Five Hollywood musical films you should not miss

If there is one genre any Hollywood movie fan misses in today’s films, it is the musical genre. Some of the finest stage plays adapted on screen were magical and rich in theatre features with memorable scores.

Here are our top five that can make you groove and hum.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Starring renowned child artiste Judy Garland, the story revolves around a young girl Dorothy and her pet Toto. During a storm, Dorothy is knocked unconscious and wakes up in a fantasy land – the land of Oz. Challenged by the wicked witch, who wants to kill her, she is also supported by the good witch who tells her to meet the Wizard of Oz by following the yellow brick road, as he would help her find her way back home. Dorothy makes an eventful journey meeting people who have different needs, as she reaches out to the Wizard. The flick remains one of the most memorable works of Garland and a kids’ favourite.

The movie is available on Amazon Prime Video.

The King and I (1956)

A widowed teacher Anna arrives in Bangkok to teach the 15 children of King Mongtuk. While he doesn’t approve of her approach, she keeps teaching them the values of home life. Revolving around contrasting values between the East and West and topics like slavery, the movie remains banned in Thailand for the portrayal of the king. With over a score of tracks and memorable performances, The King and I has remained an evergreen classic.

This film is available on Google Play.

Chicago (2002)

Set in the world of jazz, the story revolves around two performers. Touching on the lives of celebrity, scandal and corruption, the musical is a commentary on society during the 1920s in the city of Chicago.

Rene Zellweger and Catherine Zeta Jones play the role of two actresses and murderers who find themselves in the jail together and want to escape the gallows at any cost. The movie was rightly termed as amusing and energetic by critics, when it was leased.

The movie is available on YouTube.

The Sound of Music (1965)

An eternal children’s classic, it is the story of a governess Maria and her escapades with the children of Captain Von Trapp in Austria, during World War II. She endures their mischief and wins their admiration with her patience, and she trains them in music and dance.

The story takes an adventurous turn, when the Captain wants to leave Austria, as he opposes the Nazi regime.

With a number of popular musical scores, the film remains entertaining for over fifty years now.

The movie is available on Google Play and YouTube.

My Fair Lady (1964)

With a dash of Cockney, a form of English spoken by the working class in London, it is the story of flower seller Eliza Doolittle and trainer Henry Higgins who wants to teach her sophisticated English to make her suitable for high society interactions.

The lessons come hard and funny for her, as she desperately tries to master them. Settle down with a popcorn in a couch and you will be delighted to catch the fun and hum ‘I Could have Danced All Night’.

The film is available on Amazon Prime Video.