Musicals 1970-1979 - 100 Years of Movie Posters - 68

A Chronology of Posters for Musicals 1970-1979.

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Woodstock (1970) Directed by Michael Wadleigh. 184mins (228mins)

Including Joan Baez, The Who, Joe Cocker, Crosby Stills & Nash, Santana, Sly and the Family Stone, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix.

A feature-length documentary on the Woodstock Music Festival which took place near the town of Woodstock, New York from the 15th to 18th August, 1969.

A director's cut of the movie featuring over 40 minutes of extra footage was released on DVD and Blu-Ray in 2009.

Nominated for 3 Oscars winning 1 - Best Documentary.

IMDB rating 7.9

Scrooge (1970) Directed by Ronald Neame. 120mins.

Albert Finney - Ebenezer Scrooge

Also starring Edith Evans, Kenneth More, Laurence Naismith, David Collings and Gordon Jackson.

Based on the novel "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens.

Nominated for 4 Oscars - Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Song Score and Best Song.

IMDB rating 7.2

Darling Lili (1970) Directed by Blade Edwards. 143mins.

Starring Julie Andrews, Rock Hudson, Jeremy Kemp, Lance Percival, Michael Witney and Gloria Paul.

Nominated for 3 Oscars - Best Costume Design, Best Song Score and Best Song.

IMDB rating 6.0

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970) Directed by Vincente Minnelli. 129mins.

Barbra Streisand - Daisy Gamble

Also starring Yves Montand, Bob Newhart, Larry Blyden, Simon Oakland and Jack Nicholson.

Based on the 1965 stage production by Alan Jay Lerner.

IMDB rating 6.4

The Boy Friend (1971) Directed by Ken Russell. 140mins.

Twiggy - Polly Browne

Also starring Christopher Gable, Max Adrian, Bryan Pringle, Murray Melvin and Moyra Fraser.

Based on the stage musical by Sandy Wilson which first opened in London's West End in 1953.

Oscar Nomination for Best Song Score.

IMDB rating 7.3

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) Directed by Mel Stuart. 100mins.

Gene Wilder - Willy Wonka

Also starring Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum, Roy Kinnear, Julie Dawn Cole, Leonard Stone.

Based on the children's book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl, first published in 1964.

Oscar Nomination for Best Song Score.

Golden Globe Nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy / Musical (Gene Wilder).

IMDB rating 7.8

Fiddler on the Roof (1971) Directed by Norman Jewison. 181mins.

Topol - Tevye

Also starring Norma Crane, Leonard Frey, Molly Picon, Paul Mann and Rosalind Harris.

Based on the 1964 Broadway musical.

Zero Mostel played Tevye on Broadway.

Nominated for 8 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor (Topol), winning 3 - Best Music Score (John Williams), Best Cinematography and Best Sound.

IMDB rating 7.8

Man of La Mancha (1972) Directed by Arthur Hiller. 132mins.

Peter O'Toole - Don Quixote de La Mancha

Also starring Sophia Loren, James Coco, Harry Andrews, John Castle and Brian Blessed.

Based on the 1965 Broadway musical which was adapted from a 1959 teleplay by Dale Wasserman entitled I, Don Quixote.

Richard Kiley played Don Quixote first on Broadway, followed by Jose Ferrer.

Oscar Nomination for Best Music Score (Laurence Rosenthal).

IMDB rating 6.2

Cabaret (1972) Directed by Bob Fosse. 124mins.

Liza Minnelli - Sally Bowles

Also starring Michael York, Helmut Griem, Joel Grey, Fritz Wepper and Marisa Berenson.

The Kit-Kat Club, Berlin, 1931.

Based on a 1966 Broadway musical which was adapted from a 1951 play titled "I Am a Camera" (which was itself based on Christopher Isherwood's book The Berlin Stories)

Nominated for 10 Oscars winning 8 including Best Director, Best Actress (Liza Minnelli), Best Supporting Actor (Joel Grey) and Best Song Score.

IMDB rating 7.8

Lady Sings the Blues (1972) Directed by Sidney J. Furie. 144mins.

Diana Ross - Billie Holiday

Also starring Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, James T. Callahan, Paul Hampton and Sid Melton.

Based on the 1956 autobiography.of jazz legend Billie Holiday (1915-1959).

Nominated for 5 Oscars including Best Actress (Diana Ross) and Best Song Score.

IMDB rating 6.8

Lost Horizon (1973) Directed by Charles Jarrott. 143mins.

Starring Peter Finch, Liv Ullmann, George Kennedy, Michael York, Olivia Hussey, Bobby Van, John Gielgud and Charles Boyer as The High Lama.

Based on the novel by James Hilton, first published in 1933.

Frank Capra directed an expensive non-musical version in 1937 which was beset with problems. Both films were box office flops, the 1973 musical cost $12m and grossed just $3m at the US box office.

IMDB rating 4.8

Godspell (1973) Directed by David Greene. 103mins.

Victor Garber - Jesus

Also starring Katie Hanley, David Haskell, Merrell Jackson, Joanne Jonas and Robin Lamont.

Based on the 1971 Broadway musical by Stephen Schwartz.

The full movie title is "Godspell: A Musical Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew".

IMDB rating 6.3

Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) Directed by Norman Jewison. 108mins.

Ted Neeley - Jesus Christ

Also starring Carl Anderson as Judas Iscariot, Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene, Barry Dennen as Pontius Pilate and Bob Bingham as Caiaphas.

Based on the controversial rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice which first played Broadway in 1971 and London's West End in 1972.

Jesus Christ Superstar grossed $24.4m at the US box office.

Oscar Nomination for Best Song Score.

IMDB rating 7.0

That's Entertainment! (1974) Directed by Jack Haley Jr. 135mins.

Hosted by Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Gene Kelly, Peter Lawford, Liza Minnelli, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Mickey Rooney, Frank Sinatra, James Stewart and Elizabeth Taylor.

A superb compilation of about 60 musical sequences from classic MGM musicals hosted by famous MGM stars.

A surprise hit at the box office which was followed by Part 2 in 1976.

That's Entertainment! cost $3m to produce and has grossed $19m at the US box office.

IMDB rating 7.6

Mame (1974) Directed by Gene Saks. 132mins.

Lucille Ball - Mame Dennis

Also starring Bea Arthur, Robert Preston, Bruce Davison, Kirby Furlong and Jane Connell.

Based on the 1966 Broadway musical which starred Angela Lansbury as Mame.

The Broadway musical was based on the novel "Auntie Mame" by Patrick Dennis, which was first published in 1955 and filmed by Warner Bros in 1958, starring Rosalind Russell as Mame.

Golden Globe Nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress in a Musical / Comedy (Lucille Ball, Bea Arthur)

IMDB rating 5.6

Funny Lady (1975) Directed by Herbert Ross. 136mins.

Barbra Streisand - Fanny Brice
James Caan - Billy Rose

Also starring Omar Sharif, Roddy McDowall, Ben Vereen and Carole Wells.

Sequel to the hit musical Funny Girl (1968).

Funny Lady grossed $40m at the US box office.

Nominated for 5 Oscars including Best Song Score and Best Song.

IMDB rating 6.1

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) Directed by Jim Sharman. 100mins.

Tim Curry - Dr. Frank-N-Furter

Also starring Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Richard O'Brien, Patricia Quinn, Meat Loaf, Charles Gray and Peter Hinwood as Rocky Horror.

Based on the 1973 stage musical "The Rocky Horror Show" by Richard O'Brien.

Rocky Horror has a massive cult following which has made it the longest running film release of all time, nearly 40 years later and it is still playing midnight screenings at various cinemas around the world.

Costing $1.2m to make the film is estimated to have grossed about $175m worldwide since it's 1975 release.

IMDB rating 7.2

Tommy (1975) Directed by Ken Russell. 111mins.

Roger Daltrey - Tommy Walker

Also starring Oliver Reed, Ann-Margret, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Jack Nicholson, Robert Powell and Tina Turner as The Acid Queen.

Based on The Who's rock opera album "Tommy" released in 1969.

Christopher Lee was first choice for the Jack Nicholson role but was busy filming The Man With the Golden Gun (1974).

George Lucas was interested in directing Tommy at one point.

Tommy cost $5m to make and has grossed $34.2m at the US box office.

Oscar Nominations for Best Actress (Ann-Margret) and Best Song Score.

IMDB rating 6.4

Bugsy Malone (1976) Directed by Alan Parker. 93mins.

Starring Scott Baio, Florrie Dugger, Jodie Foster, John Cassisi, Martin Lev and Paul Murphy.

A gangster musical, the entire cast is played by children aged 16 and under.

Alan Parker's theatrical movie debut.

Oscar Nomination for Best Song Score.

IMDB rating 6.5

That's Entertainment Part II (1976) Directed by Gene Kelly. 133mins.

Hosted by Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.

Sequel to the popular That's Entertainment! (1974) this time also including clips from MGM's non-musical films.

Musical legends Astaire and Kelly introduce scenes from 80 classic MGM movies.

Golden Globe Nomination for Best Documentary.

IMDB rating 7.3

New York, New York (1977) Directed by Martin Scorsese 136mins (155mins).

Starring Liza Minnelli, Robert De Niro, Lionel Stander, Barry Primus, Mary Kay Place and Georgie Auld.

Scorsese cut the film down from over 4 hours to 136mins, a longer director's cut was released later.

"Start spreadin' the news, I'm leaving today. I want to be a part of it: New York,, New York."

"Theme from New York, New York" was first recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1979 and has since been closely associated with him.

The film cost $14m and has grossed $13.8m at the US box office.

IMDB rating 6.5

Saturday Night Fever (1977) Directed by John Badham. 118mins.

John Travolta - Tony Manero

Also starring Karen Lynn Gorney, Barry Miller, Joseph Cali, Paul Pape and Donna Pescow.

Inspired by an article in New York Magazine titled "Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night" which was about the advent of Disco clubs or 'Discotheque's' in the early 70's.

Travolta wanted a black disco suit but was told that he would stand out more in a white suit in the darkened disco club. The white suit was sold at a charity auction and bought by film critic Gene Siskel for $2000. After his death it was sold at Christie's for $145,000.

The soundtrack LP became a phenomenon and for a while it was the biggest selling album of all time

Oscar Nomination for Best Actor (John Travolta).

IMDB rating 6.7

Grease (1978) Directed by Randal Kleiser. 110mins.

John Travolta - Danny Zuko
Olivia Newton-John - Sandy Olsen

Also starring Stockard Channing, Jeff Conaway, Eve Arden, Frankie Avalon, Joan Blondell, Edd Byrnes and Sid Caesar.

Based on the 1972 Broadway musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey.

Barry Bostwick played Danny on Broadway.

Richard Gere, then unknown, played Danny in the 1973 London production of the musical.

The soundtrack album was the second biggest of the year after Saturday Night Fever.

Grease cost $6m to make and was hugely successful grossing $386m worldwide.

By the end of 1978 Grease was the 4th highest grossing movie of all time worldwide, the top 3 were Star Wars, Jaws and Gone With the Wind.

Oscar Nomination for Best Song ("Hopelessy Devoted to You")

IMDB rating 7.1

The Wiz (1978) Directed by Sidney Lumet. 134mins.

Diana Ross - Dorothy Gale
Michael Jackson - The Scarecrow

Also starring Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Lena Horne and Richard Pryor as The Wiz.

Based on the 1975 Broadway musical by Charlie Smalls.

Director John Badham was set to direct after his success with Saturday Night Fever but was fired when he objected to the casting of 33 year old Diana Ross as Dorothy.

The Wiz was expensive costing $24m, (by comparison Star Wars cost $11m the year before) and was not successful grossing just $13.6m at the US box office.

Nominated for 4 Oscars - Best Song Score (Quincy Jones), Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.

IMDB rating 4.7

All That Jazz (1979) Directed by Bob Fosse. 123mins.

Roy Scheider - Joe Gideon

Also starring Jessica Lange, Leland Palmer, Ann Reinking, Cliff Gorman and Ben Vereen.

A semi-biographical fantasy based on Bob Fosse's career as a choreographer and theater director.

Richard Dreyfuss was considered for the role of Joe Gideon.

All that Jazz cost $12m to make and has grossed $37.8m at the US box office.

Nominated for 9 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor (Roy Scheider), winning 4 including Best Song Score (Ralph Burns).

IMDB rating 7.6

Hair (1979) Directed by Milos Forman. 121mins.

Starring John Savage, Treat Williams, Beverly D'Angelo, Annie Golden, Dorsey Wright and Don Dacus.

Based on the 1968 Broadway rock musical of the same name.

The most well known song in the show was "The Age of Aquarius", one of the best-selling songs of 1969. Hitting the top spot for six weeks on the Billboard charts.

Hair cost $11m to make and has grossed $15.2m at the US box office.

Nominated for 2 Golden Globe Awards - Best Motion Picture Musical / Comedy and New Star of the Year (Treat Williams).

IMDB rating 7.2