TMTP runs a watch party series highlighting not-to-be-missed movie musicals! Subscribers to our mailing list will receive an email on the appropriate Thursday with a brief video introduction from TMTP Founder and Artistic Director Bill Rudman for an inside look at what to expect before they view the film. Then participants can stream the film at home at their convenience. The following Thursday, Rudman will host a live discussion via Zoom to discuss the film in real time! Both the introductions and discussion recordings are posted right here so you can come back and watch anytime.
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We are still tweaking this process and want to make it the most enjoyable for the most people! Please share your thoughts on our "Let's Go to the Movies" series by completing the following survey.
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Planning Ahead
Click here to see a list of the remaining 2021 movie musicals and discussion dates. (The list is tentative and always subject to change.)
If you prefer to be surprised by the titles, just mark your calendar to join us for a live discussion every 3rd Thursday!
Click here to see a list of the remaining 2021 movie musicals and discussion dates. (The list is tentative and always subject to change.)
If you prefer to be surprised by the titles, just mark your calendar to join us for a live discussion every 3rd Thursday!
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Coming Thursday, May 6th:
Hans Christian Andersen MGM, 1952 Directed by Charles Vidor, lyrics and music by Frank Loesser. Starring Danny Kaye. The film was inspired by the life of 19th-century Danish poet and scholar Hans Christian Andersen, who wrote many world-famous fairy tales. But the story is romantic fiction, not a biography. The introduction describes it as "not the story of his life, but a fairy tale about this great spinner of fairy tales." Kaye, in the title role, portrays Andersen as a small-town cobbler with a childlike heart and a vivid imagination. A large part of the narrative is told through song and ballet and includes many of the real Andersen's most famous stories, such as The Ugly Duckling, Thumbelina, The Emperor's New Clothes and The Little Mermaid. The film was an international success at the time of its release. Available to stream on Amazon Prime and YouTube (some fees may apply). |
How You Can Participate
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Best Foot Forward
MGM, 1943 Directed by Edward Buzzell, starring Lucille Ball, William Gaxton, Virginia Weidler, June Allyson, Gloria DeHaven, Nancy Walker, Tommy Dix and the Harry James Orchestra. Music by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin. What was Lucille Ball like in her pre-“I Love Lucy” days? Here’s your chance to find out: By the time “Best Forward” was released in 1943, she was a Hollywood star. She plays herself in this breezy musical comedy about the complications that arise from a publicity stunt hatched by press agent William Gaxton — with Ball accepting an invitation to a prom at a military academy teeming with young men and their girlfriends. Available to stream on Amazon Prime and YouTube (some fees may apply). |
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Funny Face
Paramount, 1957 Directed by Stanley Donen and starring Fred Astaire, Audrey Hepburn and Kay Thompson. It's one of the most gorgeous movie musicals of all time, inspired by the photography of Richard Avedon. It’s the story of a fashion photographer (Astaire) and a Greenwich Villlage intellectual (Hepburn) whose heart melts under the romantic influence of Paris and, of course, Mr. Astaire. Available to stream on Amazon Prime and YouTube (some fees may apply). Released March 17, 2021 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live March 25, 2021 | Post-Film Discussion
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Girl Crazy
MGM, 1943 Girl Crazy showcases music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin. Starring Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, and featuring Rags Ragland, Nancy Walker and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Directed by Norman Taurog, this was the fourth (and final) full-length film musical created for the dynamic duo. The classic songs by the Gershwin brothers include “I Got Rhythm,” “Embraceable You” and “But Not for Me.” The story? New York playboy Mickey is sent by his father to an all-male college out West so he won’t be distracted by girls. Trouble is, he falls for the town’s postmistress — Judy, of course. Available to stream on Amazon Prime and YouTube (some fees may apply). Released February 23, 2021 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live March 4, 2021 | Post-Film Discussion
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The Music Man
This 1962 film directed by by Morton DaCosta is the story of con man (and traveling salesman) Harold Hill as he attacks a small town in Iowa in 1912. This fake “professor” can’t read a note of music, but that doesn’t stop him from selling a boys’ band everywhere he goes, complete with dazzling instruments and uniforms — then skips town with the money. Robert Preston reprises his Tony Award-winning Broadway role, and Shirley Jones is Marian the Librarian. She’s another part of the con — until he falls in love with her. (151 min) Available to stream on Amazon Prime and YouTube (some fees may apply). |
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Released February 5, 2021 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live February 11, 2021 | Post-Film Discussion
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On A Clear Day You Can See Forever
This 1970 Vincente Minnelli film stars Barbra Streisand and Yves Montand and features a stunning score by Lerner & Lane. An unusual woman (Streisand) who hears phones before they ring, and does wonders with her flowers, wants to quit smoking to please her fiancé. She goes to a doctor of hypnosis to do it. But once she's under, her doctor finds out that she can regress into past lives and different personalities, and he finds himself falling in love with one of them. (129 min.) Available to stream on Amazon Prime and YouTube (some fees may apply). |
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Released December 31, 2020 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live January 7, 2021 | Post-Film Discussion
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Meet Me in St. Louis
It's one of the greatest movie musicals of all-time. The 1944 Vincent Minnelli film take place in the year leading up to the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, where four daughters learn lessons of life and love, even as they prepare for a reluctant move to New York. And it includes the moment Judy Garland introduced the world to the song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." (113 min.) Available to stream on: AmazonPrime and YouTube (some fees may apply). |
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Released December 3, 2020 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live December 10, 2020 | Post-Film Discussion
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Enjoy this clip from Bill Rudman's interview with composer Hugh Martin for TMTP's radio program Footlight Parade.
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The Merry Widow
This 1934 movie musical is adapted from the Franz Lehar operetta of the same name. Playboy Captain Danilo (Maurice Chevalier) is ordered by King Achmet of Marshovia (George Barbier) to court and marry Madame Sonia (Jeanette MacDonald), a rich widow who owns a large portion of the kingdom. (99 min.) Available to stream on: AmazonPrime and iTunes (some fees may apply). |
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Released November 17, 2020 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live November 24, 2020 | Post-Film Discussion
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Viva Las Vegas
Lucky Jackson (Elvis Presley) arrives in town with his car literally in tow ready for the first Las Vegas Grand Prix - once he has the money to buy an engine. Working as a waiter, he still finds time to court the young swimming pool manageress, Rusty Martin (Ann-Margret). Can he win both the race and the girl? (85 min) Available to stream on: Amazon Prime, iTunes, and YouTube (some fees may apply). |
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Released November 5, 2020 | Pre-Film Talk
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Due to technical difficulties, the Q&A for Viva Las Vegas was not recorded on Thursday, November 12, 2020. We do apologize for any inconvenience!
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Road to Morocco
Bing Crosby and Bob Hope star as two carefree castaways on a desert shore find an Arabian Nights city, where they compete for the luscious Princess Shalmar (Dorothy Lamour) and must contend with a villain played by Anthony Quinn! This was the third Hope and Crosby “Road” picture (1942) — the funniest, zaniest, craziest movie-musical series ever made, and the Jimmy Van Heusen-Johnny Burke score includes “Moonlight Becomes You,” one of the most best ballads of the decade. (82 min) Available to stream on: Amazon Prime, iTunes, and YouTube (some fees may apply). |
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Released October 22, 2020 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live October 29, 2020 | Post-Film Discussion
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Damsel in Distress
This 1937 English-themed Hollywood musical comedy film stars Fred Astaire, Joan Fontaine, George Burns, and Gracie Allen. Loosely based upon the P.G. Wodehouse 1919 novel of the same name, and the 1928 stage play written by Wodehouse and Ian Hay, it has music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin. (101 min) Available to stream on: Amazon Prime, iTunes, and YouTube (some fees may apply). |
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Released October 8, 2020 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live October 15, 2020 | Post-Film Discussion
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Bye Bye Birdie
Conrad Birdie is the biggest rock & roll star of the 60's ever to be drafted. The unsuccessful songwriter Albert is convinced he can make his fortune and marry his girlfriend Rosie if he writes Conrad's farewell song and gets him to perform it with "one last kiss" to a lucky girl chosen at random on the Ed Sullivan show The town of Sweet Apple, Ohio is turned upside down when one of their own is selected for the honor. (112 min) Available to stream on: Amazon Prime, iTunes, and YouTube (some fees may apply). |
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Released September 24, 2020 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live October 1, 2020 | Post-Film Discussion
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Stormy Weather
The relationship between an aspiring dancer and a popular songstress provides a story of great African American entertainers that takes place between 1918 and the swing era. Lena Horne leads this cast featuring some of the finest acts of the era including Fats Waller, The Nicholas Brothers and Cab Calloway and His Band. (78 min) Available to stream on: Amazon Prime, iTunes, and YouTube (some fees may apply). |
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Released September 10, 2020 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live September 17, 2020 | Post-Film Discussion
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State Fair (1945)
Farm family Frake, with discontented daughter Margy, head for the Iowa State Fair. On the first day, both Margy and brother Wayne meet attractive new flames; so does father's prize hog, Blue Boy. As the fair proceeds, so do the romances; must lovers separate when the fair closes? It's Rodgers & Hammerstein's only made-for-film musical and features the tunes "It Might as Well Be Spring," "That's for Me" and "It's a Grand Night for Singing." (100 min) Available to stream on: Amazon Prime, iTunes, and YouTube (some fees may apply). Please make sure it's the 1945 version and not the 1962 remake! |
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Released August 27, 2020 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live September 3, 2020 | Post-Film Discussion
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Fiddler On The Roof
It's the film adaptation of one of the greatest Broadway musicals of all time. In prerevolutionary Russia, a Jewish peasant contends with marrying off three of his daughters while growing anti-Semitic sentiment threatens his village. With a beloved score by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock and adapted from the stories of the Sholom Aleichem, this one is not to be missed! (3h 1m) Available to stream on: Netflix, Amazon Prime, iTunes, and YouTube (some fees may apply). |
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A Few Words from Bill Before You See the Film:
If you’ve never seen it, I think you’re going to be surprised by what director Norman Jewison (who had never directed a musical before) did with it. I ran into copyright issues that kept me from taping the intro I wanted to create, so you won’t see me until the Q&A. But here’s a link to a conversation between Jewison and lyricist Sheldon Harnick. Harnick’s story about writing “Sunrise, Sunset” is interesting, but even MORE interesting to me is Jewison’s obsession with getting world-renowned violinist Isaac Stern to dub the fiddler’s theme. It’s just one indication of the details that Jewison poured into telling this story. So as you watch a film that I for one believe to be a masterwork, here are some things to think about:
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Filmed Live August 20, 2020 | Post-Film Discussion
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Summer Stock
MGM brings on the show with music, dancing and technicolor in Summer Stock! As a favor to her actress sister Abigail, New England farmer Jane Falbury (Judy Garland) allows a group of actors to use her barn as a theater for their play. In return, the cast and crew have to help her with the farm chores. During rehearsals, Jane finds herself falling for the show's director, Joe Ross (Gene Kelly), who also happens to be engaged to the show's leading lady -- Abigail. (108 min.) Available to stream on: Amazon Prime, iTunes, and YouTube (some fees may apply) |
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Released July 30, 2020 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live August 7, 2020 | Post-Film Discussion
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Damn Yankees
It's the 1958 film adaptation of George Abbott's Broadway musical about a Washington Senators fan who makes a pact with the Devil to help his baseball team win the league pennant. With original star Gwen Verdon and choreographer Bob Fosse on hand, the film captures nearly every move of Verdon's legendary Tony Award-winning performance. (111 min.) Available to stream on: Amazon Prime, iTunes, and YouTube (some fees may apply) |
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Released July 17, 2020 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live July 23, 2020 | Post-Film Discussion
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Top Hat
An American dancer comes to Britain and falls for a model whom he initially annoyed, but she mistakes him for his goofy producer. It's considered one of the best Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers features in their ten-film partnership. (101 min.) Available to stream on: Amazon Prime, iTunes, and YouTube (some fees may apply) |
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Released July 3, 2020 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live July 10, 2020 | Post-Film Discussion
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1776
The original American Revolution musical blockbuster takes plays on the days leading up to July 4, 1776 when John Adams leads a heated debate among the American colonies to support a resolution on independence. The 1972 film features original Broadway cast members William Daniels, Howard Da Silva and Ken Howard. (141 min.) Available to stream on: Amazon Prime, iTunes, and YouTube (some fees may apply) |
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Released June 19, 2020 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live June 26, 2020 | Post-Film Discussion
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Guys and Dolls
In New York, a gambler is challenged to take a cold female missionary to Havana, but they fall for each other, and the bet has a hidden motive to finance a crap game. Frank Loesser's Guys and Dolls is one of the most beloved musicals of all time and the 1955 film adaptation features Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra and Vivian Blaine. (150 minutes) Available to stream on: Amazon Prime, iTunes, and YouTube (some fees may apply) |
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Released May 22, 2020 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live May 29, 2020 | Post-Film Discussion
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An American in Paris
Jerry Mulligan (Gene Kelly) is an American ex-GI who stays in post-war Paris to become a painter, and falls for the gamine charms of Lise Bouvier (Leslie Caron). However, his paintings come to the attention of a rich American heiress, who is interested in more than just art. Vincente Minnelli's 1951 masterpiece features a knock out score by George and Ira Gershwin. (116 minutes) Available to stream on: Amazon Prime, iTunes, GooglePlay and YouTube (some fees may apply) |
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Released May 8, 2020 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live May 15, 2020 | Post-Film Discussion
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42nd Street
See the original 1933 Warner Bros. picture featuring Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels, George Brent, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers! A bigtime producer puts on what may be his last Broadway show and, at the last moment, a naive newcomer has to replace the star. Hilarity and romance ensue amidst dazzling choreography with songs including "You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me," "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" and of course, "42nd Street." (89 minutes) Available to stream on: Amazon Prime, iTunes, GooglePlay and YouTube (some fees may apply) |
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Released April 24, 2020 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live May 1, 2020 | Post-Film Discussion
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Easter ParadeThis 1948 MGM favorite features Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Peter Lawford and Ann Miller. The film that delighted the world with Irving Berlin's "I Love a Piano," "Shakin' the Blues Away" and "Steppin' Out with My Baby" centers around a nightclub performer who hires a naive chorus girl to become his new dance partner to make his former partner jealous and to prove he can make any partner a star. (93 minutes)
Available to stream on: Amazon Prime, iTunes, GooglePlay and YouTube (some fees may apply). |
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Released April 10, 2020 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live April 17, 2020 | Post-Film Discussion
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Royal WeddingThis 1951 MGM movie musical features Fred Astaire, Jane Powell, Peter Lawford and Keenan Wynn. It's a romp about a brother-sister dance act that encounters challenges and romance when booked in London during the Royal Wedding. Score by Lerner & Lane. (93 minutes)
Available to stream on: Amazon Prime, iTunes, GooglePlay, YouTube (some fees may apply) or FREE with most local library cards on Kanopy. |
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Released March 27, 2020 | Pre-Film Talk
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Filmed Live April 3, 2020 | Post-Film Discussion
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