50 Greatest Musical Numbers In Film History

38. Little Girls - Annie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDkEXszYtdo Is this a technically perfect vocal performance that will send chills up your spine? No. Is it one of the most hilariously nasty musical numbers ever committed to celluloid? Absolutely. Carol Burnett plays the drunken, embittered Miss Hannigan, a woman with the horrible luck of running an orphanage despite the fact that she can€™t stand children, in a way that no one else could. She adds so many little touches and bits of business to the performance that make it memorable, and enjoyable long after Tomorrow and It€™s a Hard Knock Life have worn out their welcome.

37. Ladies Who Lunch - Camp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8y9pNqjtb0 This is a hard one to describe, because it€™s just so absurd. All of the characters in this film are musical theater lovers attending a performing arts summer camp, and part of the quirkiness of the story is that they€™re all putting on musicals that are seriously age-inappropriate. That€™s how you end up with a young Anna Kendrick performing Ladies Who Lunch from Company, most famously sung by a middle-aged Elaine Stritch. And to be fair, the intense little girl sings the hell out of it. It was clear even back then that she was an immensely talented performer, even when she€™s involved in such an odd, disorientating musical number.
Contributor
Contributor

Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.