The MoFo Top 100 Musicals Countdown
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Sweet Charity, Popeye, and Bye Bye Birdie were three films that at the beginning I was sure would make the Top 100. I still think they got stiffed. But because I thought they'd make it, I selfishly voted for my own films that didn't make it. Because the Top 2 will be released next, I might as well show the part of my list that, again, didn't place. The following are those:
#11. The Court Jester (DNP). I love this film as a comedy as much, maybe more than a musical. But I voted for anyway. I can watch this one anytime and be happy, filmwise.
#13. Kiss Me Kate (DNP) Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel are fine as the leads in this musical retelling (sort of) of "The Taming of the Shrew." But I like the supporting cast including Ann Miller and especially Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore as two gangster types hanging around who break into my favorite song in the movie, "Brush Up Your Shakespeare." Bob Fosse, Bobby Van, and Tommy Rall do a fun dance including Ann Miller. Lots of good stuff.
#19. Words and Music (DNP) Film about the real-life songwriting partners Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, played by Tom Drake and Mickey Rooney, respectively. Their songs are played out in musical segments by an all-star cast. My favorite bit is the song, "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue," played out by Gene Kelly and Vera-Ellen (who is as slinky and sexy as I've ever seen her in a movie!). Lots of familiar songs done up well by the great cast.
#20. The Pirate (DNP) First of two Gene Kelly/Judy Garland pair-ups that I listed. A fun adventure-musical with Kelly at his acrobatic best as he poses as the title pirate to win over Judy. Wonderful music and eye-popping color.
#21. Swing Time (DNP) I couldn't pick which favorite among the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers pairings so I flipped a coin. But this one really has lots of great music and some outstanding set design. It's also got the dance where Fred is swinging Ginger over some low-level office railing.
#22 In the Good Old Summertime (DNP) This is a musical remake of The Shop Around the Corner with Judy Garland and Van Johnson working in the same music shop and romancing each other unknowingly (just like the original movie and the other remake You've Got Mail). The ending has a baby Liza Minnelli being held by Judy.
#23. Silk Stockings (DNP) Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse are awesome in this remake of Ninotchka, especially Charisse as the Russian woman who is an ice maiden who is slowly wooed by Astaire's charms. Great Cole Porter songs including "I've Got You Under My Skin."
#24. Summer Stock (DNP) My second Judy Garland/Gene Kelly musical (I liked them together, what can I say) where Judy owns a farm that gets overrun by a musical trouple practicing their next show on the farm, having been invited by Judy's sister. Lots of fun, and it features one of Judy's most famous and iconic song and dances, "Get Happy," where she has the hat tipped below one of her eyes and she's wearing a coat and stockings and not much else. Great stuff.
The Sound of Music made my list at #16. Love it and know practically every song by heart. Another musical soundtrack that my 6th grade music teacher played over and over for the whole class. I thought I'd be sick of it and never want to see it but when the chance arrived, I started and I was hooked by the music I knew. I could now see the songs set to film scenes and it was great! Julie Andrews was a powerhouse in this and it's a great movie.
#1. On the Town #93 (list proper)
#2. Holiday Inn #109 (NEAR MISS)
#5. The Blues Brothers #19 (list proper)
#6. Easter Parade #78 (list proper)
#7. Grease #9 (list proper)
#8. Meet Me in St. Louis #33 (list proper)
#9 Yankee Doodle Dandy #32 (list proper)
#10. Gigi #85 (list proper)
#11. The Court Jester (DNP)
#12. Calamity Jane #84 (list proper)
#13. Kiss Me Kate (DNP)
#14. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers #71 (list proper)
#15. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory #5 (list proper)
#16. The Sound of Music #3 (list proper)
#17. Mary Poppins #8 (list proper)
#18. The Muppet Movie #45 (list proper)
#19. Words and Music (DNP)
#20. The Pirate (DNP)
#21. Swing Time (DNP)
#22. In the Good Old Summertime (DNP)
#23. Silk Stockings (DNP)
#24. Summer Stock (DNP)
#25. Neptune's Daughter (one-pointer)
#11. The Court Jester (DNP). I love this film as a comedy as much, maybe more than a musical. But I voted for anyway. I can watch this one anytime and be happy, filmwise.
#13. Kiss Me Kate (DNP) Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel are fine as the leads in this musical retelling (sort of) of "The Taming of the Shrew." But I like the supporting cast including Ann Miller and especially Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore as two gangster types hanging around who break into my favorite song in the movie, "Brush Up Your Shakespeare." Bob Fosse, Bobby Van, and Tommy Rall do a fun dance including Ann Miller. Lots of good stuff.
#19. Words and Music (DNP) Film about the real-life songwriting partners Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, played by Tom Drake and Mickey Rooney, respectively. Their songs are played out in musical segments by an all-star cast. My favorite bit is the song, "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue," played out by Gene Kelly and Vera-Ellen (who is as slinky and sexy as I've ever seen her in a movie!). Lots of familiar songs done up well by the great cast.
#20. The Pirate (DNP) First of two Gene Kelly/Judy Garland pair-ups that I listed. A fun adventure-musical with Kelly at his acrobatic best as he poses as the title pirate to win over Judy. Wonderful music and eye-popping color.
#21. Swing Time (DNP) I couldn't pick which favorite among the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers pairings so I flipped a coin. But this one really has lots of great music and some outstanding set design. It's also got the dance where Fred is swinging Ginger over some low-level office railing.
#22 In the Good Old Summertime (DNP) This is a musical remake of The Shop Around the Corner with Judy Garland and Van Johnson working in the same music shop and romancing each other unknowingly (just like the original movie and the other remake You've Got Mail). The ending has a baby Liza Minnelli being held by Judy.
#23. Silk Stockings (DNP) Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse are awesome in this remake of Ninotchka, especially Charisse as the Russian woman who is an ice maiden who is slowly wooed by Astaire's charms. Great Cole Porter songs including "I've Got You Under My Skin."
#24. Summer Stock (DNP) My second Judy Garland/Gene Kelly musical (I liked them together, what can I say) where Judy owns a farm that gets overrun by a musical trouple practicing their next show on the farm, having been invited by Judy's sister. Lots of fun, and it features one of Judy's most famous and iconic song and dances, "Get Happy," where she has the hat tipped below one of her eyes and she's wearing a coat and stockings and not much else. Great stuff.
The Sound of Music made my list at #16. Love it and know practically every song by heart. Another musical soundtrack that my 6th grade music teacher played over and over for the whole class. I thought I'd be sick of it and never want to see it but when the chance arrived, I started and I was hooked by the music I knew. I could now see the songs set to film scenes and it was great! Julie Andrews was a powerhouse in this and it's a great movie.
#1. On the Town #93 (list proper)
#2. Holiday Inn #109 (NEAR MISS)
#5. The Blues Brothers #19 (list proper)
#6. Easter Parade #78 (list proper)
#7. Grease #9 (list proper)
#8. Meet Me in St. Louis #33 (list proper)
#9 Yankee Doodle Dandy #32 (list proper)
#10. Gigi #85 (list proper)
#11. The Court Jester (DNP)
#12. Calamity Jane #84 (list proper)
#13. Kiss Me Kate (DNP)
#14. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers #71 (list proper)
#15. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory #5 (list proper)
#16. The Sound of Music #3 (list proper)
#17. Mary Poppins #8 (list proper)
#18. The Muppet Movie #45 (list proper)
#19. Words and Music (DNP)
#20. The Pirate (DNP)
#21. Swing Time (DNP)
#22. In the Good Old Summertime (DNP)
#23. Silk Stockings (DNP)
#24. Summer Stock (DNP)
#25. Neptune's Daughter (one-pointer)
This is a great list of musicals. Even your picks that didn't make the countdown are among my favorite musicals, especially Summer Stock and In the Good Old Summertime.
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The past few posts makes it seem like #3 is the cursed spot on people's ballots.
I can add to the #3 cursed spot, but I would have been shocked if my #3 made the countdown. I'll be surprised if anyone else even had it on their list.
My #3 movie was The Jazz Singer (1980). I was practically dragged to the theater to see this movie by a friend who wanted to see it. I thought it was a religious movie about a cantor, so I had no interest in seeing it. I didn't even know who Neil Diamond was at that time, but I loved the movie and his voice so much that I immediately went to the mall and bought the soundtrack and several of his albums as soon as the movie ended, and now he's one of my all-time favorite singers. And it all started with the movie The Jazz Singer (1980).
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I'm crying that these fine musicals from my ballot didn't make it.
My #2. The Pajama Game (1957)
My #11. King Creole (1958)
I love the opening duet Crawfish that Elvis does with a street vendor, Kitty White. Trouble is my favorite song from the movie, Elvis opened his '68 Comeback Special with that song. Best of all, this is Elvis at the top of his game and in a noir directed by Michael Curtiz.
My #12. Guys and Dolls (1955)
A riotously colorfully musical starring Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Jean Simmons. Loved the slang tone of speaking by the gangsters and gamblers. That style of speech has been emulated ever since. Loved the story and musical numbers.
My #13. Jailhouse Rock (1957)
Lots of great songs presented in what could be called an early music video style. Solid story line too. Elvis rocks this!
My #18. Holiday Inn (1942)
I love the storyline here between Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby with their love interest getting in the way. Lots of great numbers and dance.
My #24. Beyond the Sea (2004)
I knew this wouldn't make it but still I had to vote for it...Beyond The Sea, A story told in flashbacks as an older Bobby Darin whose health is failing, looks back on his early days as a singer, actor and his marriage to Sandra Dee.
My #25. Kiss Me Kate (1953)
Kiss Me Kate is based on the stage play, go figure, which in turn is based on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Howard Keel plays a likeable actor who has a high opinion of himself. His divorced wife, Kathryn Grayson is an actress who had enough of him and is now divorced. Keel wants her back but she's about to get married. Keel has a plan to convince his ex wife to appear on stage with him in a production of, get ready, The Taming of the Shrew.
My #2. The Pajama Game (1957)
I'm a big fan of musicals with big splashy choreographed numbers and it doesn't get any better than the legendary choreographer Bob Fosse. His unique style drives the movie and is especially prominent in the numbers Steam Heat and Hernando's Hideaway. The art direction (sets, lights, costumes) are just fantastic.
My #11. King Creole (1958)
I love the opening duet Crawfish that Elvis does with a street vendor, Kitty White. Trouble is my favorite song from the movie, Elvis opened his '68 Comeback Special with that song. Best of all, this is Elvis at the top of his game and in a noir directed by Michael Curtiz.
My #12. Guys and Dolls (1955)
A riotously colorfully musical starring Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Jean Simmons. Loved the slang tone of speaking by the gangsters and gamblers. That style of speech has been emulated ever since. Loved the story and musical numbers.
My #13. Jailhouse Rock (1957)
Lots of great songs presented in what could be called an early music video style. Solid story line too. Elvis rocks this!
My #18. Holiday Inn (1942)
I love the storyline here between Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby with their love interest getting in the way. Lots of great numbers and dance.
My #24. Beyond the Sea (2004)
I knew this wouldn't make it but still I had to vote for it...Beyond The Sea, A story told in flashbacks as an older Bobby Darin whose health is failing, looks back on his early days as a singer, actor and his marriage to Sandra Dee.
My #25. Kiss Me Kate (1953)
Kiss Me Kate is based on the stage play, go figure, which in turn is based on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Howard Keel plays a likeable actor who has a high opinion of himself. His divorced wife, Kathryn Grayson is an actress who had enough of him and is now divorced. Keel wants her back but she's about to get married. Keel has a plan to convince his ex wife to appear on stage with him in a production of, get ready, The Taming of the Shrew.
These are all great movies. The Pajama Game (1957) was the only one of these that made my list, (#19 on my list), but I tried to include Holiday Inn (1942) and Beyond the Sea (2004) on my list, but I just couldn't find room for them.
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My ballot:
1. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
2. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
3. Frozen (2013)
4. The Sound of Music (1965)
5. The Lure (2015)
6. Into the Woods (2014)
7. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
8. Doctor Dolittle (1967)
9. West Side Story (1961)
10. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
11. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
12. The Little Mermaid (1989)
13. Aladdin (1992)
14. The Lion King (1994)
15. Pinocchio (1940)
16. The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967)
17. Annie (1982)
18. Curly Top (1935)
19. Bugsy Malone (1976)
20. Bright Eyes (1934)
21. Little Miss Broadway (1938)
22. Dear Evan Hansen (2021)
23. La La Land (2016)
24. Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)
25. A Week Away (2021)
1. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
2. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
3. Frozen (2013)
4. The Sound of Music (1965)
5. The Lure (2015)
6. Into the Woods (2014)
7. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
8. Doctor Dolittle (1967)
9. West Side Story (1961)
10. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
11. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
12. The Little Mermaid (1989)
13. Aladdin (1992)
14. The Lion King (1994)
15. Pinocchio (1940)
16. The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967)
17. Annie (1982)
18. Curly Top (1935)
19. Bugsy Malone (1976)
20. Bright Eyes (1934)
21. Little Miss Broadway (1938)
22. Dear Evan Hansen (2021)
23. La La Land (2016)
24. Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)
25. A Week Away (2021)
Dear Evan Hansen (2021) was #20 on my list. I loved it so much that I watched it twice in the last few days just before completing my list to see where to place it on my list.
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The Wizard of Oz: In which an idiotic teenager lets her little dog bite the neighbor, then flees to a far away land where she murders a woman, steals her shoes, then takes up with three strange men, gets high on opiates, and also kills the dead woman’s sister.
If Dorothy only had a brain.
Yeah, I REALLY don't like The Wizard of Oz. It's not my least favorite musical, but it's not that far off either.
If Dorothy only had a brain.
Yeah, I REALLY don't like The Wizard of Oz. It's not my least favorite musical, but it's not that far off either.
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16. Enchanted
17. Crazy Heart
18. Coco
I love these three movies. I considered Crazy Heart and Coco for my list, but I just didn't have room for them. Coco was one of my last few cuts.
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10. Robin and the 7 Hoods
I'm glad to see someone else is a fan of Robin and the 7 Hoods. I couldn't fit it on my list, but it's such a fun movie with great songs and a fantastic cast.
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Seen 61/100.
1. A Star Is Born (2018) - #43
2. The Lion King (1994) - #6
3. La La Land (2016) - #13
4. Yesterday (2019)
5. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008)
6. Mary Poppins (1964) - #8
7. The Smiling Lieutenant (1931) - #96
8. Into the Woods (2014) - #86
9. Mulan (1998)
10. Singin' in the Rain (1952) - #1
11. Newsies (1992)
12. West Side Story (2021) - #90
13. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022)
14. Elvis (2022)
15. Vox Lux (2018)
16. Rocketman (2019) - #91
17. Spirited (2022)
18. One Hour with You (1932)
19. The Wizard of Oz (1939) - #2
20. Funny Girl (1968) - #77
21. Chicago (2002) - #21
22. A Star Is Born (1954) - #67
23. Peter Pan (1953)
24. Pocahontas (1995)
25. Commentary! The Musical (2008) - One-pointer
1. A Star Is Born (2018) - #43
2. The Lion King (1994) - #6
3. La La Land (2016) - #13
4. Yesterday (2019)
5. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008)
6. Mary Poppins (1964) - #8
7. The Smiling Lieutenant (1931) - #96
8. Into the Woods (2014) - #86
9. Mulan (1998)
10. Singin' in the Rain (1952) - #1
11. Newsies (1992)
12. West Side Story (2021) - #90
13. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022)
14. Elvis (2022)
15. Vox Lux (2018)
16. Rocketman (2019) - #91
17. Spirited (2022)
18. One Hour with You (1932)
19. The Wizard of Oz (1939) - #2
20. Funny Girl (1968) - #77
21. Chicago (2002) - #21
22. A Star Is Born (1954) - #67
23. Peter Pan (1953)
24. Pocahontas (1995)
25. Commentary! The Musical (2008) - One-pointer
I didn't think Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008) was eligible for this countdown because it's not really a movie, but it's a lot of fun to watch.
I usually don't like Will Ferrell's movies, but I loved Spirited (2022). I tried to include it on my list, but I just didn't have room for it.
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Everyone seems to be posting their lists, so here goes...
1. The Sound of Music (1965)
2. Oklahoma! (1955)
3. Gigi (1958)
4. My Fair Lady (1964)
5. South Pacific (1958)
6. Cinderella (1965)
7. Pitch Perfect (2012)
8. Frozen (2013)
9. Godspell: A Musical Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew (1973)
10. Hair (1979)
11. Funny Girl (1968)
12. West Side Story (1961)
13. Eddie and the Cruisers (1983)
14. In the Good Old Summertime (1949)
15. Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
16. All That Jazz (1979)
17. De-Lovely (2004)
18. Cabaret (1972)
19. The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
This is not what I would have chosen for my list, but again I submitted before I completed it.
I have only one thing to say that may be controversial.
I hate La La Land. I found it to be a huge let down.
The only movie that hasn't been on the top 100 list that I wish I had added to me list was Velvet Goldmine.
Also Delovely is wonderful. It stars Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd with the music and life story of the great Cole Porter.
1. The Sound of Music (1965)
2. Oklahoma! (1955)
3. Gigi (1958)
4. My Fair Lady (1964)
5. South Pacific (1958)
6. Cinderella (1965)
7. Pitch Perfect (2012)
8. Frozen (2013)
9. Godspell: A Musical Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew (1973)
10. Hair (1979)
11. Funny Girl (1968)
12. West Side Story (1961)
13. Eddie and the Cruisers (1983)
14. In the Good Old Summertime (1949)
15. Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
16. All That Jazz (1979)
17. De-Lovely (2004)
18. Cabaret (1972)
19. The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
This is not what I would have chosen for my list, but again I submitted before I completed it.
I have only one thing to say that may be controversial.
I hate La La Land. I found it to be a huge let down.
The only movie that hasn't been on the top 100 list that I wish I had added to me list was Velvet Goldmine.
Also Delovely is wonderful. It stars Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd with the music and life story of the great Cole Porter.
Eddie and the Cruisers (1983) has some great songs. I thought they did a great job of matching Michael Paré's speaking voice with John Cafferty's singing voice as Eddie Wilson.
De-Lovely (2004) is a very underrated movie. It's the movie where I first heard John Barrowman sing, and I fell in love with his voice.
I would have considered The Phantom of the Opera (2004) for my list, but I don't care for Gerard Butler's voice. There used to be a video on YouTube where someone used the complete original London Cast recording and merged it with the 2004 movie, so when you watched the movie, you would hear Michael Crawford's voice as the Phantom. That version would have made my list if it was an official movie.
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I think I have watched The Wizard of Oz (1939) at least once a year since I was a little kid. Back when I was a kid, the flying monkeys scared the he!! out of me, but now that I'm an adult, they still scare the he!! out of me. 
But the movie has so many great songs, an exciting and scary adventure, and a bunch of fun characters. It was #14 on my list.
My mother first showed my the movie Singin' in the Rain (1952) when I was a little kid, and I loved it. I have seen it probably well over 100 times, and it just gets better every time. I love Gene Kelly, and I don't think Donald O'Connor gets enough credit. He was overshadowed by Kelly, but he was also a fantastic dancer, and he made the movie so much fun. It was #11 on my list.
The movies on my list that made the countdown:
1. West Side Story (1961)
2. The Music Man (1962)
5. Oklahoma! (1955)
8. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
9. 1776 (1972)
11. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
12. The Greatest Showman (2017)
13. My Fair Lady (1964)
14. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
15. Les Misérables (2012)
16. Oliver! (1968)
17. Anastasia (1997)
18. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
22. Mary Poppins (1964)
24. Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
25. Frozen (2013)
But the movie has so many great songs, an exciting and scary adventure, and a bunch of fun characters. It was #14 on my list. My mother first showed my the movie Singin' in the Rain (1952) when I was a little kid, and I loved it. I have seen it probably well over 100 times, and it just gets better every time. I love Gene Kelly, and I don't think Donald O'Connor gets enough credit. He was overshadowed by Kelly, but he was also a fantastic dancer, and he made the movie so much fun. It was #11 on my list.
The movies on my list that made the countdown:
1. West Side Story (1961)
2. The Music Man (1962)
5. Oklahoma! (1955)
8. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
9. 1776 (1972)
11. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
12. The Greatest Showman (2017)
13. My Fair Lady (1964)
14. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
15. Les Misérables (2012)
16. Oliver! (1968)
17. Anastasia (1997)
18. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
22. Mary Poppins (1964)
24. Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
25. Frozen (2013)
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This was my full list with the movies that didn't make the countdown in RED:
1. West Side Story (1961)
2. The Music Man (1962)
3. The Jazz Singer (1980)
4. Pure Country (1992)
5. Oklahoma! (1955)
6. Damn Yankees (1958)
7. Brigadoon (1954)
8. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
9. 1776 (1972)
10. Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
11. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
12. The Greatest Showman (2017)
13. My Fair Lady (1964)
14. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
15. Les Misérables (2012)
16. Oliver! (1968)
17. Anastasia (1997)
18. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
19. The Pajama Game (1957)
20. Dear Evan Hansen (2021)
21. Xanadu (1980)
22. Mary Poppins (1964)
23. Mamma Mia! (2008)
24. Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
25. Frozen (2013)
1. West Side Story (1961)
2. The Music Man (1962)
3. The Jazz Singer (1980)
4. Pure Country (1992)
5. Oklahoma! (1955)
6. Damn Yankees (1958)
7. Brigadoon (1954)
8. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
9. 1776 (1972)
10. Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
11. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
12. The Greatest Showman (2017)
13. My Fair Lady (1964)
14. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
15. Les Misérables (2012)
16. Oliver! (1968)
17. Anastasia (1997)
18. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
19. The Pajama Game (1957)
20. Dear Evan Hansen (2021)
21. Xanadu (1980)
22. Mary Poppins (1964)
23. Mamma Mia! (2008)
24. Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
25. Frozen (2013)
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He was never more charming or bigger than life than here. Kelly's next picture, An American in Paris, would get all of the Academy Awards attention, but I will take this one over any and every Musical, including the post-modern ones that more suit my cinematic sensibility and worldview.
And to me the Singin' in the Rain vs An American in Paris debate is almost as interesting as the one around Casablanca vs Citizen Kane or the Godfather vs Godfather Part II discussion.
There's something there to it, especially since An American in Paris, which came out a year or so before Singin' in the Rain won a lot of awards and was pretty well regarded during its time while it took Singin' in the Rain longer to catch on and has since become canon even among the general public who maybe have seen only a dozen or two films before the 1980s while An American in Paris is generally reserved for those who want to dig deeper into older films.
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Sweet Charity, Popeye, and Bye Bye Birdie were three films that at the beginning I was sure would make the Top 100. I still think they got stiffed.
#20. The Pirate (DNP) First of two Gene Kelly/Judy Garland pair-ups that I listed. A fun adventure-musical with Kelly at his acrobatic best as he poses as the title pirate to win over Judy. Wonderful music and eye-popping color.
#20. The Pirate (DNP) First of two Gene Kelly/Judy Garland pair-ups that I listed. A fun adventure-musical with Kelly at his acrobatic best as he poses as the title pirate to win over Judy. Wonderful music and eye-popping color.
Cool to see someone else loves and voted for The Pirate. I wonder if you and I are the only two who did vote for it.
Also, I watched Sweet Charity for this countdown and while it didn't make my list, if I was doing a list of greatest musical numbers or sequences, then yes the Rich Man's Frug would certainly be there.
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1. One from the Heart (1982)
2. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
3. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
4. The Band Wagon (1953)
5. Sleeping Beauty (1959)
6. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
7. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
8. An American in Paris (1951)
9. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
10. Fantasia (1940)
11. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
12. Cabaret (1972)
13. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
14. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
15. The Sound of Music (1965)
16. Pinocchio (2022)
17. The Meaning of Life (1983)
18. The Blues Brothers (1980)
19. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
20. On the Town (1949)
21. A Hard Day's Night (1964)
22. Yellow Submarine (1968)
23. Pinocchio (1940)
24. West Side Story (1961)
25. A Night at the Opera (1935)
Outside of the top 15 it was tough to choose and rank the films. The Sound of Music is something I rewatched again last year and was surprised how much I liked it. I always dismissed it growing up as "something my mum liked" and I think the subject matter meant I wasn't quick to revisit it alone, but watching it again I was very impressed by the direction and cinematography.
2. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
3. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
4. The Band Wagon (1953)
5. Sleeping Beauty (1959)
6. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
7. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
8. An American in Paris (1951)
9. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
10. Fantasia (1940)
11. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
12. Cabaret (1972)
13. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
14. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
15. The Sound of Music (1965)
16. Pinocchio (2022)
17. The Meaning of Life (1983)
18. The Blues Brothers (1980)
19. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
20. On the Town (1949)
21. A Hard Day's Night (1964)
22. Yellow Submarine (1968)
23. Pinocchio (1940)
24. West Side Story (1961)
25. A Night at the Opera (1935)
Outside of the top 15 it was tough to choose and rank the films. The Sound of Music is something I rewatched again last year and was surprised how much I liked it. I always dismissed it growing up as "something my mum liked" and I think the subject matter meant I wasn't quick to revisit it alone, but watching it again I was very impressed by the direction and cinematography.
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45%
MF: Top Musicals
100%
MF: Top 100 Refresh
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MF: Top 100 (2010)
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MF: Top 100 of 2010s
I was a kid when I first saw The Wizard of Oz on television and it was aired yearly in the Spring, so I had to watch it every...single...time. One year, my brat sister dared to suggest we watch something else and that was the beginning of trouble with us that has not been resolved to this day (only not just over the movie). I got to have my Wizard! When my wife and I first met, I learned that The Wizard of Oz was her favorite, all-time movie and I knew we were going to get along famously! We went to see it in re-release at the cinema and that was a blast!
Singin' In the Rain is not only a great musical but a great movie about movies, with the comedy factor way high. A top-notch cast (Donald O'Connor is my favorite) with Jean Hagen nearly stealing the show as a nasally-voiced diva who is afraid of not making the transition from silents to sound pictures. That she uses and blackmails others makes her character hateful, but Hagen makes her funny as all get-out. Favorite line from her: "I can't stan 'em!"
Huge thanks to Thursday Next for running a great countdown! Also to Yoda for his usual excellent "Man Behind the Curtain" work. Special Mention to Thief for his always interesting Pit Stop stats. This was fun!
#1. On the Town #93 (list proper)
#2. Holiday Inn #109 (NEAR MISS)
#3. The Wizard of Oz #2 (list proper)
#4. Singin' In the Rain #1 (list proper)
#5. The Blues Brothers #19 (list proper)
#6. Easter Parade #78 (list proper)
#7. Grease #9 (list proper)
#8. Meet Me in St. Louis #33 (list proper)
#9 Yankee Doodle Dandy #32 (list proper)
#10. Gigi #85 (list proper)
#11. The Court Jester (DNP)
#12. Calamity Jane #84 (list proper)
#13. Kiss Me Kate (DNP)
#14. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers #71 (list proper)
#15. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory #5 (list proper)
#16. The Sound of Music #3 (list proper)
#17. Mary Poppins #8 (list proper)
#18. The Muppet Movie #45 (list proper)
#19. Words and Music (DNP)
#20. The Pirate (DNP)
#21. Swing Time (DNP)
#22. In the Good Old Summertime (DNP)
#23. Silk Stockings (DNP)
#24. Summer Stock (DNP)
#25. Neptune's Daughter (one-pointer)
Singin' In the Rain is not only a great musical but a great movie about movies, with the comedy factor way high. A top-notch cast (Donald O'Connor is my favorite) with Jean Hagen nearly stealing the show as a nasally-voiced diva who is afraid of not making the transition from silents to sound pictures. That she uses and blackmails others makes her character hateful, but Hagen makes her funny as all get-out. Favorite line from her: "I can't stan 'em!"
Huge thanks to Thursday Next for running a great countdown! Also to Yoda for his usual excellent "Man Behind the Curtain" work. Special Mention to Thief for his always interesting Pit Stop stats. This was fun!
#1. On the Town #93 (list proper)
#2. Holiday Inn #109 (NEAR MISS)
#3. The Wizard of Oz #2 (list proper)
#4. Singin' In the Rain #1 (list proper)
#5. The Blues Brothers #19 (list proper)
#6. Easter Parade #78 (list proper)
#7. Grease #9 (list proper)
#8. Meet Me in St. Louis #33 (list proper)
#9 Yankee Doodle Dandy #32 (list proper)
#10. Gigi #85 (list proper)
#11. The Court Jester (DNP)
#12. Calamity Jane #84 (list proper)
#13. Kiss Me Kate (DNP)
#14. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers #71 (list proper)
#15. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory #5 (list proper)
#16. The Sound of Music #3 (list proper)
#17. Mary Poppins #8 (list proper)
#18. The Muppet Movie #45 (list proper)
#19. Words and Music (DNP)
#20. The Pirate (DNP)
#21. Swing Time (DNP)
#22. In the Good Old Summertime (DNP)
#23. Silk Stockings (DNP)
#24. Summer Stock (DNP)
#25. Neptune's Daughter (one-pointer)
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Thanks for voting up My Fair Lady and helping it clinch a top 10 spot which it barely snuck in.
Just curious what your issues were with La La Land. I know I've mentioned it before, but while I don't hate it, I thought it was a let down giving the amazing premise and story and for what it could have been. It's a film that I wanted to like a lot more than I actually do.
So I don't hate it, I'd give it a B+ or A- as a fair objective rating, but I do remember around the time it came out in 2016 or early 2017 or so it was being heralded as the greatest film musical since Vincente Minnelli walked the Earth and it wasn't.
Just curious what your issues were with La La Land. I know I've mentioned it before, but while I don't hate it, I thought it was a let down giving the amazing premise and story and for what it could have been. It's a film that I wanted to like a lot more than I actually do.
So I don't hate it, I'd give it a B+ or A- as a fair objective rating, but I do remember around the time it came out in 2016 or early 2017 or so it was being heralded as the greatest film musical since Vincente Minnelli walked the Earth and it wasn't.
BUT....
There are no professional dancers or singers in the leads.
Just because a lot of people are in a scene doesn't make it a great dance scene.
Doesn't the filmmaker know any choreographer
The romantic dance scene is very awkward.
The music...I don't remember the music.
How can you can make a movie with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone be lame?
Have them sing and dance.
I was so mad when I left the theater after seeing La La Land. I felt cheated.
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Not living up to the hype may have had something to do with it.
BUT....
There are no professional dancers or singers in the leads.
Just because a lot of people are in a scene doesn't make it a great dance scene.
Doesn't the filmmaker know any choreographer
The romantic dance scene is very awkward.
The music...I don't remember the music.
How can you can make a movie with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone be lame?
Have them sing and dance.
I was so mad when I left the theater after seeing La La Land. I felt cheated.
BUT....
There are no professional dancers or singers in the leads.
Just because a lot of people are in a scene doesn't make it a great dance scene.
Doesn't the filmmaker know any choreographer
The romantic dance scene is very awkward.
The music...I don't remember the music.
How can you can make a movie with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone be lame?
Have them sing and dance.
I was so mad when I left the theater after seeing La La Land. I felt cheated.