Watch: This 2-Minute Video Shows You Every Homage to Classic Musicals in 'La La Land'
"I guess I'll see you in the movies." —Sebastian (La La Land)
It's not every day that a classically brilliant musical hits the big screen, so when one does, it quickly becomes the cinematic darling that charms moviegoers across the spectrum. Damien Chazelle's La La Land, which received 14 Oscar nominations, is essentially the musical-lover's musical. As you can see in this video essay by Sara Preciado, La La Land pays homage to the many song and dance films that came before it, like Singin' in the Rain, Grease, and many more.
Preciado pinpoints 15 different homages to famous films in La La Land, two of which come from non-musicals (Boogie Nights and Le Ballon Rouge), and 13 of which come from some of the most famous musicals in history. In fact, if you're looking for a good musical to watch after being dazzled by Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone's beautiful voices and skillful dancing, the film references in Chazelle's musical serve as the perfect must-watch list.
- Les demoiselles de Rochefort (1967)
- Grease (1978)
- West Side Story (1961)
- Sweet Charity (1969)
- Singin' in the Rain (1952)
- Shall We Dance (1937)
- The Band Wagon (1953)
- Moulin Rouge (2001)
- Funny Face (1957)
- An American in Paris (1951)
- Les parapluies de cherbourg (1964)
- On the Town (1949)
- The Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940)
Source: Sara Preciado
