Must-See Musicals: 50 Show-Stopping Movies We Can't Forget

Movie musicals have been a part of pop culture since films began to talk, over nine decades ago. From in 1927 all the way to in modern times, musicals have sung and danced over a vast amount of territory, thrilling audiences the entire time. More than any other type of entertainment, musicals transport us to marvelous places: a Technicolor land over the rainbow in ; a romantic ballroom where, in , Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance cheek to cheek; a London theater where the Beatles perform before hysterical crowds in ; even to a seemingly alternate reality where eager throngs still throw rice as they watch . These titles, and many more, show us that a great musical film is a timeless joy. Covering fifty of the best spanning the dawn of sound to the high-def present, — written by renowned musical historian Richard Barrios-is filled with lush illustrations as well as enlightening commentary and entertaining "backstage" stories about every one of these unforgettable films.