I love musicals, the original musicals in film. I like some of the modern ones too, but there’s something hugely lacking in them that the original ones had. On the flip side, in the older musicals ,some of the choreographed scenes tended to be a little too long. Anyway here is my list of what I consider to be the best musicals of all time.
The Sound Of Music
1965, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
Julie Andrews, Christopher Plumber, Peggy Wood
Not only was this a great musical, but it being based on a true story was the icing on the cake. There are so many wonderful scenes like Julie singing “The Sound Of Music”, Sitting on the pine cone at the dinner table, When The Captain admits he loves her and they sing “Something Good”, the teen love with “Sixteen Going On Seventeen. Other favorite songs are “My Favorite Things”, “Climb Every Mountain” and “The Lonely Goatherd.
Oklahoma!
1955, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
Gordon Macrae, Shirley Jones, Charlotte Greenwood, Rod Steiger
Curlie and Laurie sittin’ in a tree….such a cute romance. Rod Steiger as Jud Fry is one of the best psychopaths villains I’ve ever seen in a musical! Memorable songs from this movie are “Oh What A Beautiful Morning”, “I can’t Say No”, “Out Of My Dreams” and “Oklahoma!”
My Fair Lady
1964, Alan Jay Lerner
Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison, Stanley Holloway, Gladys Cooper
A movie from the play Pygmalion, written by George Bernard Shaw. I love the idea of a street woman wanting to better her life and be somebody respectable. Professor Higgins said he could change her, and Eliza didn’t take no for an answer and made him teach her. Great life lesson for us all. Memorable songs from this musical are “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly”, ” I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face”, “I Could Have Danced All Night”, “With A Little Bit Of Luck”, “Get Me To The Church On Time” and “The Rain In Spain.
GiGi
1958, Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier, Louis Jourdan, Eva Gabor
Gigi is a story about a girl that is being raised to be a courtesan-like her wealthy aunt Alicia(Isabel Jeans) but she ends up marrying a millionaire instead. A wonderful story about a wealthy family friend who falls for the schoolgirl who blossoms into a lovely young lady. Memorable songs here are: “The Parisians”, “Thank Heaven For Little Girls”, “It’s A Bore”, “The Night They Invented Champagne” “Gigi” “Gossip” and “I Remember It Well”.
Once Upon A Mattress
2005, Mary Rodgers, Marshall Barer
Carol Burnett, Tracey Ullman, Tom Smothers, Denis O’Hare
Once upon a time Queen Aggravain(Carol Burnett) tried to stop her son, Prince Dauntless(Denis O’Hare) from getting married. I’ve been a longtime fan of Carole Burnett, and Tom Smothers. He plays as mute King Sextimus, who will not speak until the “mouse devours the hawk”. Tracey makes a good Princess Winnifred. The original televised version was aired in 1964 on CBS. It was in black and white and had most of the Broadway cast included in it. Great songs are: “Shy”, ” The Swamps Of Home”, “Spanish Panic” and “In A Little While”.
Bye Bye Birdie
1995, Lee Adams, Charles Strouse
Vanessa Williams, Chynna Phillips, Jason Alexander, Tyne Daly, George Wendt
I am referring to the television version, not the film. Vanessa Williams and Jason Alexander made an interesting pair. He’s not making it big in the music business so he’s giving it up to go back to teach English, but to make that transition, they are going to use Conrad Birdie, who is going to going into the army to perform one last hit song. Memorable songs from this musical are: “Honestly Sincere”, “One Boy”, ” A Lot Of Lovin’ To Do”, “Hymn For A Sunday Evening(Ed Sullivan)”, “Happy Face”, “Talk To Me” and “Spanish Rose”.
Fiddler On The Roof
1971, Jerry Brock, Sheldon Harnick
Topol, Norma Crane, Paul Michael Glaser
Tevye(Topol) is a milkman with five daughters, who explains the Jewish way of life in Russian Anatevka is like a fiddler on the roof. I simply love this film. In the Broadway performance, in 1964, it was the musical with the longest run until Grease came along and beat it. The most memorable songs are “Sunrise Sunset”, ” Anatevka”, ” Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and “If I Were A Rich Man”.
The Pirates Of Penzance
1983, W.S. Gilbert, Arthur Sullivan
Rex Smith, Linda Rondstat, Kevin Kline
O.K., this isn’t exactly a musical, it’s a comic opera, but I just had to include it for the music. This is the most performed Guilbert and Sullivan Opera. Joseph Pap did the show in 1981 and made it popular again. Memorable songs from this opera are ” I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major General”, “Poor Wandering One”, “How Beautifully Blue The Sky” and “Oh Better Far To Live and Die…I Am A Pirate King!”
Grease
1978, Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey
Olivia Newton John, John Travolta, Stockard Channing, Jeff Conway, Didi Conn, Frankie Avalon
To me, this is the best modern musical to date. Girl meets boy over the summer and fall in love, only to meet in school and he totally dismisses her to save face with his friends, but fortunately he gets her back and she meets him half way to be a “bad girl. Love the musical, but the message is totally wrong. Does a good girl really have to go bad to keep a boyfriend? I don’t think so, but Olivia Newton John makes it look fun. Memorable songs are: “Grease Is The Word”, “Sandra Dee”, ” Those Summer Nights”, ” Chills”, ” Hopelessly Devoted To You”, and “Beauty School Dropout”.
Mary Poppins
1964, Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman
Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Glynis Johns, Arthur Treacher, Ed Wynn, David Tomlinson, Karen Dotrice, Matthew Garber
The old Nanny McPhee, but with just two children. The Banks family is divided, so Mary brings them back together again and flies away. Anything done by Disney is always good. Something kids and their parents can enjoy. Great songs from this film are: “Let’s Go Fly A Kite”, “Step In Time”, “The Perfect Nanny”, “A Spoon Full Of Sugar”, “Feed The Birds(Tuppance A Bag)” and “I Love To Laugh.”
Singing In The Rain
1952, The Freed Unit: Arthur Freed, Herb Brown, Others
Gene Kelly, Donald O’ Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Cyd Charisse, Rita Moreno
This musical comedy is about going from the silent film era into “talkies”, but unfortunately the leading actress has an awful voice. Songs that are memorable are: “Singin’ In The Rain”, “Make ‘Em Laugh”, “Good Morning” and “You Were Meant For Me”.
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers
1954, Saul Chaplin, Gene DePaul, Johnny Mercer
Howard Keel, Jane Powell, Julie Newmar, Tommy Rall, Russ Tamblyn
Adam Pontepied (Howard Keel) is a backwoodsman coming to town looking for a wife and he got one! Only thing, poor Milly(Jane Powell) thinks she’s caring for just her husband-not his six brothers! So, after teaching them some manners, the brothers decide they want a wife, too. They get an opportunity to meet some and when they return home, miss them.So, big brother Adam gets this idea from a book that Milly has, “The Sobbin’ Women”(Sabine Women) and they go and kidnap the women! If you have not seen this film, you should rent this one. It’s really good. Memorable songs from this film are: “When You’re In Love”, “Bless Your Beautiful Hide”, “Sobbin’ Women”, “Goin’ Co’tin”, ” Barn Dance” “June Bride” and “Lament(Lonesome Poiecat)”.
Scrooge
1970, Leslie Bricusse
Albert Finney, Alec Guinness, Edith Evans, Michael Medwin
It wouldn’t be Christmas without Ebenezer Scrooge. There are many versions, but this musical is what I consider the best. The most memorable songs in this film are: “I Hate People”, “Father Christmas”, “You,” “Happiness”, Thank You Very Much” and “Christmas Children”.
Annie
1999, Charles Strouse
Victor Garber, Audra McDonald, Kathy Bates, Alicia Morton, Allan Cumming
There’s no better story than an orphan who gets rich. Victor Garber makes a great Daddy Warbucks and Kathy Bates a superb Miss Hannigan, and Alicia a cute spunky Annie. Great songs from this film are “Tomorrow”, ” Easy Street”, “It’s The Hard Knock Life”, “NYC”, “Little Girls” and ” Something Was Missing”.
The Music Man
2003, Martin Chamin
Matthew Broderick, Victor Garber, Molly Shannon
Again, I am leaving the original film version behind and writing about the latest version. Matthew makes a great Professor Hill, and I particularly loved the way he did the song “Marian The Librarian”, it was hilarious! Other songs from the film are: “Lida Rose”, “Pickalittle Talkalittle”, ” Piano Lesson”, “Gary, Indiana” “Trouble” and “Til There Was You.
Flower Drum Song
1961, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
Myoshi Umeki, Pat Suzuki, Jack Soo, Larry Blyden
A lovely story about Mei Li(Myoshi Umeki) who comes with her father to America as an illegal immigrant to marry a nightclub owner, Sammy Fong(Jack Soo) who is already involved with someone, Linda Chow(Pat Suzuki) a showgirl, but his family wants him to marry someone traditional. Sammy sends Mei Li to the home of his shy friend, Wang Ta. They hit it off, but can she get out of the marriage contract? Great songs from this film are: “Chop Suet”, “I Enjoy Being A Girl”, “Don’t Marry Me”, “Love Look Away” and “A Hundred Million Miracles”.
Cry Baby
1990, John Waters
Johnny Depp, Iggy Pop, Ricki lake, Traci Lords, Patty Hearst, Mink Stole, Amy Locane
This is a fun musical that is more of a cult classic, than a popular one. Drape, Wade Walker( Cry Baby)and Square, Allison Vernon-Williams see each other and fall in love, and that’s when all the trouble begins! Songs from this film are: “King Cry Baby”, “Please, Mr. Jailer”, “High School Hellcats” and “Teardrops Are Falling”.
The Wizard Of Oz
1939, Bert Lahr, Frank Morgan
Judy Garland, Clara Blandict, Ray Bolger
Another great classic for parents and kids. Memorable songs from this movie are: “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”, ” Munchkin Land”, “Follow The Yellow Brick Road”, “If I Were King Of The Forest” and “If I Only Had A Brain.
Rodgers And Hammerstein’s Cinderella
1997, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
Brandy, Victor Garber, Whoopi Goldberg, Bernadette Peters, Whitney Houston, Jason Alexander, Paolo Montalban
I love this modern version of Cinderella, because it is multicultural. Whoopi makes a hilarious queen of course, and Paolo is a gorgeous prince, Bernadette is a lovely wicked step-mother. Memorable songs from this musical are ” In My Own Little Corner”, “A Lovely Night”, “Do I Love You Because Your Beautiful”, “Impossible; It’s Possible”, and “The Prince Is Giving A Ball”.
