‘Erudite, enlightening and full of elan’ The Guardian

‘The Sound of Movie Musicals’, presented by composer and musician Neil Brand, is a colourful three-part history of the film musical.

Filmed around the world, the series takes an analytical eye to the development of the movie musical – from the golden age of Hollywood, to the blockbuster musicals of the last decade, exploring how each film is a product of its time.

In each episode we’re introduced to the superstars of the musical form – from Busby Berkeley and Fred and Ginger, to Gene Kelly, Bob Fosse and modern day legends Pasek and Paul. But we also uncover some lesser-known stories – the remarkable musicals of Soviet Russia, propaganda musicals in Nazi Germany, the rapid expansion of the Bollywood industry, and the emergence of the movie musical in China.

Along the way, Neil meets the writers, directors and choreographers behind some of cinema’s greatest numbers. And in his signature style, he takes to the piano to dissect the songs that made have these films stand the test of time in toe-tapping style.