Musical Madness

Everyone knows I am a sucker for a movie musical. Whether waiting in line for the first holiday premieres of Les Miz or Dreamgirls - or catching up on the latest episode of Glee. From a young age I was always drawn to song and dance on the screen.

Thus it is with much excitement that I am noting the release of Warner Bros. Best of Musicals box set. It is a staggering collection of 20 beyond classic movie musicals that span almost a century now. It is astounding to see how this one studio has been steadfast through decades of dominion and drought. There are of course the mammoths like Wizard of Oz, American in Paris & Singin' in the Rain. But these are only touchstones. It starts back with The Jazz Singer - and not the Neil Diamond travesty - but the original talkie that started it all. And then onto early classics like Broadway Melody and 42 Street with young Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell. James Cagney tearing up the stage in Yankee Doodle Dandy - check! Ava Gardner's tearful farewell in Show Boat - check! Judy Garland's defining "Man That Got Away" in A Star Is Born - check!

And for those that thought the great age of musicals died off in the 60's? Don't forget we still had The Music Man and Elvis flicks like Viva Las Vegas on the marquees. Liza Minnelli in Cabaret is there. Victor/ Victoria and Little Shop of Horrors hold their own for offerings from the 1980's. And Hairspray is also a worthy current entry. Like a kid in a candy store.