In honor of the impending conclusion of the Wonders in the Dark Top 70 Musicals Countdown, hosted and championed by the amazing Sam Juliano (who so graciously invited me to submit two posts to the countdown), I've decided to post my own Top 50 Musicals. I spent a good chunk of my summer catching up on all things musical, and both revisiting some old favorites and seeing many musicals I had never seen before, seeing 28 musicals in all. I also participated daily in the comments at the site and really enjoyed the banter and the education that went along with the countdown. What did I learn? I learned that I enjoy musicals much more than I ever thought I did and I'm far more educated now in the subject than 6 months ago. I've still got some learning to do. My exposure to Opera films and some foreign musicals is not as good as it could be. My own personal issues with Maurice Chevalier is also somewhat of a detractor on several films as well. But, all in all, I feel pretty proud of my own top 50. I will say that I think it's a mix of traditional and accepted classics, some different choices, as well as some campy and/or guilty pleasures. Let me know what you think!
I should start with what my own definition of a "Musical" is, just so we're all clear:
"A film that uses music, dance, or song to conceptually further the plot, emotions, character development or general impression of the film when said music, dance or song is performed or perceived to be performed and is considered to be a main crux of the film."
| 1. The Sound of Music (1965) |
| 2. Singin' in the Rain (1952) |
| 3. The Wizard of Oz (1939) |
| 4. Swing Time (1936) |
| 5. Cabaret (1972) |
| 6. A Star is Born (1954) |
| 7. A Hard Day's Night (1964) |
| 8. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) |
| 9. 42nd Street (1933) |
| 10. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) |
| 11. An American in Paris (1951) |
| 12. West Side Story (1961) |
| 13. Moulin Rouge! (2001) |
| 14. Mary Poppins (1964) |
| 15. Beauty and the Beast (1991) |
| 16. Funny Girl (1968) |
| 17. On the Town (1949) |
| 18. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) |
| 19. Fiddler on the Roof (1971) |
| 20. Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933) |
| 21. Easter Parade (1948) |
| 22. The Music Man (1962) |
| 23. The Band Wagon (1953) |
| 24. Top Hat (1935) |
| 25. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) |
| 26. Yellow Submarine (1968) |
| 27. Once (2006) |
| 28. Oliver! (1968) |
| 29. Dancer in the Dark (2000) |
| 30. Funny Face (1957) |
| 31. The Red Shoes (1949) |
| 32. Fantasia (1940) |
| 33. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) |
| 34. The Smiling Lieutenant (1931) |
| 35. Kiss Me Kate (1953) |
| 36. The Little Mermaid (1989) |
| 37. Footlight Parade (1933) |
| 38. Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) |
| 39. Oklahoma! (1955) |
| 40. Annie (1982) |
| 41. My Fair Lady (1964) |
| 42. The Blue Angel (1930) |
| 43. Amadeus (1984) |
| 44. White Christmas (1954) |
| 45. Pinocchio (1940) |
| 46. Grease (1978) |
| 47. Cabin in the Sky (1943) |
| 48. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) |
| 49. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) |
| 50. Lili (1953) |
