Hello! How Are You?! Life is a Cabaret!

Well, tonight Jo and I ended up talking about one of my favorite (that's favourite to you my darling Brits!) subjects, musicals! I know they are not for everyone, but for me they are just like a warm hug from the sweet baby Jesus (that's pronounced Hey-Zuz). Now, I need to specify that when I say musicals I am NOT talking about films that have music worked into them, like say The Rose or A Star is Born. These films may be grouped into the "musicals" category but to me they are films about singers..totally different animal. By musicals I am referring to the proper, people breaking into song mid sentence, children in clothes made from old window curtains frolicking and singing through the streets of Austria with a saucy nun type of film! I am talking about the kind of film that taught us young girls that if we were ever to get the boy we had to shed our goody two shoes and squeeze into some leather pants and of course..put out! And of course the very important lesson that was, stay out of gang fights..unless you are a REALLY good dancer! So now, Meine Damen und Herren, Mesdames et Messieurs,Ladies and Gentlemen..willkommen to.....

Essential 5 Musical Films

The Sound of Music (1965)

This film is such a big part of my childhood, I feel like the Von Trapps are my distant cousins! I still watch this at LEAST once a year and still sing along and it never fails to make me feel like a little girl. Although, I have to say that part when the nuns are all singing "How do you solve a problem like Maria" during Maria's and the Captain's wedding is terribly rude! I do wish she would have flipped them all off and told them to suck her now rich ass..but I digress...where was I? Oh right... Dame Julie Andrews, need I say more?

Cabaret (1972)

Bob Fosse is a god of mine and this is his masterpiece. Liza in her prime, before she..ummm...what DID happen to her? Aside from the buckets of cocaine and booze that is....what happened?! ANYway....so dark and sleazy and sexy in a disturbing way, this film is a gem even if you DON'T like musicals. Oscars all around darlink!

Grease (1978)

I remember when this film came out, me and my cousin made our moms take us to the cinema EVERY Sunday until it stopped playing! I was only 7 when this came out and I lost my cocking mind from the second Frankie Valli began singing the theme song. I do have to say that, even though I adored Miss Newton-John and may still have a few of her Cd's(don't judge! it's a judgement free zone here!) my goal in life was to grow up and become Rizzo! Stockard Channing is absolute perfection every second in this film! I spent many hours in front of my mirror practicing my delivery of " 'cuz he sounds like a draaaag"

West Side Story (1961)

Before I go into how wonderful this film is, as a Puertorrican, I have to point out there was all but ONE real 'rrican in that entire cast. That being said, I adore this film in all it's terribly racist glory! I do love that there was a time when we were so innocent we didn't question Natalie Wood in some dark pancake make-up as a Hispanic. It was a sweeter time, kinder, dumber time. The music and choreography is amazing and Rita Moreno Kicked ASS! Bernardo was a cutie as well! Wouldn't this be a better world if gangs fought out turf wars by dancing? Maybe not :\

Funny Girl (1968)

My first childhood memory was of me standing on a chair at the movies with my mom, watching this film. I wasn't born when it came out but at some point in my early childhood it must have played somewhere. I remember VIVIDLY the scene where Babs is dressed like a swan and is prancing around onstage with all the ballet dancers. It was the most wonderful thing I had ever seen. I was in love for life. The music...oh the wonderful music! Every song in this film is a show stopper and Barbra is as good as Barbra could be. I can recite every single line of this film and I still sob like a wounded Gila monster when she sings "My Man" at the end..oh Nicky Arnstein, Nicky Arnstein!!