Movies You Might Have Missed: La, La, Laaaaa

Before you were potty trained—or even born—Hollywood made some good movies. Movies You Might Have Missed is a recurring feature in which your SparkNotes editors recommend a few watchable films from the 1990s or before.

Movie musicals, in theory, are some of the wackiest films you'll ever see. Here you've got a perfectly great setting, a ready stable of characters, a nicely-developing dramatic intrigue...and then suddenly, out of nowhere and for no discernible reason, somebody breaks off in the middle of a conversation and bursts into song. And nobody thinks it's weird.

And that's weird. But it's also amazing!

Here are our three favorite old-school musicals. (Note: Drama geeks who have not seen all of these films must rent them immediately, or risk having their geek cred revoked.)

Funny Face
In addition to a series of incredibly cute musical numbers (sung by the incredibly cute Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire), this 1957 movie has Givenchy dresses, beatnik dancing, photography by the legendary Richard Avedon, and a surprise cameo by Eloise writer Kay Thompson as a haughty fashion editor. All that, plus the sight of Audrey skipping adorably around Paris in a series of incredible designer gowns, and it's practically more than our little lady-hearts can take.

Newsies
“HOLY CRAP!” you will say, as a hundred young men in newsboy caps and knee-length knickers dance their way across the screen. “Is that... Christian Bale?!”

Why yes. Yes, it is. Before The Machinist, before the “trash your lights” rant, before the Batman voice, an 18-year-old Christian Bale sang and danced and seemed almost entirely normal as he played the lead paperboy in this live-action Disney musical.

Let's just say that again: Christian Bale. SINGING AND DANCING.

Rent this 1992 film and marvel at little Christian's fleet feet, enjoy the bawdy singing of Ann-Margret as a vaudeville queen, and feel sorry for poor David Moscow, who starred alongside Christian Bale and hasn't done much acting since, and who probably can't see a picture of Batman without bursting into bitter tears, shaking his fist at the sky, and screaming, “That should have been me! MEEEEE!”

White Christmas
It may not be Christmastime anymore, and this movie may contain some of the most egregious examples of nonsensical mid-conversation song launches known to man, but we'll be damned if this isn't the sweetest musical film ever made. And even if you don't love the Jane Austen-esque romantic storyline, several large-scale musical numbers complete with real live showgirls, and adorable comedic performances by the supporting actors, there's still Bing Crosby's velvety, vibrant, pants-droppingly sexy singing voice. WOOF. Let's just say that he can break into random song anytime he wants, y'all.

Got a favorite movie musical to add? Let us know! All comments will be read as though sung by Bing Crosby. WOOF.

Related post: The Magical Musical Movie Review