TV & FilmFor as long as cinema could talk, it has sung. From the elegant and intricate Busby Berkeley revues of the 1930s to today’s more technically bombastic and effects-laden spectacles, the movie musical genre has had a long, storied history, and has drawn in crowds of both show-tune aficionados and casual moviegoers just looking for their cinematic fix.
Nothing is better than a good musical running on all cylinders. At its best, the musical represents everything great about cinema: Engaging characters, enthralling set pieces, and a pulsating sense of wonder. Some of these musicals, however, stand out even more by putting their own unique spins on the genre. From political satire to nostalgia tribute, the musical can be deployed in many different ways, and to many different ends.
Here are six that stand out.
Singin’ in the Rain (1952, Stanley Donen/Gene Kelly)
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Of course, we start with the most iconic of musicals: Singin’ in the Rain. Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly’s unhinged romp through pre-sound Hollywood is the sort of irresistibly toe-tapping, visually eye-popping feature that characterized the musical scene at the time, but infused with the genuinely witty dialogue that’s so often missing from these movies. Every track is unimpeachable, as well as boatloads of fun.
Musical highlight: The title track is iconic for a reason, and the fact that Gene Kelly filmed that scene while running a high fever only adds to the spectacle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1ZYhVpdXbQ
Nashville (1975, Robert Altman)
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Nashville is probably the least musical film on this list, but only because it succeeds in doing so much more on the side. The film manages to serve as a commentary on the entertainment industry, a political satire, and a tragic ensemble collage, all while employing some of the most beautiful country music you’ll find on film. Few films, let alone musicals, have dared to tackle such big issues, and even fewer have covered them with as much intelligence and nuanced empathy.
Musical highlight: It was left off the soundtrack album, but Bill, Mary, and Tom’s “Since You’ve Gone” is a master class on sexual tension onscreen.
Moulin Rouge! (2001, Baz Luhrmann)
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Baz Luhrmann’s style—bombastic, showy, and painfully sentimental—isn’t for everyone, but it’s perfect for musicals. In Moulin Rouge, Luhrmann perfects his aesthetic by way of Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman’s wonderful musical chemistry, as well as one of the most tragic romantic stories of the new millennium. No film musical is as much of a trip as Moulin Rouge, but unlike most visual and vocal feasts, it’s coupled with some legitimately tight, tear-jerking storytelling.
Musical highlight: No song encapsulates the spirit of this film better than the aptly entitled “Elephant Love Medley”—irreverent, but infused with undeniable heart.
Chicago (2002, Rob Marshall)
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Adapting the stage for the screen rarely does justice to the original (see: Rent and Les Miserables), but Chicago, the 2002 Best Picture winner, is a rare case of an adaptation done perfectly. Part of this is because the film never imposes its medium onto the production; it always feels more like a stage play than a full-on movie. Most of it, though, is thanks to the cast’s incredible performances
Musical highlight: “Cell Block Tango”, easy. Words cannot do the set piece justice.
Across the Universe (2007, Julie Taymor)
(Image Source: http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/acrossuniversemovie/images/6/60/Something.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110309025656)
Crafting an entire musical based on one artist’s discography isn’t anything new, but Across the Universe is far and away the finest of the bunch. A psychedelic cinematic trip through 60’s America, from the lens of the Beatles’ unimpeachable musical catalogue, the film is both radical and nostalgic, with a musical sensibility that infuses a sense of modernity to the Fab four’s old classics. John Lennon would be proud.
Musical Highlight(s): Loads, but two in particular stand out—their slow, balladic version of “I Want to Hold Your Hand”, and their gospel-choir take on “Let It Be”.
Grease: Live (2016, Thomas Kail)
GREASE: LIVE: Julianne Hough as ‘Sandy’ and cast rehearse for GREASE: LIVE airing LIVE Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016 (7:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), on FOX. (Photo by Kevin Estrada/FOX via Getty Images)
The inclusion of this film and the exclusion of the 1978 original isn’t an indicator of one’s superiority over the other; in fact, the general sentiment is most people prefer the original. However, it can’t be denied that, on a technical level, it’s infinitely harder to pull off filming a live musical as it unfolds, across a sprawling studio lot. This version has its flaws—like Aaron Tveit being far too old to believably play a high school student—but Thomas Kail’s virtuoso direction and the all-star cast’s musical chops are not among them.
Musical highlight: Vanessa Hudgens’s drop-dead heartbreaking rendition of “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” deserves all of the praise it’s gotten.
Missed anything? We probably did. Comment in some other musicals you would have loved to see on this list, or tweet us at @VantMag!
