Musical Film Index

Musical Film Index: F

**** - Exceptional
*** - Very good entertainment
** - Mediocre
* - Just plain bad
NO STARS - Beyond bad

Fabulous Dorseys, The (1947) * - Even Dorsey fans will have trouble stomaching this syrupy bio of Tom & James. Fast forward to the musical numbers and skip the dialogue.
Fame (1979) *** - Some dynamic numbers in a fictional look at life in NY's High School of Performing Arts.
Fantasia (1940) **** - Initially a commercial failure, Disney's attempt to animate classical music is now recognized as a masterpiece.
Fantasticks, The (2000) NO STARS - Disgraceful, incoherent adaptation of the long running Off-Broadway hit. Don't even think about watching this disaster!
Farmer Takes a Wife, The (1953) * - Betty Grable seeks romance on the Erie Canal, and sinks.
Fastest Guitar Alive, The (1967)
Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin' (1948)
Fiddler on the Roof (1971) *** - Topol stars in an overly long but ultimately satisfying screen version of the long-running stage hit.
Fiesta (1941)
Fiesta (1947) * - Esther Williams takes an ill-advised trip south of the border with Ricardo Montalban.
Finian's Rainbow (1968) *** - Fred Astaire and Petula Clark star in this underrated version of the stage hit about ancient magic defeating racism in the deep South. Wonderful Arlen-Harburg songs and great ensemble add to the fun.
Firefly, The (1937)
First Love (1939)
First Nudie Musical, The (1976) * - A studio tries to avoid bankruptcy by filming a porn musical. Unremarkable musical numbers, mediocre story.
Fisherman's Wharf (1938)
Five Pennies, The (1959) ** - Danny Kaye as jazz trumpeter Red Nichols. Best moments in this so-so bio are Kaye's duets with Louis Armstrong.
Fleet's In, The (1942) *** - Wartime romance has William Holden wooing Dorothy Lamour, but the film belongs to newcomer Betty Hutton. Good score.
Flirtation Walk (1934) ** - West Point cadet Dick Powell loves officers daughter Ruby Keeler -- one of their weaker vehicles.
Floradora Girl, The (1930)
Flower Drum Song (1961) *** - Underrated version of Rodgers & Hammerstein's story of generational differences in a Chinese-American family.
Flying Down to Rio (1933) ** - Dolores Del Rio must choose a boyfriend -- the public chose supporting players Astaire & Rogers, who share their first screen dance duet, "The Carioca."
Flying High (1931) ** - Bert Lahr yucks it up as an aviator, with Charlotte Greenwood and numbers staged by Busby Berkeley.
Flying With Music (1942)
FM (1978)
Folies Bergère (1935)
Follow That Dream (1962) * - Elvis Presley as a pioneer in Florida – oh puh-lease!
Follow the Band
Follow the Boys (1944)
Follow the Boys (1963)
Follow the Fleet (1936) **** - Nautical magic as Astaire and Rogers do their thing with the US Navy. A fine Irving Berlin score includes "Let's Face the Music and Dance."
Follow the Leader (1930)
Follow Thru (1930)
Follow Your Heart (1936)
Footlight Parade (1933) **** - Jimmy Cagney presents dancer Ruby Keeler in a lavish stage revue, with enough great songs and massive dance routines to make this one of Busby Berkeley's triumphs.
Footlight Serenade (1942) *** - Victor Mature pursues Betty Grable in one of their better backstage musicals.
Footlights and Fools (1929)
For Me and My Gal (1942) *** - Judy Garland and Gene Kelly are charming as vaudevillians in love.
For the Boys (1991) ** - Mediocre backstage plot almost saved by several energetic Bette Midler numbers.
For the First Time (1959) ** - Mario Lanza plays an opera singer in his last film - not his best.
Forward Pass, The (1929)
Four Jacks and a Jill (1942) ** - Ray Bolger's dancing is the only solid attraction in this tale of musicians taking a protective interest in a young female singer.
Four Jills in a Jeep (1944) ** - Stars re-enact their "real life" experiences entertaining the troops during World War II. An interesting taste of the wartime mindset.
Fox Movietone Follies of 1929 (1929)
Fox Movietone Follies of 1930 (1930)
Frankie and Johnnie (1966) * - Elvis as a river boat gambler. One of his worst vehicles.
Frankie and Johnny (1936)
Freddie Steps Out (1946)
Free and Easy (1930)
French Line, The (1954) * - Meager Jane Russell vehicle set on an ocean liner -- tacky attempt to follow up on Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Fresh From Paris (1955) * - Tacky nightclub musical, wastes some talented people.
Freshman Year (1938)
Fun and Fancy Free (1947) *** - Disney's charming animated take on Jack and the Beanstalk stars Mickey Mouse and company. Second section on Bongo is less memorable.
Fun in Acapulco (1964)
Funny Face (1957) **** - Photographer Fred Astaire turns Audrey Hepburn into a star model in Paris. Wonderful comedy with vintage Gershwin songs.
Funny Girl (1968) **** - Barbra Streisand stars as Fanny Brice in this first rate version of the stage hit – great Styne-Merrill score, and gorgeous production.
Funny Lady (1975) *** - Streisand again plays Brice in this delightful sequel to Funny Girl, with vintage period songs and some fine new tunes by Kander & Ebb.
Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, A (1966) **** - Richard Lester's hilarious version of the stage hit, with Zero Mostel brilliant as a slave seeking freedom in ancient Rome.