- Under the Pampas Moon (1935)
- Under Western Skies (1945)
- Under Your Spell (1936)
- Underpup, The (1939)
- Unfinished Dance, The (1947) ** - Margaret O'Brien as an orphan who worships ballerina Cyd Charisse. Gets
a bit teary, and not in a good way.
- Unsinkable Molly Brown, The (1964) *** - Debbie Reynolds is delightful in this fine version of Meredith Willson's
tuneful stage hit about the Colorado mountain girl who became a social climbing millionaire.
- Up in Arms (1944) ** - Danny Kaye made his screen debut as a hypochondriac soldier. Musical highlight - Kaye's hilarious "Melody in 4F."
- Up In Central Park (1948) - Deanna Durbin in Romberg's stage hit.
- Vagabond King, The (1930)
- Vagabond King, The (1956) ** - Miscast leading man ruins this half-hearted but colorful remake of the Friml operetta.
- Vagabond Lover, The (1929) * - Singing Rudy Vallee proved to be a bore on screen, but the public loved that voice (which does nothing for this listener).
- Variety Girl (1947)
- Varsity Show (1937) *** - Dick Powell as a Broadway producer staging a show at his old college. Enjoyable revue-like line up of songs and routines.
- Victor/Victoria (1982) **** - Julie Andrews and Robert Preston star in this brilliant Blake Edwards musical comedy about a soprano who masquerades as a female impersonator to find stardom in 1930s Paris. The last great original musical film of the 20th Century.
- Viennese Nights (1930)
- Viktor und Viktoria (Germany - 1933) - German ancestor of Blake Edwards' Victor/Victoria
- Viva Las Vegas (1964) ** - Elvis Presley is a race car driver in one of his better films, co-starring Ann Margaret.
- Vogues (1937)
- Wabash Avenue (1950) *** - Victor Mature competes with Phil Harris for Betty Grable in this enjoyable remake of Coney Island.
- Waikiki Wedding (1937)
- Wake Up and Dream (1934)
- Wake Up and Dream (1947)
- Wake Up and Live (1937)
- Walking My Baby Back Home (1953)
- Walking On Air (1936)
- Way Down South (1939)
- Way to Love, The (1933) ** - Chevalier as a Parisian tourist guide -- a weak entry
- Weekend in Havana (1941)*** - The Fox formula ticks along nicely as Alice Faye is romanced by John Payne, with Carmen Miranda stealing scenes.
- Weekend Pass (1944)
- Welcome Stranger (1947)
- We're Not Dressing (1934)
- West Bank Story (2005) ** - Middle East musical has great premise ruined by sophomoric execution.
- West Point Story, The (1950) ** - James Cagney and Doris Day brighten this uneven tuner about a Broadway director putting on a show at a military academy.
- West Side Story (1961) **** - Romance blossoms during a street gang war in Robert Wise's dazzling screen version of the Broadway hit. Rita Moreno is socko, as are the Jerome Robbins dances.
- What's Buzzin, Cousin? (1943)
- What's Cookin' (1942)
- When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1943)
- When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948) ** - Betty Grable and Dan Dailey go from burlesque to Broadway, with the usual misunderstandings along the way. So-so.
- When the Boys Meet the Girls (1966) * - Sappy updated remake of Girl Crazy.
- When You're In Love (1937)
- When You're Smiling (1950)
- Where Did You Get That Girl? (1941)
- Where Do We Go from Here? (1945) *** - Fred MacMurray travels back across American history, backed by an ambitious Kurt Weill-Ira Gershwin score.
- Where's Charley? (1952)
- White Christmas (1954) **** - Easy going fun abounds as show biz pals Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye romance singing sisters Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen. Highlights include great Irving Berlin songs and some fine dance numbers.
- Whoopee (1930) ** - Even the great Eddie Cantor cannot completely redeem this creaky version of the Broadway hit about a hypochondriac in the Wild West.
- Why Bring That Up? (1929) - Blackface musical comedy
- Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) *** - Eccentric and often delightful tale of a poor boy who wins a tour of a magical candy factory.
- Wintertime (1943) * - Sonja Henie hits the ice to save her uncle from bankruptcy. The skating legend's weakest film.
- With a Song in My Heart (1952) *** - Susan Hayward stars in this classic tear-stained bio of singer Jane Frohman, with the real Frohman dubbing vocals for a truckload of great songs.
- With Love and Kisses (1936)
- Wiz, The (1978) ** - Overproduced soul version of The Wizard of Oz stars Diana Ross as a middle-aged Dorothy. Fun moments, but overall a waste.
- Wizard of Oz, The (1939) **** - Judy Garland and a now legendary supporting cast in one of Hollywood's finest achievements. Gorgeous, heartwarming and thoroughly magical.
- Wonder Bar (1934) *** - Al Jolson owns a popular cabaret, where many little dramas unfold. Interesting period piece.
- Wonder Man (1945) *** - Great special effects and Danny Kaye playing twins make this worth catching.
- Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm, The (1962) * - Grim indeed, not to mention overblown and moronic.
- Words and Music (1929)
- Words and Music (1948) ** - Screen bio of Rodgers & Hart bears almost no similarity to their real lives, but there are great musical numbers aplenty. Rooney & Garland share their last screen duet, "I Wish I Were in Love Again."
- Xanadu (1979) * - Incoherent spectacle stars Olivia Newton John and (heaven help him!) Gene Kelly in his final musical screen appearance.
- Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) **** James Cagney stars in this sensational bio of George M. Cohan. Great songs and a perfect cast make this my nominee for the best musical bio pic ever made.
- Yellow Submarine (1968) *** - Delightful animated musical features the Beatles as musicians bringing color back to a drab world.
- Yes Sir, That's My Baby (1949)
- Yokel Boy (1942)
- Yolanda and the Thief (1945) ** - Fred Astaire tries to convince convent girl Lucille Bremer that he's her guardian angel. This one has its fans, but I'm not one of them.
- You Can't Have Everything (1937)
- You Can't Ration Love (1944)
- You Can't Run Away From It (1956) * - Yes you can! Unnecessary musical remake of It Happened One Night fails despite stars Jack Lemmon and June Allyson.
- You Were Meant for Me (1948) ** - Jeanne Crain marries a band leader. Pleasant.
- You Were Never Lovelier (1942) **** - Fred Astaire romances Rita Hayworth, all set to a Jerome Kern score. Any questions?
- You'll Find Out (1940) * - Kay Kyser's big band lands in a haunted house, resulting in a waste of celluloid.
- You'll Never Get Rich (1941) * - Broadway director Fred Astaire enlists in the army but keeps working on a show with girlfriend Rita Hayworth. Despite the stars and a Cole Porter score, this one is a shockingly dull yawn.
- Young at Heart (1954) *** - Frank Sinatra woos Doris Day as Ethel Barrymore watches – you may be surprised how enjoyable this one is.
- Young At Heart (1955) ** - Doris Day marries songwriter Frank Sinatra, but two great stars & a hit title tune can't resurrect this tired screenplay.
- Young Man With a Horn (1950) *** - Kirk Douglas (as jazz legend Bix Beiderbecke) puts professional success ahead of his love for Doris Day. Strong script & great music.
- Young People (1940)
- Your Cheatin' Heart (1965) * - Suave George Hamilton as country legend Hank Williams? Bad, but not as bad as you might expect.
- You're a Lucky Fellow Mr. Smith (1943)
- You're a Sweetheart (1937)
- You're My Everything (1949) ** - Dan Dailey and Ann Baxter become movie stars in old Hollywood. Fun moments, but slow going in between.
- You're the One (1941)
- Youth On Parade (1942)
- Zero Patience (1993)
- Ziegfeld Follies (1946) *** - One of MGM's grandest all-star revues, with enough dazzling bits to offset the few squeakers. Astaire & Kelly's only dance duet is priceless, as is Garland's "Interview" number.
- Ziegfeld Girl (1941) *** - Musical numbers save this lavish MGM soap opera about the offstage lives of Ziegfeld chorines. Best features include "You Stepped Out of a Dream" and Judy Garland at her loveliest.
- Zis Boom Bah (1941)
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