Between the 1930s and the 1960s musicals were the done thing, they produced box office hits like Singin’ In The Rain, The Wizard of Oz, Westside Story, and Cabaret. The big musical production could show off a cast of triple-threat stars like no other. Sadly what goes up must come down, and while they have never fully disappeared, musicals seemed to fade from public favor around the 1970s. In recent years, since the popularity of High School Musical, musicals seem to be making a heavy comeback with hits like Hairspray, Burlesque, Mamma Mia, and Les Misérable. Musicals may never make a full recovery to their former glory but its becoming attractive enough that Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin and Bryan Cranston didn’t seem to think twice before signing up for Rock of Ages. It is worth noting that during the time when musicals lost favor with audiences a few exceptions came about. Today MoviefiedNYC presents the “Top 5 Exceptional Musicals”.
1. The Blues Brothers
2. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
3. Moulin Rouge!
In 2001 Baz Luhrmann created a world of absinthe, green fairies, courtesans, and poets all set to a 20th century soundtrack. The year is 1899 but the Moulin Rouge can-can dancers are dancing to Nirvana. The film is all things Luhrmann: fantastical, over the top, epic, and steeped in tragic love. The two lovers, Satine and Christian, are put through a series of trials and tribulations that are played out through song and dance. Music from just about everyone, including Elton John, Madonna, David Bowie are included, along with the film’s original songs.
4. Chicago
In 2002 Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, John C. Reilly, Richard Gere, and Queen Latifah banded together under the direction of Rob Marshall to make Chicago. The movie was a huge success, winning 6 of its 13 Oscar nominations and 3 of its 8 Golden Glob nominations. The film follows two murderous women destined for fame in 1920s Chicago. They sing and dance their way through fantasy, fame, and murderous rampage while their lawyers, husbands, and matrons look on. The movie has been cleverly transferred from stage to screen and the result is highly entertaining.
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