, was that it was written in response to accusations that James Cagney was a communist.
Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
A 1944 romantic musical from MGM which tells the story of four sisters living in a certain Midwest city at the time of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition World's Fair in 1904.
Meet Me in St.Louis (1944)
Along with Singin' in the Rain, it is regarded as the finest of the MGM musicals and tells the story of an aging musical star who wants to star in a Broadway play that will restart his career. The film popularized the song "That's Entertainment!", which became a standard.
The Band Wagon (1953)
Contains the song "New York, New York" and is notable for its combination of studio and location filming, as a result of Gene Kelly's insistence that some scenes be shot in New York City itself.
On the Town (1949)
1961 musical loosely adapted from Romeo and Juliet. Elvis Presley was originally approached for the role of Tony in the movie but his manager, Colonel Parker, strongly believed the role to be wrong for Elvis and made him decline it.
West Side Story (1961)
A 1979 musical film directed by Bob Fosse whose structure is often compared to Federico Fellini's 8½.
All That Jazz (1979)
2001 Academy Award-winning Australian jukebox musical film that uses the colourful musical setting of the Montmartre Quarter of Paris, France. Due to the film's international success, it has been widely credited with revitalizing the musical genre, setting the stage for films such as Chicago, Rent, Dreamgirls and The Phantom Of The Opera.
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
A 1951 musical film inspired by the 1928 classical composition by George Gershwin. The climax is an 18 minute ballet featuring gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. There is a cameo representation of Winston Churchill painting during the opening section of the movie.
An American is Paris (1951)
Based on the Ancient Roman legend of The Rape of the Sabine Women. The film is particularly known for the unusual choreography by Michael Kidd, which makes dance numbers out of such mundane frontier pursuits as chopping wood and (most famously) raising a barn.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
1952 film that offers a comic depiction of Hollywood's transition from silent films to talkies. A famous dance routine has the hero singing the title song while twirling an umbrella, splashing through puddles and getting soaked to the skin.
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
1972 film set in Berlin during the Weimar Republic in 1931 prior to the coming to power of the Nazis under Adolf Hitler. Has the distinction of winning the most Oscars (eight) without Best Picture (which went to The Godfather).
Cabaret (1972)
One of the most beloved of all American films, its signature song, "Over the Rainbow", sung by the young Judy Garland, has been voted the greatest movie song of all time by the American Film Institute.
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The musical originated with the book The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp and contains many popular songs, including "My Favorite Things", "Do-Re-Mi" among others. Credited as the film that saved 20th Century Fox, after high production costs and low revenue for Cleopatra nearly bankrupted the studio.
The Sound of Music (1965)
Starring Marlon Brando, it is based around the activities of New York petty criminals and professional gamblers.
Guys and Dolls (1955)
Released with the tagline "___ is the word." Features a teen romance in Rydell High School.
Grease (1978)
Musical highlights included "The Man That Got Away" and the "Born in a Trunk" sequence. One of Judy Garland's signature roles.
A Star Is Born (1954)