The Wizard of Oz (1939) (Movie Review)

  For nearly eight decades, this movie has given faithful service to both young, and the young in heart ... and time has been powerless to put its kindly philosophy out of fashion. To those of you who have been faithful to it in return … and to those who are still youthful in spirit … I dedicate this review …

  When it comes to my favorite movies of all time, I’ve never been able to single out a personal favorite above all else … as I feel it ruins the magic to put them on some kind of pedestal. With that said … I do feel that no other movie is more important to me than the 1939 musical “The Wizard of Oz”. As far back as I can remember, it was watching this movie as a little kid that made me love movies in general. 

In fact, even though I was very little, I can still remember the scene when Dorthey walks out her front door, into the land of Oz, we get that beautiful tracking shot of the set-design … and I’m confident, it was right there, stirring in the sub conscience of my mind … my love for the escapist nature of film took shape. Weather it’s the colorful land of Oz … or a theme park with living dinosaurs … or a galaxy far, far away … I’ve always loved movies best when they transport you to wondrous worlds you just can’t experience in real life. “The Wizard of Oz” is the touchstone of escapist magic wonder in film, and it’s remained a timeless treasure all through the years. Obviously, I’m only the latest in a long line of people who’ve praised this film, but regardless … I just want to discuss how this film impacted the way I view entertainment, highlight the things I love about it, as well as make some comparisons to its original source material ... "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" book by L. Frank Baum.   

  

  I probably don’t even need to discuss the plot, but for a concise review … here it is anyway. Everyday farm-girl Dorothy is tired of her boring life, and wants to escape to someplace wondrous. After a freak tornado, her wish is granted, and she’s whisked away to the magical world of Oz. There she meets some colorful characters, new friends, and makes enemies with a Wicked Witch. Suddenly, despite having her wish come true, Dorothy wants nothing more than to go back home. 

So, with the help of her new friends, she sets off on a journey to find her way back … while singing some iconic tunes along the way. Their road leads to the dazzling Emerald City, where the mysterious wizard called Oz might have the means to send her home, as well as grant the wishes of her comrades … unless they do a favor for him first. In a nut-shell, it’s the classic family fairy-tale that we all grew-up with, and is a must-see for both young and old. One thing I need to address is that, beyond its rich source material, there was another hit fairy-tale adaption to the big-screen that was a prime influence on “The Wizard of Oz” … a little animated movie from Disney called “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. Production on Oz began right after the success of Disney’s Snow White in 1937, as it showed that films adapted from popular children's stories and fairy-tale folklore could still be successful. As such, I’ll be noting certain elements throughout the review that came to be thanks to Snow White.

  The first ace up this movies sleeve really is Judy Garland in the lead role of Dorothy … had it not been for her, I don’t think this movie would have resonated as well with us kids. 

Whenever I think of iconic female lead character performances, Judy Garland’s portrayal of Dorothy always seems to come to mind first. That’s not to say it’s the absolute greatest performance, but it is a staple in our pop-culture, and one of the flagship character portrayals for movies in general. Now, the character of Dorothy is just a child who just entered her double-digits, where as Judy Garland was in her ladder teenage years during filming. While she certainly looks like a sixteen-year-old playing a twelve-year-old … she never once feels like teenager acting as a kid. Her performance is so genuine, vulnerable, lovable, and innocent that she naturally feels like a little kid whenever she’s on screen. Keep in mind, back in 1939, Judy Garland didn’t really have an acting template to base her performance around … with the possible exception of Disney’s Snow White. 

Also, if you’ve seen her act in other classic musicals like “Meet me in St. Louis”, or “Easter Parade”, or acting opposite of Mickey Rooney in “Strike up the Band”, or her Oscar nominated performance in “A Star is Born”, then you’ll see just how versatile her acting talents and character portrayals are. As such, what she brought to the role of Dorothy was something 100% genuine to the character, and I’m honestly shocked that she didn’t receive an Oscar nomination for her performance. I can guarantee that her portrayal of Dorothy has impacted more viewers and young actors then the majority of the other Oscar nominated performance that year. Obviously, she wasn't going to beat Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone with the Wind", but she at least deserved the nomination. Watch her performance during the scene when she’s visiting professor Marvel, and he’s describing the heartbreak of Aunt Em … the range of emotion and expression on her face in this moment is genuinely heartfelt, yet subtle without going too emotional, and that’s the sign of a great talent. All through the film, you can just tell from the look in her eyes, the way she holds herself on screen, the energy on display … this role meant the world to her, and she was having the time of her life.

  The cast in general is about as delightful an ensemble as they get, with each talent bringing a distinct personality and charm to each role. We have Ray Bolger’s energetic portrayal of the Scarecrow, Jack Haley’s humble nature of the Tin Man, Bert Lahr’s unbounded charisma as the Cowardly Lion, and finally, we have the class and dignity of Frank Morgan as the many faces of Oz. 

Originally, the role of Oz was written with W.C. Fields in mind, but he wasn’t pleased with the payment he’d receive, and went on to write the script for “You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man!” Regardless, Frank Morgan fit the role like a glove, and set a template for actors playing multiple roles in one film. In fact, he could have been a direct influence for Tony Randall in the 1964 fantasy “The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao”. Of course, the dog Toto is about as lovable as the cute side-kick characters are concerned, and he’d set the template for further cute, non-speaking side-kicks. Another thing I’ve always loved about our three main friends is that each represents a distinct virtue … knowledge, compassion and courage … which they have to discover within themselves. 

Thus, there’s so much more depth to these characters, and their charm goes beyond their larger than life personalities, and colorful designs. Also, another talent I have to address is Jack Dawn, who did the make-up for the characters. They all look incredible, even to this day, and he was very innovative with a glue-on face mask technique that had never been done before … although it did unfortunately leave scaring on some of the actors faces. Still, the craft was an influence on make-up effects to follow, and the craft would eventually be perfected in movies like Jim Carry’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”.

   Of course, it’s time to talk about one of my favorite movie villains of all time … The Wicked Witch of the West, who’s played masterfully by Margaret Hamilton. Right on the same pedestal as Darth Vader and the Joker, I’ve always viewed The Wicked Witch of the West as one of the most iconic of movie villains … and subsequently a staple for the Halloween season. 

While this movie has nothing to do with the holiday, the Witch’s green skin, pointy hat, big nose, high-pitch vocals and all black attire has always stuck with me as the definitive look and design for a Witch … especially one for the Halloween season. Her original design in the book was very different, and closer resembled the haggard old Witch seen in Disney’s Snow White. Ironically, it was in the wake of Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” that The Wicked Witch of the West went through a design change. While some wanted her to mirror the original Witch illustrations of the book, others took inspiration from the design of the Evil Queen in Snow White, and wanted to present the Witch as someone evil, but with beauty and glamour. In order to satisfy both sides, a decision was made to combine both elements of the Evil Queen and the Old Witch into a middle ground design. Thus, we have our Witch standing up-right, and with a hint of glamour under her traditionally disgusting Witch features. 

However, it’s Margaret Hamilton’s brilliant, and highly theatrical performance that makes this one of the great movie villains. Second only to the Joker, Margaret Hamilton’s Witch cackle is about as iconic as evil laughs go. Every time she appears on screen, she is just bursting with wicked energy, and her mannerism lends to some frequently quoted lines … “I’ll get you my pretty, and your little dog too!” Her scenes are likewise full of excitement, as she appears and vanishes in fiery bursts of smoke, she rights messages in the sky, and chucks fire-balls at our heroes. Sure, now days we have villains like Thanos hurtling moons, but back in the thirties, seeing a villain chuck a fire ball probably made all the kids leap from their seats.

  Of course, I need to mention the films iconic musical numbers, and it’s here where my feelings get a little mixed. When it comes to musicals in general, this film’s song selection has never quiet been on par with the majority of my other favorite musicals. 

Regardless, their still timeless tunes, and we all remember these titles … “We’re off to see the Wizard”, “If I only had a Brain”, “Follow the Yellow Brick Road”, and of course the Oscar winning original song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” … which still continues to move audiences all these years later. Personally, I like these songs more for how they lend to some delightful sequences. For example, I never liked the Lions “King of the Forest” number, but the actor is so delightful in his performance that it makes the song a highlight. As a side note, I’ve always loved the Tin Man smashing that flower pot … just to give the Lion a crown. Speaking of whom, the Tin Mans “If I only had a heart” never really did anything for me as a song, but I enjoy his dance, I love when he toots the smoke from his hat, and I’m always amused by that random disembodied voice quoting Shakespeare. By the way, that random voice heard during the Tin Man song was actually Adriana Caselotti, who had previously voiced Snow White in Disney’s animated hit “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. I’d like to think that in the wake of that film’s success, she was considered for the role of Dorothy, but sense she didn’t get the part, the filmmakers gave her this little vocal cameo to compensate … but again, that’s just me speculating, and I have no source to confirm that.   

  For another example, “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead” isn’t really a song I love … but I adore the sequence, with all those colorful sets, and cheerful energy on display. More than anything, I just love this scene for its individual Munchkin characters, most of whom are only on screen for a few seconds, and yet I’ve never forgotten them. 

There’s the Mayer in his bright green outfit, the coroner with his awesome hat, a giant bird nest with little kids hatching from the eggs, and probably the most memorable of all being those three representatives of the lollipop guild. Curiously enough, I remember as a kid, my favorite song … of all things … was the “March of the Winkies” This was the chant of the Witch’s evil guards, and to this day, it’s always subconsciously playing in the back of my mind whenever I see an evil army in movies. I still have no clue what the heck these guys are even chanting … it just sounds awesome! Back when I was a kid, I grew-up with a home-video copy of 1996’s “The Wizard of Oz on Ice”, and the highlight for me was always the “March of the Winkies”. It went from a catchy guard chant in the movie to a full-on song and dance number, and it’s here where I began to view it as one of my favorite villain songs. For such a minimal song, it’s got an exciting tempo, and great buildup. It’s also a rare case in which it’s the guards who actually have a stand out song as opposed to the actual main villain.

  Beyond the classic songs, and the lovable characters … I honestly just love looking at this movie. Even though everything is clearly staged in a studio, there’s just so much detail and color in the sets, and the painted backgrounds, to the point where it makes this world feel all the more absorbing. Even after all these years, it’s still a technical marvel to behold, and a breakthrough in visual effects for the time. Even the simple visual details of the good Witch arriving as a bright glowing bubble, or the one horse changing colors, all help give this setting a distinct personality and atmosphere that’s all its own. The image of the Emerald city at the end of the yellow brick road is one of my favorite visuals in all of the fantasy genera. Ironically, the movie was only nominated at the Oscars for best special effects, but lost the award to 1939’s “The Rains Came” … which were great effects for the time, but I still wouldn't put them above the visual iconography of Oz. 

  Also, for all the state-of-the-art CGI that have brought tornado’s to life in movies these days … I still have yet to see one that’s more imposing or more thrilling then the twister featured here in “The Wizard of Oz”. There’s something relentlessly imposing about seeing this tornado approaching from off in the distance, and the scene also features a number of solid practical effects that further sell the inevitability of the approaching danger. For instance, I’ve always loved the detail of Dorothy’s screen door blowing away the second she opens it. This leads me to my favorite scene of the whole movie, when Dorothy finds herself trapped in the cyclone, and we get a visual montage of different people and items blowing by her window. This scene is kind of like Alice falling down the rabbit-hole, as we haven’t landed in the magical setting yet, but are still treated to something magical and otherworldly as we make our transition. Of course, this scene builds to that awesome moment when Miss Gulch transforms into the Witch of the East. That shot is awesome … it knocked my socks off as a kid, and these years later, it still thrills me. 

    

   Now, it’s time to discuss the original 1900 novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, and see if the changes made in the movie were for better or worse. Just to give some context, I read the original book for the first time back when I was in middle school, and then we watched the original movie afterword’s. Naturally, we had to write a paper on the differences between the two, and then give a report. Much to my surprise, the majority of my classmates were watching the movie for the first time, and most of them wrote it off as bad on principle for being very different from the book. 

I said it before with Harry Potter, and I’ll say it again here … movies should be allowed to change things around, that way they can stand apart with their own identity … they just need to keep some basic structure and spirit of the source material intact. The book on its own is another masterpiece, worthy of standing outside of the movie’s shadow, but having said that … I think the majority of the changes made in the movie were for the better. The first and best difference in my opinion was that the movie features Dorothy interacting with various people in Kansas … who will all mirror versions of the characters she meets in Oz, and subsequently their all played by the same actors. This further emphasizes that the journey really was a dream, and all the characters she meets are subconscious manifestations of people she already knows. Of course, the slippers in the book were originally made of Silver, and changed to ruby-red for the film. Makes sense, this was the first movie to be shot in "Technicolor", so why not have something more eye-catching.  

  In the books, there are two different good Witches ... one from the North and the other being Glinda from the South ... while the movie combined both into one character named Glinda, the good witch of the North. I for one like this, because after the death of the Witch of the East, it’s just one good Witch and one evil, and the two paired together always felt as iconic to me as the Ying and Yang symbol.

Also, it’s just nice to have the same character book-end the journey. The Wicked Witch of the West is also a prominent character in the movie, whereas the book doesn’t introduce her until the end. This gave the villain more of a presence, a layered rivalry with Dorothy, and the obstacles our heroes faced on the journey were less random. In the book, our heroes faced a number of different creatures and perils, but with no connection to the villain at all, and while that can work in a novel … it would just come off as random padding in a movie. While one could argue that the talking trees in the movie were independent creatures, I always assumed the Witch hexed them … especially sense we see her just before the one tree slaps Dorothy on the wrist. She also clearly hexed the poppy-flowers in the movie, where as in the novel, they were just deadly plants. This scene was also heavily altered from the book, which featured our heroes getting rescued by a family of mice, whereas the movie changed it to the good Witch Glinda breaking the spell by making it snow. I personally prefer the movies version, because the Witch of the North did send Dorothy on this dangerous journey, and it’s gratifying to know that she’s at least watching over her like a figurative guardian angel.   

 

  Another striking difference is the Wizard himself. In the book, our heroes visit him one at a time, and his appearance changes for each of them. At one point he’s a giant head on a chair, another case he’s a green female fairy, and at one point he’s a ball of fire. The movie by contrast had all our heroes see him at once, and his design is an amalgamation of his different forms from the book … taking the appearance of a scary green head floating between fiery columns. While I loved the concept in the book of his appearance changing, I still prefer the movies approach, especially because the scene feels stronger with all our heroes facing the unknown together as a family. This brings me to my favorite funny sequence in the whole movie … when the lion panics and leaps through a glass window. Back when I was a kid, I rewound that scene all the time … and even still as an adult, this scene cracks me up. I love the build-up, as we see him run all the way down the hall, and the vague aftermath always amused me … just what happened to him on the other side of that window anyway. Beyond that, this could have very well been the very first window jump that launched the now common action movie cliché of seeing characters leaping through windows. 
                

   We then come to the climactic third act of the movie, in which our heroes set-off on a mission to defeat the Witch, and steel her broom. Once again, there’s a number of changes from the book, and just as before, I think all the changes are for the better. 

Originally our hero’s venture into the Witch’s territory to steel her all-seeing eye, also the Lion was the Witch’s main target, and while Dorothy is likewise captured in the book, it’s more of a Jack and Jill scenario, as Dorothy is put to work as a palace slave. The movie makes it more personal, with the Witch aiming for Dorothy’s magic slippers, and there’s a more adventurous rescue. One little detail that always amused me to no-end as kid was that the Scarecrow in this scene is packing heat. Yeah, it’s just a silly toy gun, but still, the thought of the Scarecrow with a fire-arm is kind of hilarious … and probably wouldn’t fly so well today. This is also when the movie gets the most terrifying, and subsequently, it’s when I realized at a young age how exciting a movie experience can be with some scary material thrown in. 

With the spooky forest setting, and creepy castle interiors, this segment was another reason I loved watching this movie around Halloween. I’m sure many kids were frightened of the flying monkeys, and to be honest … I really don’t remember them bothering me. What did scare me was the aftermath, and seeing Dorothy a prisoner of the Witch. While she was already an intimidating customer, she suddenly becomes the stuff of nightmares when Dorothy is no-longer surrounded by friends, and completely at the Witch’s mercy in her dark and gloomy chambers. The biggest shock moment of all is when Dorothy is left alone in the chamber room, she’s all terry eyed, and suddenly catches a glimpse of home in the Witches crystal ball ... but no-one on the other end can hear her cries for help. That alone was upsetting, but once the Witches face suddenly materializes in the crystal … and looks directly into the camera … it had me jumping out of my skin, and was one of the scariest movie moments I ever saw as a kid.

  One other little detail I always had to point out was the music Que when our hero’s run up the stairs to rescue Dorothy … as it’s the exact music notes from “Night on Bald Mountain”. Curious as Disney’s “Fantasia” would premier a year after this movie, but regardless, I always had to inform my parents it was the “Fantasia” music playing in that moment. 

The one element of this finale I never really liked was the hour glass … which is meant to provide a literal ticking clock for our heroes to race against while they attempt to rescue her. Honestly, I never felt a sense of urgency from this thing, and still to this day, I don’t get how it’s supposed to work. In something like Disney’s “Aladdin”, the girl is actually trapped in the hour glass as it’s filling up with sand, and thus I feel that urgency to rescue her in time … but I just don’t get that same feeling of suspense here. Regardless, it all builds to a riveting climactic chase through the castle, with exciting music, and it features some grand-scale outdoor shots. It all builds to the most iconic … and frequently parodied … villain death of all time. Even though it’s shot from a distance, there’s still something incredibly satisfying about seeing the Witch melt into a puddle. Supposedly Margaret Hamilton improvised her famous “Oh, what a world” send off, which has now become a staple in our pop-culture. 

   Naturally, we move into our touching epilogue, in which the Wizard was simply a parlor trick from the start, but he’s kind enough to show our hero’s that they’ve had the very virtues they were looking for the whole time inside them. Dorothy of course learns a moral lesson about appreciating the magic she already has at home, we get a tearful good-bye with her friends, she finally returns home, and it all closes on arguably the most satisfying line to ever close a movie. Actually, it’s through this ending that I’m always reminded why I love this film so much. Personally, I’ve always viewed movies as the equivalent of an oasis. You go in just to escape for a little, spend time with wonderful characters, have some good laughs, view beautiful imagery, listen too nostalgic music, and then when you’re ready, you return back to the real world feeling refreshed. While the magic we experience in movies is wonderful … there’s just no beating the magic of our daily lives back at home. Sometimes it just takes a little experience like this movie to remind me to appreciate the things I already have in life, and the people who live in it with me.

  Over the years, “The Wizard of Oz” has remained a film legend, and jugged by the American Film Institution as the absolute best family picture of all time. It’s interesting to note that it didn’t initially make as big an impact until it’s re-release in the 50’s. Even the Academy Awards were kind of so-so to the film. It only won two Oscars for best music score and best original song, while it received honorable nominations for everything else like best art direction, best cinematography, best special effects, and of course Best Picture. Yeah … it was only nominated for Best Picture, although to be fair, it’s competition that year was a little movie called “Gone with the Wind” … kind of a hard one to beat. Still, as if it wasn’t obvious from sentence one … 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz” is one of my all-time favorite movies. It’s aged masterfully, and continues to enchant and delight each generation that comes and goes. It was the experience that launched my overall love of movies, while still reminding me to appreciate the beautiful life outside of viewing entertainment, and thus, it’s about as perfect as they get.

    

Thanks for reading my review of the 1939 Musical classic “The Wizard of Oz” … and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!   

 

My Top 10 Favorite Movie Musicals

    As far as different movie genera’s are concerned … movie-musicales weren’t always among my favorite … but that changed after I took a theater class, way back in high-school. 

While I’m all around more of a comedy, Sci-fi and action movie guy at heart, musicals have an appeal that’s all their own. This is when the beauty and thrill of the theater can shine in a different light, and with the added benefits of details like cinematography, editing, and effects ... you can experience the art of the stage in a special way that doesn't even require a stage. It’s all too easy to just sit back and enjoy movies with great musical numbers, terrific sets, swift dancing choreography, and lovable characters. It's also a genera where important qualities like story and character arc's are present, but allowed to take a small step-back in favor of an enjoyable experience. 

It’s all about the escape, and submersing yourself into a world where people can break into song, and tell a story in musical form. Musicals are where you go when you want to enter a world of wonder, theatrics, entertainment, and above all else ... great songs. I’ve been around the block with a number of musicals ... from the old classics like "Guys and Dulls", to timeless classics like “Fiddler on the Roof, to contemporary classics like “Sweeney Todd”. As such, I feel the time has finally come to pay tribute to one of my favorite genera's. Now, I'm not trying to make any kind of official list of the best movie musicals ... these are just my own personal favorites, most of which are pure musicals ... while some are crossovers with other film genera's. With all that said, lets enjoy the music ... the dancing ... and all that jazz ... these are my personal top 10 favorite Movie Musicals.  

   

#10 Singin’ in the Rain (1952) 

When it comes to the classical Hollywood musicals, few have remained as consistently delightful as 1952’s "Singing in the Rain". It’s 1917, and cinema is making it’s first ever transition from silent movies, to movies with sound. During mid-production of a silent film, the plug is pulled, and the cast have to adjust to the new format. Despite being big talents in silent cinema, leads Don and Lina are none too good when acting with words. 

However, Don at least has a talent for singing, and along with his best friend Cosmo, and a new potential talent named Kathy, they decide to turn the film into a musical. As such, they’d all be utilizing their full talents, and naturally a romance blooms between Don and his new partner Kathy … much to the dismay of his former co-star Lina, who isn’t about to let a new girl butt-in on her star-power. The appeal of this film comes from the simplicity of its premise, as well as an infectiously lovable cast of great talents, and its high-spirited song and dance numbers. While some may look back on this film and say it’s dated, oddly staged at times and even a little cringe … there’s still an enduring charm to the film, as it’s so blissfully aware that it’s corny nature, and it just lets itself have fun. The cast is clearly having a blast in this film, it looks great, and it generates this simple magic that just putts a smile on my face.

Contrary to what you may think, the song “Singin’ in the Rain” had been around decades prior to this film, and yet, it’ll never be more iconic then with Gene Kelly’s famous dance in the rain. Other memorable song numbers include the cheerful “Good Morning”, the romantic “You Were Meant For Me”, and also the note-worthy original number “Make ‘Em Laugh”. My favorite song number … of all things … is actually Gene Kelly’s “Broadway Rhythm”. While arguably the most pointless number in the film, mostly serving as filler, obviously is just an excuse for Gene Kelly to stroke his ego … yet, this scene still has the most absorbing set designs, quickest dance choreography, and it’s euphoric dream-like atmosphere makes it the highlight every time I watch this movie. It’s everything funny, incisive and all around joyful to experience in a musical, and it’s well worth preserving as a classic of the genera.        

#9 The Blues Brothers (1980) 

When I think of a genera movie that’s just plain fun to watch … I immediately think of “The Blues Brothers”. Jake and Elwood are … “On a mission from God” … and need to raise $5000 to save their childhood orphanage from being run-down. 

What to do … “They have to get the band back together” … and go on a tour to raise the money they need. Sounds simple enough, yet these two guys cause a ridiculous amount of chaos along the way … to the point where every police officer, state soldier, cowboy, broken hearted girl-friend and Nazi fanatic that resides in Chicago are on their tale. What you get with “The Blues Brothers” is the best of multiple genera’s in one epic package. Not only is it a rousing musical, with soul-stirring song numbers, but it’s also one of the funniest comedies of the 80’s, and features a level of destruction and chases that rival most action movies. Holding all this together are the grace of director John Landis, and a charming ensemble of talented actors. Both Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi are in peak from, and there’s great supporting talent ranging from Carrie Fisher, to John Candy, to Ray Charles, to Frank Oz, and that’s just to name a few. 

Some of the biggest musical highlights include Ray Charles "Shake a Tail Feather", James Browns "The Old Landmark", Cab Calloway’s "Minnie the Moocher", Aretha Franklin’s “Think”, my favorite rendition of the “Raw-Hide” theme song, and this films final performance of “Everybody needs Somebody to Love” never fails to put me in a good mood. If your willing to just go along with the films over-the-top-nature, you’ll find no shortage of joy from the music, to the cast, to the largest recorded number of cars destroyed on film … “The Blues Brothers” has a little bit of everything. “It’s 106 miles to Chicago, we’ve got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark, and we’re wearing sunglasses” … “Hit it!”  

#8 Chicago (2002) 

Roxie Hart is a lone girl in Chicago, who’s determined to become a famous celebrity. Fame however comes in the form of going to prison on account of murder. While in prison, she finds herself in competition with her theater idle Velma Kelly, who’s likewise using her situation to put her face on all the papers. In between these two is smooth-talking attorney Billy Flynn, who’s determined to prove the girl’s innocents … they just have to put on a good show.

Sense Roxie is obsessed with both music and the theater, all the proceeding events and dialogue are interpreted from her point of view as lavish musical numbers. This is one case in which the appeal all comes from the execution of its highly original presentation, eye popping set designs, and sheer spectacle on display. Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly, and especially Oscar winner Catherine Zeta Jones absolutely light-Up the screen, and compliment the films unique style with their own larger than life performances. The songs were already Broadway staples, and seeing such iconic songs as ... “All that Jazz”, “Roxie”, “Razzle Dazzle”, “Cant Do it Alone”, “Mr. Cellophane”, and one of my favorite villain songs “The Cell Block Tango”, all come to life on the screen is a treat for any musical fan.  

Throw in the Oscar nominated original song “I Move On”, and you get a solid selection of winning music. It’s just a fun experience that rejuvenates my love for the theater, and helped bring back the appeal of Movie Musicals to modern audiences. It Razzled the Oscars by winning six Academy Awards … including Best Picture … and has sense been regarded as a genera classic.         

#7 Mary Poppins (1964) 

It’s Early 20^th century London, and the Banks family is in complete disarray … with the Dad too focused on his career, Mother speaking out for woman’s rights, and the children frequently getting themselves into trouble. Then one magical day, a nanny floats down from the sky, and treats the kids to a number of wondrous treats, and fantastical visits. 

In doing so, she subsequently begins to heel this broken family, to the point where mom and dad once again become part of the children’s lives. When it comes to family musicals, Mary Poppins is a hard one to beat, and a rare one to be nominated for Best Picture. With its thoughtful morals, layered characters, dazzling visuals, rich atmosphere, boundless imagination, and unforgettable songs … no house-hold should be without it. Some may forget just how great the music selection is in this film … including "Step in Time", which is still one of the most highly entertaining song and dance numbers ever put to film. Of course, there’s also the Oscar Winning original song "Chim Chim Cher-ee", which is heard several times throughout the picture. Other memorable titles include "A Spoonful of Sugar", "Jolly Holiday", "I Love to Laugh", "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious", and my personal favorite song of all being "Let's Go Fly a Kite". I should also mention the song "Feed the Birds", which is so moving and humble that Walt Disney always called it his favorite song from any of his movies.

Julie Andrews's has also starred in many successful movies and musicals, but nothing quiet tops her Oscar winning role as Merry Poppins. Even the most cynical film viewer will fall victim to her irresistible warmth. Also, Dick Van Dyke is outstanding and a lot of fun as handy man Bert. This is such a delightful family fairy-tale, with dazzling visuals, upbeat songs, a magical environment, great lessons, and it really puts a smile on my soul every time I watch it.   

#6 West Side Story (1961) 

The time period is mid 1950’s, the place is New York, and the situation revolves around a turf war in the slums of Manhattan. Two rival teams called the Jets and the Sharks are at each-other’s throats, yet both sides are willing to set differences aside for one night, and they attend a party. 

At the event, one of the leaders of the Jets named Tony meets a girl named Maria, who’s the sister of the leader of the Sharks. Without batting an eye, the two fall in love, and are determined to start a new life together. As their relationship grows, conflicts between the two teams get worse, which leads to bloodshed, tragedy, betrayal and two young lovers trying to do all in their power to stop the fighting. All the familiar stamps of “Romeo and Juliet” are very recognizable, from the party, to recreating the balcony scene, to the rumble between the two opposing groups, to the tragic ending, etc. However, director Robert Wise adds his own uniquely dazzling style to the experience, which makes the film feel original … despite a familiar narrative. The songs are unforgettable, and some of the best include, "Maria", "America", "Somewhere", "Something's Coming", "I Feel Pretty", and the always catchy "Tonight". 

The dance choreography and staging moves with the grace and poetic rhythm of a ballet. The cast members are all fantastic in their respected parts, and the experience breathes magical new life into one of Shakespeare’s most iconic stories.  

#5 The Greatest Showman (2017) 

Inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum, this original Twenty-First century musical celebrates the birth of show business, and tells the story of a con-artist with a vision. As we follow Barnum on his journey, we see him rise from nothing to create a spectacle … one that became a worldwide sensation.

This was a curious case in which the critics were mixed on the film, while the audiences adored it, and as for me … yeah … it’s kicking off my top five favorite movie musicals. While I’ll admit that from a story telling perspective, the film could have dived deeper into both its real-life story and complex subject material … but as an original, modern day movie musical … “The Greatest Showman” is absolutely smashing! Just about every theatrical musical from this century will contain maybe one or two original songs, while the rest are lifted from an already popular stage production. “The Greatest Showman” has nine original songs, each of them excellent, and each hit a landing with me as a new favorite of some category. The casts performance of “The Greatest Show” is one of my new favorite party-house musical numbers, “Re-Write the Stars” is one of my favorite new romantic ballads, and the Oscar nominated song “This is Me” is one of the most uplifting and inspirational numbers I’ve heard in years. Other great songs include "A Million Dreams", “The Other Side”, Loren Allred’s “Never Enough”, and the triumphantly up-beat “From Now On”.

All around, this is one of my favorite song compilations from any musical, and not only did the album receive positive reviews, but sold over 7 million copies worldwide … hard-copies mind you … in our digital age. Aside from a rousing soundtrack, the film has a dazzling presentation on display, with constant energy, non-stop movement, graceful camera work, and edits that match with the beats perfectly.      

  

#4 Evita (1996) 

In this fact-based musical, we see the life of one Eva Peron, who for seven years was the first lady of Argentina, and leading up to her untimely death in 1952, we see how she became one of the most adored and accomplished spokes-woman to ever live. It makes for a potent look at one of the darkest chapters in the history of Argentina, and highlights the economic collapse of the time, along with Eva’s political career.

While the movie admittedly struggles as a narrative peace, it never the less thrives as a rock-solid musical, with high energy song numbers, and it’s through this soundtrack that the film achieves both the epic and emotional grandeur which it aspires to achieve. This musical was one of the very first I ever identified by name, and became a fan of. In fact, I can recall being a six-year-old boy, my parents would frequently have this musicals soundtrack playing throughout the house, and I’ll never forget how much the music excited me at such a young and impressionable age. There was admittedly some controversy revolving around the casting of Madonna as one of Argentina’s most decorative political figures … but the honest truth is … she actually played the part with great respect, as she delivers a rich performance, and even though I’ve never called myself a fan of her music … she can certainly carry a tune. The wickedly talented Antonio Banderas is also utilized brilliantly as an omnipotent story teller, who seems to represent the voice of the Argentina people.

It’s all around a theatrical musical with size, ambition, style, and one hell of an energizing soundtrack. Some of the song highlights include the Academy Award Winning original song “You Must Love Me”, as well as "Rainbow Tour", "A New Argentina", "Waltz for Eva and Che", "Oh What a Circus", “High Flying, Adored", "And the Money Kept Rolling In (and Out)", "Rainbow High", and of course the most iconic song of all … "Don't Cry for Me Argentina". All around, it was a smashing decade musical, and one that’s stuck with me a personal favorite through the years. 

#3 Les Miserables (2012) 

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, “Les Misérables” tells an enthralling story of broken dreams, unrequited love, passion, sacrifice, redemption, and is a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. For Decades, ex-prisoner Jean Valjean has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert, after he broke his parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's young daughter Cosette, their lives change forever. 

Soon, the pair find themselves caught in the French Revolution, in which new relations take shape, and new obstacles threaten to drive this family apart. As far back as I can remember, “Les Misérables” was the very first stage musical I fell in love with at a young age, and for years I’ve been waiting for it to receive the theatrical treatment. While there were movies based on the source material throughout the years, the 2012 picture marked the first time it was brought to life in musical form on the silver-screen ... and it didn’t disappoint in the final result. I found the cast mostly spot-on in representing these iconic stage characters, and they each brought the right level of humanity and heavy emotions to their respected roles. Of course, it was just a treat to finally see so many of my favorite song numbers on the big screen … including the always moving "I Dreamed a Dream", the compelling "Who Am I?", the catchy villain song "Master of the House", the ever sweet "Castle on a Cloud", the romantically stirring "A Heart Full of Love", the melancholy "On My Own", and the always triumphant "Do You Hear the People Sing?".

My only nit-pick would be this films variation of my all-time favorite stage villain song … Javert’s “Stars", which doesn’t deliver quiet the same punch as other versions I’ve heard. In the plus Colum, this movie delivers a respectful version of my all-time favorite song number from any musical … "One Day More". This marked the first movie musical to be nominated for Best Picture sense 2002’s “Chicago”, and it helped rejuvenate interest in stage adaptions for the modern era. For me, it was just a satisfying dream come true, to finally see my favorite Broadway musical brought to life in film form … hopefully it won’t be too much longer for “Wicked” to receive the same treatment.  

#2 The Wizard of Oz (1939) 

Everyday farm-girl Dorthey is tired of her boring life, and wants to escape to someplace wondrous. After a freak tornado, her wish is granted, and she’s whisked away to the magical world of Oz. There she meets some colorful characters, new friends, and makes enemies with a Witch. Suddenly, despite having her wish come true, Dorthey wants nothing more than to go back home. 

So, with the help of her friends, she sets off on a journey to find her way back … while singing some iconic tunes along the way. It’s the classic family fairytale that we all grew up with, and is a must see for both young and old. While the song selection isn’t quiet on par with the majority of my other favorite musicals, their still timeless tunes, and they lend to some delightful sequences. “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead” for example isn’t really a song I love … but I adore the sequence with all those colorful munchkin characters and cheerful energy on display. Even if this isn’t one of your favorite song selections … I have a feeling you all still remember these titles … “We’re off to see the Wizard”, “Follow the Yellow Brick Road”, and heck … even the Witches Guard’s Marching chant is memorable. Of course, need I even mention the Academy Award winning original song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” … because dated or not, that one you got to love on some level. The characters also are just as lovable as ever, and in all honesty, it’s just a spectacle to look at.

The painted backgrounds have so much charm, and the set designs are absolutely beautiful. It’s one of those great nostalgic gems from our past, and personally one of my most favorite movies of all time ... but it’s admittedly not the first film that comes to mind when I think musicals. It’s absolutely part of the genera, and even though I don’t feel right putting it at number one, I’ll absolutely rank it among the best … but for my personal favorite movie musical … it has to be a certain experience that made me fall in love with the genera specifically.  

Before I reveal my number one favorite movie musical, here are some honorable mentions …

The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

Newsies

Rent

Hairspray

The Sound of Music

#1 Moulin Rouge (2001) 

It’s the dawn of a new century, the 1900's are about to role in, and at this time, an inspired young righter has moved to Paris to take part in the Bohemian life of truth, beauty, freedom and love. While there, the owners of the famed dance hall of the Moulin Rouge are eager to transform their setting into a real theater … and the shows female lead courtesan dreams of being a real actress.

Worlds collide when the young writer proposes to construct a theater production that will honor the Bohemian ideals, and secretly reflect a sudden romance that takes shape behind the curtain. 2001’s Best Picture Nominated "Moulin Rouge!" takes the familiar formula of “love at first sight”, tilts it on its side, and crafts something that’s both wildly original in presentation and structure. In this film, Baz Luhrmann presents his romantic story from three different perspectives … the grim reality of a tragic future … a stage production, in which fantasy is real, thus a happy ending lasts forever … and present-day events that mix the elements of fantasy and reality together. Representing the two elements are our two lovers … one who lives in a fantasy, while the other lives in the real world … yet longs to be set-free in a world of fantasy. As such, the movie cleverly shifts in both tone and style between the perspectives of our two leads. When it’s the perspective of our female lead, the movie is calm, restrained and serious. When it’s the perspective of our boy lead, the movie is hyperactive, rapidly edited and goes for fun.

Needless to say, the movie is one big love letter to theatrical musical productions … it knows it’s over the top … it knows it’s cliched … and it just has a blast going all-out with its presentation. Even the characters are self-aware of their own clichés, and through the stage play try to manipulate their own respected arc-types. Nicole Kidman shines in the lead role, and while the romance is very theatrical, it also compliments the film’s presentation, and is genuinely sweet. In all honesty, I just love looking at this movie, as there’s so much color, so much detail, so much atmosphere, and every time I watch this movie, I notice something new. The movie also makes a brilliant decision to utilize contemporary songs that we all recognize, despite being set in a time period when these songs didn’t exist. As such, all these characters treat these tunes as something new … and subsequently … it makes these songs feel fresh all over again. It’s a decision that echo’s back to how “Singin’ in the Rain” utilized songs that had been around for decades, and gave them a fresh voice. Needless to say, it’s one of my favorite song selections of any musical, and it’s cool to hear so many recognizable tunes get a theatrical makeover. 

The song numbers include re-imagined versions of Elton John’s “Your Song”, Nirvana’s “Smells like Teen Spirit”, The Beatles “All you Need is Love”, Madonna’s “Like a Virgin”, Randy Crawford’s “One Day I'll Fly Away”, and the film especially makes brilliant use of Arizona Zervas “Roxanne”. There are still some original songs … mostly from our two lovers played by Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor … including one of my favorite romantic numbers called “Come What May”. At last, my favorite song number by far is this films rendition of Queens “The Show must Go On” ... like, I’ve loved Queen for years, and this song was already a solid piece of work … but this movie takes a good song and transcends it into something extraordinary. It’s simply a big spectacle, celebrating the art of theatrical musicals, with big song numbers, big cinematography, big emotions, big set designs … it’s completely over the top … features some of my favorite song numbers from any musical … I love it more every time I watch it. It was through watching "Moulin Rouge!" that I first fell in love with musicals, it’s what got the ball rolling, and it’s still hands down my favorite movie musical.

Thanks for reading my countdown ... and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!