From the magic of Astaire and the pathos of Garland to the flair of Fosse, The Rough Guide to Film Musicals is the perfect companion to cinema"s most spectacular genre, revealing how an escapist entertainment became Hollywood"s most ingenious art form.

The history: Charting the genre"s journey from the early talkies Hallelujah! and The Broadway Melody, through its brief, but glorious heyday to recent successes such as Evita and Chicago

The canon: 50 essential musicals, including such enduring classics as Top Hat, Singin"In The Rain and West Side Story, plus forgotten gems like High, Wide And Handsome and Summer Holiday

The icons: Profiles of musical legends from Gene Kelly and Julie Andrews to Busby Berkeley and George Gershwin

And the rest: Scores of film reviews, plus behind-the-scenes stories, musicals from around the world, and a round-up of the best books, memorabilia, soundtracks and websites