Highest-Rated Movies about 'Musical Performance'

Cool & Crazy (2001), Lightning in a Bottle (2004), 1776 (1972), A Hard Day's Night (1964), Holiday Inn (1942), Trip to Asia: The Quest for Harmony (2008), That's Entertainment, Part 2 (1976), All Night Long (1962) ... Let's take a look at the ranked list of the best Musical Performance movies.

#1. Cool & Crazy (2001)

Storyline: In the small Norwegian fishing village of Berlevåg, north of the Arctic Circle, some local men have discovered the joy of song thanks to their participation in the town's choir. These unlikely real-life crooners -- consisting of fishermen and factory workers -- get their big break when they're asked to perform in the depressed Russian city of Murmansk. But the trip there is fraught with infighting, which may ruin the group's opportunity at the big time before anyone sings a note.

Plot Keywords: music documentary, choir, small town life, winter, musical dreams, community spirit, true story ...

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#2. Lightning in a Bottle (2004)

Storyline: Beginning with a stirring African folk song (Zélié performed by Angélique Kidjo) the roots are established and rapidly swell into a trunk thickened by the hardships of the Great Depression (Gamblin' Man performed by David 'Honeyboy' Edwards) and the oppression of segregation (Jim Crow Blues performed by Odetta). Finally, this Blues family tree shows off vibrant new growth as it reveals the Blues' influence on our modern wealth of talented musicians (Midnight Special performed by John Fogerty and Hound Dog done by Macy Gray). Ruth Brown gives Blll Cosby a full-throttle serenade (and a playful smoldering gaze), along with Mavis Staples and Natalie Cole. Angélique Kidjo persuades Buddy Guy to an unforgettable rendition of 'Voodoo Child,' shortly before Bonnie Raitt and Robert Cray accompany B.B. King and Lucille for the final number, 'Paying the Cost to be the Boss.' This documentary presents to the audience, with authority and candor, an authentic history of this musical form. The highly esteemed elders of this musical family are exemplary in their humbleness toward one another, rich with decades of shared memories; and their performances are of a quality rarely seen in modern times. These men and women are true artisans, yet they continue to generously pass their legacy down to select members of each musical generation. Those who grew up on this music find themselves performing on the stage with the very heroes who served as their earliest inspiration. Legends, such as Ruth Brown, Honeyboy Edwards, Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown, B.B. King, Howling Wolf, and Buddy Guy, gave the world a double helping of their genius-first with song and secondly as the spirit which supplies the continuation of their art: in such artists as Natalie Cole, Jimmie Vaughan, John Fogerty, Macy Gray, Alison Krause, and Bonnie Raitt.—Annie Campos

Plot Keywords: music documentary, music history, american music, music culture, improvisation, music legends, musical performance ...

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#3. 1776 (1972)

Storyline: The film version of the Broadway musical comedy of the same name. In the days leading up to July 4, 1776, Continental Congressmen John Adams and Benjamin Franklin coerce Thomas Jefferson into writing the Declaration of Independence as a delaying tactic as they try to persuade the American colonies to support a resolution on independence. As George Washington sends depressing messages describing one military disaster after another, the businessmen, landowners and slave holders in Congress all stand in the way of the Declaration, and a single "nay" vote will forever end the question of independence. Large portions of spoken and sung dialog are taken directly from the letters and memoirs of the actual participants.—Dave Heston <heston@iName.com>

Plot Keywords: musical, history, biography, politics, drama, song and dance, patriotism ...

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#4. A Hard Day's Night (1964)

Storyline: A day and a half in the life of the Fab Four leading up to a televised concert gig. The boys seem to be constantly on the run, from their crazed fans and from their manager, who is constantly trying to rein them in. Sir Ringo Starr however is arrested and still isn't in the studio half an hour before air time. With Sir Paul McCartney's grandfather available for additional comical relief, the group performs a dozen or so songs.

Plot Keywords: musical, comedy, rock, the beatles, black and white, british film, mockumentary ...

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#5. Holiday Inn (1942)

Storyline: Lovely Linda Mason has crooner Jim Hardy head over heels, but suave stepper Ted Hanover wants her for his new dance partner after femme fatale Lila Dixon gives him the brush. Jim's supper club, Holiday Inn, is the setting for the chase by Hanover and manager Danny Reed. The music's the thing.

Plot Keywords: musical, romantic, comedy, holiday, dance, love, classic ...

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#6. Trip to Asia: The Quest for Harmony (2008)

Storyline: Director Thomas Grube (RHYTHM IS IT!) and his accomplished film crew accompany the Berlin Philharmonic on a concert tour into six pulsating, dynamic Asian metropolises, juxtaposing centuries-old traditions against the breathtaking speed of Asian modernization. An inspired examination of the cultural clash between western traditions and far-eastern philosophy, between the modernity of Europe and Asia, this compelling new film takes audiences on a journey into the confidential and private inner life of one of the world's leading orchestras: a backstage pass into the complicated lives of the artists and diverse musical personalities within this distinguished community. TRIP TO ASIA tells the story of the struggle between individual and community, the timeless search for harmony within oneself and with one's neighbours: A unique musical excursion into the overlapping spheres of melancholy, enthusiasm, loneliness and yearning, an adventure told through fascinating cinematic imagery brought together with a dynamic sound and musical experience that creates this universal story of humankind and society into a breathtaking motion picture experience.—BOOMTOWN MEDIA

Plot Keywords: documentary, music, classical music, musicians, cultural differences, art, concert ...

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#9. First a Girl (1935)

Storyline: Elizabeth, a delivery girl, dreams of being a music-hall singer but she is refused at the first casting she takes part in. A bit depressed, she gets to know Victor, a would-be Shakespearean actor and another audition victim. When Victor quite unexpectedly gets a female part in a music-hall number he unfortunately finds himself voiceless. Why wouldn't Elizabeth replace him in it? His new friend hesitates but finally makes her debut as ... a man posing as a woman! She is noticed by McLintock, an influential talent agent who hires Mr. Victoria (Elizabeth's stage name) and launches his/her brilliant international career. One day, Robert, a handsome young man engaged to Princess Mironoff, makes friends with this young man posing as a woman posing as a man ...—Guy Bellinger

Plot Keywords: comedy, musical, romance, british film, black and white, classic film, musical comedy ...

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#10. The Girl Can't Help It (1956)

Storyline: A down-and-out gangster hires an alcoholic press agent to make his blonde bombshell girlfriend a recording star in 6 weeks. But what is he going to do when he finds out that she has no talent? And what is going to happen when the two fall in love?—<jgp3553@excite.com>

Plot Keywords: musical, comedy, 1950s, american film, classic, color film, 20th century fox ...

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#11. Sioux City Sue (1946)

Storyline: Utilizing a script from 1939's "She Married a Cop" with a 1946 Hit Parade song for the title, Gene Autry's screen return following his WW II Army Air Corps service, "Sioux City Sue" has Hollywood talent scout Sue Warner (Lynne Roberts) in search of a singing cowboy and finding and offering cattle rancher Gene Autry (Gene Autry) a contract. He agrees to go to Hollywood if there is a part for his horse Champion. Gene isn't aware they only want to use his voice in an animated cartoon. After the preview, he and Champ depart in a huff (Well, actually, Champ was in a trailer). The annoyed Sue also follows and gets work on Gene's ranch as a cook. Later, the studio heads, while looking at Gene's screen test, decide he is a natural and want to sign him to a contract. After a few misunderstandings, Gene realizes that Sue is sincere, and he signs a contract to star in a musical western, but first he has to stop a cattle stampede and rout a gang of rustlers trying to blow up his ranch dam.—Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>

Plot Keywords: western, comedy, musical, country music, black and white, 1940s, american film ...

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#12. Sunset in Wyoming (1941)

Storyline: Rancher Gene Autry (Gene Autry) is the leader of the valley ranchers being ruined by the stripping of nearby mountain area of the precious timber. The ranchers face flood devastation unless reforestation is adopted by the Wentworth Lumber Company. Gene and Frog Millhouse (Smiley Burnettte) appeal directly to Asa Wentworth (George Clevand), the owner of the company but find him dominated by his impertinent granddaughter Billie Wentworth (Maris Wrixon) who is in love with the ruthless general manager of the company Larry Drew (Robert Kent.) Old Asa doesn't approve of Drew's logging tactics and secretly helps Gene and Frog concoct an elaborate plot to have Mount Warner declared a state park and wildlife refuge. A severe storm washes her grandfather into a mountain torrent and nearly drowned before Billie sees for herself the devastation caused by the over-logging of the mountain and is won over to the plight of the ranchers.—Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>

Plot Keywords: western, romance, musical, country music, singing, dancing, romantic comedy ...

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#13. Prairie Moon (1938)

Storyline: The dying outlaw Barton gets Gene to be the guardian of his three boys. The three troublemakers arrive on the Barton ranch from Chicago where they soon uncover Welsh's smuggling operation located there. So Welsh adopts the boys and boots Autry out. Gene counters by bringing three other boys and getting the Judge to declare them to be the real Bartons.—Maurice VanAuken <mvanauken@a1access.net>

Plot Keywords: western, musical, romance, comedy, country music, song and dance, black and white ...

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#14. The Great Rupert (1950)

Storyline: A Christmas Wish is a heartwarming holiday classic about a New York family (led by Durante) who is down on their luck at Christmas time. Shortly before Christmas, they move into a ground floor apartment where Rupert the squirrel lives in the attic rafters. Just when it seems that the holiday will come and go without so much as a Christmas tree, Rupert acts as the family's guardian angel, not only saving Christmas, but changing their lives forever. The film is enlivened with the warmth and sweetness of an unforgettable love story between Terry Moore (of Mighty Joe Young) and Tom Drake (of Meet Me in St. Louis). Rupert the Squirrel (created using George Pal's Academy Award winning animation technique) will charm young and old alike. Jimmy Durante shines when he sings Jingle Bells and other well-loved Christmas carols in the evocative voice that made him one of America's recording legends.—Anonymous

Plot Keywords: comedy, fantasy, family, christmas, music, dance, animation ...

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#15. The Singing Hill (1941)

Storyline: The free grazing land that the local ranchers have used for years is about to be sold to John R. Ramsey (George Meeker), a greedy, grasping cattle broker. Gene Autry (Gene Autry), as foreman of the Circle R Ranch and head of the Cattleman's Association, tries to make Jo Adams (Virginia Dale), the youthful owner of the ranch, understand that the future of all the ranchers hinges on the sale of her property. But Jo, a frivolous, extravagant heiress to whom sentiment means little, stubbornly refuses to stop the sale. Gene goes to court and has Jo declared incompetent and has himself appointed her guardian. Ramsey has already made a $25,000 down payment to clinch his option to buy within sixty days, and Jo has already spent the money on the debts she owed. Gene's problem is to figure out how to raise the $25,000 to return to Ramsey in order to cancel the sale. He and the other cattleman agree to poll their herds for sale to raise the cash, but Ramsey hires some gunmen to stampede the cattle and also flood the valley, killing kindly old Pop Sloan (Wade Borteler) in the process..—Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>

Plot Keywords: musical, western, romance, comedy, country music, romantic comedy, lighthearted ...

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