10 Best Movie Adaptations of Musicals

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 2:46pm

The discussion of best overtures and the Little Shop reboot had me thinking of the best movie adaptations of stage musicals. Your opinion? Here's mine (numbered to keep track not to rank in importance)
1) West SIde Story
2) The Music Man
3) The Sound of Music
4) The King and I
5) My Fair Lady
6) Oliver!
7) Chicago
8 ) Cabaret
9) Hedwig and the Angry Inch
10) Little Shop of Horrors

Honorable Mention
- Fiddler on the Roof - faithful, but soooo dreary
- Gypsy - I can overlook Roz's croaking because of the genius of the show and adaptation
- HAIR! - a brilliant attempt. Not like the original, but it works where a more faithful version wouldn't
- Dreamgirls - never catches fire, but much to enjoy
- Into the Woods - see Dreamgirls

Updated On: 12/10/16 at 02:46 PM

[Dave28282]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 3:10pm

This is interesting, I was just thinking about this subject after the Hugh Jackman tragedy post.

What makes a great musicalfilm? First, embracing the music and the sung notes, and taking it all the way up to the heavens. The music and the notes are actors too and they lead the acting. This artform/way of storytelling only works when fully embraced. Only if the singing is real, it will feel raw, organic and real for the audience.

The best movie adaptation of a musical so far is Miss Saigon in my opinion. Or does that not count because the filmset was a stage? Most moments are so very well captured, acted, sung and sculptured that it is a true piece of art. Every nuance in a note or situation makes sense. True emotion and true beauty. It feels very organic and raw. The way it's filmed hightens it even more.

Now, for the movies filmed on other sets. I would say The Sound of Music is done really well. Some parts of Grease are done very well. Little shop of Horrors has some fantastic moments (somewhere that's green with the clips you see in her mind, the whole opening sequence, etc). 

Because this language, the given of singing, is mainly about people's thoughts, it is very important that the approach is not too literal, because this artform per definition is not. So I like it when they dare to go into the dreamworld of people's minds. In the sound of music many songs have another purpose, like singing for the barones, singing on a wedding, or hearing music in a sequence about a personal journey. It's very important that the focus lies either on the notes, or on clever editing. That's why Les Mis is is such a mistake. Mouthing/speak-singing all the words in 1 takers, the most wrong and literal thing you can do. But if you do, make the singing very good, so it still becomes natural.

It can also be used as a voice over. This is film.






Updated On: 12/10/16 at 03:10 PM

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 3:17pm

You're right in that the makers need to realize the potential of film. Les Miz and The Producers are examples of taking the capturing of the experience on film too literally. 

I had forgotten Grease. Not very faithful to the original, but like Cabaret, it made for an entertaining movie. (Although I ADORE Cabaret and occasionally enjoy Grease)

[Dave28282]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 3:26pm

MarkBearSF said: "You're right in that the makers need to realize the potential of film. Les Miz and The Producers are examples of taking the capturing of the experience on film too literally. 
"

I know, it's too literal. That is one of the biggest mistakes of (musical)filmmakers of this century. They have the misconception that "toning it down" makes it more real and truthful. While the truth is, it's the opposite. It makes it feel silly and fake. There is no truthfulness in a seeing a person struggling with notes which get in the way of the acting, sounding lame and funny and inadequate. Because there is no point in singing then.

Because of this misconception, musicalfilms either miss good cinematography, or good music/singing. 

Les Mis has neither of these things, Sound of Music has both, and therefore the latter feels more real and timeless.

 

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 3:51pm

hi mark 

strong list

i also like(and inclues my top 10 in no order)

how to succeed in business-robert morse is fantastic

hairspray-i really like the movie version(so shoot me)

les mis-other than russell as javert and nick jonas this is a job well done

dreamgirls-anything w beyonce and jennifer hudson makes my top 10

south pacific-enjoyed the 1958 film very much even if mostly dubbed

the king and i-yul captured forever  yay

Chicago-maybe best adaptation of all time

cabaret-liza and joel...thank you hollywood

my fair lady-audrey rex and marni

music man-robert preston rocks it

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 3:57pm

Nick Jonas wasn't in the les mis movie

[Dave28282]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 4:03pm

I also love the cinematography and editing and the use of music as a voice over in Evita. Imagine if it was really well sung too.

I fear the same thing for the upcoming  Beauty and the beast film too. Just like the Phantom film. Nice sets/cinematography, lame singing. 

Maybe in a few years we will have the first film that has both.

Updated On: 12/10/16 at 04:03 PM

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 4:14pm

broadwaysfguy - How to Succeed - YES!

Personally, not an Evita fan, although the movie is very strong cinematically, and has a lot to enjoy. 

Hairspray - John Travolta is the question about it, in my mind. I think his performance was just "off" (It as almost as if I was watching him trying too hard for the Balmore accent and forgetting everything else. And then, he'd occasionally connect - as the skilled actor that he is). And his strangely bloated face in close up on the big screen, Oy!

I briefly flirted with Mamma Mia, simply for the joy. Although it's a HORRIBLY messy movie. Not just for the ill-considered singers, but the lack of a firm director's hand who should've told Meryl to stop mugging so much. (I also personally loathe Abba music, so there's that as well)

Updated On: 12/10/16 at 04:14 PM

[Nefertiti]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 4:15pm

There is nothing better than enjoying a live musical on stage, so my perspective on movie musicals is a bit harsh as I never seem to enjoy a tune with either changed tempo or lower keys. Also once a piece transfer from stage to screen there are always changes, extra dialogue or what annoys me most are deleted Musical numbers which made me despise every movie musical ever made. 

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 4:33pm

While we're discussing this, Playbill just teased their list of upcoming film adaptations.

http://www.playbill.com/article/schedule-of-upcoming-movie-musical-adaptations-com-216487

Updated On: 12/10/16 at 04:33 PM

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 4:38pm

DAMMIT - I just remembered 1776, That one needs to be on the list too.

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 4:49pm

I might get crap for this, but I think The Last Five Years is one of the best movie musicals ever. 2 great performances from Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan, the score is one of the best ever written for the stage, flawlessly translated to the big screen, the cinematography is intimate and great, and the location scouting and set design is beautiful. Jeremy Jordan as Jamie is a little unlikable, and there are some parts where they shoot with natural lighting where they should have had more lighting, but the good far outshines the bad.

[Dave28282]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 5:01pm

I am very excited for a Jekyll & Hyde movie as well. I listened to the studio album last week with Anthony Warlow and it sounds very filmic. He paints with words, notes and acting, very intriguing. I was almost sucked into my speaker.

Maybe Jeremy Jordan could play dr Jekyll? 

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 5:10pm

mark-maybe building a top 20?

i just remembered

pajama game-doris day was awesome

sweet charity-shirley maclaine was epic

funny girl-barbra

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 5:16pm

This may be a personal thing, but I've grown to really dislike the autotune sound so prevalent these days and its unnecessary overuse in the movie ruined The Last Five Years for me. You're right, the performances are great and it's a nice little film of a great "little" musical.

Updated On: 12/10/16 at 05:16 PM

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 5:18pm

I didn't think there was any auto tune. 11 of the 14 songs were sung live on set. If I had any criticism about the vocals, Anna Kendrick is projecting a bit too much, like she's trying to fill an auditorium.

[Mrtrobz]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 6:04pm

Chicago, Oliver! and Little Shop are great examples. I feel like Wicked is going to be something special just because they've worked on it for so long. Then again I thought that about Les Miserables and didn't like it much.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 7:10pm

Here's how I judge stage-to-screen adaptations: the film of course has to honor the original material while at the same time, take advantage of the medium to find a new way of telling the story.

My Top 10 are...
1. West Side Story
2. Les Miserables
3. Fiddler on the Roof
4. Sweeney Todd
5. The Sound of Music
6. Little Shop of Horrors
7. Chicago
8. Hairspray
9. Grease
10. My Fair Lady

Honorable Mentions: 1776, Carousel, Funny Girl, Jersey Boys, The King & I, Oklahoma!, Oliver!, South Pacific

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 7:25pm

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "...4. Sweeney Todd..."

I considered Sweeney, but still feel that it's mostly a miss. An interesting attempt, but largely a miss.
The most important factor with judging the adaptation for that show, to me, is the existing video of Angela Lansbury and George Hearn with pretty-much the original staging. That to me is the reference standard. If the movie were the only captured performance, I'd be much harsher in my opinion, but in this case I was more willing to let Tim Burton have his way with it. Whether it ultimately worked or not.

(Also true of Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park with George.)

[South Florida]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 8:09pm

1)   A Funny Thing Happened on the Way.........

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN-ttCBHyx8

[Dave28282]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 8:29pm

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "Here's how I judge stage-to-screen adaptations: the film of course has to take advantage of the medium to find a new way of telling the story.

My Top 10 are...
2. Les Miserables
 

"

A one take shot of Hugh Jackman live bleating Bring him home on a stage is not taking advantage of the medium, that is just the same approach as on stage.

What's new is that he does it louder and less filmic than anyone who has ever done it before.

Updated On: 12/10/16 at 08:29 PM

[ggersten]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 8:44pm

Alphabethical

1776

Chicago

Damn Yankees

Fiddler on the Roof

Little Shop of Horrors

My Fair Lady

Oklahoma

Oliver!

Sound of Music

West Side Story

Note 1: Wow, five Oscar winners for Best Picture

Note 2: I love Cabaret and Hair and The Bandwagon, and they would have made my list, but feel those are far more dramatic variations than adaptations though the ones on my list do have some dramatic differences from the original shows. The film version of Bye Bye Birdie would not have made my list, but it is a guilty pleasure.

Note 3:  Strongly considered the Disney TV versions of Annie and Bye Bye Birdie, but those are TV versions.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 9:01pm

The TV version of Bye Bye Birdie may have aired on ABC, but it wasn't by Disney.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 9:22pm

Dave28282 said: "I am very excited for a Jekyll & Hyde movie as well. I listened to the studio album last week with Anthony Warlow and it sounds very filmic. He paints with words, notes and acting, very intriguing. I was almost sucked into my speaker.

Maybe Jeremy Jordan could play dr Jekyll? "

wtf are you talking about

[Dave28282]

Posted: 12/11/16 at 7:15am

About what works in a musical film and what does not. You know, a little brainstorming for better future results.