[Opening Salvo For Mad About Musicals Course]

The one I've watched the most and can never pass up is West Side Story. It's a great adaptation of an adaptation, but it's the dance numbers that draw me in the most -- "America," "Cool," "Dance at the Gym" and the opening number are all pretty spectacular. Rita Moreno is a queen. 

Speaking of dance numbers, when I think of what I love most about movie musicals, big dance numbers are probably at the top of the list. The Stormy Weather finale with the Nicholas Brothers is something else -- I dare you to watch it without your jaw dropping to the floor. The fantasy ballets in both Singin' in the Rain and An American in Paris, "This Is Me" from The Greatest Showman and tap number of Fred Astaire's are all favorites.

La La Land is a new favorite. It shows that the things that made the classics such hits still work today. It's a movie that I watch with a smile on my face the whole time. 

I'm excited for this course!

[Opening Salvo For Mad About Musicals Course]

On 6/3/2018 at 7:54 AM, Pirate Santa Karl said:

"Must See" musicals are the ones I will drop everything to watch, any time, any place. "Must See" musicals are movies I seek out to see on the Big Screen, at the movie theatre. "Must See" musicals are the one where I sing along and quote the best known lines. "Must See" musicals are the ones I watch over and over and over again!

These are a few of My Favorite Things (see what I did there?)

* "Singin' in The Rain" (maybe the best ever)
* "Gold Diggers of 1933" (Ginger sings "We're In The Money" in PIG LATIN and so much more)
* "Footlight Parade" Jimmy Cagney, Joan Blondell, Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Frank McHugh and great Busby Berkeley staging. 
* "Meet Me In St Louis" Amazing and gorgeous MGM Technicolor, brilliant casting, great songs
* "Yankee Doodle Dandy" Jimmy Cagney AND Walter Huston singing and dancing? I am THERE!
* "The Band Wagon" More Arthur Freed era brilliance from MGM (love Jack Buchanan)
* Almost all of the Fred & Ginger films, especially the ones directed by Mark Sandrich 
* "Mary Poppins" a favorite from my childhood
* "The Wizard of Oz" another favorite from my childhood
* "A Star Is Born", every version but especially the Judy Garland/George Cukor edition ("The Man Who Got Away" might be my favorite musical number ever)
* "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" amazing, beautiful, unique, special.  

Oh there are so many many more I could list! It might be easier to list the musicals I don't like!
 

But that's another post for another Sunday morning...

Let's Movie! Let's Musical! 

Yes to The Man Who Got Away! It might even get better with every viewing. Every single time her voice just amazes me. Good pick