Originally a distraction from the horrors of war during the 1940s and 1950s, the American Musical grew in popularity throughout the 20th century. The musical combines acting, dancing, and singing to form cohesive pictures that are still treasured today.
             The musical requires a collaborative effort between all elements of the film, whether musical or not. The lyrics, music, and dance have to collate with the plot, effects, and characterization to make a movie worth watching. Stars of the American Musical must act, sing, and often dance to get a part in a movie. Musicals must always appeal to a range of people, from a 5-year-old to an 85-year-old, to guarantee viewers. The music always has catchy upbeat songs or slow ballads that the listener can sing along to, which provides more mass appeal. Some of the more common musical theater themes include nostalgia, the Cinderella story, realism, and adaptations of literature. The nostalgia theme is seen in Oklahoma!, Carousel, and Showboat. The Cinderella story is represented by The King and I, The Sound of Music, and My Fair Lady. In Annie Get Your Gun, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and Newsies, realism can be seen based on actual events from the past. Some musicals based on literature include The Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Jekyll & Hyde, and West Side Story.
             The American Musical has gone through many changes since becoming a popular film genre. Early musicals were American versions of the English Operetta, such as The Student Prince. After this, "genuine" American Musicals were made, such as Annie Get Your Gun and Porgy and Bess. Then came realistic musicals such as South Pacific and Camelot, which were musicals with themes that most people could relate to because they were more believable or actually true stories. Soon, even newer approaches to the American Musical were developed, as seen in Guys & Dolls and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
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