Few genres demand the big screen treatment like the musical, and this month the Cinematheque gives you the opportunity to see some of the greatest song-and-dance films ever made the way they were meant to be seen. From a pair of hippie takes on the Bible (JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and GODSPELL) to Robert Wise classics and the 1980s favorites FOOTLOOSE and GREASE, this series is a feast for the eyes and ears.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, 1973, Universal, 108 min. Dir. Norman Jewison. An endlessly entertaining, strange hybrid extravaganza, as Hollywood and Flower Power sentiments collide courtesy of the Broadway smash hit, revisiting the public life of Christ and his crucifixion. Adapted from Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s landmark rock-opera, and featuring such standout numbers as "I Don’t Know How to Love Him," "What’s the Buzz?" and "Heaven on Their Minds," performed by an extremely talented cast including Ted Neeley as Christ, Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene and the late Carl Anderson in a standout role as Judas Iscariot. Trailer

GODSPELL: A MUSICAL BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW, 1973, Sony Repertory, 103 min. The story of Jesus is transposed to the 1970s, where a group of young hippie disciples sing and dance their way through New York City. Director David Greene infuses his adaptation of the popular stage musical with energy and joy, helped along by Stephen Schwartz's catchy score (including highlights like "Day by Day").

DAMES, 1934, Warner Bros., 91 min. Dirs. Ray Enright & Busby Berkeley. Joan Blondell, Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler star in this Busby Berkeley extravaganza, which features terrific songs like "When You Were a Smile on Your Mother's Lips and a Twinkle in Your Daddy's Eye" and the classic title track. Best of all is "I Only Have Eyes for You," a hallucinatory musical number in which Powell imagines that all of the women in New York have been transformed into Ruby Keeler--one of the best examples ever of choreographer Berkeley's obsession with multiples and symmetry. Trailer

GOLD DIGGERS OF 1935, 1935, Warner Bros., 95 min. Dir. Busby Berkeley. Following the success of GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933, Warners and director/choreographer/mad genius Busby Berkeley returned for this even more fabulous concoction starring Dick Powell, Adolphe Menjou and Gloria Stuart, featuring some of the most jaw-droppingly lavish musical numbers ever conceived. Mrs. Prentiss (Alice Brady) has her heart set on her daughter (Stuart) falling for a millionaire snuffbox expert (Hugh Herbert), but she has eyes for a desk clerk (Powell) studying to be a doctor. If you’re a fan of Baz Luhrmann’s MOULIN ROUGE, then don’t miss this surreal masterpiece of over-the-top choreography and art direction! 1936 Academy Award nominee for Best Original Song – "Lullaby of Broadway." Trailer

GREASE, 1978, Paramount, 110 min. "Grease is the word!" Pompadoured tough-guy John Travolta learns the meaning of true love, 1950’s style, from summertime sweetheart Olivia Newton-John who turns up unexpectedly at Rydell High as the new girl in school when the Fall semester starts! The fantastic supporting cast includes Stockard Channing, Jeff Conaway, Eve Arden and Frankie Avalon. A soundtrack of wall-to-wall hits ("You’re The One That I Want," "Hopelessly Devoted to You," "Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee," Greased Lightning") and plenty of dancing make director Randal Kleiser’s GREASE an irresistible teen-dream of a movie musical. Trailer