Musicalsrepresent the joyous expression of theater on the big screen, and there are some musical films that will always stand the test of time. As soon as sound movies became common in the early 1930s, eager filmmakers began producing musicals. Though the earliest examples were simple, they brought a new level of entertainment value to the art of film.
As films got more complex, so too did movie musicals. At the height of Hollywood’s Golden Age,musical epics began to dominate the box office. Often pulled from some of the highest-grossing stage shows of the time, movies allowed those popular musicals to be expanded and brought from Broadway to paying audiences all around the world.
Mixing catchy tunes, stunning choreography, and lavish set design, many classic movie musicals were bona fide spectacles that threatened to put even the best stage shows to shame. While the popularity of musicals has faded, it’s not unusual for a musical or two to arrive that reignites fan interest in the genre.
Unlike other types of films, there’s something timeless about movie musicals that keep audiences coming back decades after the fact. Some films continue to find new fans with each successive generation, and have more staying power than their contemporaries. From the past to the present, some musicals will never lose their shine.
After a few decades without any significant movie musicals,2002’sChicagobrought one of the most popular ’70s stage shows to the big screen. Based on the Kander and Ebb musical of the same name, the Richard Gere and Catherine Zeta-Jones vehiclesnagged Best Picture at the Oscars, andproved that fans were still interested in the hits.
Chicago’s Best Picture win was the first for a musical since 1968’sOliver!
Adapting the lyrical show was no easy feat, andChicago’s loose narrative wasn’t a guaranteed success for the movie. However, director Rob Marshall coraled everything with the help of a stellar cast and subtle revamps of the original songs.Chicagois playful and fun, but most importantly, it’s a bombastic spectacle befitting the big screen.
It only took a few years for the Kander and Ebb musicalCabaretto hit the big screen, and it lost none of its impact in the transition.Bob Fosse was tapped to direct the film, and he brought his unique choreography style along with him.Cabaretis both playful and compelling, andthe musical is actually quite creepytoo.
Cabaretwas the swan song for the golden age of movie musicals.
Set against the rise of fascism in Germany in the 1930s,Cabaretwas uncharacteristically dark for a musical. Furthermore,the use of almost exclusively diagetic music grounds the film in realityinstead of the exaggerated outbursts of song like in other musicals. In a lot of ways,Cabaretwas the swan song for the golden age of movie musicals.
Little Shop of Horrorshad a long road to the big screen, andit started as a film before becoming a stage show and then a film again. The off-Broadway smash was screaming for an adaptation, and director Frank Oz was the perfect man for the job. Using its doo-wop-inspired score,Little Shopset the tone for modern musicals.
Equal parts spooky and silly, the film lampoons musical cliches while embracing many of the same cliches to great effect. The puppet work on Audrey II is masterful, and the cast is jam-packed with nearly every funny person from the decade. Musicals had gotten dour in the ’70s, butLittle Shopmade them fun again.
Musicals aren’t usually considered counter-culture, butThe Rocky Horror Picture Showsmashed any preconceived notions about the genre. The film reassembles many of the cast members from the stage show for one of the wildest rides in cinema history. Melding classic B-movies with modern punk rock fashions,Rocky Horrorwas born to be a midnight movie.
Songs like “The Time Warp” are deeply ingrained in popular culture, though it still holds its status as the quintessential cult film. Musicals were on the decline in the ’70s, but creator Richard O’Brien saw the potential of the medium to make commentary about conservative society. Though it’s rough around the edges,Rocky Horroris never dull.
One of the earliest examples of blatant ’50s nostalgia on full display,Greasesought to bring back the decade but with a few clever twists as well. John Travolta became a household name when he starred alongside Olivia Newton-John in the blockbuster musical, and it helped keep the genre afloat in the ’70s.
Movies are all about escapism, andGreaseallows viewers to escape to a time that never really existed, and have some nostalgic fun. The music is the real highlight, and “You’re the One that I Want” has transcended the film, and is still a popular song even outside the context ofGrease.
Meredith Wilson’sThe Music Manwas one of the biggest hits of the 1950s on stage, and it only made sense for a movie adaptation to follow. Robert Preston was brought back to reprise his role as Professor Harold Hill, andthe movie adapted the charm of the rakish con-man to the big screen with appropriate gravitas.
The gorgeous color photography has a larger-than-life feel that matches the tone of the story, andthere’s an undercurrent of magical realismto the entire film. Unlike other musicals which cut songs,The Music Manpreserves the excellent numbers and even enlarges them for the screen. No matter the time of year,The Music Manisthe perfect comfort movie.
Creating a new musical from scratch is a tough undertaking, andLa La Landis the kind of film that almost never gets made in the modern era. Using Los Angeles as the idealized backdrop for its simple story, the film is both a grand extravaganza, and a small-scale character study.
La La Landis a love-letter to its setting and to film in general
Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are perfect replacements for the Hollywood stars of ages past, andLa La Landis a love-letter to its setting and to film in general.It’s almost impossible not to get pulled into the emotion of the story, and the spectacular musical numbers rival even the best work from Broadway.
While most musicals write new music,Moulin Rouge!is perhapsthe most famous example of a jukebox musical in cinema history. Using preexisting pop songs, the movie has an intentionally anachronistic tone that juxtaposes the early 20th century with 21st century style. It’s alsomade with Baz Luhrmann’s bombastic style, a perfect choice for a movie musical.
Musicals had largely disappeared in the 1990s, andMoulin Rouge!helped revive the genre after years of dormancy. Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor lead the film, though they are joined by a roster of talented performers in supporting roles. Every detail is hyperstylized, andMoulin Rouge!is an intentionally disorienting whirlwind of sound and color.
The ’60s was the heyday for movie musicals, andWest Side Storyis one of the crowning achievements of the decade. The Bernstein and Sondheim stage show was quite a success, but the 1961 movie is perhaps how the story will be best remembered forever. The tale of star-crossed lovers from warring factions is timeless, andevery song is unforgettable.
Dancing is an important part ofWest Side Story, and the movie brought the grandeur of the stage to the screen, but made everything feel bigger. The dreamy quality of the lighting services the story perfectly, and each musical number feels special in its own way.West Side Storyisn’t just a great musical, it’s an important film too.
Often ranked amongthe greatest movies ever,Singin' in the Rainis more than just a brilliant musical. Humorously exploring the birth of the sound era in Hollywood,the Gene Kelly vehicle is a key example of what makes film such a unique art form. The music, choreography, and direction are flawless, and its shine hasn’t faded.
Being an original musical that isn’t from an existing source,Singin' in the Rainis perfectly suited for the big screen, and it’s an homage to an even earlier age of entertainment. It wouldn’t be a stretch to call it a perfect movie, and it is even less verbose to say thatSingin' in the Rainis an indispensablemusical.
