All tagged Summer Stock

The Ten Best Film Performances of Judy Garland

The Ten Best Film Performances of Judy Garland

Mark Robinson
Cinematters

If you love musicals then there is a pretty good chance that you are a fan of Judy Garland. No female star of classic Hollywood shown as brightly in musicals as Judy, who often held her own against (or out-shown) co-stars such as Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, and Van Johnson. They called her “the little girl with the big voice”, but what she really was had more to do with her extreme talent and the unbridled energy she poured into each performance. This article may not be the perfect topic for the holidays, but as I was thinking of what gift I could give to my readers, it was clear: I should share my favorite moments of my favorite film star. I hope you enjoy watching these clips as much as I enjoyed assembling them for you!

Movie Musicals that Deserve a Second Look

Movie Musicals that Deserve a Second Look

Mark Robinson
Music That Makes Me Dance, Cinematters, Second Star to the Right

There are many movie musicals that were not perfect. For one reason or another, they just don't delight audiences the way big hits like Singin' in the Rain, The Sound of Music, or West Side Story do. That's perfectly fine; not every outing is going to be a hit. There are, however, several movie musicals that may have missed the mark, but managed to still have moments of beauty and magic. Today's column explores eight movie musicals that deserve a second look. 
 

Top-Ten Underappreciated Movie Musicals

Top-Ten Underappreciated Movie Musicals

Mark Robinson
Stage To Screen, Music That Makes Me Dance, Cinematters

Most of us who love musical theatre cultivated our appreciation for musical storytelling by watching old Hollywood musicals. Let's face it: seeing a Broadway show is expensive and we had to get our song and dance fix somewhere. So, though we prefer live theatre, we found solace in the worlds of MGM, Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, and Gene Kelly. Some movie musicals were spectacular: The Wizard of Oz, The Bandwagon, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Singin' in the Rain and My Fair Lady come to mind. The same titles are always given as "the classics" of the Hollywood Musical, but there are other titles that are solidly entertaining and worth your time. Here is my list for the Top-Ten Underappreciated Movie Musicals that you should make a point to see.

Summer Stock in a Winter Storm

Summer Stock in a Winter Storm

Mark Robinson
Stage To Screen, Cinematters

Before I even knew what a Broadway musical was (and it is hard to believe that there was ever such a time in my life), I spent my childhood waiting for old movie musicals to play on television. We lived in the country, and the odds of getting anything on your television outside of the three major networks, was pretty slim. Still, with my little black and white television, wrapped in aluminum foil, me with coat hanger in-hand and leaning out my bedroom window, I could sometimes pick up PBS and the occasional movie musical. I saw Kiss Me, Kate and Brigadoon this way.