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Summary
On paper , it may seem that a melodious and a Western do n’t have much in vulgar , butmany of the dramatic elements of both combine to make some of the greatest musical westerly films of all time . Musicals have singing , dancing , and touching emotional turns that all add weightiness to the themes and conflicts of the Western film . In play , Westerns render stunning backdrops and interesting plot of ground to musicals , providing insight into the mythic story of the Old West .
Since the Old West was such a compelling place full of interesting characters , many existent - sprightliness people inspired films about their lives and exploits . However , even if a movie is broadly based on literal case , it still takes many liberties with the story to make it ordinate with the style and plotting of a spectacular arc . It ’s authoritative to remember that the character within a musical Western are portraying a fantastic variant of the historical past and using the puppet of vocal and dance to bring weightlessness and fun to these films .
10The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964)
Directed by Charles Walters
Many people were first infix to Molly Brown because of the filmTitanic(1997 ) and the fact that she was a historical figure who endure the terrible shipwreck . However , there is much more to Molly Brown ’s story than The Titanic . The Unsinkable Molly Brownchronicles her early life and howshe and her husband raised themselves from impoverishment and living off the land , to put down graceful Denver society .
Debby Reynolds play Molly Brown attractively and impart tidy sum of exposure and sand to the ferocious figure of Molly . Not to mention that her voice is fantastic , and she treat Molly ’s growth from a young girl to a grown woman with slap-up success . Some of the numbers are a lilliputian dated and outlandish , butthe film succeeds in painting an reliable portrait of a woman and making a input about classism in the United States .
Some of the characters in Titanic were based on real - life history people , such as Molly Brown , and here ’s what happened to the veridical one .
9The Harvey Girls (1946)
Directed by George Sidney
Starring Judy Garland as Susan , The Harvey Girlsis base on the novel of the same name and follows Susan as she croak West to find a husband . Of course , thing do n’t go as planned , but Susan does fall in with a group of adult female who help her grow and conduct her to true love life . Judy Garland is easily the best part of the film and the emotional astuteness she take to the character lift the humble stake of the movie . The numbers include many throwbacks to the Old West and ballads dedicated to those open plain stitch , and for a moment it ’s almost credible that Garland has been there .
8The One And Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968)
Directed by Michael O’Herlihy
The One and Only , Genuine , Original Family Bandbrings a political turn to the westerly landscape painting and capitalizes on the successful trope of a household full of mythological musicians . The Bower home moves out West to the Dakota territory as homesteadersand end up in the heart of the presidential campaigns of Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison . Many of the overtone of the photographic film regard the creation of the United States and fair-mindedness when it come to representative politics .
These are hard - pip topics for a musical to cover , and sometimes the seriousness of the story sometimes gets lost in the shuffling . However , the performances are fantastic , andit ’s commendable that the movie attempted to show both sides of the political spectrum at the sentence . The film grapples with the ideologic differences between old and new generations , as well as the divide that was felt by the different types of people who capitalized on finding a home in the West .
7Annie Get Your Gun (1950)
Directed by George Sidney and Busby Berkeley
Like several on this lean , Annie Oakley was areal - lifetime Wild West Cowboy who come along in a filmduring her lifespan . Although this film was notAnnie Get Your Gun , the picture still captures her essence and the excitation of her life , despite the fictionalization of some event . The musical centers on the romance between Annie ( Betty Hutton ) and Frank Butler ( Howard Keel),and the one matter it does n’t skimp on is their sharp - shooting skills . Throughout the movie , fantastic stunts and well - choreographed dance scenes take center degree , making the film burst with energy . Additionally , the musical sport the famous birdsong , " Anything you’re able to Do " , which is popular to this day .
6Calamity Jane (1953)
Directed by David Butler
Doris Day make for an unexpected but well - receive Calamity Jane in the filmCalamity Jane . Best known for her croon in the sexual urge comedies of the ' LX , Day embodies the tough but lovelorn Jane in a movie with nifty number , but sometimes questionable messaging . The thrust of the taradiddle is thatthe human in the Dakota territorial dominion want a more " feminine " and " traditional " woman in the sense of the sure-enough - fashioned values of the prison term .
To fulfil their asking , Jane bring back a woman from Chicago , but this only top to further complication . Although the motion-picture show can and should be understand through a critical lens , it can also be interpreted as a commentary on how , even then , the concept of " literal " womanhood was just that , a made - up construct . No woman would meet those ideal , and the sooner society stopped expecting that , the good . As with many of Day ’s films , there is an undertone of feminism in certain readings of the movie , and plenty of musical gift throughout .
5Go West (1940)
Directed by Edward Buzzell
The Marx Brothers , Groucho , Chico , and Harpo , were a legendary comedic family who brought novel signification to satire and slapstick through their work over many years . InGo West , the brother reunify to put a sardonic twist on the westerly and poke fun at the genre conventionsof the time . While doing this , they incorporate the considerable musical talents of the household , including the iconic harp acting of Harpo Marx that is featured in every moving picture . What putsGo Westa edit out above other satirical Westerns is the fact that they were one of the first to do it , and pose the bar gamy for all the films that follow .
The Marx Brothers are one of the most important acts of the Golden Age of Hollywood , and their signature tune subprogram can be seen in many modern drollery .
4Paint Your Wagon (1969)
Directed by Joshua Logan
Though musicality is n’t the first thing that comes to idea when discussing Clint Eastwood , it does n’t think of he does n’t deliver in his turn of events as Pardner inPaint Your Wagon . The film is a more serious and morally dubitable take on the westerly melodic . It raises a passel of questions aboutthe importance of social rules when living off the land so far from " civilisation " .
Using music to buoy up the tone and push the account along in times of struggle was a judicious move for the film , as the music tally diversity to a film that could have been played quite darkly . However , it is also the performance that make the film so watchable . Also featuring Jean Seberg and Lee Marvin among the all - hotshot cast , the acting brings the film to the next grade .
3The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs (2018)
Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
Cast
The Coen brothers tried their hand at a melodic inThe Ballad Of Buster Scruggs , which tread familiar soil in terms of the root the directors often grapple with . Some ofthe things the West is so famous for , like vehemence and furrowed individuation , are interact with through a series of vignettesabout the organisation of what would come to be bed as the Old West . Throughout the tale , Buster Scruggs ( Tim Blake Nelson ) stewards the story and frames the narrative with strain that lend themselves to the legend - similar nature of the narration . Though not a musical in the traditional sense , Buster Scruggsstill utilize the machine with enceinte success .
2Oklahoma! (1955)
Directed by Fred Zinnemann
Adapted from the stage musical of the same name , Oklahoma!features the medicine of Rogers and Hammerstein , and star Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae as Laurey and Curly . The chemistry of the two leads is a vital part of what makesOklahoma!so successful , as are the color - saturate set pieces and numbers that make a beautiful backdrop for the celluloid . The songs in the musical theater are close to hone , as are the heartfelt performances that make the interview ache while hop that Laurey and Curly will finally concede their feelings . Though there have been many interpretations of the melodious , the 1955 variation will always rest a classic .
1Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (1954)
Directed by Stanley Donen
Seven Brides For Seven Brothersfeatures one of thebest dance numbers in a movieof all time in the Barn Dance succession . There ’s no interrogative that even many of the plot line that push back the story would not fly today , but the medicine and dance numbers are so beautiful and well - choreographed that it would be a disgrace for the movie to ever fade into obscurity . Milly ( Jane Powell ) is the gist of the film , taking on the fear of a large family line of gentleman’s gentleman living in the wild and teach them how to be gentlemen .
Although she face many challenges , she never loses her independence or sensory faculty of morals , giving a sympathetic angle to the events of the film . The ensemble ofmen who trifle the brothers she come to have it away in the pot are some of the good dancers of their timeand explode with endowment and vigor every prison term they ’re on - screen . capture both the feel of the Old West and serving as a admonisher of why it ’s only a legend , the film delivers on all front .
