My Top 10: Musical Films

When done right, a Musical Film can be your biggest guilty pleasure that you could easily watch every day. The best Musical Films usually contain memorable song and dance numbers that will stick in your head for a long time and occasionally actors and actresses surprising the world that they can sing.

I do love a good Musical, like I said when it is done right, it is just pure brilliance right in front of your very eyes. Musical Films these days are more appealing to teens and usually feature kids their age, and in my opinion they are not great. The classics in the 50's and 60's is where the Musical genre was at its best, when actors were also well known dancers and singers.

A couple of films that I sadly had to not put in my top 10 is the brilliant West Side Story and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
I've only recently seen West Side Story and I can see why this won Best Picture in 1962 at the Oscars. It is an American icon and has been watched my billions. Once you've watched this, you'll see how post-modernism changed the world. It may be a musical, but there are some dark and serious messages being told in this epic. The score is obviously jaw-droppingly good, the set designs are spot on and it could well have the best end credits effects of all-time. I tired so hard to convince myself that as good as this is, there are sadly 10 other musical films I felt were better.

As for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, it sees Dick Van Dyke stars as hapless inventor Caractacus Potts who manages to find success in a flying car. Watch out for leading actress Sally Ann Howes performance. Such a brilliant voice and I'm amazed that I have not seen her in anything else.

Thankfully, there are a few terrific films with a musical theme that were made in the last few years that do feature in my top 10. Here it is:

10) White Christmas - Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye star in this wonderful musical romance about two successful singers and dancers that team-up to organise the must-see event in order to a failing company.

It has everything you want in a Christmas film, great fun, amazing songs and dances, lots of comedy and embeds the true Christmas spirit.

9) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street - Tim Burton's amazing vision of Benjamin Barker a.k.a Sweeney Todd.

As usual, a Burton film featuring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, but they still manage to put on a show that wows audiences.

Even with the terrible singing of Alan Rickman, it does not give enough of a dent to stop the success of this modern Musical.

8) On The Town - Another one of Gene Kelly's classics, this time with Frank Sinatra at his side.

A classic tale of a few sailors on shore leave just finding a few ladies to have a good time in New York City.

It is everything you expect from Gene Kelly, top songs, perfect choreography and such a happy tone.

7) My Fair Lady - Been wanting to watch this for years and finally got round to it.

An absolute epic from the same year as Mary Poppins, where a common Londoner becomes a Lady under the tutorial of a professor of language played by Rex Harrison who steals the show, while Audrey Hepburn is the face of this tremendous Oscar winning picture.

6) Funny Girl - Only recently seen this Oscar winner from 1968. This was the famous breakthrough performance by Barbra Streisand who plays singer-comedienne Fanny Brice. Along with Omar Sharif, this is a terrific story that is well told, has a lot of charm and has unforgettable songs.

5) Les Miserables - The latest film to rock the Musical genre. Been on the stage for years and several versions have been released on the big screen, but none have quite made the same impact as this beauty.

Directed by Tom Hooper, he has definitely touched a new audience including myself. Even with the songs, there is a terrific story within. Prepare yourself for the biggest revolution you will ever see.

4) The Sound Of Music - Another Julie Andrews blockbuster, this time set in the mountains of Austria.

This cult classic is a big favorite, especially with the ladies became so huge, I remember them re-releasing a sing-a-long version of it, and seeing hundreds of people in nun's outfits just brought it all back.

Memorable songs as always and Andrews is a joy to watch. Not even the Nazi's could stop her in this one.

3) Mary Poppins - Disney's challenge to rock the Musical world that is not animated, and they succeeded. This iconic film saw the birth of the glorious Julie Andrews and her performance managed to land her with an Oscar for best Actress. Accompanied by Dick Van Dyke, such songs as "Step In Time", "A Spoonful Of Sugar" and the memorable "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" will have you dancing around your house for weeks.

2) Singin' In The Rain - Gene Kelly's masterpiece that features one of the most memorable scenes in film history.

All the big names at the time are involved and the scale of this picture was just unreal, especially in one of their songs "Broadway Melody". Kelly may be the master, but the real star for me was his side-kick Donald O'Connor with this song "Make Em' Laugh". Also watch out for "Moses Supposes".

1) The Wizard Of Oz - Not just a great Musical, but one of the best films ever made. Way ahead of its time, and just oozing with quality.

Lots of memorable songs and everything you could ever want from a family film.

It still amazes me that this was released in 1939 and it is still great over 70 years later.