00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most iconic musicals
00:13ever committed to film.
00:14If we bring a little joy into your humdrum life, it makes us feel as though our hard
00:21work ain't been in vain for nothing.
00:25Number 10.
00:26Hairspray
00:27Hairspray began its journey as a low-key 80s comedy and was adapted into a Broadway musical
00:32in 2002.
00:33The show was showered with Tony Awards, and the big-screen treatment soon followed.
00:52With its stellar cast, fast and funny screenplay, and fantastic song and dance numbers, this
00:57movie musical is definitely one for the bucket list.
01:00Set against a backdrop of racial segregation in 1960s Baltimore, it's a coming-of-age tale
01:05about growing up, falling in love, and learning to stand up and fight.
01:24All of the actors are on their A-game, and we can't even pick a favorite song as there's
01:28not a dud among them.
01:29If you're looking for a proper feel-good film, your search stops here.
01:44Number 9.
01:45Fiddler on the Roof
01:46The 1970s may not have been the golden age of the movie musical, but the good ones from
01:50this decade really stand out.
01:59Fiddler on the Roof was based on a Broadway musical about a Jewish father in 18th-century
02:03Ukraine, played in the movie by the Israeli actor Topol.
02:07He's on a mission to marry off his daughters and hold on to his way of life, which is under
02:11threat from the changing times and growing political tension.
02:29The movie explores themes of family, tradition, and prejudice, described by The New Yorker
02:34as, quote, the most powerful movie musical ever made.
02:38There's a healthy dose of romance, too, and some very catchy songs.
02:41The film received eight Oscar nominations and won three.
02:51Number 8.
02:52Moulin Rouge
02:53Movie musicals had fallen out of fashion by the new millennium, but with Moulin Rouge,
03:14Baz Luhrmann brought the genre back up to date and ushered in the popularity of the
03:18jukebox musical.
03:19He cites La Boheme, Bollywood movies, classic Hollywood, and vaudeville theater as his inspirations.
03:30This riot of color and sound is the director at his most Baz Luhrmann-y, so it might not
03:35be everyone's cup of tea, but Moulin Rouge should still be on your watch list, if only
03:39for the movie's iconic musical moments.
03:42If you've never seen the Elephant Love Song medley or El Tango de Roxanne all the way
03:46through, then you're definitely missing out.
03:57Number 7.
03:58Chicago
03:59Musicals have a reputation for being all sunshine and happy endings, but a surprising number
04:04are actually very dark.
04:06Chicago is based on a Broadway musical which was originally criticized for being too cynical
04:11and subversive, but that went down a treat with 21st century audiences.
04:22The movie won six Academy Awards and became the first musical to win Best Picture since
04:26Lionel Bart's Oliver.
04:28Chicago boasts an all-star cast at the top of their game and is packed with memorable
04:32song and dance numbers.
04:49It's a hugely atmospheric movie with style as well as substance, seamlessly adapted from
04:54the stage by screenwriter Bill Condon and directed and choreographed by Rob Marshall.
05:00If you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for?
05:16Number 6.
05:17Greece
05:18Set in the 50s and released in the 70s, Greece remains one of the most successful and beloved
05:23movie musicals of all time.
05:30Critics weren't bowled over, and there's plenty here that's problematic for contemporary audiences,
05:35but the characters feel true to life, the performances are great, and the songs are
05:39hard to beat.
05:51Greece is a potent cocktail of feel-good musical numbers, teen drama, and romance.
05:56Nostalgia has always played a part in its success, but the movie has never lost its
06:00appeal and those pink lady jackets will always be iconic.
06:04Whether or not you're a musicals aficionado, this is an established classic that's too
06:08much fun to resist.
06:18Number 5.
06:19Mary Poppins
06:20Author P.L. Travers may not have liked this all-singing, all-dancing adaptation of her
06:24popular children's novels, but she was pretty much the only one.
06:28With a star turn from Julie Andrews and those infectious Sherman Brothers songs, this whimsical
06:33movie musical is practically perfect in every way.
06:36What's that?
06:38It's much too long?
06:46Who cares when it's this charming?
06:48And anyway, what could you possibly cut?
06:50So when the cat has got your tongue, there's no need for dismay, just summon up this word
06:55and then you've got a lot to say, but better use it carefully or it can change your life.
07:00Every set piece is a must-watch in its own right, from the dancing chimney sweeps to
07:04Uncle Albert and the laughing gas.
07:06There are some spectacular dance scenes to excite the senses, but there's also plenty
07:10of tender moments that make this movie a stellar comfort watch.
07:14Goodbye, Mary Poppins.
07:16Don't stay away too long.
07:28West Side Story began life as a Broadway musical in 1957, created as a contemporary reimagining
07:34of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
07:36Set in New York, it follows two rival street gangs and two teenagers from different sides
07:40of the divide, whose love affair leads to tragedy.
07:43Hold my hand and we're halfway there, hold my hand and I'll take you there.
07:57When the musical hit the big screen in 1961, it was a sensation, and it's not difficult
08:02to see why.
08:03The story tackles issues of racism and gang warfare and hits all the emotional beats,
08:08although it's the music and dancing that really set it apart.
08:11Leonard Bernstein's accompanying music remains one of the most beautiful musical theater
08:15scores of all time.
08:17The 2021 remake is pretty special, too.
08:35The Sound of Music
08:36From The King and I to Carousel and Oklahoma, the musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein have
08:41enjoyed great success.
08:42But the duo's most beloved creation has got to be The Sound of Music.
09:01A love story, a family drama, and a wartime thriller by turns, it's more than just nuns
09:07and Nazis.
09:08Julie Andrews shines as leading Lady Maria, and Christopher Plummer makes a dashing Captain
09:13Von Trapp.
09:14However, the real stars of the show are those songs and that scenery.
09:17The kids put in a solid performance, too.
09:20The movie has been criticized as sickly sweet, but it smashed box office records and bagged
09:38five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
09:41At almost three hours long, it's an afternoon's commitment, but it's worth every minute of
09:46your time.
10:02Number 2.
10:03The Wizard of Oz
10:13Although based on the beloved children's books by L. Frank Baum, the success of this 1939
10:18film has made The Wizard of Oz synonymous with Judy Garland and her ruby slippers.
10:22Beginning in sepia tones and bursting into glorious technicolor once Dorothy gets to
10:27Oz, the movie is a feast for the eyes and full of memorable characters and songs.
10:32Garland's performance of Over the Rainbow is a must-see moment for musical fans.
10:52For lovers of the contemporary musical, 2024's Wicked brings all the magic from the stage
10:57to the screen effortlessly.
10:59It's popular, all right.
11:06Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
11:10Mamma Mia!
11:11This jukebox ABBA musical has become an institution.
11:22The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
11:24Don't dream it, watch it.
11:29And see what's on the slab.
11:33I see you shiver with anticipation.
11:39My Fair Lady.
11:41Audrey Hepburn is an enchanting Eliza Doolittle.
11:56Cabaret.
11:57Liza Minnelli gives a star turn in this musical black comedy.
12:14Little Shop of Horrors.
12:16Killer plants and killer songs from Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.
12:27And strong.
12:29You eat blood, Audrey, too, let's face it.
12:31How am I supposed to keep on feeding you?
12:33Kill people?
12:35I make it worth your while.
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12:53Number 1.
12:54Singing in the Rain.
12:55If there's one movie musical that's guaranteed to cheer you up, it's Singing in the Rain.
13:07Technically, this 50s classic is a jukebox musical, but it still feels like one of a
13:12kind, often recreated but never bettered.
13:15Gene Kelly's routine in the rain is one of the most iconic movie scenes of all time,
13:19and the dancing throughout the film is unmatched.
13:25If you're not tempted to sign up for tap lessons after your first viewing, you'll at
13:39least have seen something to make you smile.
13:41The brilliant dancing is combined with catchy songs, an engaging storyline, and a lot of
13:46humor, making Singing in the Rain a movie musical to watch not just once, but over and
13:52over again.
13:56Which movie musical do you think should be required viewing?
14:07Let us know in the comments.
14:15Do you agree with our picks?
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14:25We'll see you next time.
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