The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Starting off with one of the first movies I ever watched, The Wizard of Oz is sweet and endearing, taking me back to childhood movie-watching when I wondered why the first half of the movie was in black and white. Considered one of the most beloved films of all time, and for a good reason, the star-studded cast helps create a movie-going experience unlike any others in the 40s. Based on the book by L. Frank Baum, emphasizing themes of magic, believing in yourself, and the power of friendship, this film about a found family of misfits and outcasts ended up winning 2 Academy Awards: Best Song and Best Original Score. Needless to say, this musical movie is a must-watch. You, too, will be Somewhere Over the Rainbow afterwards.
Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Oh, to be the chorus girl the silent film star falls for in Singin’ in the Rain! Illustrating the transition to talking pictures in 1920s-era Hollywood, this movie is chock-full of iconic songs like “Good Morning,” “Moses Supposes” and “Singin’ in the Rain” with spectacularly choreographed dance routines to boot! Debbie Reynolds, Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor, the main cast of triple threats, are people you will never get tired of watching and listening to. Name a more iconic trio; you can’t!
The King and I (1956)
The story of a widow who accepts a job as a live-in governess to a King’s children, winning 5 Oscars and being nominated for 12 other awards total, The King and I is a must-watch! Starring Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr, music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hammerstein, I can’t tell you how many times I listened to songs with my grandma in my childhood like “Getting to Know You” and “I Whistle a Happy Tune.” As one of Broadway’s greatest shows, it is sure to make audiences smile.
West Side Story (1961)
Despite the newest reboot of West Side Story, I firmly believe that the original is simply the best. After analyzing the movie in a film class during middle school, I loved the singing, the dancing, the colors and the Romeo and Juliet aspect. Focusing on a rivalry between two teenage street gangs in NYC during the 50s, this show has been one of the longest-running West End productions. High-tempo music like “Jet Song” and “America” are accompanied by fast and unison dancing. Sophisticated music like “Maria” and “I Feel Pretty” are slower ballads focused on the romantic escapades of the two protagonists. The movie as a whole focuses on social problems such as rich vs. poor. Question: would you rather be a Jet or a Shark?
Mary Poppins (1964)
Mary Poppins is just the beginning of the other movies. Julie Andrews has completely blown the roof off with her performances, singing and acting, and generally being a queen (literally, Queen of Genovia, right?). As a nanny who uses her magical powers to help two children, she is a quintessential Disney character. Co-star Dick Van Dyke steals the show with his singing and goofy nature (we won’t talk about that British accent). Winning too many awards to list here, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” – meaning you should definitely watch this at least ONCE in your lifetime! Beware, the songs are extremely catchy – “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Chim Chim Cher-ee” – and will have you dancing like penguins in no time. Also, if you can “Step In Time” and spell “Supercalifragilisticexpiadlidcious,” you are my best friend.
My Fair Lady (1964)
My Fair Lady stars the beautiful, dazzling Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison (who’s okay too, I guess). When a colonel takes a bet that he can make an unrefined girl a classy lady, he has his work cut out for him with Eliza Doolittle. While Audrey doesn’t sing in the movie, Marni Nixon, an excellent soprano, sings songs like “The Rain In Spain” and “I Could Have Danced All Night,” which helped My Fair Lady win many awards and nominations.
The Sound of Music (1965)
Another Julie Andrews classic with Rodgers and Hammerstein at the helm is similar to King and I as the main character is a governess to seven children. Winning over 5 Oscars, you’ve already heard snippets of songs from this movie from other artists such as Ariana Grande’s 7 Rings and Andrews’ My Favorite Things. Other absolutely iconic songs include Do-Re-Mi, So Long, Farewell and Eidelweiss. This movie produces nothing but bops, and if I could list the whole soundtrack, here I would.
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
A fantasy musical that takes you on a sweet and thrilling journey into Mr. Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. When I first watched the movie as a child, I was definitely scared of the oompa loompas, and watching the film now feels like a fever dream. I love that each child gets their own “song,” and the songs are so funny and full of dark humor! “Pure Imagination” and “The Candy Man” are two of my favorites.
Grease (1978)
Yep, we’ve seen all the Halloween costumes of Sandy, Danny, and the Pink Ladies, but let’s take a second and appreciate the musical numbers too! Grease recently stepped back into the limelight after becoming famous on TikTok, with songs like “Hopelessly Devoted to You.” A fun, summer-themed movie with songs like “You’re the One That I Want”: you can’t help but boogie.
Annie (1982)
Ah, Carol Burnett and Tim Curry – an iconic duo that made Annie what it is today. I watched this movie every single year in elementary school for music class and still enjoy singing “It’s the Hard-Knock Life” and belting “Tomorrow” with my classmates. Being one of the first movie musicals I was ever introduced to, the songs, the acting, and the characters all have a special place in my heart.
Featured Image of Allison Geddie