| With "Dreamgirls" and "Happy Feet", it seems that | | | | 3. "A Hard Day's Night" |
| movie musicals are back in favour. But then, that's | | | | Still the best rock 'n' roll musical ever made... which |
| what we all thought a few years ago when | | | | isn't saying much, but it's still a wonderful piece of |
| "Moulin Rouge" and "Chicago" were doing so well. | | | | Beatlemania. |
| No matter. For those who want to see more of | | | | BEST NUMBER: "Can't Buy Me Love", sung over |
| the genre, let's present a (truly subjective) list of | | | | scenes of the boys fooling around on a sports |
| the five greatest-ever movie musicals... | | | | field. A terrific early rock video! |
| 1. "Singin' in the Rain" | | | | MOST UNDER-RATED SONG: "I'll Cry Instead", so |
| Yes, it's a predictable choice, like saying that | | | | under-rated that it wasn't considered strong |
| "Citizen Kane" is the best film ever. But "Singin' in | | | | enough for the initial release. Later releases, |
| the Rain" has not only a great selection of songs, | | | | fortunately, have rectified that. A catchy, |
| but a terrific story (rare for musicals), fine | | | | bittersweet song that shows the Beatles of 1964 |
| performances and a general feeling of joy. Quite | | | | at their best. |
| simply, everything came together perfectly to | | | | 4 "The Sound of Music" |
| create a masterpiece. | | | | Confession: This writer is no fan of this film. Still, I |
| BEST NUMBER: Either Gene Kelly's famous | | | | know so many people who love it to death that - |
| rendition of the title song (yes, another predictable | | | | to show how fair-minded I am - I'll include it. |
| choice) or Donald O'Connor's incredible (and | | | | Satisfied? |
| hilarious) acrobatics of "Make 'Em Laugh". | | | | BEST NUMBER: "Do Re Mi" is sweet, likable, |
| MOST UNDER-RATED SONG: Almost everything | | | | energetic, full of kids, and allows Julie Andrews to |
| else - take your pick! | | | | shine. In short, it encompasses the true appeal of |
| 2. "The Wizard of Oz" | | | | this film. |
| The favourite musical of almost everyone who | | | | MOST UNDER-RATED SONG: "Edelweiss". OK, it's |
| isn't a great musicals fan, and up there with "It's a | | | | not exactly obscure, but the movie is so popular |
| Wonderful Life" and "Casablanca" among | | | | that, if anything is "obscure", it probably deserves |
| Hollywood's best-loved films. | | | | to be. This, however, is sublime. |
| BEST NUMBER: Even though it's not colourful and | | | | 5. "Top Hat" |
| fantasy-based like the other songs, Over the | | | | This list has to include a Fred Astaire - Ginger |
| Rainbow is still one of the sweetest songs every | | | | Rogers movie. It's the law! This is the best |
| written for a movie. | | | | Astaire-Rogers movie, with a great soundtrack of |
| MOST UNDER-RATED SONG: The hummable, | | | | Irving Berlin songs. |
| amusing "If I Only Had a Brain" (reprised later in | | | | BEST NUMBER: "Cheek to Cheek", Fred and |
| the film as "If I Only Had a Heart" and "If I Only | | | | Ginger's anthem. |
| Had the Nerve"). How could you not love a song | | | | MOST UNDER-RATED SONG: Ginger's solo "The |
| with that title? | | | | Piccolino", a popular dance number at the time. |