The musical has been around for centuries, but the term “musical” was only coined in the late 1800s. From the beginning, musicals were a form of theater that combined singing, dancing and acting.
Music in movies has also been around for a long time. The first movie with sound was called “The Jazz Singer” in 1927. The first musical film was “The Singing Fool” in 1928 and since then, the number of musical films has increased exponentially.
Music is not just used as background score but also as lyrics and dialogue. Songs are often used to convey emotions, such as sadness and love, or to highlight the mood of a scene. In this section, we will explore some of the best musical movies from around the world that have been released in the last decades.
One: West Side Story
West Side Story was a musical that won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1961. The film is set in New York City and tells the story of two teenage gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, who fall in love with each other.
West Side Story is an American musical adapted from a stage play of the same name by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. It premiered on January 17, 1957 at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre, running for 732 performances before going to London’s West End in 1958. The musical was adapted into a film of the same name by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise in 1961.
The film received 11 Academy Awards nominations, winning 8 including Best Director for Robbins, Best Supporting Actress for Rita Moreno (who also won a Golden Globe), Best Original Score for Leonard Bernstein and
Two: Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia! is a musical movie that stars Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth. It tells the story of Sophie, who discovers her mother’s diary revealing that she was once married to a Greek man.
This musical film has won many awards including Best Picture at the 2008 Academy Awards and Best Original Song for “Mamma Mia” at the 2008 Golden Globe Awards.
The film’s success has led to a number of stage adaptations around the world.
Three: Singin’ in the Rain
Singin’ in the Rain is a musical comedy that was released in 1952. It is about a struggling song and dance man who falls in love with a wealthy socialite. The film won seven Academy Awards and grossed more than $33 million US dollars at the box office.
Singin’ In The Rain is one of the most well-known movies of all time and it has become an iconic film that everyone knows of. It tells the story of two people who are trying to find their own identities while falling for each other.
Four: Chicago
Chicago is the home of some of the most famous musicals in Broadway history. The city has a long and rich history in theater. It has been a source of inspiration for many artists.
Chicago is known for its vibrant nightlife, but it’s also home to some of the most iconic musicals in Broadway history. The city has a long and rich history in theater, and it has been a source of inspiration for many artists like Rodgers & Hammerstein, Richard Rogers, John Kander, Stephen Sondheim, and more. The show was created by composer-lyricist-librettist John Kander, who wrote the music with composer Fred Ebb and lyricist-composer Jerry Herman, and premiered on Broadway in 1975.
Five: Grease 2
Grease 2 is a movie that was released in 1982 and features music from the original Grease soundtrack. The film follows two high school students who fall in love. They attempt to create their own musical on the high school stage during their senior year.
The release of the film was met with mixed reviews from critics. Some praising it for its nostalgia value while others criticizing it for not being true to its predecessor’s story or not being able to live up to its predecessors’ standards.
Six: Moulin Rouge!
Moulin Rouge! is a musical written by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. It is set in Paris in the late 19th century. The film narrates the story of Christian, a poor young man who falls in love with courtesan Satine.
The show was a huge success when it opened on April 25, 1951. It was one of the most expensive productions ever put on stage at that time. The production ran for 864 performances and grossed $8 million during its initial run.
