There Are Solely ThThere Are Solely Three Excellent Musicals, In accordance To Rotten Tomatoesree Excellent Musicals, In accordance To Rotten Tomatoes

As a style, film musicals have had some critical ups and downs all through Hollywood historical past (and the specifics of which might be fairly fascinating, however I will go forward and provides Lindsay Ellis’ video essay about that very subject a shout-out as a substitute of poorly entering into the weeds of it myself). Proper now, they undoubtedly appear to be on an upswing, particularly now that the long-awaited “Depraved” film blew everybody away on the field workplace — and it was solely the primary half of the musical besides. 

In recent times, film musicals like “Wonka,” “Imply Women,” “The Biggest Showman,” “La La Land,” and even the filmed stage model of “Hamilton” have turn into monumental hits, although crucial reception has been decidedly blended throughout these initiatives. So what are one of the best musicals ever in line with the official Rotten Tomatoes rating of film musicals? Solely three musicals earned 100% rankings on the evaluate combination, which is — I’ve to say — a bit of stunning, largely as a result of some all-time classics apparently missed the lower. For instance, “The Sound of Music” and the unique “West Aspect Story” solely earned 83% and 92%, respectively, regardless of being two staples of the style, and different beloved film musicals like “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg,” “Mary Poppins,” “The Wizard of Oz,” and Judy Garland’s model of “A Star is Born” all fell under 100% as nicely. Nonetheless, I am right here to have fun the three film musicals that critics assume are one of the best of one of the best: “Prime Hat,” “Singin’ within the Rain,” and “Meet Me in St. Louis.”

You’ll be able to’t speak about nice film musicals with out mentioning two of the style’s most iconic figures: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The duo appeared in ten film musicals collectively, together with “Swing Time” and “Shall We Dance,” however their most critically acclaimed collaboration remains to be their 1935 movie “Prime Hat,” which options unique music by Irving Berlin (together with now-classic songs like “Prime Hat, White Tie and Tails” and “Cheek to Cheek”). So what’s “Prime Hat” about, for the uninitiated?

The movie stars Astaire as an American faucet dancer named Jerry Travers who heads to London to carry out in a present for Horace Hardwick (Edward Everett Horton), a considerably inept producer. Whereas he is engaged on his routine, he meets Dale Tremont (Rogers), and by “meets,” I imply she’s staying instantly beneath his resort room and is understandably livid concerning the noise he is making. Jerry instantly falls for Dale and chases her round city earlier than the 2 decamp to Venice … and all through all of it, there is a case of mistaken id that causes some very amusing points between the 2. “Prime Hat” is a captivating, foolish romp starring two of one of the best dancers Hollywood’s ever seen, so it is probably not an enormous shock that it has an ideal Rotten Tomatoes rating — and for those who missed this Astaire-Rogers movie, you will wish to test it out as quickly as doable.

I will exit on a limb right here and say that the 1952 musical comedy “Singin’ within the Rain” is not only a good film musical, however an ideal film, interval. (Significantly, watch it or rewatch it if it has been some time: not solely are the jokes as sharp as ever, none of them will make you cringe as a result of they would not fly immediately.) Co-directed by star Gene Kelly and the legendary director Stanley Donen — the latter of whom additionally helmed well-known film musicals like “Charade” and “Humorous Face” —  “Singin’ within the Rain” takes place in Twenties Hollywood, the place the age of the silent movie seems to be ending and “talkies” are on the rise, a lot to the chagrin of the movie’s fictional film stars.

Kelly leads the pack as Don Lockwood, a Hollywood heartthrob who makes blockbuster silent movies together with his on-screen associate and rumored paramour Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen), however what their followers do not know is that the 2 completely despise each other. With speaking footage changing into the norm within the business — inside the universe of the film, Don and the executives round him name-drop the actual talkie “The Jazz Singer,” the first-ever function size speaking image — Don and Lina attempt to make the swap of their movie “The Dueling Cavalier,” however sound points and Lina’s squawking voice threaten to derail your complete endeavor. Fortunately, Don’s greatest buddy Cosmo Brown (Donald O’Connor) has an excellent thought: what if the film modified its title to “The Dancing Cavalier” and Lina’s voice is dubbed over by aspiring and actress Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds), who meets Don by probability whereas attending an enormous Hollywood celebration? 

Every part about “Singin’ within the Rain” is sensible and units the usual for all film musicals, from basic songs just like the title monitor and “Good Morning” to the unimaginable dance sequences carried out by Kelly, O’Connor, and Reynolds. (Hagen, the funniest a part of an already humorous film, additionally deserves her flowers.) It is no shock that this film has an ideal Rotten Tomatoes ranking; it deserves it. (Plus, we’ve got this film to thank for “I am Simply Ken” from “Barbie.”)

Between “The Wizard of Oz,” her model of “A Star is Born,” and the 1944 film musical that earned 100% on Rotten Tomatoes — “Meet Me in St. Louis” — Judy Garland is principally the queen of film musicals, which might be why that final one stays so extremely regarded. Directed by Vincente Minnelli (to whom Garland was married from 1945 to 1951 after they met on set), the film spends a yr from 1903 to 1904 with the Smith household, who dwell in St. Louis and are making ready for the Louisiana Buy Exposition, additionally referred to as the primary World’s Honest, which takes place within the spring of 1904. As Esther Smith — the second-eldest daughter of Alonzo (Leon Ames) and Anna (Mary Astor) — Garland shines as a younger lady in love with the Smith household’s neighbor John Truett (Tom Drake), who results in battle with them after she’s informed that John attacked her youthful sister Tootie (Margaret O’Brien). (Fortunately, Tootie and Agnes, the fourth and ultimate Smith daughter performed by Joan Carroll, reveal that their accusation is not true, and John and Esther reconnect.) Alongside Esther’s romantic troubles, she and her sisters are grappling with the truth that they’re going to be shifting to New York for his or her father’s job, and Rose is head over heels in love with the good-looking bachelor Warren Sheffield (Robert Sully).

Every part works out for the Smiths in the long run, and the journey itself is totally pleasant; simply strive watching “The Trolley Music” and never getting it caught in your head. Plus, you won’t know that the music “Have Your self a Merry Little Christmas” got here from this movie due to songwriters Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane, regardless that Garland’s model of the vacation tune finally obtained knocked out of the highlight by Frank Sinatra’s cowl.

Film musicals are a real delight — after they’re accomplished nicely — and you will not be upset by any of those three, so whether or not you are a former musical theater child or a newcomer to the style, begin with these and you’ll’t go flawed.