'It isn't all about those two lead characters' Grease (1978) It's a controversial choice, but Beauty School Drop-Out, performed by Frankie Avalon, has got to be the best thing about Grease. Utterly camp and harking back to well-choreographed musicals of the past, this little number is as entertaining as it is odd. With dancers parading about wearing futuristic silver curlers in their hair, Frenchy looking completely bewildered and Avalon spouting gems such as "no customer would go to you, unless she was a hooker", it's got to be one of the funniest scenes in the whole film.

Of course, Danny and Sandy sing some good numbers as well, and there's that scene where Olivia Newton-John pours herself into those black lycra trousers, but Grease isn't all about the two lead characters. Frenchy, Kenickie and Rizzo are a hugely important part of the fun. Avalon - who, by the way, can still be found playing his role as the Teen Angel in Grease stage shows - is just the saccharine icing on the cake. Elizabeth McMeekin, The Herald

'A film in love with love' Singin' in the Rain (1952) This ode to joyousness, directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, has it all - clever story, performers at the top of their game, a sharp, funny script, and sublime choreography. Performing songs and routines including the iconic title sequence, Make 'Em Laugh and Good Morning, Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds are the three amigos stumbling their way from silent movies into talkies. A film in love with cinema, in love with life, in love with love. To see it is to fall head over heels again every time.

Alison Rowat, film critic, The Herald

'Julie Andrews is brilliant' Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967) My daughter has just done a production of this, playing the Mary Tyler Moore part. I remember seeing the film very clearly, although the stage production is very different from the film. I would have been at drama school when I saw the movie for the first time. I've always been a sucker for the 1920s style of music; it's bright and optimistic, it doesn't take anything too seriously, and it's frothy and accessible. Bugsy Malone, which is also set in the twenties, is a great musical, too. I wouldn't queue up at the stage door for her autograph - I'm not a fan of anyone to that extent - but Julie Andrews is brilliant in Millie and is a phenomenal performer.

Colin Baker, actor Colin Baker is appearing in Noises Off at the King's Theatre, Glasgow, from September 22.

'The love story is timeless' West Side Story (1961) Leonard Bernstein's film is fantastic. I think I first saw it when I was in my teens in the seventies. My favourite song is the Tonight reprise before the big fight at the end of act one. It gets me every time because you see the two gangs preparing for their fight and all the while the two lovers are completely oblivious. The film is now a period piece and it's nice to sit down and watch it not just for the songs and the dancing but because it's a product of its era. There is probably scope to remake the film now. Racial tension is as prevalent today as it was in the fifties, if not more so. The story of star-crossed lovers is universal and timeless. Coming from Northern Ireland I've seen and heard stories about love breaching the sectarian divide and all the problems it caused. It has a great score and has stood the test of time. People seeing it now for the first time will enjoy it just as much as those that saw it 20 or 30 years ago.

Christopher Bell, artistic director of the National Youth Choir of Scotland The choir is performing at St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh, tomorrow at 7.30pm. For more information, call 0141 287 2856 or visit www.nycos.co.uk.

'There was great chemistry' High Society (1956) The tagline for High Society was "They're all together for the first time" and the cast is made up of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and jazz legend Louis Armstrong, who plays himself. There was a great chemistry between the actors and Cole Porter's music is some of the best he wrote. It's a movie I have watched hundreds of times. Being part of a musical family, I was exposed to musicals at a young age and this hasn't changed since I began a degree in music at Glasgow University. My childhood memories include watching great films like Carousel and Singin' in the Rain and asking myself how characters knew when to sing and how they all knew the words.

Laura Sands, box office staff, Glasgow Film Theatre

'An electric moment' The King and I (1956) "One two three, and one two three, and ..." "Oh, that's splendid, your majesty!" Aged 12, my love of The King and I came down to that scene, and still does. There they are, Anna (Deborah Kerr) in that fabulous oyster silk crinoline and the king (Yul Brynner) barefoot, she teaching him how to dance, holding two hands like children. "That is not right!" he announces, frowning. "Not the way I see Europeans dance tonight. They were not holding hands like this, but ..." He slides his arm around her waist "... like this." An electric moment - she the feisty but decorous schoolmistress, he the imperious emperor, touching at last under cover of a dance. Then they're off, he throwing her around athletically till they're both out of breath, the symbolism none too subtle. But who needs subtlety? This is a musical, and they don't come better.

Rebecca McQuillan, The Herald

'The songs are enchanting' Gigi (1958) The scandalous novelist Colette wrote this tale of playboys and courtesans - but, directed by Vincente Minnelli, it is a work of uplifting romantic art. Its backdrop of the rich man's Paris makes me dream about living in those days. Aunt Alicia is my favourite character. This beautiful old lady was mistress to many great men and tries to pass on her seduction tips to ingenue Leslie Caron. I would love to sit in on her lessons about jewels, etiquette and seduction. And, of course, the songs are enchanting. I've used several of them for my own burlesque shows.

Tina Warren, performer with the Club Noir burlesque club

'The idea is really cool' Mary Poppins (1964) Mary Poppins is the best-ever musical. I like the song Chim Chim Cheree and the tap dance that happens on a house roof. Uncle Albert, who sings the song about all the different types of laughter, is my favourite character because he always makes me laugh, too. The idea is also really cool - I wish I could have a babysitter who could make all of my toys dance around my room and give me a spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down.

The song, acting, plot, characters and setting are all the most supercalifragilisticexpialidocious thing in the world.

Anna Hazelwood, age 11

'Judy Garland is wonderful' The Wizard of Oz (1939) I think when I saw it for the first time I was really captured by the mix of fantasy and reality - that wonderful transition from black and white to a world saturated with almost hyper-real colour. The music in the film is beautiful, particularly Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and I love how it fits almost seamlessly. It's great with a musical to have moments where you suddenly realise that the scene has turned into a song and you can't think when the talking stopped and the music actually started. July Garland is wonderful but I think Dorothy closely ties with the Cowardly Lion for my favourite character - Bert Lahr plays him brilliantly. Everything - the direction, the acting, the singing - works. There's nothing that seems off or wrong in the entire film.

Craig Armstrong, composer for films including Moulin Rouge 'I grew up on this film' Annie (1982) I absolutely loved Annie when I was younger because it seemed like great fun, with all the girls and all the singing. I grew up on this film - and it has a special significance for me because Annie was my first proper job on stage, when I was 11. Playing Annie was fun because she's so feisty but still cute. The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow is my favourite number in the film because it's such a great song - really good for lifting your spirits if you're feeling a bit down.

Susan McFadden, actress Susan McFadden appears in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at the Edinburgh Playhouse until Saturday.

'I still like to sing the songs' Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) Mum, I hope you're not reading this - because when I was around six or seven and saw Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for the first time, I wished that Truly Scrumptious (played by Sally Ann Howes) could be my mum in real life.

I still shudder at the thought of the Child Catcher dancing around on those big, long spider legs of his. How many nightmares has Robert Helpmann featured in, I wonder? And, of course, I remember every single word of every single song - and when no-one's looking or listening, I still like to sing them in as Van Dyke a voice as I can manage. A tip: watch it with a young child, as I did recently, and you'll realise why this is the best musical film ever made: dark and frightening, uplifting and funny, dreamlike and nightmarish. And Sally Ann, if you're reading this, there is still time to adopt me.

Mark Smith, The Herald Grease is re-released for one night only on September 24. It is screening at the Glasgow Film Theatre at 6.15pm.