Ten Marvelous Musicals

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Music uplifts our spirits and soothes our souls.

Listening to Maria (Julie Andrews) sing “My Favorite Things,” and “Climb Every Mountain,” as she strolls  through the Austrian landscape in The Sound of Music, makes me smile with gratitude for my own favorite things. 

Watching Paul’s grandfather running amok in A Hard Day’s Night returns me to a simpler time in my life, allowing me to relax and unwind.

Fame and Flashdance both remind me that dreams do come true.

Perhaps one of these ten “musicals” will be just the ticket to elevate your own spirits:

A Hard Day’s Night (1964)

The Beatles’s first movie ~ a groundbreaking comedy ~ follows the Fab Four through a “typical” day in their lives.  Filled with familiar songs, and adoring fans, the film showcases the impish appeal of John, Paul, George, and Ringo as they entertain us with chart-toppers such as “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “I Should Have Known Better,” and “Hard Day’s Night.”

A Lot Like Love (2005)

After meeting on a trans-continental flight, Oliver Geary (Ashton Kutcher) and Emily Friehl (Amanda Peet) realize that, mutual attraction aside, they are perfectly wrong for each other. With an edgy, upbeat soundtrack, and smart, funny dialogue, destiny intervenes to bring them together again, but always at the worst possible time.  Anna Nalick reminds us to “Breathe, just breathe.” 

Beyond The Sea (2004)

A film biography of the tumultuous life of singer Bobby Darin (Kevin Spacey) and his wife Sandra Dee (Kate Bosworth), including nightclub performances of pop hits (“Splish Splash” and “Beyond the Sea”) and jazz standards (“Mack the Knife“). 

De-Lovely (2004)

Starring Kevin Kline as the celebrated 20th-century composer Cole Porter, and Ashley Judd as his wife Linda, we see the drama, love and joy of their life together unfolding on-screen, as Porter’s hits, including “Anything Goes” and “It’s De-Lovely,” fill the room. 

Fame (1980)

This Academy Award-winning (Best Original Score and Best Original Song) musical depicts the search for fame by the students at New York City’s High School for the Performing Arts.  Allow the talented stars to sing and dance their way into your hearts.  “Fame . . . I’m going to live forever.  I’m going to learn how to fly.”

Flashdance (1983)

Despite weak plot and dialogue, this box-office smash offers viewers a chance to dream along with Alex Owens (Jennifer Beals) as she dances to the uplifting Oscar-Winning title song “Flashdance,” and other energizing numbers, in an effort to leave the world of welding and erotic dance behind.  “What a feeling!”

R.E.N.T. (2005)

Featuring some of the original cast, Jonathon Larson’s award-winning Broadway musical lives on in this bountiful big screen adaptation.  Based on Puccini’s “La Boheme,” viewers share life’s joys and sorrows with the talented stars, as they sing, dance, and struggle to pay the rent, in New York’s East Village.  

Scrooge (1970)

In this lively, musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future teach Ebenezer Scrooge (Albert Finney) that life is to be celebrated, and relationships cherished.  Great sets and cast, including: Sir Alec Guinness, Dame Edith Evans, and Kenneth More.  

The Sound of Music (1965)

Maria (Julie Andrews) and the Trapp Family Singers follow their hearts in this true-life adventure set in Nazi-occupied Austria.  Overflowing with breath-taking Alpine scenery,  beloved songs, and majestic score, Maria steals our hearts as high-spirited novice, then loses hers as inexperienced, loving governess to Baron von Trapp’s seven challenging children.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

After Dorothy (Judy Garland) is swept away from Kansas by a tornado, munchkins encourage Dorothy and friends (Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and Toto) to “follow the Yellow Brick Road” to Oz ~ along the way, the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) and her flying monkeys attempt to steal the Ruby Slippers.  “Oh, Auntie Em, there’s no place like home.”

As with the earlier post, Ten Movies Worth The Price of Admission, the title links will take you to Netflix for more information about length, theme, actors, and ratings for each movie.

No rules.  Just write!

What about you?  Do you have any favorite musicals to share?

Related posts:   Ten Movies Worth the Price of Admission * Break Into Song (LittleMissEverything)