70. Gigi (1958)

Luxurious Vincente Minnelli musical with Cecil Beaton-designed costumes and sets, and terrific songs by Lerner and Loewe. One of the last great musicals to be written especially for the screen, Gigi won a staggering nine Oscars on its release. Its themes (the film is based on a Colette novella about a young girl raised to be a courtesan by her ageing aunts) may seem wildly old fashioned to modern audiences but classic tunes, including Thank Heaven For Little Girls and I Remember It Well ensure that it still has a place in musical lovers' affections.

read our review » | buy dvd »

69. The Producers (1968)

Quite possibly Mel Brooks' finest hour (although Blazing Saddles gives it a run for its money), The Producers blends out-and-out slapstick with satire daring enough in its subject matter to raise a few eyebrows even today. The scenes featured from the extraordinary Nazi musical, Springtime For Hitler (complete with high-kicking fascist chorus girls and the classic couplets of the titular opening number), are funny beyond belief.

read our review »

68. Kiss Me Kate (1953)

Shakespeare's The Taming Of The Shrew has gone through many different cinematic guises (most recently in teencom 10 Things I Hate About You), but Cole Porter's musical gives it the most memorable spin. The toe-tapping musical numbers, from Always True To You In My Fashion to the show-stopping Brush Up Your Shakespeare, are never more than a moment away, and the whole enterprise brims with joie de vivre. Originally released in 3-D, for some reason.

read our review » | buy video »

67. Doctor Dolittle (1967)

In this classic children's musical, Rex Harrison plays Doctor Dolittle, the world famous veterinarian who speaks a wide array of animal languages. We follow him on his quest to find the Great Pink Sea Snail, encountering magical creatures such as the Pushme-Pullyu and Giant Moon Moth on the way. Plus, of course, there are fabulous songs including If You Could Talk To The Animals to entertain throughout.

buy video »

66. Gypsy (1962)

This really is Bette Midler's movie. It had always been her ambition to play the bold, brassy mother/manager of a troupe of child performers, forced to eat humble pie when her quiet daughter becomes a famous stripper. When director Emile Ardoline presented her with the opportunity she grabbed it with both hands. Midler dominates every scene she's in but the film also boasts stonkingly good numbers from the rest of the cast, notably the singing strippers' You Gotta Have A Gimmick.

read our review » | buy video »