Santa Cruz Film Festival 2008

A look at the magical history and influence of the Hollywood musical hosted by stage, film and television icon Shirley Jones. Beginning with the spectacular, and perversely psychedelic, films of Busby Berkeley in the 1920’s the film charts the genre’s progression through the patriotic musicals of World War II, the gritty realism of the 1960’s and 1970’s, its decline in the 1980’s, the 1990’s rebirth via the Disney musicals to its current renaissance. This joyful celebration features dozens of scenes from some of the greatest American musicals including Singing in the Rain, The Wizard of Oz, West Side Story, On the Town, Oklahoma, Gentleman Prefer Blondes, Cabaret, Tommy, The Lion King, Chicago and Dreamgirls – just to name a few! A host of screen legends including Liza Minnelli, Debbie Reynolds, Mickey Rooney, Shirley MacLaine and Joel Grey offer their thoughts on the various films. A musical extravaganza that will send you into the streets finger-snapping, “When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way!”