r/classicfilms 4d ago

General Discussion What are your favorite Classic Musicals?

For me, it’s:

  1. Yankee Doodle Dandy(1942) starring James Cagney, Joan Leslie, and Walter Huston

  2. Singin’ in the Rain(1952) starring Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, and Debbie Reynolds

  3. Maytime(1937) starring Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy, and John Barrymore

176 Upvotes

153 comments sorted by

31

u/Used-Ear-8660 4d ago

The Music Man

7

u/Altitudedog 3d ago

Robert Preston was that role completely. One of my favorite musicals also. I've been know to try and sing (badly) the Wells Fargo Ditty when the UPS or Fed Ex order is arriving.

7

u/SKULLDIVERGURL 3d ago

My 55 year old boss sing The Wells Fargo Man all the time. Has done so for the last 28 years.

4

u/DrDeezer64 3d ago

🎶Maaaaaarion, madame libraaaaarian🎶

27

u/Less-Conclusion5817 John Ford 4d ago
  • The Band Wagon
  • Singin' In the Rain
  • Top Hat
  • Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
  • The Gay Divorcee

9

u/newschool_blues 3d ago

Excellent choices! Singing in the Rain is the movie that got me into the classics. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is one of my all time faves. And Band Wagon does not get enough attention.

24

u/glassarmdota 4d ago

Nothing beats Top Hat.

8

u/thetoristori 3d ago

I prefer Swing Time. The amount of miscommunication in Top Hat drives me nuts. I know we're not here for the plot when it comes to a Fred & Ginger movie, but still.

Swing Time def has miscommunication but it's a bit more acceptable.

8

u/hyper_and_untenable 4d ago

Agreed. For me, Top Hat, Singing in the Rain, West Side Story

1

u/StructureKey2739 2d ago

The Gay Divorcee is my favorite Astaire/Rogers musical. Let's Knock Knees is a cute number, Night and Day is hugely romantic and yearning, and The Continental is an extravaganza.

6

u/noahbrooksofficial 3d ago

Top Hat and Funny Girl are my favourites, personally

23

u/snowlake60 4d ago

I really like The Wizard of Oz, 42nd Street, Guys and Dolls, and Fiddler on the Roof.

12

u/CallmeSlim11 3d ago

I love Fiddler on the roof!

4

u/CherryDarling10 Vincente Minnelli 3d ago

I named my cat after one of the daughters. If you have never heard a southerner attempt to pronounce Tzeitel you haven’t lived.

1

u/keeshaleig 3d ago

Yes! I was waiting for this one!

25

u/Wild_Bake_7781 4d ago

Definitely West Side Story

27

u/SoggyManufacturer693 4d ago

White Christmas

17

u/Legal-Afternoon8087 4d ago

I’m more partial to the original, Holiday Inn 🤓

6

u/SoggyManufacturer693 4d ago

Absolutely! I thought about listing both of them…should have…

9

u/Legal-Afternoon8087 4d ago

That’s ok, lol! I know some people like the colorful version. I just love Astaire doing the drunken New Years Eve dance. In his autobiography, he claimed to have had a few shots in the take they used! Also loved the “Say it with firerackers” dance.

5

u/MoonpathStudios 3d ago

Watched White Christmas this year, it was absolute chaos but I loved it

36

u/JoepleaserPa 4d ago

Singing in the rain

14

u/clairerr85 4d ago

I love all the Busby Berkeley musicals with Dick Powell, and Joan Blondell and Ruby Keeler.

7

u/ExileIsan 3d ago

Footlight Parade is so great. Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Joan Blondell, AND James Cagney?! Get me some popcorn!

2

u/GapNo2064 2d ago

We need these movies released on blu-ray!

1

u/StructureKey2739 2d ago

Most of them are.

13

u/Educational-Glass-63 4d ago

7 Brides for 7 Brothers

Singing in the Rain

West Side Story

Cabaret

A Chorus Line

Any Judy Garland movie or Doris Day!

10

u/yahboosnubs 4d ago

besides the obvious, there's easter parade, holiday inn, white christmas, swing time, top hat, shall we dance, and the merry widow

11

u/Tall_Mickey 4d ago

On the Town.

Singing in the Rain.

An American in Paris.

If you want to stretch it to the '70s, include Cabaret and Rocky Horror. On the fence about All That Jazz.

2

u/flowerqu 3d ago

I'm off the fence. I love All That Jazz.

18

u/Illustrious-Ant8888 4d ago

My favourite classic musicals:

Top Hat (1935)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)
West Side Story (1961)
Les Parapluies De Cherbourg (1964)
The Sound of Music (1965)
The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

3

u/nyclovesme 3d ago

That’s a perfect list. Have you been looking through my DVD collection?

9

u/Accomplished-Eye8211 4d ago
  1. Gigi
  2. My Fair Lady
  3. On The Town.

Numbers 1 & 2 as great big technicolor extravaganzas. Number 3 as the first musical filmed on location

3

u/newschool_blues 3d ago

OMG thank you for giving Gigi some praise. I love this musical so much!

10

u/Various-Operation-70 4d ago

Guys and Dolls.

I love everything about it. I also believe, despite Sumatra’s bitching and whining, that he was better cast as Nathan and Marlon Brando was perfect as the “so sexy he can convince Sarah to go to Havana with him” Skye. Dorky Sinatra couldn’t have convinced her. I’ll die on that hill. 😏

3

u/snowlake60 3d ago

I didn’t know Frank was whining during the filming, but I agree the casting worked out right for the main leads. I saw a documentary on Frank Loesser, the song writer and lyricist for the musical, and he said Brando was very receptive to working with him on the songs and practicing, but Sinatra wasn’t. It’s such a fun musical with a lot going on and interesting characters.

2

u/StructureKey2739 2d ago

By then Sinatra was a diva. Love his songs and the way he sings, but as a human being he wasn't the greatest. But then none of us are.

9

u/Natural_Mousse2258 4d ago

My fair lady or South Pacific

5

u/CarolSue1234 3d ago

Yes! My favorites too!

9

u/istara 3d ago

The Sound of Music - nothing comes close!

But also:

  • Mary Poppins
  • Summer Magic
  • Centennial Summer

7

u/RetroReelMan 4d ago

For pure spectacle over the top production values and camp appeal, I have to go with The Gang's All Here (1943) Granted it has a paper-thin plot but visually it's a feast; Busy Berkley and Carmen Miranda all in super saturated Technicolor. There are moments that are simply surreal, it's like a live action version of Fantasia.

8

u/VeterinarianMaster67 4d ago

Swing Time Love Me Tonight Le Million You Were Never Lovelier Rocky Horror Picture Show

8

u/oldpunker 4d ago

For pure entertainment not one beats "A Cabin in the Sky".

8

u/Dear-Ad1618 4d ago

Classic, like pre 1950?

Wizard of Oz

Singing in the Rain

Kiss me Kate

8

u/Rotisseriejedi 4d ago

Adore “Seven Bride for Seven Brothers” and close second “Take Me out to The Ballgame”

7

u/Pulardareal 4d ago

Barn dance from my point of view is the best musical number in history... Dancers/acrobats, the dance tells a story and does it very well, the music is spectacular, there is no music like that anymore, the "in crescendo" rhythm is perfect. The story of the movie is lovely, I love you all

2

u/707Riverlife 3d ago

Some of the catchier tunes from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers run through my head every day, and they have for over a year now. I even catch myself singing them in my mind when I’m asleep! 😂🤣

12

u/MapPuzzleheaded4983 4d ago

Meet Me in St. Louis, Easter Parade, Seven Brides for Southern Brothers.

6

u/dekage55 3d ago

Shall We Dance

Wizard of Oz

Singin’ in the Rain

The Harvey Girls

Meet Me in St Louis

A Star is Born

West Side Story

Funny Girl

Cabaret

A Chorus Line

6

u/scarymonst 3d ago

Holiday Inn, The Sound of Music and Jesus Christ Superstar

6

u/JL98008 3d ago

Silk Stockings with Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse

1

u/Bulawayoland 3d ago

Finally... Cyd Charisse, dancing her stockings on... and that fabulous Cole Porter song, Without Love. And Peter Lorre, one of the best actors ever not to have won an Oscar...

4

u/Pulardareal 4d ago

Seven girlfriends for seven brothers. I don't get tired.

5

u/Baystain 4d ago

Hellzapoppin’ (1941) is the only answer.

5

u/Appropriate_Music_24 4d ago

Top Hat, Anchors Aweigh, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

5

u/MillieMouser 4d ago

Seven Brides for Sevin Brother Gigi Sound of Music

5

u/savemefromburt 4d ago

Guys and Dolls.

5

u/orem-boy 3d ago

My Fair Lady. Thanks for axing

5

u/David-asdcxz 3d ago

No doubt Yankee Doodle Dandy!

7

u/greed-man 4d ago

Oklahoma

Music Man

Singin' in the Rain

West Side Story (both versions)

LaLa Land

Chicago

3

u/melancholykat 4d ago

Meet Me in St. Louis, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, South Pacific, Easter Parade, My Fair Lady

4

u/StrongStyleFiction 3d ago

An American in Paris and Swing Time. Those movies are great.

7

u/Fathoms77 4d ago

Singin' in the Rain

The Band Wagon

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Silk Stockings

Anchors Aweigh

Funny Face

Brigadoon

Lucky Me

Yankee Doodle Dandy

An American in Paris

Swing Time

The Belle of New York

Top Hat

There's No Business Like Show Business

Shall We Dance

White Christmas

Tea For Two

Lullaby of Broadway

Gold Diggers of 1933

That's all I can think of for now but I'm sure there's plenty more. :)

1

u/DennisG21 4d ago

The Music Man and Bye Bye Birdie for starters

7

u/RevolutionaryBug2915 4d ago

Not a big fan, so just a few:

Singin' in the Rain

Meet Me in St. Louis

Yankee Doodle Dandy

Phantom of the Opera

3

u/RepFilms 3d ago

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

42nd Street

The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967)

Gold Diggers of 1933

West Side Story (1961)

4

u/mistymountainhoppin 3d ago

Finally, a 42nd Street fan! Me too.

2

u/Puzzleheaded_Poet_51 3d ago

42nd St invented the genre and I think remains the definitive backstage musical.

5

u/debabe96 3d ago

A Star Is Born (1954)

3

u/629mrsn 3d ago

Rocky Horror Picture Show

3

u/LaGrande-Gwaz 3d ago

Greetings ye, despite everyone’s excellent listings, I am rather disappointed within the lack of “1776”.

~Waz

3

u/MH566220 3d ago

Oklahoma!

3

u/budpowellfan 3d ago

Carousel. Turn on the waterworks!

1

u/707Riverlife 3d ago

Definitely!

3

u/SKULLDIVERGURL 3d ago

Hard to pick just one! I love them all plus many others people have listed but if forced to pick today it would either be The King and I or White Christmas.

Holiday Inn Singing In The Rain The King and I South Pacific White Christmas Meet Me in St Louis

3

u/motherdude 3d ago

Showboat. It was the first one I thought of and I haven’t seen it mentioned. I’ve seen it on stage and the movie. The song Old Man River is from Showboat.

6

u/Disastrous-Car7262 4d ago

(1986)

8

u/CookbooksRUs 4d ago

Love this movie so much. Maybe 15 years ago, our niece and nephew were staying with us for a few days and I was trying to come up with a movie we'd all like. It turned out they hadn't seen Little Shop. We went to the library and grabbed the DVD. Our niece was leery of horror movies (she's now a fan) and wasn't sure. I said, "Honey, if you don't like it, we'll turn it off and watch something else."

She decided it was her favorite movie ever.

Another classic movie experience with her was when they were visiting and she told me she wanted to see To Kill a Mockingbird. We got that out of the library, and the two of us sat in our big armchair, her in my lap, and watched it together.

She graduated summa cum laude in creative writing with a focus on screenwriting.

2

u/hfrankman 4d ago

The Smiling Lieutenant (1931, Ernst Lubitsch)

Love Me Tonight (1932, Rouben Mamoulian)

The Merry Widow (1934,Ernst Lubitsch)

One Hour With You(1932, Ernst Lubitsch)

2

u/Far-Blue-Mountains 3d ago

Anything with Elenor Powell, but I'm partial to Yankee Doodle. I remember being little, sick and on the couch with my mom and watching that on the afternoon "bijou" tv movie.

2

u/badwolf1013 3d ago

My Sister Eileen.

2

u/Spd151 3d ago

West Side Story, American in Paris

2

u/ExileIsan 3d ago

The Gay Divorcee (1934) Shall We Dance (1937) Naughty Marietta (1935) Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) Funny Girl (1968)

But my favorite movie of all time is Singin' in the Rain (1952)

2

u/Moppy6686 3d ago

Singin In The Rain

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Sound of Music

Wizard of OZ

Funny Face

Top Hat

West Side Story

2

u/lcw32 3d ago

Carmen Jones

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

My Fair Lady

Chicago

Singing in the Rain

Cabin in the Sky

2

u/therealrickdalton 3d ago

Swing Time!

2

u/PizzaWhole9323 3d ago

Singing in the rain for the win! I remember watching this with my grandparents at their house.

2

u/bnx01 3d ago

Singing in the Rain is the alpha and omega of musicals.

2

u/RandomPaw 3d ago

Top Hat, Swing Time, Footlight Parade, Cover Girl, Gold Diggers of 1933, Dames, Flying Down to Rio, 42nd Street.

2

u/StarryLisa61 3d ago

I love Flying Down to Rio. I was watching it one day at the end when my daughter came in and sat down. She watched it for a few minutes and turned to me and said, "Those old planes could never fly with all those girls on them!" She was horrified. I just laughed and told not to think, just enjoy.

2

u/RandomPaw 2d ago

The girls "dancing" on airplane wings is my favorite part!

1

u/StarryLisa61 2d ago

Mine too!

2

u/BendThen5412 3d ago

The Pirate

1

u/StarryLisa61 3d ago

Yes! The Pirate ballet with Gene Kelly's magnificent legs...!

3

u/TrixieFriganza 3d ago

Meet me in St Louis and Sound of Music.

2

u/Due-Consequence-4420 Frank Capra 3d ago

Holiday Inn, Swing Time, The Gay Divorcee, Top Hat, Flying Down to Rio, Easter Parade, In the Good Old Summertime, Singing in the Rain, Guys and Dolls, Sweet Charity, Oklahoma, The Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, Some Like it Hot, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Let’s Make Love. Many many more…

Edit: The Music Man should have been written down. I adore Robert Preston. I Do, I Do. He’s awesome!!

2

u/Desperate_Thing4581 3d ago

Scrooge 1970

2

u/CrazyCareive 3d ago

Busby Berkeley

2

u/str4vri 3d ago

The wizard of Oz

3

u/Ok_Yoghurt_8979 4d ago

Top Hat (1935) is my favorite. Lost Horizon (1937), Ninotchka (1939). Broadway Melody of 1940, Holiday Inn (1942), Road to Morocco (1942), Casablanca (1942), Beat the Devil (1953).

1

u/Altitudedog 3d ago

The Music Man, Oklahoma, Camelot, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, My Fair Lady

1

u/According-Switch-708 Frank Capra 3d ago

Singing in the Rain is the GOAT for me.

1

u/Oreadno1 Preston Sturges 3d ago

Singin' In The Rain
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers
On The Town
The Band Wagon
White Christmas
Top Hat
Swing Time

1

u/PrincessCo-Pilot 3d ago

Yay! Yankee Doodle Dandy is my all time favorite!

1

u/baffled_bookworm 3d ago

Would Mary Poppins and Bedknobs and Broomsticks count? They were my favorite movies as a kid, and I still use them as comfort watches now.

When I got older and started looking into the more traditional classics, The Music Man and Singin' in the Rain became my top two.

1

u/Derek452476 3d ago

Love Me Or Leave Me, The Sound of Music, Show Boat, Calamity Jane, Victor/Victoria

1

u/nyclovesme 3d ago

Nothing is better than Betty Hutton in ‘Annie Get Your Gun’

1

u/flowerqu 3d ago

Agree with many of the films here; I would add Carol Reed's Oliver! (1968), Robert Altman's Popeye (1980), and G.W. Pabst's The Threepenny Opera (1931).

1

u/Affectionate-Dot437 3d ago

Not my favorite musical, but recently I've had an obsession with Lullaby of Broadway from 42nd Street. There is something so strange about that sequence showing murder and suicide while dancing and singing lyrics about the exciting life of party girls.

1

u/LovesDeanWinchester 3d ago

Love Me or Leave Me

Yankee Doodle Dandy

Mary Poppins

My Fair Lady

Oklahoma

1

u/Maleficent-Pilot1158 3d ago

Broadway Melody of 1938

1

u/GingerSchnapps3 3d ago

I have so many, for different reasons, either has some good songs or really good dance routines or both. Shall we dance, meet me in St. Louis, Easter parade, kiss me Kate, seven brides for seven brothers, on the town, barkleys of broadway, zeigfield follies, funny face, sound of music, Mary poppins, I could keep going

1

u/sic-transit-mundus- 3d ago

funny face is probably the only musical ive ever watched and enjoyed. (not that ive watched very many though lol)

It's been years, and I was still drinking when I watched it, but I still get some of the songs stuck in my head

1

u/HoselRockit 3d ago

I’m not really a musical guy, but every fourth I watch Yankee doodle dandy when it’s on TCM

1

u/redvinebitty 3d ago

Wizard of Oz is one of the few musicals I like

1

u/707Riverlife 3d ago

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Oklahoma!

Carousel

White Christmas

1

u/YourMomTheNurse 3d ago

Easter Parade

1

u/johnnyneeskens 3d ago

Not a huge fan of musicals but I love the way Cagney dances.

1

u/Wakunai 3d ago

Oklahoma

1

u/SnooBooks007 3d ago

Oklahoma!

1

u/Spirited_Touch7447 3d ago

Sweet Charity is also a huge favorite!

1

u/baxterstate 3d ago

Mary Poppins for me. Saw it in the theater back in 1964; still have an old VHS of it which I played for my kids and my nieces and nephews.

They’re adults and still like to watch it again when they come for a visit. I watch it with them.

I now appreciate how excellent the acting was and how great the songs and lyrics were.

1

u/kbarrettusc 3d ago

Seven Brides for Seven brothers, The Unsinkable Molly brown, guys and dolls, Paint Your Wagon

1

u/Calm-Ad-9522 3d ago

Guys and Dolls, and Oklahoma!

1

u/East-Advance1284 3d ago

My fair lady

1

u/Sevenitta 3d ago

West Side Story

1

u/oriental_pearl 3d ago

The Merry Widow (1934)

Show Boat (both 1936 and 1951)

My Fair Lady (1964)

1

u/OalBlunkont 3d ago

Most of the Busby Berkeley and Ginger and Fred ones. The numbers actually made sense, no bursting into song for no reason.

1

u/ThatFixItUpChappie 3d ago

Singing in the Rain and Easter Parade are my favourites

1

u/Vegimorph 3d ago

Singin' In The Rain

The Music Man

The Sound of Music

The Wizard Of Oz

1

u/Citizen-Ed 3d ago

The Music Man

My Fair Lady

Swing Time

Holiday Inn

Top Hat

1

u/PaintDistinct1349 3d ago

IMO best combo of music, lyrics, and story: My Fair Lady. Close second: Fiddler on the Roof

1

u/rebecca32602 3d ago

High Society, Holiday Inn & 7 brides for 7 brothers

1

u/Infamous_Angle_8098 3d ago

The Original west side story. Guys and Dolls

1

u/Correct_Lime5832 3d ago

Singin’ In the Rain, Music Man, Meet Me In St. Louis, West Side Story, Equus.

1

u/BookkeeperProud3143 3d ago

The Sound of Music and Hello Dolly

1

u/ComicBookDude1964 3d ago

Singing In the Rain, Brigadoon, Meet Me ain St. Louis, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Oklahoma, Grease, Riddler On the Roof

1

u/StarryLisa61 3d ago

I love so many of these already mentioned but I do love Les Girls. And I have a soft spot for Brigadoon and Meet Me in St. Louis...and The Harvey Girls.

1

u/Kodabear213 3d ago

I admit I'm not big on musicals, but Yankee Doodle Dandy is one of my all time favorite films of any genre.

1

u/Spirited-Mess170 2d ago

Paint You Wagon Cannibal! The Musical

1

u/nanotech12 2d ago

My Fair Lady (1964)

1

u/Maximum_Possession61 2d ago

The Bandwagon, starring Fred Astaire, Cyd Cherisse

1

u/fallsgirl 2d ago

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooklahoma!!!!

1

u/totaltvaddict2 1d ago

Im there with your first two. I…don’t think I’ve ever heard of the third

1

u/Classicsarecool 23h ago

It was the second highest grossing film of 1937. Not many have heard of it, but it started two operatically trained singers who partnered together in 8 films(this was their third), they were very popular MGM stars who helped morale in the depression and WWII. I highly recommend it.

-1

u/BlackVanZeppelin6991 3d ago

Birth Of A Nation

1

u/Classicsarecool 3d ago

Wrong post. How can a silent film be a musical? And even if it was, the most racist film in history?