There’s something about the Swinging Sixties that can’t be recreated. While modern musicals like Hamilton (2020) and Dear Evan Hansen (2021) are show-stoppers, they lack the early luster of the golden age of musicals. Here are some of the most unforgettable musicals of the 1960s.
West Side Story (1961)
An electrifying take on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. West Side Story (1961) takes Verona’s lovers to the streets of New York City. Young lovers Tony (Richard Beymer) and Maria (Natalie Wood) are caught between rival gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. Watch the star-crossed story in an explosion of song and dance no other decade could inspire.
The Sound of Music (1965)
This enchanting tale is based on a true story. The Sound of Music (1965) follows Maria (Julie Andrews) and the famous von Trapp family. Set in Austria just before WWII, Maria leaves her life as a nun to join the von Trapp family as governess to seven children. Maria brings love and music back into the family’s life. Christopher Plummer (Knives Out), who played Captain von Trapp in the film, didn’t sing his part in the musical.
Mary Poppins (1964)
Mary Poppins (1964) is another Julie Andrews (The Princess Diaries) classic. The film brings magic to life as the titular character, Mary Poppins (Andrews), comes to work for the Banks family. Acting as caretakers to children Jane and Michael, Poppins teaches through song, dance, and a touch of whimsy. The film’s sequel, Mary Poppins Returns (1918), stars Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place) in the role of Poppins.
Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)
Richard Attenborough’s (Jurassic Park) debut as director, explores life during WWI in Oh! What a Lovely War (1969). The musical film used popular vaudeville music to make a social commentary on the war through satire and song. It features the early talents of famed thespians like Maggie Smith (Harry Potter) and Ian Holm (Lord of the Rings).
My Fair Lady (1964)
My Fair Lady (1964) is the charming story of Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn). Doolittle is a flower seller who is taken under the wing of Professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) as part of a social experiment. Higgins aims to transform Doolittle into a refined lady of society. Hepburn’s performance is enchanting in this sparkling take on George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play, Pygmalion. Despite Hepburn’s fame, she’s one of few classic celebrities without their own biopic.
Funny Girl (1968)
Funny Girl (1968) is the unforgettable tale of talented performer Fanny Brice (Barbra Streisand). With a humble start in the slums of New York City, Brice rises to become a Broadway sensation. Follow Brice on a journey of ambition, self-discovery, and romance in a captivating musical for the ages.
Oliver! (1968)
Oliver! (1968) is the heartwarming musical journey of orphan Oliver Twist (Mark Lester). The film is set on the gritty streets of Victorian London. Twist is forced to beg, labor in the workhouse, and eventually join a band of pickpockets led by the mysterious and charismatic Fagin (Ron Moody). A story of friendship, adventure, and discovery, Oliver! is unforgettable.
Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
Bye Bye Birdie (1963) stars Dick Van Dyke (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as songwriter Albert Peterson. Peterson writes a song for the famous fictional rocker Conrad Birdie. When Birdie is drafted to go to war just before recording, Peterson’s girlfriend, Rosie DeLeon (Janet Leigh) hatches a plan. She convinces Peterson to write a new song for Birdie to sing to a fan on television. Fun and hijinks ensue in this beloved musical gem. Van Dyke had his own television show at the time, The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-1966), co-starring Mary Tyler Moore (Ordinary People).
Hello Dolly (1969)
Another Barba Streisand spectacular, Hello Dolly (1964), is the story of spunky widow Dolly Levi (Streisand). Levi lives in 1980s New York City and is something of a socialite matchmaker. Faced with helping the wealthy Horace Vandergelder (Walter Matthau) find love, she entangles herself in the lives of all his employees as well. She also plays a role in the romance of Vandergelder’s niece and artist, Ambrose (Tommy Tune). Love knows no bounds in this toe-tapping musical sensation.
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
A French cinematic marvel, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) is set in the 1950s. It centers on a young umbrella shop employee named Geneviève Emery (Catherine Deneuve) and mechanic Guy Foucher (Nino Castelnuovo). When Foucher is drafted into the Algerian war, their love is tested by the inevitable passing of time and separation. Get the tissues and sing along to this hauntingly melancholy musical journey.
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