I love lists. The American Film Institute seems to as well. Hell, everyone does. Who doesn’t want to see how their favourites rank on the all time favourites of that fandom. Its the scale by which all things are graded as cool. Are you cool?
The AFI lives for lists, and their latest says Singin’ in the Rain is cinema’s greatest movie musical ever. Ok, their winner isn’t exactly a shock, but I was pleasantly surprised to see Wizard of Oz checking in at number 3, Mary Poppins at number 6, and Beauty and the Beast at number 22. Animated movies often don’t get a lot of respect as musicals, and classic kids movies like Poppins are easily overlooked, so it’s nice to see them getting their due.
For your review, here is the complete list:
1. SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN – 1952 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
2. WEST SIDE STORY – 1961 United Artists
3. WIZARD OF OZ, THE – 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
4. SOUND OF MUSIC, THE – 1965 Twentieth Century-Fox
5. CABARET – 1972 Allied Artists
6. MARY POPPINS – 1964 Disney
7. STAR IS BORN, A – 1954 Warner Bros.
8. MY FAIR LADY – 1964 Warner Bros.
9. AMERICAN IN PARIS, AN – 1951 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
10. MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS – 1944 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
11. KING AND I, THE – 1956 Twentieth Century-Fox
12. CHICAGO – 2002 Miramax
13. 42ND STREET – 1933 Warner Bros.
14. ALL THAT JAZZ – 1979 Twentieth Century-Fox, Columbia
15. TOP HAT – 1935 RKO
16. FUNNY GIRL – 1968 Columbia
17. BAND WAGON, THE – 1953 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
18. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY – 1942 Warner Bros.
19. ON THE TOWN – 1949 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
20. GREASE – 1978 Paramount
21. SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS – 1954 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
22. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST – 1991 Disney
23. GUYS AND DOLLS – 1955 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
24. SHOW BOAT – 1936 Universal
25 MOULIN ROUGE! 2001 Twentieth Century Fox
Now it would appear that I am not all that cool. Well considering how many musicals did NOT make this list, I guess its just an honour to be nominated. My all time favourite musical was Moulin Rouge, and it ranks right at the bottom. Granted it wouldnt be the bottom of the list if it was the top 100, so I have rationalized myself into feeling justified.
I didnt think Chicago was better, but there are a lot of other classics that rank right up there too. I am glad to see titles like Oz, and Mary Poppins getting top billing here though.
