THE 13 GREATEST MUSICALS
IN AMERICAN FILM HISTORY
IN AMERICAN FILM HISTORY
The American Film Institute loves to make lists, and, as a movie fan, I love to read them. In 2006, the AFI nominated 180 American movie musicals and distributed ballots to AFI members. Here are the top 13 vote getters. In italics I've added the musical scene that springs immediately to mind when I think of these classics.
1 SINGIN' IN THE RAIN 1952 MGM "The sun's in my heart and I'm ready for love."
2 WEST SIDE STORY 1961 United Artists "A boy like that would kill your brother! Forget that boy! Go find another!"
3 WIZARD OF OZ, THE 1939 MGM "With the thoughts I'd be thinkin' I could be another Lincoln, if I only had a brain."
4 SOUND OF MUSIC, THE 1965 Twentieth Century-Fox "Somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good."
5 CABARET 1972 Allied Artists "Farewell, Mein Leber Herr! It was a fine affair, but now it's over."
6 MARY POPPINS 1964 Disney "With every job that must done there is an element of fun. You find the fun and SNAP! The job's a game! And every task you undertake becomes a piece of cake ..."
7 STAR IS BORN, A 1954 Warner Bros. "Ever since this world began there is nothing sadder than a one-man woman looking for the man that got away."
8 MY FAIR LADY 1964 Warner Bros. "Oh, so loverly sitting absobloominlootly still. I would never budge till spring crept over me windersill."
9 AMERICAN IN PARIS, AN 1951 MGM CONFESSION: I have never seen this movie start to finish, so I don't have a favorite scene
10 MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS 1944 MGM "As he started to leave I took hold of his sleeve with my hand, and as if it were planned, he stayed on with me and it was grand, just to stand with his hand holding mine … to the end of the line!"
11 KING AND I, THE 1956 Twentieth Century-Fox "Getting to know you, getting to know all about you. Getting to like you, getting to hope you like me ..."
12 CHICAGO 2002 Miramax "Start the car, I know a whoopee spot where the gin is cold and the piano's hot ..."
13 42ND STREET 1933 Warner Bros. "C'mon along and listen to the lullaby of Broadway, the hip-horray and bally-hoo, the lullaby of Broadway."
I don't completely agree with this list. I have never been crazy about West Side Story. Natalie Wood was a luminous screen presence, but she was a lousy Maria. And what about that lame-ass Tony? For what it's worth, I've always found An American in Paris pretentious. Instead I would have included Easter Parade because I love the "Couple of Swells" number, and Young at Heart, where Sinatra sits at the piano and breaks our hearts by singing "Someone to Watch Over Me." But isn't disagreeing now and again part of what makes these lists such fun?
Include your link in the comments and I'll list you here:
1) The Green Movement gets the Pink Flamingo treatment
2) Nicholas shares his plan for world rule
3) Malcolm -- the speed demon who once again hit my TT before I could visit his! -- takes us out to the arcade
4) Sandy Carlson has a "sultry," and evocative TT
5) Hootin' Ani waxes poetic this week
6) Lilibeth's TT is a valentine to her home
7) Sobeit has a movie TT -- and you KNOW how the Gal loves movie TTs!
8) Marcia takes us back to the 4th
9) Kay helps us learn more about Kay ... and ourselves
10) Claudia takes on an online version of Scrabble. Play along ... if you dare!
11) Jenny McB faces her apathy head on!
12) Diana M's TT is musical, too!
13) Poppingbubbles introduces those who came BEFORE her prince
14) Janet's TT is a trip down memory lane
15) Kristi shoots the fireworks, and the results are great
16) Travel to Ontario with Adelle
17) Visit Kim's birthday TT
18) Jane shares the most beautiful baby in the world
19) Toni's TT is all about the month of July
20) Feefifoto is about my least favorite domestic chore
21) Lori introduces us to a super new superhero
22) Randlin's TT is musical, too.
23) Chris has another laugh out loud TT
24) Jen has a name-calling TT
25) Angie has a colorful TT
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
It's official. I'm annoyed with you. It is pouring rain (wonderful) - so now I'm going to have that blastedly incredible song in my head until something else blasts it out.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot! LOL
SJR
The Pink Flamingo
http://thepinkflamingo.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2008/7/9/3785066.html
There are several here I haven't seen (including 2, 3 and 4) but I agree that Singin' In' The Rain should be top of the list.
ReplyDeleteAnother great musical that didn't make the list is "On the Town". My favorite scene is when they are in the musical sequence in the museum. I too liked the movie "Young At Heart". I saw it for the first time a few months ago on TCM and again when they showed it back in May. Have you scene the original version of that film? It's a non-musical drama from 1938 called "Four Daughters". One of my fave actors (John Garfield) plays the role that Frank Sinatra did in the remake.
ReplyDeleteWow! I've seen all of them. I feel cultured!
ReplyDeleteI've seen 'em all! And loved 'em all.
ReplyDeleteThat Yul Bryner was a bunch of 'hot stuff' when I was a kid. Yummy.
My 13 is published, hope you can stop by sometime.
Ah the songs...I've seen and loved most of these--the TV versions that is. My children watched them over and over growing up, and I recognize the songs from some of those I haven't seen. The Music Man, Oliver, Fiddler on the Roof...those were also some favorites of this family.
ReplyDeleteI have seen "Cabaret" and absolutely loved it! I've also seen "The Sound of Music", ...it was okay. Greg Brady (Brady Bunch)was playing the captain, which wasn't what I expected. Great list!
ReplyDeleteVisit soon!
sobeit
http://sobeit89.squarespace.com
i say 6 and 6
ReplyDeleteGreat list---and great entertainment. I'm sorry, but I like to feel better when I leave the movie house or the theatre, not worse, and most of these would do the trick.
ReplyDeletelol to SJ Reidhead. She's going to be annoyed with me on Friday.... ;) I love that you share your own opinion. I don't know the movies enough to have an opinion.
ReplyDeleteHappy TT
I grew up on musicals, my father still loves to put on "Why should I wake up" from Cabaret when we are on vacation to get us out of bed. So,I am not fond of that song.
ReplyDeleteI think the Wizard of Ox is my favorite!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe Fiddler on the Roof didn't make the cut...I also loved Hello Dolly with Lucille Ball. Thanks for sharing...
ReplyDeleteInteresting list. I'm not so sure I agree with AFI, either.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I love all of those movies, now I;m going to have to look up the other 87! Happy TT!
ReplyDeleteYou know....Ive only seen one musical and that was Phantom of the Opera. I dont know why, I just havent..hmmmm, I will have to change that soon. Happy TT:)
ReplyDeleteI love that song from The King and I :-)
ReplyDeleteGuys and Dolls will always be my favorite musical. The music is just so catchy. Happy T13.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a list of memorable films. They just don't make 'em like they used to anymore.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite musicals was White Christmas. I beg to disagree, I loved and still love West Side Story. fun list! Happy T13!
ReplyDeleteI can remember as a little girl watching My Fair Lady with my Grandmother Fond memories. kim
ReplyDeleteI have always LOVED musicals. Even when I was a kid. I agree that "Easter Parade" should have been on the list. I loved that one. Thanks for reminding me of some of my all time favorites!
ReplyDeleteCheck out my T13.
I struggled with West Side Story. My Mom loves it so one day while babysitting my cousins, I put it in the VCR and thought it would never end...
ReplyDeleteGreat list!
Happy TT
I can't agree with My Fair Lady. The story and music are wonderful, true, but have you ever listened to the stage recording with Julie Andrews? Her performance is light years ahead of Audrey Hepburn (magnificent, yes, but no singer) lip-synching to Marnie Nixon.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adore musicals. I have this secret wish for life to be a musical and everyone to break out into song. And I do, several times a day.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite musical is a more contemporary one- Moulin Rouge. And we saw Phantom of the Opera in Las Vegas in the theater designed just for it and it was spectacular.
My TT today is actually about an internet musical, going up for free next week only! :-D
Great list of musicals while they have never really been my thing personally I can enjoy them when I see them..
ReplyDeleteCheck out my list of thirteen wonderfull things about the Winnipeg Folk Fest. The music festival I'll be at for the next 3 days.
http://betweentheticks.blogspot.com/
I've seen most of these and loved the ones I've seen. Will need to see the rest. Happy TT
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the list, have seen most of them.
ReplyDeletehttp://myrtlebeachramblings.blogspot.com/
I LOVE musicals, though I prefer them on stage. Still, a good movie musical makes for a couple hours of delightful escapism. My all-time favorite movie is "White Christmas" so I guess that means it's my favorite musical too. Fun list!!
ReplyDeleteGreat list. I used to watch a lot of classic musicals when I was growing up. Thanks for the flashback! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy TT!
Oh.....just love #12...it's from "You've Got Mail". Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteLooks like I need to watch a few more musicals.
ReplyDeleteMy personal favorite is South Pacific: "I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair." "There is nothin' like a dame...nothin' in the WORLD!"
=) Happy TT! Found you on the hub! I had kind of a lame list this time, unfortunately!