How about the BEST musical film adaptations of all time?- Page 2

[Roscoe]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 6:37pm

SWEENEY TODD
WEST SIDE STORY
CABARET, I guess.
OLIVER, I guess.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 6:48pm

Chicago
WSS
Sound of Music
Kiss Me, Kate
King and I
My Fair Lady
Hello, Dolly! (shut up, I liked it)
Annie (ditto)

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 7:00pm

I'd rate The Sound Of Music as #1, because the movie is so much better than the show. After that, I'd put Cabaret, 1776, and Oliver.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 7:01pm

Best of Broadway to Hollywood musicals:

The Sound of Music
West Side Story
Oliver!
Fiddler on the Roof
The King and I

Pretty damn good:

Chicago
Cabaret
Funny Girl
My Fair Lady
1776
The Music Man

Guilty pleasures:

Hello, Dolly!
Sweet Charity
Gypsy
Jesus Christ, Superstar
How To Succeed ...
Call Me Madam

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 7:44pm

How could I forget Music Man? (Even though I've never been a Shirley Jones fan.) The new version with Matthew Broderick makes me queasy.

I loved Oliver, but I thought it dragged a bit, which is funny, because the real show always seems to speed by for me. Amazing cast, though.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 7:45pm

How could I forget Music Man? (Even though I've never been a Shirley Jones fan.) The new version with Matthew Broderick makes me queasy.

I loved Oliver, but I thought it dragged a bit, which is funny, because the real show always seems to speed by for me. Amazing cast, though.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 8:04pm

There are some film adaptations that I respect, but can't really watch again, but then there are others that, although flawed, I could watch again and again, like 1776 and HOW TO SUCCEED and OKLAHOMA and FLOWER DRUM SONG and DAMN YANKEES.

The 1955 musical version of MY SISTER EILEEN is pretty bad except for one brilliant number danced by Tommy Rall and Bob Fosse. See the link below. (I believe this is the first film for which Fosse received choreography credit.)



Rall and Fosse Dance in MY SISTER EILEEN

[Marianne2]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 8:40pm

The Sound of Music
West Side Story
Hairspray

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 9:02pm

Miss Penny---You just mentioned another guilty pleasure of mine ... I LOVE "Flower Drum Song."

EDIT: Although I also love "My Sister Eileen," I don't consider it a Broadway-to-Hollywood musical. It was a musical movie version of the non-musical play "My Sister Eileen."

LOVE it, just the same!

Updated On: 1/3/10 at 09:02 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 9:08pm

And even though they gutted the original score (as with Cabaret), I'm a huge fan of the movie "On the Town!"

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 9:17pm

wow, some of you mentioned films I forgot about! I also loved Flower Drum Song.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 9:33pm

I also love "Damn Yankees" and "Pajama Game" with 90 percent of their OBCs intact, and just to see Gwen and Bob do "Who's Got the Pain?" together, and Carol Haney do "Steam Heat" ... golden. Plus, while not PERFECT, both movies are hugely entertaining.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 9:53pm

Don't forget "Once a Year Day" in Pajama Game--wasn't that the moment when Fosse became Fosse?

I love each and every frame of Flower Drum Song, despite any political incorrectness.

And while we're on the subject--let's hear a little love for the 1936 Showboat.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 10:03pm

I cannot believe I am in agreement with Pal Joey

This is an auspicious start for 2010.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 10:42pm

1. The Sound of Music
2. Hairspray
3. West Side Story

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 10:47pm

The Sound of Music!

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 1/3/10 at 10:54pm

Besty, that's why I referred to it as "the musical version" of MY SISTER EILEEN.

That number with Fosse and Rall is one of the best dance sequences on film I've ever seen so it deserves to be mentioned...and watched!

[Gavin Rehfeldt]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 12:01am

In no particular order, per se...

1. Hedwig
2. Li'l Abner
3. Cabaret
4. The Boyfriend (wildly indulgent, but fascinating)
5. Flower Drum Song
6. Little Shop of Horrors
7. Jesus Christ Superstar (totally love it)
8. archy and mehitabel (animated Shinbone Alley!)
9. Carousel
10. Kiss Me Kate

Updated On: 1/4/10 at 12:01 AM

[JP2]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 12:05am

HAIRSPRAY
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
HEDWIG

And, I just re-watched Sweeney Todd today. It's Tim Burton's masterpiece.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 8:52am

My definition of BEST for a film, would be an adaptation that retains what is great about the show, and effectively uses its medium, to present the musical. For example, I find My Fair Lady the worst example of this. The Sound of Music, is in its own universe. It is THE best. Nothing else even comes close. My other favorite film adaptations are:

The Music Man
West Side Story
Oklahoma!
and yes, Hello, Dolly!

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 9:03am

I have to agree that The Sound of Music is the best of the best.

The Music Man was a great celebration of drum corps music. Robert Preston was perfect.

[Craig]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 9:14am

In addition to the ones mentioned

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Which for me worked much better on film than it did on stage.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 9:40am

I love Flower Drum Song and think that "Once A Year Day" is the single worst choreographed number in film history. It almost completely ruins the film for me. It doesn't, however. I love The Pajama Game, with that one exception. All that great music gone to waste.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 9:55am

What's to hate about "Once a Year Day"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkdWgMFzVNE

Btw, JB--I tried to answer your question last week but your PMs are turned off.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 10:13am

I love Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. I just didn't mention that or Singin' in the Rain because I wasn't sure if they counted, since I've heard the stage versions weren't good.