All Time MUST see Musicals
Classic Musical Comedy Theater at its finest. No animation in this list, only fine real performances with terrific scores and production numbers.
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- DirectorCharles VidorStarsDanny KayeFarley GrangerZizi JeanmaireThe opening scene of the movie describes it best: "Once upon a time there lived in Denmark a great storyteller named Hans Christian Andersen. This is not the story of his life, but a fairy tale about the great spinner of fairy tales."Few people know that this score was written by the same manewho wrote the infamous song, Luck Be A Lady from the score to Guys and Dolls! A beautiful and sometimes haunting score by Frank Loesser. Danny Kaye ain't too bad a star either :-)
- 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."Who Will Buy" has got to be the best production number ever ever EVER produced on film.
- DirectorJoseph L. MankiewiczStarsMarlon BrandoJean SimmonsFrank SinatraIn New York, a gambler is challenged to take a cold female missionary to Havana, but they fall for each other, and the bet has a hidden motive to finance a crap game.Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat!!!!!
- DirectorDavid SwiftStarsRobert MorseMichele LeeRudy ValleeArmed with the titular manual, an ambitious window washer seeks to climb the corporate ladder.The Sets. The Costumes. The Era.
A Secretary is NOT a Toy. - 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.So many beautiful choreographed numbers in this movie. The stars give wonderful performances, but the dancing surpasses it all. How could it not with a director like Gene Kelley in charge?
- DirectorMorton DaCostaStarsRosalind RussellForrest TuckerCoral BrowneAn orphan goes to live with his free-spirited aunt. Conflict ensues when the executor of his father's estate objects to the aunt's lifestyle.There are two best buddies songs on film: one is "What a Swell Party This Is" between Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby in High Society. The other one is "Bosom Buddies" with Lucille Ball as Mame and Bea Arthur as Vera.
- DirectorDavid SheehanStarsBen VereenWilliam KattLeslie DennistonAt the goading of the ominous and omnipresent Leading Player, Pippin, the eldest son of King Charlemagne, samples life's pleasures to discover his place in the world and the meaning of his life.A highly underrated score and production. The show captures a moment in time of the Broadway talents of Ben Vereen and Bob Fosse. If you want to see Fosse's work, I'd actually pick this over Sweet Charity or All That Jazz.
- 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.The all time classic that starts with the best titles ever and only gets better.
- 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.Hearing Dick Van Dyke sing the melodious "Hushabye Mountain" makes me feel safe and warm. Between that and The Old Bamboo, and oh don't forget the children-hating Baron and Baroness, this movie will not disappoint.
- DirectorRichard FleischerStarsRex HarrisonSamantha EggarAnthony NewleyAfter the animal communicating veterinarian goes too far for his clientele, he and his friends escape their hometown to the sea in search of the Great Pink Sea Snail.Leslie Bricusse wrote a few wonderful musicals, this and Willy Wonka, Victor Victoria, Stop the World I Want to Get Off, Scrooge, and others. This is my favorite, especially since it includes a love song to a seal.
The world IS full of beautiful things!!! - 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.Best costume scenes ever: the races with its black and white pre-turn of the century finery and the ball and the street vendors.
- 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.It's fun to see Fred Astaire playing a cad against the good hearted Bing. Two of Fred's best dance numbers are in this musical: Be Careful It's My Heart comedy mashup duet and his solo Fourth of July dance with firecarackers!
- 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.Too many wonderful songs to list. You know then all by heart anyways... score is by Robert and Richard Sherman
- 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.Gene Kelly has starred in many great musicals, Anchors Aweigh and that Paris one. But this really is his piece de resistance. It cannot be denied.
- 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.Marilyn Monroe glows and shows how deep and wide her talent really went.
- 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.Land of Oz song has the best lyric ever:
"We get up at noon and start to work at one.
"Take an hour for lunch and then by two we're done.
"Jolly Good Fun!" - 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.Top three favorite musicals ever.
- DirectorFred ZinnemannStarsGordon MacRaeGloria GrahameGene NelsonIn Oklahoma, several farmers, cowboys and a traveling salesman compete for the romantic favors of various local ladies.Top Three Musicals ever.
- 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.
- DirectorStanley DonenGene KellyStarsGene KellyFrank SinatraBetty GarrettThree sailors wreak havoc as they search for love during a whirlwind 24-hour leave in New York City.Such a great show. And I love hearing Frank Sinatra tell a girl she's awful, nothing, cheap, and old.
- DirectorMichael CurtizStarsJames CagneyJoan LeslieWalter HustonThe life of the renowned musical composer, playwright, actor, dancer, and singer George M. Cohan.Jimmy Cagney. hoofing. nuf said.
- 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.It's hard to single out a best single Fred and Ginger movie. You may disagree with my choice, but I bet you'd still put this in your top three of their movies.
- DirectorBlake EdwardsStarsJulie AndrewsJames GarnerRobert PrestonA struggling female soprano in 1934 Paris finally finds work after posing as a female impersonator, but it complicates her personal life when a visiting Chicago gangster finds himself inexplicably attracted to the seemingly male performer.Another Leslie Bricusse classic!
- DirectorGeorge SidneyStarsDick Van DykeAnn-MargretJanet LeighA rock singer travels to a small Ohio town to make his "farewell" television performance and kiss his biggest fan before he is drafted.Terrific teeny bop production number: Gotta Lotta Living to Do!
- 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.In my top three favorite musicals for sure. But I am a sucker for the song "True Love." My she was yar...