As Cher and Christina prepare to Burlesque, we take a look at what toe-tapping musicals will get you in the mood!
CABARET
Political unrest joins divine decadence in Cabaret! Set in ‘30s Berlin the film follows the chaotic life of an American cabaret dancer, working at the downtown “Kit-Kat club” where anything goes on the stage. Liza Minnelli leads the cast with a variety of characters met in-between including a rich German politician, a young Jewish man struggling with his identity, an Englishman teacher from London, and of course the all-knowing, all-seeing Master of Ceremonies.
MOULIN ROUGE
Moulin Rouge was one of the best films of 2001, and one of the best movie musicals to emerge in years. Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor have amazing chemistry – and their vocal talents aren’t too shabby, either. The DVD is loaded with extra features including music videos, behind the scenes footage, and interviews with the cast and crew.
MY FAIR LADY
Another example of a small town girl looking to make it big, this time in high-society. This gloriously witty adaptation of the Broadway musical about Professor Henry Higgins, who takes a bet from Colonel Pickering that he can transform unrefined, dirty Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle into a lady, and fool everyone into thinking she really is one, too! He does, and thus young aristocrat Freddy Eynsford-Hill falls madly in love with her. But when Higgins takes all the credit and forgets to acknowledge her efforts, Eliza angrily leaves him for Freddy, and suddenly Higgins realizes he’s grown accustomed to her face… Queue the music!
CHICAGO
Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere camp it up, belting out tunes while telling the story of two gorgeous vaudeville performers who just happen to be murderesses. Chicago won six Oscars and helped reinforce the fact that audiences will turn out for big screen musicals if they’re given a quality product.