Musical Movie Primer

With the release of Wicked: For Good this month, I thought it was only fitting to make one of this month's genre primers the Musical Movie Primer. I am a fan of most movie musicals, especially those with catchy songs. Movie Musicals have been a staple of cinema since the 1930s, with a peak in the 1960s. With all that said, here is the Musical Movie Primer.

1. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

The Wizard of Oz is not only a staple of the musical genre but also just a classic of cinema in general. It was a groundbreaking film in its time with its expansive world-building and use of Technicolor. It is one of the most beloved and well-known films of all time. I don't think there is anyone out there who hasn't seen this movie. It is full of iconic songs, memorable sets, and characters, and has one of the most iconic villains of all time in The Wicked Witch of the West. The songs are so memorable that they are still known today, over 85 years later.

2. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

Singin' in the Rain is one of the great musicals and is also known as a classic of old Hollywood. It is all about the lives of Hollywood stars and "making it" in the starlight. This musical is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicals ever made and has been such an inspiration for much of Hollywood to come. Even in today's film, you can see the inspiration from Singin' in the Rain, such as in films such as La La Land and Babylon. Singin' in the Rain also launched a movement of exploring old Hollywood that many films after the fact would still utilize. The song and dance numbers set a high standard for all other musicals today that many films still strive to recreate. This movie also has a level of optimism and fun that most movies of today seem to lack.

3. West Side Story (1961)

West Side Story was groundbreaking as it showed that movie musicals could be serious and socially relevant. Up to this point, movie musicals were seen as light escapist experiences, where West Side Story brought in ideas like race, poverty, and the American Dream. The movie proved that musicals could tackle real-world issues and still be engaging. The film/musical was also big for its use of dance to further the story. This was also one of the first Broadway adaptations to break free from the stage and redefine how movie musicals could be filmed.

4. Sound of Music (1965)

The Sound of Music is one of the most foundational movie musicals and is universally beloved by everyone. The movie features several songs, such as Do-Re-Me, Edelweiss, My Favorite Things, and The Sound of Music, that have become a permanent part of the cultural vocabulary. The film is groundbreaking for its cinematography and on-site shooting, proving that even musicals can feel epic in scale. The movie was also the highest grossing film of all time when it came out and continues to be one of the most watched films of all time.

5. Cabaret (1972)

Cabaret is an important movie musical as it redefined what a musical could be. The film marked a turning point where the musical genre grew up with a format that was reinvented for a more modern audience. The movie broke the traditional format of musicals, where characters would just burst randomly into song and instead confined most of the songs to a singular setting as performances, creating a more grounded type of musical. The movie also unapologetically tackled adult themes such as the rise of Nazism, sexual identity, and moral decay. The movie helped change the critical perception of musicals from just fluff to serious cinema.

6. Grease (1978)

Grease was groundbreaking as it brought rock and roll, teenage rebellion, and pop culture flair to the musical genre. This movie proved that musicals didn't have to be old-fashioned and could appeal to modern young audiences. The movie features songs such as Summer Nights, You're the One That I Want, and Greased Lightning that became instant hits on the charts, something musicals rarely achieved. The two main characters, Danny and Sandy, became archetypes for the cool greaser and good girl, character models that would continue to be used in stories. Its portrayal of high school also became a blueprint for many high school-set musicals such as Glee, Hairspray, and High School Musical.

7. The Little Mermaid (1989)

The Little Mermaid was an important movie musical as it helped open doors that had otherwise been closed for the musical genre. At this point in time, the movie musical had all but vanished from mainstream culture. The Little Mermaid revived the genre, introduced Broadway-style performances to animated movies, and launched the Disney Renaissance. Some people would argue that movies like Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King were better, but without the Little Mermaid's success, I don't think we would have gotten those other films.

8. Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Moulin Rouge! is essential as it helped reinvigorate the musical genre for the 21st century. By the late 90s, live action musicals were rare in Hollywood and seen as risky. Moulin Rouge helped break that barrier by being both a critical and commercial success, receiving both Oscar and box office acclaim. It helped create a new style of music that was colorful, bold, and fresh. This movie also helped redefine how pop music could be used in musicals through its use of mashups between pop and rock songs. The movie also helped distance itself from golden age musicals by being a totally modern and kinetic musical.

9. Les Misérables (2002)

Les Misérables was groundbreaking as it helped redefine musical performance in film. Up to this point, singing wasn't done on set; it was prerecorded and dubbed in post-production. This movie changed that by having live singing on set, giving actors more spontaneity in their performances. It was also impressive with having songs like I dreamed a dream being shot in a single take. The movie also helped bring the full scale Broadway mega musical to screen with its huge ensemble, operatic scale, and sweeping historical setting. The movie helped pave the way for other large scale musicals to find their way on screen.

10. La La Land (2016)

La La Land helped revive original live-action musicals while also paying homage to the golden age of Hollywood. Prior to La La Land, the state of musicals was all adaptations and sequels. La La Land brought an original story with fresh songs to the genre. The film was also largely successful, proving that audiences would still go see original musicals. La La Land also received huge buzz, receiving 14 out of 17 possible nominations, tying the record set by Titanic and All About Eve for most nominations for a single film.