- 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.
|