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Song of the Day #4,444: ‘Dancing in the Dark’ – Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse

Continuing my personal ranking of the 25 movie musicals deemed essential by the American Film Institute…

#10. The Band Wagon – 1953
(#17 on the AFI list)

This is the second Fred Astaire film on the list, this time pairing him with the long, lean and gorgeous Cyd Charisse in her first leading role.

The Band Wagon is about a fading musical star (Astaire) who gets a chance at a comeback through a Broadway musical. He is paired with a rising star ballerina (Charisse) and the two get off to a rocky start before, naturally, falling in love.

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Song of the Day #4,443: ‘You’re Awful’ – Frank Sinatra and Betty Garrett

Continuing my personal ranking of the 25 movie musicals deemed essential by the American Film Institute…

#11. On the Town – 1949
(#19 on the AFI list)

On the Town… also known as the movie where a 34-year-old Frank Sinatra pretends he has never been to New York.

The directorial debut of Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, this film is an adaptation of the stage musical of the same name. Kelly, Sinatra and Jules Munshin play three sailors on a day of shore leave in the Big Apple, and Betty Garrett, Ann Miller and Vera-Ellen play their love interests.

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Song of the Day #4,442: ‘Cheek to Cheek’ – Fred Astaire

Continuing my personal ranking of the 25 movie musicals deemed essential by the American Film Institute…

#13. 42nd Street – 1933
(#13 on the AFI list)

The oldest film on the list, and one of three I have slotted in the same position as AFI. I wrote about this one back in June.

#12. Top Hat – 1935
(#15 on the AFI list)

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers each appear in two movies on this list, but this is the only one that features the iconic duo together.

Astaire and Rogers starred in ten movies as a pair, and 1935’s Top Hat — their fourth collaboration — was the most successful.

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Song of the Day #4,441: ‘Ol’ Man River’ – Paul Robeson

Continuing my personal ranking of the 25 movie musicals deemed essential by the American Film Institute…

#14. Show Boat – 1936
(#24 on the AFI list)

Most of the 25 movies on this list were pretty easy to find, either included on streaming services or available for rent. A couple of these titles proved more difficult to watch, including director James Whale’s 1936 film, Show Boat.

I almost watched the 1951 version of the film by accident (it’s easily streamed) before a second look at AFI’s list revealed that they singled out the 1936 release. My wife started an amusing debate by suggesting I just watch that one instead.

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Song of the Day #4,440: ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko’ – The Beatles

This is a wacky coincidence. I spun the dial on the old Random iTunes Generator just minutes after finishing a 90-minute podcast on the real story behind Yoko Ono’s role in The Beatles’ breakup, and lo and behold, I’m served up ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko.’

The podcast, called You’re Wrong About, features journalists Sarah Marshall and Michael Hobbes digging into topics that have been widely misunderstood. That includes serious issues like sex trafficking and murder rates, and lighter fare such as, well, Yoko’s role in The Beatles’ breakup.

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