- Jack and the Beanstalk (1951) ** - Abbott and Costello revamp the fairy tale.
- Jailhouse Rock (1957) *** - Elvis Presley rocks his way from prison to
stardom in one of his best musicals.
- Jam Session (1944) ** - Ann Miller tries to break into show biz – an
army of jazz greats stop in to perform, making this tired plot worth
sitting through
- Jamboree (1957) ** - Minor love story features a parade of rock and
hillbilly stars singing their specialties.
- James and the Giant Peach (1996) *** - Surprisingly diverting animated
tale of a boy who voyages through space on a mammoth floating peach.
- Jazz Singer, The (1927) * - Mostly silent, but the sound sequences
changed film forever thanks to Al Jolson's energetic presence. This
premiered in November 1928.
- Jazz Singer, The (1953) ** - Like the original wasn't bad enough? Danny Thomas
stars in a sudsy reworking of the early talkie.
- Jazz Singer, The (1979) NO STARS - Pop singer Neil Diamond hopelessly
miscast in this ghastly remake – with Sir Laurence Olivier as his
cantor father? Oy!
- Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) * - Webber & Rice's rock opera hit
comes to the screen in an overblown, witless production.
- Jitterbugs (1943)
- Joan of Ozark (1942)
- Johnny Doughboy (1943)
- Joker Is Wild, The (1958)
- Jolson Sings Again (1949) ** - Okay sequel to The Jolson Story offers plenty of great Jolson vocals.
- Jolson Story, The (1946) *** - Heavily fictionalized bio of the great
entertainer energized by his renditions of dozens of period hits. Larry
Parks does some swell lip synching.
- Josette (1938)
- Journey Back to Oz (1971) ** - Liza Minnelli is the voice of Dorothy in
this meager animated sequel to The Wizard of Oz.
- Joy of Living (1938)
- Juke Box Jenny (1942)
- Juke Box Rhythm (1959) NO STARS - Another bad vehicle for several 50s
rock and pop singers.
- Jumping Jacks (1952)
- Jungle Book, The (1967) **** - Walt Disney's final animated feature is a
joyous adaptation of Kipling's classic about a boy raised by wolves in
the Indian jungle.
- Junior Prom (1946)
- Jupiter's Darling (1955)
- Just Around the Corner (1938)
- Just for You (1952) *** - Underrated fun as businessman Bing Crosby
romances Jane Wyman and re-discovers the joy of living. Worth catching.
- Just Imagine (1930) ** - A simpleton from the 1930s is medically revived
in the 1980s and tries to play cupid for two 'modern' lovers. Silly, but
this film's fanciful vision of a mechanized art deco future is
occasionally interesting.
- Kansas City Kitty (1944) ** - Bing Crosby and Joan Leslie buy a floundering music publisher.
- Keep 'Em Flying (1941)
- Kentucky Moonshine (1938)
- Kid From Brooklyn, The (1946)
- Kid From Spain, The (1932)
- Kid Galahad (1962) * - Elvis Presley as a car mechanic who unwillingly
becomes a boxing champion. Poor songs, weak story.
- Kid Millions (1934)
- King and I, The (1956) **** - Rodgers & Hammerstein's stage hit
about a British tutor at the royal court of Siam gets a classy big
screen adaptation, starring Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr.
- King Creole (1958) ** - Elvis Presley as nightclub singer dealing with
the New Orleans underworld.
- King of Burlesque (1936)
- King of Jazz, The (1930) ** - Massively overproduced spectacle, with
Paul Whiteman's Band
- King Steps Out, The (1936)
- Kismet (1955) ** - Howard Keel sings impressively, but cartoonish acting
plagues this a weak adaptation of Forrest & Wright's Broadway hit.
- Kiss Me Again (1930)
- Kiss Me Kate (1953) **** - Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson are great,
but Ann Miller darn near steals this excellent adaptation of Cole
Porter's stage hit. If you can ever see this in the original 3D version,
do!
- Kiss the Boys Goodbye (1941) *** - Mary Martin and Oscar Levant spark
this backstage story.
- Kissin' Cousins (1964)
- Kissing Bandit, The (1948) * - Frank Sinatra as a sort of singing Zorro?
Hopeless embarrassment, save for an irrelevant but dazzling dance
routine by Cyd Charisse.
- Kissing Bandit, The (1949) * - Frank Sinatra as the son of an amorous
thief taking over the family trade. Idiotic.
- Klondike Annie (1936)
- Knickerbocker Holiday (1944) ** - Nelson Eddy is miscast as peg-legged
Peter Stuyvesant in this (why resist?) lame adaptation of Kurt Weill's
Broadway hit.
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