Only one year after the presentation of the first Academy Awards on May 16, 1929, two musicals joined the select group of five films nominated for Best Picture. One, The Broadway Melody, won the award, and since then, 37 additional musicals have received Best Picture nominations. Of those, nine have won the award.

This book covers all 39 Hollywood musicals nominated for Best Picture. It explains why each film was nominated and why the winners won, points out the influences that guided the productions, and discusses these films' influences on succeeding films. Plot descriptions are provided, along with facts about the acting, direction, choreography, and orchestration; complete cast and production credits; and comments from critics.