If you enjoyed the first musicals post, you’ll love this second installment of movie night musicals! There are some fantastic and obscure films that everyone in your family will greatly enjoy. Many of these musicals open up discussion points about history, literature, and economics between you and your children. Enjoy this list of 10 more movie night musicals!
1. Funny Face (1957) PG
Starring Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn, this a delightful musical that has recently risen in popularity. Audrey Hepburn plays a bookish young woman chosen as the new face for a high-fashion magazine. Fred Astaire is the head photographer and the two strike up a sweet friendship. It is a fantastic film filled with dancing, drama, and the high fashion of the 1950s.
There is a brief scene where Audrey Hepburn’s character gets herself in a sticky situation with a professor who she thinks just wants to talk to her. Nothing happens, but it gets a little uncomfortable. It is a very easy scene to skip.
You can watch the film on Amazon.
After World War 2, America welcomed the affluence of the 1950s with a huge economics surge. This was clearly depicted with the growth of the world of fashion. Any students who are interested in the 1950s will love Dave Raymond’s Modern World History curriculum.
2. Brigadoon (1954) G
Another little known movie night musical, Brigadoon is one of the sweetest films I have ever watched. Gene Kelly and Cyd Charrisse play a naive young American and a lovely Scottish girl from a bygone era. The dance sequences are delightful, especially if you have a child in a dance class. It presents a quaint and colorful picture of a tiny Scottish town caught in a weird spell. Everyone in your family will greatly enjoy the film.
You can rent the film on Amazon.
3. Fiddler on the Roof (1971) PG
Throughout history, the Jews have been persecuted for their faith. Fiddler on the Roof is the story of a Jewish family living in Poland struggling to live according to their religion and their country. It is a poignant, bittersweet film that stretches the musical genre. The film won three Academy awards, including best music and scoring adaptation. Despite being a more realistic musical, it still holds up as one of the most unique of its kind.
There are some scenes depicting violence in the form of religious persecution: specifically, a girl is bullied and pushed around by some boys. Nothing is graphic and is completely appropriate for kids over ten.
You can rent the film on Amazon.
The Holocaust massacred 11 million Jews. After World War 2 ended, those who survived tried to reestablish a stable life for themselves and their children. Dave Raymond’s Modernity class covers this hard topic if you are looking for a Christian-based history curriculum.
4. Bye Bye Birdie (1963) G
Dick van Dyke, Janet Leigh, and teenage star Ann-Margaret are magical in this hilarious movie night musical. Bye Bye Birdie, despite being a relatively low-budget, funny film, helped make two of the most popular stars of the 1960s: Dick van Dyke and Ann-Margaret. Interestingly, the film is indirectly based on Ann-Margaret’s co-star and mega pop star Elvis Presley when he was drafted into the U.S army.
You can rent the film on Amazon.
This film is another perspective of the economic prosperity of the 1950s combined with the teenage rebellion of the 1960s. Economics for Everybody and Dave Raymond’s Modernity covers both of these cultural phenomenons. Understanding economic boom and bust within modern history is highly important for students in today’s day and age.
5. The Royal Wedding (1951) PG
Starring Fred Astaire and Jane Powell, The Royal Wedding tells the story of two dancer siblings performing in London during the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Astaire and Powell’s sibling performance is loosely based on Astaire’s real life duo with his sister in the teens and ‘20s. It is a delightful film that is well-worth the watch.
You can rent the film on Amazon.
The marriage of British princess Elizabeth and Greek prince Philip was one of the biggest events of the second half of the 21st century. Dave Raymond covers the events of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign over England throughout the turbulent ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, and beyond in his Modernity curriculum.
6. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) PG
Based on Roald Dahl’s children’s book, this musical is delightfully fun and quirky. Gene Wilder brilliantly stars as the titular character in one of his best film roles. If your kids liked the book, they’ll love this musical version. It can be argued that most film adaptations of books are subpar. This, however, is an incredibly well done representation of a beloved novel. All the characters are larger than life and ridiculously humorous.
There is one scene I always skipped as a kid: the group goes down a dark tunnel in a boat and faces their “worst fears.” In hindsight, the scene isn’t that scary, but it is a little startling to children who are more sensitive.
You can rent the film on Amazon.
Roald Dahl is an incredibly beloved children’s author due to his distinctive writing style and somewhat macabre plots. If your students enjoy his stories and writing their own stories, try our Creative Writing with Jonathan Rogers curriculum. He looks at C. S. Lewis’ Narnia series and breaks down Lewis’ specific writing technique and explains how your students can apply this to their own writing.
7. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) G
James Cagney, known for his tough guy roles, stars in this biographic account of “the man who owned Broadway,” George M. Cohan. It is a wonderfully sweet story filled with the impeccably perfect dance numbers that defined the Golden Age of Musicals. One of the most famous scenes shows Cagney’s character performing a difficult tap dancing down a staircase. Cagney himself though of this routine before the scene was shot and executed it perfectly without rehearsal.
You can rent the film on Amazon.
During World War 2, Hollywood took it upon itself to release fun and easy films that would help distract civilians and soldiers from the horrors overseas. Dave Raymond’s Modernity curriculum offers a magnificent look at the many different sides of this complicated war.
8. On the Town (1949) G
This is a lighthearted addition to your movie night musical enjoyment starring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra as two sailers on leave in New York City. Each number is full of fun as dancers and singers take on difficult steps and songs with ease. Your whole family will love this little known musical. Kelly and Sinatra’s respective talents shine in this delightful film, complimenting each other beautifully.
You can rent the film on Amazon.
9. Meet Me In St. Louis (1944) PG
Judy Garland was the darling of Hollywood since she was a child star. This is one her most famous films and perfectly captures her loveliness and talent. The musical follows the Smith family throughout an entire year, ending with the 1904 World’s Fair. It is a sweetly touching film that everyone will love.
You can rent the film on Amazon.
The World’s Fair was an event of great anticipation and magnitude. Dave Raymond’s Modern and American History series covers this incredible event if your students are interested in learning more about it.
My students like that Dave Raymond details the ‘why’ and not just the ‘when’ of historical events. ~ Judy
10. Swing Time (1936) G
Fred Astaire and Ginger Roger’s chemistry when sparring and dancing ranks them with the greatest on-screen couples of all time. Spanning three decades, the dancers made ten films together. This is my favorite of their musicals. The plot is really funny and the dance scenes are perfection.
You can rent the film on Amazon.
I hope you enjoy some of these movie night musicals as much as I do!
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