What is an old musical film prior to 1960?

I am doing a film project for school and i need to watch two musical films. and one needs to be prior to 1960 and the other that has a logical progression from the classic(prior to 1960) to contemporary. I was thinking of doing the musical film "Chicago"(2003) but i dont know a musical film that i could do slightly related to it that is prior to 1960.(maybe one that includes dancing or something related to "chicago" .

If not, than any other suggestions for good musical films would be wonderful!!!!!!! Thank you soo much! you would really help me out a lot!

What is an old musical film prior to 1960?movie theatre

"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," which is Marilyn Monroe's best musical. 1953.

What is an old musical film prior to 1960?playhouse opera theater

Damn Yankees (1958). Bob Fosse choreographed it, and also directed the original B'way production of Chicago. The 2003 film uses many of his signature moves(the feline grace, the sharply-delineated poses, the black bowler hats, the "pop" into a pose, the overt sexuality).

It is past your stated time-frame, but Sweet Charity (1969, his film directorial debut) contains that most Fosse-esque of all Fosse routines: "Hey Big Spender"

All That Jazz (1979, also directed by Fosse) offers a thinly fictionalized version of Fosse (Roy Scheider as "Joey Gideon") and the heart attack he suffered while directing Chicago and simultaneously editing Lenny (1974) a biopic about pioneering "sick" stand-up comic Lenny Bruce. It just starts there. Not suitable for youngsters, although I loved it when it came out, and I was 16.

Fosse also had a "specialty" dance number, with Carol Haney, in Kiss Me Kate (1953).
The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

State Fair (1945)

Easter Parade (1948)

White Christmas (1954)

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

The King and I (1956)
Kiss Me Kate, might be a better choice
How about "Singing in the Rain" or "Gigi", lots of singing and dancing.Good luck!
You should do The Wizard of Oz. Maybe not the most original idea but it was a beautiful film, technicolor landmark. Then there's The Wiz, a film made in 1978. check them out on wikipedia and google them.
One of the top older films is "42nd Street", but there are lots of pre-1960 musicals:

Gigi

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Pal Joey

The King %26amp; I

Anchors Aweigh

On the Town

South Pacific

High Society

Kiss Me, Kate

Oklahoma!

Carousel

An American in Paris

Funny Face

Artists %26amp; Models

Guys %26amp; Dolls

White Christmas

Brigadoon

There's No Business Like Show Business

Call Me Madam

Singin' in the Rain

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Annie Get Your Gun

Summer Stock

Three Little Words

The Barkleys of Broadway

Easter Parade

The Pirate

The Harvey Girls

State Fair (1945)

Meet Me in St. Louis

Most of these are original musicals, while some are concocted from songs that already had been written. I wouldn't know which one to suggest to you.
Showboat is a good one.

The movie "All That Jazz"(1979) is kind of a predecessor to "Chicago".