There was some discussion in another thread (modesty prevents me from linking to it) about the fact that we have an invisible subculture here at the Dope of people who love movie musicals. We need to band together and form our own clique, folks! So check in here to stand up and say “bursting into song at the drop of a (top) hat? I am so there!”
Share any special memories – weigh in in the issues (Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly? Moulin Rouge or Chicago?*) – speculate as to the causes of the death of the musical as a mainstream genre in the '60s (what did Barbra Streisand’s ego have to do with it?) – or whatever.
I became a lifelong musicals type back in the late '60s, when I was in junior high, when a theater here in Philly put on a double feature of two Busby Berkeley flicks. One was Gold Diggers of 1935, with the fabulous “Lullaby of Broadway” number. Once you’ve seen that on the big screen, you’ll never be the same. Other classics I’ve seen on the big screen include The Wizard of Oz (revival house in San Diego) and Top Hat (Des Moines Art Museum).
Come and share, folks! And then – hey! Let’s put on a show! I can teach you a time step in half an hour – the Maxie Ford will take a little longer.
*Fred and Moulin Rouge for me