AFI's Top 25 Musicals

[Eric]

I'm not surprised by the account of audience reaction here. Reminds me of the Simpsons episode involving the Springfield Pops Orchestra's Star Wars/"Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" medley and Dr. Hibbert supercilliously saying "I wonder if anyone else caught that reference?"

[Big Magilla]

Fairly predictable as was the audience's response. ZZZ through Paul Robesons's stirrimg renditon of Ol' Man River indeed!

[OscarGuy]

I'm actually surprised Beauty and the Beast is so low on the list.

[anonymous1980]

Moulin Rouge's spot is better occupied by either South Park or Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Otherwise, I think this is a fairly decent list.

[The Original BJ]

As expected, the AFI should have called this list, "25 Musicals Everyone Has Heard Of." There's not one original or surprising choice, and just one too many contemporary films at the expense of true classics. It's clear these voters have little to no sense of film history. That said, I had a very enjoyable evening at this event, and loved seeing so many film clips from great musicals. My rundown of the show:

Opening: This montage, consisting of clips from 105 musicals scored to memorable songs, was simply phenomenal. My crowd commented immediately that we could have left right then, the opening had been so breathtaking. Of course, then the list began and we got . . .

25. Moulin Rouge
Yikes. It's not that I hate the film, but . . . no. That it received such a loud ovation is double yikes. But placing this clip in such close proximity to those from classic film musicals only made Rouge look worse, thank god. Song Clip: "Elephant Love Medley."

24. Show Boat
The 1936 version. Audience response: zzzz. Song Clip: "Old Man River."

23. Guys and Dolls
Song Clip: "The Oldest Established," a rather baffling song choice, IMO. At least we didn't have to hear Brando sing.

22. Beauty and the Beast
Song Clip: "Beauty and the Beast." Just beautiful. I wasn't fond of most of the other contempo choices, but this one is too lovely to resist.

21. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Song Clip: "Barn Dance." Woo-hoo.

20. Grease
Another one that received a roar of applause. Sure, it's fun, but I hope I'm not the only one who finds the story of a nice, innocent girl who transforms herself into a trashy slut for a man very unsettling. Song Clip: "You're the One That I Want."

19. On the Town
Song Clip: "New York, New York." I was surprised how unspectacular this opening number seemed. Or maybe I just pined for Ann Miller.

18. Yankee Doodle Dandy
Song Clip: "Yankee Doodle Dandy." Not a huge fan of this film, but that number is terrific.

17. The Band Wagon
Way too low. Song Clip: "Dancing in the Dark." Oh. My. God.

16. Funny Girl
Huh? Song Clip: "Don't Rain on My Parade."

15. Top Hat
Song Clip: "Cheek to Cheek." It's their most well-known song, but I still think it's a peculiar choice since it's really not one of their best dances.

14. All That Jazz
Need to see this. Song Clip: "On Broadway."

13. 42nd Street
Song Clip: "Young and Healthy." Quintessential Berkeley.

12. Chicago
It's lotsa fun, for sure, but watching Zeta-Jones and Zellweger dancing right after Astaire/Rogers & Astaire/Charisse is just so . . . sad. Song Clip: "Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag."

11. The King and I
Song Clip: "Getting to Know You." Yay.

10. Meet Me in St. Louis
Song Clip: "The Trolley Song." Even bigger yay.

9. An American in Paris
Song Clip: "An American in Paris Ballet." But not all of it. I could have seen all of it . . .

8. My Fair Lady
Song Clip: "I Could Have Danced All Night." Man, Audrey is really lip synching in this one . . .

7. A Star is Born
For what it's worth, this film received the least applause (by a good margin) of all. Song Clip: "My Melancholy Baby," IMO, an odd song choice.

6. Mary Poppins
I was pretty surprised this ranked so high. I guess it really is still quite popular among average viewers. Song Clip: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."

5. Cabaret
Song Clip: "Cabaret." I always thought she was great, but in this song, Liza's stupendous.

4. The Sound of Music
I think this one received the most applause of any film. Song Clip: "The Sound of Music."

3. The Wizard of Oz
Song Clip: "Optimistic Voices." JUST kidding!

2. West Side Story
Song Clip: a wonderful montage of clips from the film set to the musical's overture.

1. Singin' in the Rain
Surprise, surprise. Song Clip: Guess. And no, it wasn't "Moses Supposes."

[The Original BJ]

I will be attending this concert, so I can provide news from the front.

My list of 25, off the top of my head, which means I'm sure I've excluded something. (Note: I've never seen All That Jazz, so I cannot jump into the love/hate fray that film has inspired.)

An American in Paris
The Band Wagon
Beauty and the Beast
Cabaret
Calamity Jane
Dumbo
Gigi
The King and I
Love Me Tonight
Meet Me in St. Louis
My Fair Lady
Nashville
Oliver!
Pinocchio
The Pirate
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Show Boat
Singin' in the Rain
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The Sound of Music
Swing Time
Top Hat
Victor/Victoria
West Side Story
The Wizard of Oz

[Damien]

It appears I've stayed away from musicals, by and large.

And you call yourself a gay man? :p

[Eric]

I can only do 20, and some of these are borderline. It appears I've stayed away from musicals, by and large.

All That Jazz
The Band Wagon
Cabaret
Dumbo
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Gold Diggers of 1933
Guys and Dolls
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Little Shop of Horrors
Love Me Tonight
Meet Me in St. Louis
Moulin Rouge!
The Pajama Game
Purple Rain
Singin' in the Rain
South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut
Victor/Victoria
West Side Story
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
The Wizard of Oz

[OscarGuy]

I don't know anyone who consideres Jesus Christ Superstar a good film. While the musical itself is quite good the film production of the '70s is bloated, uninteresting and, to me, virtually unwatchable.

My choices. Though, I will preface that I haven't seen a good number of the 180. Having said that, I'm not ranking these right now.

Beauty and the Beast
Chicago
Evita
Dick Tracy
The Great Ziegfeld
Holiday Inn
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Lion King
Little Shop of Horrors
Mary Poppins
Meet Me in St. Louis
The Muppet Movie
My Fair Lady
Moulin Rouge
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
1776
Singin' in the Rain
Sleeping Beauty
South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut
The Sound of Music
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Victor/Victoria
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Yentl
The Wizard of Oz

[Big Magilla]

Jesus Christ Superstar is a candidate for Worst Film Musical. These would be my picks for the top 25.

1. Show Boat (1936)
2. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
3. The Band Wagon (1953)
4. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
5. Top Hat (1935)
6. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
7. 42nd Street (1933)
8. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
9. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
10. Cabaret (1972)
11. West Side Story (1961)
12. My Fair Lady (1964)
13. The Sound of Music (1965)
14. Oliver! (1968)
15. Gigi (1958)
16. Hair (1979)
17. It’s Always Fair Weather (1955)
18. The King and I (1956)
19. Easter Parade (1948)
20. Damn Yankees (1958)
21. The Music Man (1962)
22. A Star Is Born (1954)
23. The Pajama Game (1957)
24. An American in Paris (1951)
25. South Pacific (1958)

[anonymous1980]

Here's the ballot.

My picks based on what I've seen from the ballot:

01. Singin' in the Rain
02. The Wizard of Oz
03. The Band Wagon
04. Cabaret
05. Beauty and the Beast
06. West Side Story
07. An American in Paris
08. Mary Poppins
09. Hedwig and the Angry Inch
10. Dumbo
11. The Sound of Music
12. All That Jazz
13. Guys and Dolls
14. Victor/Victoria
15. Swing Time
16. Pennies from Heaven
17. South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut
18. Damn Yankees!
19. Chicago
20. The Music Man
21. Oliver!
22. The Little Mermaid
23. Hair
24. Dick Tracy
25. Little Shop of Horrors

One glaring omission from the ballot is Jesus Christ Superstar. Isn't that film considered the ancestor of the music video?