A Century of Movie Musicals Trivia Quiz

Released on March 11, 1933, "42nd Street" starred Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels, and Ruby Keeler. Set during the Great Depression, the film follows a Broadway production struggling through setbacks, including the injury of its leading lady. A young chorus performer gets a last-minute chance to step into the starring role and prove herself.

The movie helped establish the backstage musical formula that became popular throughout the 1930s. More than fifty years later, it was adapted into a successful Broadway stage musical, which opened in 1980.

"Meet Me in St. Louis" premiered on November 28, 1944, and featured Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor, and Tom Drake. Rather than focusing on show business, the story follows an upper-middle-class family in St. Louis during the year leading up to the 1904 World's Fair.

Among its most enduring songs are "The Trolley Song" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". A stage adaptation reached Broadway in 1989, introducing the story to a new generation of theatre audiences.

Released on October 4, 1951, "An American in Paris" starred Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant, and Georges Guétary. Kelly plays an American artist trying to build a career in postwar Paris while navigating both romance and artistic ambition.

The movie is especially remembered for its lengthy ballet finale, set to George Gershwin's music and inspired by the styles of several French painters. It was later adapted into a stage musical, which premiered in Paris in 2014 before transferring to Broadway.

Opening on December 18, 1968, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" featured Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries, and Benny Hill. The story follows an eccentric inventor, his children, and a magical flying car that carries them into a series of adventures involving spies, royalty, and a rather unfriendly child-catcher.

Based loosely on a novel by Ian Fleming, the film developed a devoted following over the years. It was adapted into a stage musical in London in 2002 and has enjoyed numerous revivals.

Released on June 30, 1971, "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" starred Gene Wilder, Peter Ostrum, Jack Albertson, and Roy Kinnear. Young Charlie Bucket wins a golden ticket that grants him access to Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory, where a series of lessons unfolds for a group of children and their families.

Initial box-office returns were modest, but television broadcasts helped turn the film into a cultural touchstone. It inspired the stage musical "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", which premiered in London's West End in 2013.

"The Blues Brothers" debuted on June 20, 1980, and starred John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Cab Calloway, and Carrie Fisher. Fresh out of prison, Jake Blues reunites with his brother Elwood to save the orphanage where they were raised by getting their old band back together.

Part road movie, part comedy, and part concert film, it features appearances by several legendary musicians including Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles. The film had a sequel in "Blues Brothers 2000" that starred Aykroyd and John Goodman, along with a new selection of musical cameos.

Released on October 4, 1996, this affectionate look at 1960s pop music starred Tom Everett Scott, Liv Tyler, Johnathon Schaech, Steve Zahn, and Tom Hanks. The story traces the rapid rise of a small-town band whose catchy song unexpectedly becomes a national hit. As the group's fame grows, the members discover that success brings both opportunities and complications.

"Moulin Rouge!" premiered on May 18, 2001, starring Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, Jim Broadbent, and Richard Roxburgh. Set in Paris at the turn of the twentieth century, it tells the story of a young writer who falls in love with the star performer of the famous nightclub.

Director Baz Luhrmann blended a romantic period setting with contemporary pop songs, creating a distinctive musical style. The film was adapted into the Broadway musical "Moulin Rouge! The Musical", which opened in 2019.

Released on December 9, 2016, "La La Land" starred Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. The film follows a jazz pianist and an aspiring actress as they pursue their careers in Los Angeles while trying to maintain their relationship. Rather than offering a traditional fairy-tale ending, the story explores the tension between personal dreams and romantic commitments.

"Spirited" was released on November 11, 2022, starring Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer, and Patrick Page. Inspired by Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", the story imagines how the spirits choose and guide the next person destined for a holiday redemption. The film mixes comedy, contemporary songs, and a fresh take on a familiar holiday tale.