broadway melody of 1938

the year: 1937

the genre: musical


the cast: Robert Taylor (Steve Raleigh); Eleanor Powell (Sally Lee); George Murphy (Sonny Ledford); Buddy Ebsen (Peter Trot); Sophie Tucker (Alice Clayton); Judy Garland (Betty Clayton)


the plot: Steve Raleigh wants to produce a show on Broadway. He finds a backer, Herman Whipple and a leading lady, Sally Lee. But Caroline Whipple forces Steve to use a known star, not a newcomer. Sally purchases a horse she used to train when her parents had a farm before the depression and with two ex-vaudevillians, she trains it to win a race, providing the money Steve needs for his show.


don't miss: Peter Trot, the jockey.

listen for: "Is he deaf?" "Well, he was the last time when I asked him for a raise."



did you know: The song "Dear Mr. Gable" was a birthday present for Clark Gable's 36th birthday. Composer and arranger Roger Edens adapted the old song "You Made Me Love You" by James V. Monaco. It was sung at Gable's birthday party by a young Judy Garland. Producer Louis B. Mayer was so impressed by it, that he gave order to let Garland sing it again in the next great musical MGM was going to produce.

man of la mancha

the year: 1972

the genre: musical


the cast: Peter O'Toole (Don Quixote de la Mancha / Miguel de Cervantes / Alonso Quijana); Sophia Loren (Dulcinea / Aldonza); James Coco (Sancho Panza / Cervante's manservant)


the plot: In the sixteenth century, Miguel de Cervantes, poet, playwright, and part-time actor, has been arrested, together with his manservant, by the Spanish Inquisition. They are accused of presenting an entertainment offensive to the Inquisition. Inside the huge dungeon into which they have been cast, the other prisoners gang up on Cervantes and his manservant, and begin a mock trial, with the intention of stealing or burning his possessions. Cervantes wishes to desperately save a manuscript he carries with him and stages, with costumes, makeup, and the participation of the other prisoners, an unusual defense--the story of Don Quixote.


don't miss: the great songs. Knight of the Woeful Countenance? A single tear.


listen for: "I can hear the cuckoo singing in the cuckooberry tree." "If he says that that's a helmet, I suggest that you agree."


did you know: Peter O'Toole recorded his vocal tracks for the film, but realized that his own singing voice was not good enough for the requirements of the music, so he assisted in the search for a voice double.



you can watch the movie in parts, starting here.

hairspray

the year: 2007

the genre: musical


the cast: John Travolta (Edna Turnblad); Michelle Pfeiffer (Velma Von Tussle); Christopher Walken (Wilbur Turnblad); Amanda Bynes (Penny Pingleton); James Marsden (Corny Collins); Queen Latifah (Motormouth Maybelle); Brittany Snow (Amber Von Tussle); Zac Efron (Link Larkin); Elijah Kelley (Seaweed); Allison Janney (Prudy Pingleton); Nikki Blonsky (Tracy Turnblad)


the plot: Tracy Turnblad, an overweight teenager with all the right moves, is obsessed with the Corny Collins Show. Every day after school, she and her best friend Penny run home to watch the show and drool over Link Larkin, much to Tracy's mother Edna's dismay. After one of the stars of the show leaves, Corny Collins holds auditions to see who will be the new dancer. With the help of her friend Seaweed, Tracy makes it on the show, angering the evil dance queen Amber Von Tussle and her mother Velma. Tracy then decides that it's not fair that the black kids can only dance on the Corny Collins Show once a month, and with the help of Seaweed, Link, Penny, Motormouth Maybelle, her father and Edna, decides she's going to integrate the show.....without denting her 'do!


don't miss: Corny Collins.



did you know: most of the cast jokingly called "You Can't Stop the Beat" "you can't stop to breathe" because of its pace and fast-moving lyrics. Queen Latifah said she had no trouble singing a lot of words very quickly because of her background as a rapper.



listen for: "You two better brace yourselves for a whole lotta ugly comin' at you from a neverending parade of stupid." "So, you've met my mom?"



extra bonus points: if you know why it's cool that Ricki Lake plays one of the talent agents and Jerry Stiller plays Mr. Pinky.


also listen for: "I was just at home, practicing my new twist on The Twist, when I overheard it on the news. I can't believe Tracy savagely bludgeoned an Eagle Scout. That's just not like her."



even MORE extra bonus points: if you can name "The Nicest Kids in Town".



And my favorite scenes here and here.

the best: musicals

According to the American Film Institute, the top ten musicals are:

10. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
9. An American in Paris (1951)
8. My Fair Lady (1964)
7. A Star is Born (1954)
6. Mary Poppins (1964)
5. Cabaret (1972)
4. The Sound of Music ((1965)
3. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
2. West Side Story (1961)
1. Singin' in the Rain (1952)

MY ten favorite musicals are:

10. The Music Man


9. Easter Parade


8. State Fair


7. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers


6. Guys 'n' Dolls


5. Hit the Deck


4. Thoroughly Modern Millie


3. Finian's Rainbow


2. White Christmas


1. Singin' in the Rain


What are yours?

high school musical

Mock me if you will, but I like this happy little ditty of a movie. And while I can't recommend the sequels as highly, if you haven't seen this - give it a chance. You might like it.


the year: 2006

the genre: musical


the cast: Zac Efron (Troy Bolton); Vanessa Hudgens (Gabriella Montez); Ashley Tisdale (Sharpay Evans); Lucas Grabeel (Ryan Evans); Monique Coleman (Taylor McKessie); Corbin Bleu (Chad Danforth); Oleysa Rulin (Kelsi Nielsen)


the plot: Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez meet over winter break after being forced to sing together at a party. They become friends, but don't expect to see each other again. When Gabriella's mother is transferred before the spring semester starts, Troy and Gabriella end up at the same school. They decide to audition for the school's musical, which puts them on the hit list of Sharpay and Ryan Evans, the star siblings of every previous school musical.


don't miss: Zeke's creme brulee.


listen for: "Look, you're a hoops dude. Not a musical singer person. Have you ever seen Michael Crawford on a cereal box?" "Who's Michael Crawford?" "Exactly my point. He was the "Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway. Now my mom, she's seen that musical 27 times and she put Michael Crawford's picture in our refrigerator. Not on it. IN it. So my point is, if you play basketball, you'll end up on the cereal box. If you sing in musicals, you'll end up in my mom's refrigerator."


did you know: "High School Musical" was just the working title for the film while a better name was thought up. However, by the time post-production came, a better name had not been thought of so the producers unwillingly went for "High School Musical."



count: how many hats Ryan wears during the film.

hello, dolly!

the year: 1969

the genre: musical


the cast: Barbra Streisand (Dolly Levi); Walter Matthau (Horace Vandergelder); Michael Crawford (Cornelius Hackl)


the plot: Matchmaker Dolly Levi takes a trip to Yonkers, New York to see the "well-known unmarried half-a-millionaire," Horace Vandergelder. While there, she convinces him, his two stock clerks and his niece and her beau to go to New York City. In New York, she fixes Vandergelder's clerks up with the woman Vandergelder had been courting, and her shop assistant (Dolly has designs of her own on Mr. Vandergelder, you see).


don't miss: Just Leave Everything to Me - the lyrics are hilarious.
"If you want your ego bolstered, muscles toned, or chair upholstered: Just leave everything to me.
Charming social introductions, expert mandolin instructions: Just leave everything to me.
If you want your culture rounded, French improved, or torso pounded, With a ten year guarantee.
If you want a birth recorded, collies bred, or kittens ported: I'll proceed to plan the whole procedure, Just leave everything to me."


did you know: Walter Matthau detested Barbra Streisand so much that he refused to kiss her in the final shot where Horace kisses Dolly in front of the church. To get around this he leaned near her and the camera was positioned so that the angle makes it appear that he kisses her when, in reality, his face was several inches from hers.


listen for: "Money, pardon the expression, is like manure. It's not worth a thing unless it's spread around, encouraging young things to grow."

bundle of joy

the year: 1956

the genre: comedy


the cast: Debbie Reynolds (Polly Parish); Eddie Fisher (Dan Merlin); Adolphe Menjou (J. B. Merlin); Tommy Noonan (Freddie Miller); Nita Talbot (Mary)


the plot: A remake of Bachelor Mother. Polly is fired from her job as salesclerk at J.B. Merlin’s department store and while waiting for an employment office to open she finds a cherubic blond baby in front of a foundling home. The helpful but obtuse employees think she is trying to abandon the baby because she has lost her job. Playing Guardian Angel, one of the administrators of the home visits J.B. Merlin’s to get Polly her job back. He sees the younger Mr. Merlin, Dan, who not only gives Polly her job back but a $10 raise. Poor Polly thinks the store has finally seen the light and realizes what a great employee she is, but her bubble is soon burst when the foundling home delivers the baby to her doorstep later that night. Through the course of the movie, she falls in love with the younger Merlin and complications ensue when J.B. thinks the baby is his grandchild.


don't miss: when Polly (as Dan's date at the fancy New Year's Eve dinner) pretends to be Swedish.


extra bonus points: if you recognize the actress who plays Mrs. Dugan from a Disney/Hayley Mills movie.


I'll be honest - I like Bachelor Mother a tiny bit better, but this one is great because Debbie Reynolds is just fun to watch - and the music is kind of swingin', too. Watch the trailer here.


You can watch the movie in parts starting here.