The Ultimate Movie Musicals Bracket - Round Six, Day Two

50 Frenchmen can't be wrong.

Well, folks, we’re halfway to figuring out the Top Two of the Ultimate Movie Musicals Bracket. I, of course, am typing these words before either Final Four match has taken place. (Obviously before the one you’re about to vote on takes place, but you get my point.) I mention that because for all I know, my favorite film of all time has lost in its quest to win this bracket, but I know you wouldn’t break my heart like that.

…right?

Well, anyway, whatever the opposition is, we do have to decide today the other half of the Top Two. So it’s time for you to vote!

(17) Beauty and the Beast (1991) vs. (2) An American in Paris: I adore Beauty and the Beast. It is one of the greatest animated films of all time. It is the type of magical filmmaking that far outpaces so many other films — animated or live-action — that you just wish other filmmakers could compete. (I know that The Silence of the Lambs winning the Best Picture Oscar was right and all, but this also should have won.)

However. You knew there was a “however” on the way, I bet. I won’t mount an argument about whether or not this is a musical, both because I stated yesterday that it very much is, and also, I’m the last person to make this complaint considering I made this bracket. However. When I think of iconic movie musicals, and indeed what I envision the quintessential movie musical to be, I think of the Freed era from MGM. I think of Gene Kelly, of Judy Garland, of Fred Astaire, and so on. I think of the films that are represented in the That’s Entertainment compilation series.

It’s not that I don’t think of animation. But the degree of difficulty with an animated musical vs. a live-action musical is just very different. As Gene Kelly probably couldn’t do what Disney animators did, they probably couldn’t do what he did. And when I make a momentous vote like this, it’s that type of debate roiling in my head. Beauty and the Beast is a wonderful film, and one of my favorites. But An American in Paris is pretty close to the prototypical movie musical. And here’s the thing: if Meet Me in St. Louis was here (as surprising as I would find it), I’d vote for that over Beauty as well. I like Paris better, though.

That’s me. How do you vote?

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

An American in Paris