Subgenre Sampler

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Annie (2000): Dir. Rob Marshall
Feat. Kathy Bates, Alan Cumming, Alicia Morton; Remake of the love–it–or–hate–it original, again finds the feisty carrot–top fleeing her orphan home (and a mean Kathy…
Swing (1998): Dir. Nick Mead
Feat. Hugo Speer, Clarence Clemmons, Lisa Stansfield…; Thoroughly in the mould of THE COMMITMENTS, this comic celebration of how music can relieve the drudgery of life casts Hugo Speer as an incarcerated…
Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis (1997): Dir. John Henderson
Feat. Rik Mayall, Jane Horrocks; Rik Mayall delivers one of his oily variations in what is only his second feature. As a jaded music manager he decides to have his…
On Connait la Chanson (Same Old Song) (1997): Dir. Alain Resnais
Feat. Pierre Arditi, Sabine Azema, Jean-Pierre Bacri…; A winner of seven Cesar awards, this light–hearted homage to Dennis Potter applies his musical–cinematic ideas to the…
Sweeney Todd (1997): Dir. John Schlesinger
Feat. Ben Kingsley, Joanna Lumley; Based on the true story of the demon barbers of Fleet Street, Ben Kingsley and Joanna Lumley attend this gruesome tale of the esteemed barbershop in…
East Side Story (1996): Dir. Dana Ranga; Enchanting curiosity draws back the Iron Curtain to detail the history of the Communist musical! Focus on the Russian, East German, and…
That Thing You Do! (1996): Dir. Tom Hanks
Feat. Tom Everett Scott, Liv Tyler, Johnathon Schaech; Tom Hanks makes a solid if squeaky–clean writing/directing debut in charting the one–hit success of fictitious pop band, The Wonders.…
Billy's Holiday (1995): Dir. Richard Wherret
Feat. Max Cullen, Kris McQuade, Richard Roxburgh; A melan–comic tale of a bored middle aged shopkeeper who discovers he has a voice of as sweet and soulful as Billie Holiday. It's never too…
Flamenco (1995): Dir. Carlos Saura
Feat. Joaquin Cortes; Definitive showcase of Spain's national passion, displays the talents of more than 300 artists versed in the art of song, guitar–playing and…
Les Miserables (Stage version) (1995): Popular stage spectacular, based on the Victor Hugo novel, is seen here in a Gala 10th Anniversary performance at the Royal Albert Hall.
Lush Life (1994): Dir. Michael Elias
Feat. Forest Whitaker, Jeff Goldblum; Forest Whitaker and Jeff Goldblum bring this modest jazz film to vibrant life as top session horn players whose lives come to a cross–roads,…
Magic Flute, The (1994): A princely couple protect their love and honour from corrupt monarchs in this enchanting musical fairytale, fashioned from Mozart's classic opera.
That's Entertainment III (1994): Feat. June Allyson, Cyd Charisse, Lena Horne…; Starlets of the golden age recall their heyday and bring fresh insight to this third showcase of infectious musical highlights.
Nutcracker, The (1993): Dir. Emile Ardolino
Feat. Macaulay Culkin; You'll have the best seat in the house for this splendid filmed version of Balanchine's Yuletide ballet. Stars Macauley Culkin in a refreshing change…
On the Town (Stage version) (1992): Leonard Bernstein's classic Broadway musical, following the misadventures of three sailors is captured here in a recent stage version, accompanied by…
Mambo Kings, The (1991): Dir. Arne Glimcher
Feat. Armand Assante, Antonio Banderas; Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas play sibling Mambo freaks who spin out of the fast lane en route to the American Dream. The dance sequences are…
Without You I'm Nothing (1990): Dir. John Boskovich
Feat. Sandra Bernhard; Sandra Bernhard struts her stuff on various New York stages with music, dance and humour packaged into something that's gloriously sexy, flamboyant,…
Mack the Knife (1989): Dir. Menahem Golan
Feat. Raul Julia, Richard Harris, Julie Walters…; Muddled adaptation of The Threepenny Opera is notable for some pretty inept dance sequences and some rather overt mugging by some well–known…
School Daze (1988): Dir. Spike Lee
Feat. Laurence Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn…; Spike Lee's black high–school musical is perhaps over–ambitious, but the disorder is compensated in sheer exuberance and…
That's Dancing! (1985): Dir. Jack Haley, Jr.
Feat. Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, James Cagney…; A compilation of splendid dance sequences from dozens of Hollywood films. Includes over fifty top dancers, with the best of the crop generally dating…
Pirates of Penzance (1982): Dir. Wilford Leach
Feat. Kevin Kline, Angela Lansbury, Linda Rondstadt…; Kevin Kline and Angela Lansbury star in this hammy screen version of Gilbert and Sullivan's famous operetta.
Yes, Giorgio (1982): Dir. Franklin J. Schaffner
Feat. Luciano Pavarotti, Kathryn Harrold; Enjoyable romance has Pavarotti as an Opera singer (what else?) who loses his voice but finds love with throat specialist Harrold.
Blood Wedding (1981): Dir. Carlos Saura
Feat. Antonio Gades; The first of Saura's hot–blooded flamenco dance films captures the preparation and performance a tragic ballet by choreographer/actor Antonio…
Les Uns et Les Autres (Bolero) (1981): Dir. Claude Lelouch
Feat. James Caan, Geraldine Chaplin, Robert Hossein…; Sprawling extravaganza of questionable taste is not without its devotees. It charts the impact that music has made on the lives of four…
One Trick Pony (1980): Dir. Robert M Young
Feat. Paul Simon, Blair Brown, Rip Torn…; Interesting tale of rock–star, played by Paul Simon, undergoing personal crises.
Buddy Holly Story, The (1978): Dir. Steve Rash
Feat. Gary Busey; An exceptional Hollywood biography of the seminal rock 'n'roll star, with an uncanny lead performance from Gary Busey.
Hobbit, The (1977): Dir. Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jnr
Feat. Orson Bean, Richard Boone, John Huston…; A homebody demi–human in Middle Earth gets talked into joining a quest with a group of dwarves to recover their treasure from a dragon.…
Pete's Dragon (1977): Dir. Don Chaffey
Feat. Mickey Rooney, Shelley Winters, Jim Dale…; Young orphan Pete (Sean Marchall) bonds with animated green dragon Elliot in this lesser–Disney live–action movie. Sentimental songs…
That's Entertainment II (1976): Dir. Gene Kelly
Feat. Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Spencer Tracy…; A second helping of musical nostalgia, with Astaire and Kelly again hosting while also contributing a number of brand new dance numbers together.…
Stardust (1974): Dir. Michael Apted
Feat. David Essex, Adam Faith, Larry Hagman…; Musical biopic of fictional 60s British popsters The Stray Cats (the name later adopted by 80s rockabillies) and their invasion of America. 70s pop…
Oliver Twist (animated) (1973): Dir. Hal Sutherland; Warner Brothers' merry musical feature based on Charles Dicken's classic.
Tom Sawyer (1973): Dir. Don Taylor
Feat. Johnnie Whitaker, Celeste Holm, Warren Oates…; Award–winning musical version of Mark Twain's classic raggamuffin adventures. A youthful Jodie Foster appears as Tom's girlfriend.
Jack and the Beanstalk (1967): Dir. Gene Kelly
Feat. Gene Kelly; Gene Kelly and his live–action cast interact with animated characters and backgrounds for this musical version of the fairytale favourite.…
Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed Up Zombies (1965): Dir. Ray Dennis Steckler
Feat. Ray Dennis Steckler, Brett O'Hara; Classic curiosity combines weird monsters, exceedingly bad acting and a musical into one laughable stew.
Roustabout (1964): Dir. John Rich
Feat. Elvis Presley, Barbara Stanwyck; Relatively pleasing Elvis Presley vehicle. The King joins a carnival run by Barbara Stanwyk.
Live it Up! (Sing and Swing) (1963): Dir. Lance Comfort
Feat. David Hemmings; Low–budget, but historically fascinating musical wraps some great mid–60s pop music around its slender plot. Hemmings plays a…
Girls Town (1959): Dir. Charles Haas
Feat. Mamie Van Doren, Mel Torme, Paul Anka…; Wayward teen Mamie Van Doren is sent to a girls' home after being ratted out by 'greaser' Mel Torme. Loaded with rock'n'roll.
Kismet (1955): Dir. Vincente Minnelli
Feat. Howard Keel, Ann Blyth; An Arabian–Nights style musical, with Howard Keel attempting to woo wicked wizar's wife Ann Blyth.
Student Prince, The (1954): Dir. Richard Thorpe
Feat. Ann Blyth, Edmund Purdom, John Ericson…; Taken from the operetta by Sigmund Romberg, and the third filmed version of the tale of a young Prince breaking out into the real world by falling in…
Beggar's Opera, The (1953): Dir. Peter Brook
Feat. Laurence Olivier; Initially a commercial failure, this energetic romp through John Gay's 18th century ribald opera has since been critically acclaimed. In his first…
Dangerous When Wet (1953): Dir. Charles Walters
Feat. Esther Williams; Musical starlet Esther Williams gets to do what she does best as an athlete who attempts to swim the English channel. Highlight is a subterranean…
Lili (1952): Dir. Charles Walters
Feat. Leslie Caron, Mel Ferrer; Fairytale–like story of Leslie Caron's amorous adventures in a carnival is swimming in charm, whimsical songs and 'circus–type'…
Petty Girl, The (1950): Dir. Nat Perrin
Feat. Constance Cummings; Robert Cummings stars in this comedy–musical as an artist who causes a scandal through his choice of model.
Ladies of the Chorus (1949): Dir. Phil Karlson
Feat. Marilyn Monroe; Modest musical burlesque has the distinction of giving Marilyn Monroe her first sizeable role.
Rhapsody in Blue (1945): Dir. Irving Rapper
Feat. Robert Alda, Joan Leslie, Alexis Smith…; George Gershwin's life and work is given a good glossing over from Hollywood, but the magical music keeps things sprightly for over two hours.
Three Caballeros, The (1945): Dir. Norman Ferguson; Donald Duck and compadres Carioca and Panchito mardi–gras their way around Mexico, Brazil and the world in this early Disney feature.…
Tonight and Every Night (1945): Dir. Victor Saville
Feat. Rita Hayworth; Rita Hayworth starring musical about a London nightclub during the war which despite bombings and blitzes, never skips a beat.
Wonder Man (1945): Dir. Bruce Humberstone
Feat. Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo, Vera-Ellen…; A typically zany fairy–tale for Danny Kaye, as a mild–mannered student persuaded by the ghost of his dead twin to seek out his murderer.…
Cover Girl (1944): Dir. Charles Vidor
Feat. Rita Hayworth, Gene Kelly, Phil Silvers…; Sheer energy and razzamatazz compensate for the rampant cliches of this Rita Hayworth/Gene Kelly dance–musical, set in the world of magazine…
Lulu Belle (1943): Dir. Leslie Fenton
Feat. Dorothy Lamour, George Montgomery, Albert Dekker; Montgomery leaves his fiancee to take up with disreputable night club singer Lulu Belle. Almost forgotten musical is mostly of interest for it's…
Road to Morocco (1942): Dir. David Butler
Feat. Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour; Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour do their bit for the war effort by enchanting the public with mad–cap (rom)antics on the North African…
You'll Never Get Rich (1941): Dir. Sidney Lanfield
Feat. Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth, John Hubbard…; Generally amusing showbiz comedy has Fred Astaire play a star Broadway dancer who helps his boss (Benchley) out of trouble with his wife over a…
Road to Singapore (1940): Dir. Victor Schertzinger
Feat. Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour; The first of half a dozen 'Road to' films has Bing Crosby and Bob Hope as clowning, crooning rivals vying for the affections of Dorothy Lamour.
Broadway Melody of 1938 (1938): Dir. Roy Del Ruth
Feat. Judy Garland, Robert Taylor, Eleanor Powell; Splendidly lavish "Show Musical", where a flimsy storyline is but an excuse to launch the brilliant dancing talents of Eleanor Powell. Also included…
Great Waltz, The (The Life of Johann Strauss) (1938): Dir. Julien Duvivier
Feat. Fernand Gravey, Luise Rainer, Lionel Atwill; The lIfe story of Johann Strauss is given a rich if somewhat corny treatment in this otherwise well–mounted musical biopic.
Dimples (1936): Feat. Shirley Temple, Frank Morgan, Robert Kent; Shirley Temple musical set in the New York Bowery, where the young lass helps her pickpocket grandfather., Soon however her musical talents come to…
Pennies from Heaven (1936): Dir. Norman Z. McLeod
Feat. Bing Crosby; Bing Crosby vehicle sees the showman protecting a little girl from the big bad school system.
Swing Time (1936): Dir. George Stevens
Feat. Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers; A fine example of Fred and Ginger's magical screen partnership, their sixth together, weaving the music of Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, into…
Naughty Marietta (1935): Dir. W.S. Van Dyke
Feat. Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy; The first vehicle for onscreen singing duo Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy – both hugely popular in their day – is a rehash of an…
Merry Widow, The (1934): Dir. Ernst Lubitsch
Feat. Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette MacDonald; Out of cold–blooded patriotism to his homeland Marshovia, gadabout Maurice Chevalier attempts to seduce millionairess Jeanette MacDonald into…
Broadway Melody of 1929 (1929): Dir. Harry Beaumont
Feat. Charles King, Anita Page, Bessie Love…; "100% All Talking! 100% All Singing! 100% All Dancing!" – this creaky MGM tale of two sisters bringing their act to Broadway was tremendously…
Cox and Box: Feat. Russell Smythe; First comic opera from Gilbert and Sullivan, here with Russell Smythe and the London Symphony Orchestra.
Peter and the Wolf: Sting narrates Prokofiev's fantasy – animated by members of the Theatre de Complicite, the puppets of Spitting Image and Claudio Abbado…
Sorceror, The: Comic opera from Gilbert and Sullivan, performed by Clive Revill and the London Symphony Orchestra.
Trial by Jury: Comic opera from Gilbert and Sullivan, performed by Frankie Howard, Kate Flowers and the London Symphony Orchestra.

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