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Films with theme "Films based on musicals", sorted by production date
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Flower Drum Song (1961)
, 2h12Directed by Henry Koster
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Musical theatre, Romantic comedy, Musical, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals
Actors Nancy Kwan, James Shigeta, Miyoshi Umeki, Juanita Hall, Jack Soo, Benson Fong
A young woman named Mei Li arrives from China as an illegal immigrant with her father in San Francisco, California to enter into an arranged marriage with the owner of a night club, Sammy Fong (inspired by the actual Forbidden City nightclub). Her intended is already involved with his leading showgirl, Linda Low, and does his best to dissuade Mei Li from marrying him, sending her to live in the house of Master Wang, where he presents her as prospect for Master Wang's son, Wang Ta. Dissolving the marriage contract is harder than either of them imagine. Master Wang is persuaded by his sister-in-law, Madame Liang, to allow Mei Li to fall in love naturally with Master Wang's son, Wang Ta. But Wang Ta is dazzled by the charms of Linda, who 'enjoys being a girl', and succeeds in landing a date with her, during which she convinces him to give her his fraternity pin (it symbolizes that they're "going steady"). Linda wishes to use Wang Ta to get a real commitment from Sammy Fong, who gets wind of her plan when Linda attends a party in honor of Wang Ta's and Madame Liang's graduation from university and citizenship classes, respectively. At the party, Linda has another club employee pretend to be her brother, and grant his permission for Linda to marry Wang Ta. Mei Li, hearing this, becomes discouraged, while Ta and his father argue over his marriage plans. Ta argues that he is old enough to make his own decisions, but the father says that he will be the one to let Ta know when he is old enough.
West Side Story (1961)
, 2h32Directed by Robert Wise, Jerome Robbins
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Musical theatre, Musical, Crime, Romance
Themes Dance films, Films about music and musicians, Théâtre, Musical films, Romeo and Juliet, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals, Films based on works by William Shakespeare, Gangster films
Actors Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Marni Nixon, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris
In the West Side's Lincoln Square neighborhood in Manhattan, there is tension between an Anglo gang, the Jets, led by Riff, and a Puerto Rican gang of immigrants, the Sharks, led by Bernardo. After a brawl erupts ("Prologue"), Lieutenant Schrank and Officer Krupke arrive and break it up, warning both gangs to cease fighting or pay. Despite the warning, the Jets decide to challenge the Sharks to a rumble for neighborhood control at an upcoming dance.
Can-Can (1960)
, 2h11Directed by Walter Lang
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Musical, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals, Children's films
Actors Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine, Maurice Chevalier, Louis Jourdan, Juliet Prowse, Marcel Dalio
À Paris, en 1896, Simone Pistache, directrice et meneuse de revues du cabaret Bal du Paradis à Montmartre, brave la censure en présentant le cancan, une danse qu’une ligue de dames vertueuses a déclarée « obscène et lascive » (sic) bien que ces dames ne l’aient jamais vue. François Durnais, avocat et amant de Simone, est censé avoir négocié un accord avec la police, mais celle-ci fait irruption à chaque tentative de représentation. Lors du procès, le président du tribunal, Paul Barrière (un ami de François), apprend que c’est l’un des juges de sa cour qui a validé la plainte : le jeune et nouveau Philippe Forestier. Un soir, lorsque ce dernier se rend incognito au Bal du Paradis pour constater le délit, il fait la connaissance de Simone et en tombe amoureux. Une rivalité s’érige entre Durnais et Forestier. Simone est très liée à Durnais, mais contrariée, car ce dernier fait du refus du mariage une question de principe. Forestier propose plusieurs rendez-vous à Simone, mais elle temporise jusqu’à ce qu’il lui demande de l’épouser. Simone accepte, stupéfaite de se voir spontanément offrir ce que Durnais lui a toujours refusé. Durnais, avec la complicité de Barrière, cherche alors un plan pour rompre leurs fiançailles. Invité à la réception donnée sur une péniche par Forestier pour présenter sa future épouse à son distingué entourage, Durnais profite de l’appréhension de Simone d’être confrontée à la gent bourgeoise pour lui faire exagérément boire du champagne avant de la pousser à exécuter un numéro de cabaret qui scandalise l’assistance. Simone réalise que sa prestation a compromis son mariage et s’enfuit en regagnant les quais à la nage. Elle imagine un stratagème pour se venger de Durnais : elle lui demande de lui prêter de l’argent en contrepartie de quoi elle lui fait signer un document stipulant qu’il restera propriétaire du Bal du Paradis tant que l’argent ne lui sera pas remboursé. Quand le cancan est représenté au cabaret, la police fait une descente et arrête son propriétaire, Durnais en l’occurrence. Celui-ci passe au tribunal, et Simone, estimant que sa vengeance va trop loin, refuse de l’enfoncer davantage, mais ne veut plus avoir affaire à lui. Durnais a finalement recours à un subterfuge pour reconquérir Simone et lui faire enfin sa demande en mariage.
Bells Are Ringing (1960)
, 2h7Directed by Vincente Minnelli, George Marshall
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Musical, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals
Actors Judy Holliday, Dean Martin, Jean Stapleton, Fred Clark, Eddie Foy, Jr., Frank Gorshin
Based on the successful 1956 Broadway production of the same name by Betty Comden, Adolph Green, and Jule Styne, the film focuses on Ella Peterson, who works in the basement office of Susanswerphone, a telephone answering service.
Li'l Abner (1959)
, 1h54Directed by Melvin Frank
Genres Comedy, Musical
Themes Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals
Actors Peter Palmer, Leslie Parrish, Julie Newmar, Stubby Kaye, Stella Stevens, Billie Hayes
It's a "typical day" in Dogpatch, U. S. A., a hillbilly town where Abner Yokum lives with his parents. Mammy Yokum insists on giving Abner his daily dose of "Yokumberry tonic," although he is grown. He has a crush on Daisy Mae Scragg (although he resists marrying her) and she on him; Abner's rival for her affections is the World's Dirtiest Rassler, Earthquake McGoon.
Damn Yankees (1958)
, 1h51Directed by George Abbott, Stanley Donen
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Comedy, Fantasy, Musical, Romance
Themes Dance films, Films about music and musicians, Sports films, Théâtre, Baseball films, Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals
Actors Tab Hunter, Gwen Verdon, Ray Walston, Russ Brown, Shannon Bolin, James Komack
Joe Boyd is a middle-aged fan of the unsuccessful Washington Senators baseball team. His obsession with baseball is driving a wedge between him and wife Meg—a problem shared by many other wives of Senators supporters. Meg leads them in lamenting their husbands' fixation with the sport ("Six Months Out of Every Year").
South Pacific (1958)
, 2h51Directed by Joshua Logan
Origin USA
Genres War, Musical, Romance
Themes Seafaring films, Films about music and musicians, Transport films, Musical films, Political films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals, Children's films, United States Armed Forces in films
Actors Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor, John Kerr, Juanita Hall, France Nuyen, Ray Walston
En 1943, sur une île du Pacifique, Nellie, une infirmière américaine, s'éprend d'un planteur français, Emile de Becque, qui a quitté son pays parce qu'il était accusé de meurtre. Mais elle accepte mal le fait qu'il ait déjà deux enfants, nés de son union avec une Polynésienne. Pendant ce temps, le lieutenant Cable tombe amoureux de la jeune Liat, fille d'une commerçante, mais refuse de l'épouser en raison de sa couleur de peau. Une mission à haut risque viendra bouleverser le destin de ces deux couples.
Pal Joey (1957)
, 1h51Directed by George Sidney
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Musical, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Théâtre, Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals
Actors Rita Hayworth, Frank Sinatra, Kim Novak, Barbara Nichols, Hank Henry, Elizabeth Patterson
The setting is San Francisco; Joey Evans (Frank Sinatra) is a second-rate singer, a heel known for his womanizing ways (calling women "mice"), but charming and funny. When Joey meets Linda English (Kim Novak), a naive chorus girl, he has stirrings of real feelings. However, that does not stop him from romancing a former flame and ex-stripper (Joey says, "She used to be 'Vera...with the Vanishing Veils'"), now society matron Vera Prentice-Simpson (Rita Hayworth), a wealthy, willful, and lonely widow, in order to convince her to finance his dream, "Chez Joey", a night club of his own.
The Pajama Game (1957)
, 1h41Directed by George Abbott, Stanley Donen
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Musical theatre, Musical, Romance
Themes Dance films, Films about music and musicians, Théâtre, Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals
Actors Doris Day, John Raitt, Carol Haney, Eddie Foy, Jr., Reta Shaw, Barbara Nichols
Sid (John Raitt) has just been hired as superintendent of the Sleeptite Pajama Factory in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He soon falls for Babe (Doris Day), a worker in the factory and member of the employee union's leadership. At the company picnic they become a couple, but Babe worries that their roles in management and labor will drive them apart. She is correct. The union is pushing for a raise of seven-and-one-half cents per hour to bring them in line with the industry standard, but the factory's manager is giving them a runaround. In retaliation, the workers pull a slow-down and deliberately foul up the pajamas, but when Babe actually sabotages some machinery, Sid fires her.
Anything Goes (1956)
, 1h46Directed by Lewis Milestone, Robert Lewis
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Musical theatre, Musical
Themes Films about music and musicians, Théâtre, Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals
Actors Bing Crosby, Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor, Phil Harris, Kurt Kasznar, Richard Erdman
Showbiz partners Bill Benson and Ted Adams each travel to Paris to sign a dancer to star in their new show. The problem? There is only one role, and the men have unknowingly cast two dancers, Patsy Blair and Gaby Duval. It is up to the men to sort out their mess on the cruise back to America.
The King and I (1956)
, 2h19Directed by Walter Lang
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Musical theatre, Adventure, Musical, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Politique, Théâtre, Musical films, Political films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals, Children's films, Films about language and translation, Films about royalty
Actors Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner, Rita Moreno, Maureen Hingert, Martin Benson, Alan Mowbray
Strong-willed, widowed schoolteacher Anna Leonowens arrives in Bangkok from Wales with her young son Louis after being summoned to tutor the many children of King Mongkut. The two are introduced to the Kralahome, King Mongkut's confidante and Siam's prime minister. His severe countenance makes Louis apprehensive, but Anna refuses to be intimidated and convinces him to disguise his fear ("I Whistle a Happy Tune"). The Kralahome explains he has come to escort them to the Royal Palace where they will live – a violation of Anna's contract, which calls for them to live in a separate house outside the walls of the palace. Despite her threat to return to Singapore, Anna reluctantly disembarks with Louis and the Kralahome.
Carousel (1956)
, 2h8Directed by Henry King
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Fantasy, Musical, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals, Children's films
Actors Gordon MacRae, Shirley Jones, Cameron Mitchell, Barbara Ruick, Gene Lockhart, Audrey Christie
The story revolves around Billy Bigelow, a rough-talking, macho, handsome carousel barker, and Julie Jordan, a young, innocent mill worker, both living their busy lives in the small town of Boothbay Harbor, Maine. They fall in love, but both are fired from their jobs for different reasons – Billy because he paid too much attention to Julie and incurred the wrath of the jealous carousel owner Mrs. Mullin, and Julie because she stayed out past the curfew imposed by the understanding but stern mill owner, Mr. Bascombe. Billy and Julie marry and go to live at the seaside spa of her cousin Nettie, but Billy becomes bitter because he is unable to find work, and in his frustration, strikes Julie (this moment is not shown at all in the film). Mrs. Mullin, the jealous carousel owner who is infatuated with him, hears of this and goes to Nettie's to offer Billy his old job back, but will not re-hire him unless he leaves his wife. Billy seems to be considering the idea when Julie asks to talk privately. Julie, fearing he will be enraged, timidly tells him she is pregnant. But Billy is overjoyed and now firmly refuses Mrs. Mullin's offer. However, newly worried about not having enough money to provide for his child, and unskilled at anything except being a carousel barker, Billy secretly agrees to join his pal Jigger Craigin in robbing the wealthy Bascombe.
Guys and Dolls (1955)
, 2h23Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Action, Musical, Crime, Romance
Themes Seafaring films, Films about music and musicians, Transport films, Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals
Actors Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, Vivian Blaine, Robert Keith, Stubby Kaye
Although there are detail differences between the stage and movie versions, the plot is essentially based on the activities of New York petty criminals and professional gamblers in the late 1940s.
Kismet (1955)
, 1h53Directed by Vincente Minnelli, Stanley Donen
Origin USA
Genres Musical theatre, Romantic comedy, Fantasy, Adventure, Musical, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals
Actors Howard Keel, Ann Blyth, Dolores Gray, Monty Woolley, Sebastian Cabot, June Kirby
In old Baghdad, an impoverished poet goes to the marketplace to sell his rhymes for food. Because the Poet has set up shop in a spot usually reserved for a man named Hajj, some men kidnap the Poet and take him to the desert tent of Jawan, an elderly thief. Jawan, assuming that the Poet is Hajj, orders him to reverse the curse Hajj put on him fifteen years ago, which led to the kidnapping of Jawan's beloved son. The Poet asks for one hundred gold pieces to reverse the curse; Jawan agrees, and returns to Baghdad to look for his son.
Oklahoma! (1955)
, 2h25Directed by Fred Zinnemann
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Action, Musical, Romance, Western
Themes Films about music and musicians, Théâtre, Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals, Children's films
Actors Gordon MacRae, Gloria Grahame, Gene Nelson, Charlotte Greenwood, Shirley Jones, Rod Steiger
À la fin du XIX siècle, le territoire indien de l'Oklahoma est ouvert à la colonisation. C'est dans ce contexte que se déroule le récit qui concerne les problèmes de cœur que rencontrent les cow-boys Curly et Will avec deux demoiselles, Laurey et Annie.