AFI's 25 Greatest Movie Musicals- Page 2

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 10:59am

"I would like to know why the movie versions of "Phantom", "Rent", and "The Producers" didn't even make the ballot list."

Because they weren't even among the best films of their given years, let alone among the best musicals of "all time."

They have stood no test of time, in fact. They were neither popular nor critical successes when they were released.

But other than that, I agree with you. Why aren't they on there?

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 11:02am

I've never understood the awe in which critics refer to SINGIN' IN THE RAIN. It's fun, and has a couple of nice numbers, but that's about it. Who the hell are these people who deem everything the "greatest", anyway? The AFI really should just go back to focusing on preserving film. They've been showing rather mediocre prints at their Silver Spring, Maryland location of late.

[SDav 10495]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 11:04am

Because they weren't even among the best films of their given years, let alone among the best musicals of "all time."

Yeah, although I enjoyed them, I know they are not worthy of the Top 25. But a good number of the films on the ballot list fall into that category, and I just wish the newer ones had been given a chance--even a symbolic one--rather than being tossed aside and not even considered, as if the AFI was making some kind of "statement". I'm much more annoyed by that than I would be if they weren't in the Top 25.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 11:10am

Singin' in the Rain is one of the best MOVIES of all time, let a lone Best Musicals.

Sorry if you don't "get it"... but you must know you're truly in the minority with that sentiment.

And as far as the newer ones getting tossed aside... film makers are fighting a big battle today. Not only is the genre a risky one at best... there aren't a whole lot of people around who know what they're doing when it comes to making them. They just aren't made all that often. Singin' in the Rain, Oz, An American in Paris... they were all part of a fabulous musical-making factory... at the height of its creative power and ability.

It would be very tough to compete with that... ever again.

[ErinDillyFan]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 11:13am

AFI loves John Travolta, Grease will be in the top 5!

For me.
1. Oliver!
2. West Side Story
3. My Fair Lady
4. Wizard of OZ
5. Cabaret
6. Mary Poppins
7. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

I think will happen:
1. Wizard of OZ
2. An American in Paris
3. The Sound of Music
4. Singin' in the Rain
5. Grease
6. Mary Poppins
7. West Side Story

And why has no one put "Thoroughly Modern Millie" on their list. After all wasn't it one of the largest grossing musicals of all time when it was released.

[Jilani]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 11:18am

Will there be a TV special in connection with this at some point?

[rose_pearl]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 11:30am

My vote goes to Singin' In The Rain, and it deserves to be there.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 11:30am

THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT is considered to be the first major Rock n' Roll film by a major studio. Its also the first live action cartoon film, directed by one of the great animation masters, Frank Tashlin (not a film that includes both live action and animation). And its its own goofy way, it's one of the most radical films of the 1950s.

"Rockpile dust is on my shoes! I'm a guy that's born to lose!
When I hear the siren call..

WooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

I get those blues!"


(Is anyone else surprised that SONG OF THE SOUTH is on the list?)

Updated On: 8/29/06 at 11:30 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 11:47am

"(Is anyone else surprised that SONG OF THE SOUTH is on the list?)"

Not really... because I've seen the movie.

I don't expect it to make the Top 25, though. But it's a wonderful film filled with creative and imaginative movie magic... and all that over-hyped racism! This film's portrayal of the "happy slave" isn't any more overbearing than the handful of African-American characters in Gone With the Wind. Probably LESS so, even. These characters do what they do, and behave they way they do to SURVIVE their circumstances. They're not "poster slaves" for an idealized way of life. They are doing their best to fit in to their (forced-upon) societies.

And James Baskett as Uncle Remus turns in a (special) Academy Award-winning performance! His story-telling scenes are pure magic, even before the animated sequences start. It's great to see that kind of talent on the screen.

I think it's a shame this film has been buried all these years. I hope Disney will begin to understand what a mistake they've made by keeping it under wraps for so long.

[MarkRascati]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 11:50am

Top 5 prediction:

1. My Fair Lady
2. Singin' In The Rain
3. Wizard Of Oz
4. Sound of Music
5. West Side Story

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 11:58am

Personally, I'll take almost every musical made in the 1960's, over SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, which I do like, and AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, which I despise.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 1:01pm

best12bars, the reason I'm surprised SONG OF THE SOUTH is on the list is because for years, it was almost impossible to see because of the supposed racism, and is only just coming out in the USA on DVD (its been available in the UK and Japan for a while). The film is luscious in great Technicolor, and Baskett is wonderful. What makes the film difficult for me is the molar-decaying sweetness of the live-action 'kid' sequences. Luanna Patten makes me REALLY appreciate Maragaret O'Brien.

[BtMartin25]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 1:05pm

I'm glad movie musicals are becomming "popular" again.

[SDav 10495]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 1:10pm

and is only just coming out in the USA on DVD

It IS?! I read that Iger recently announced that it wouldn't be released anytime in the forseeable future. Where did you see this?

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 2:00pm

Here.
Song of the South

[MCfan2]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 2:12pm

I hope it comes to TV, and I think it will. They've never done an AFI special like this before, with an orchestra and so forth, not even when they did music-related lists. It should be fun to watch.

And I'd vote for SITR for best MOVIE of all time, never mind best musical. :)

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 2:16pm

I have that DVD. It's a bootleg, not an official released DVD. A good bootleg, but a bootleg nonetheless.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 3:33pm

MasterLcZ----I agree that it's a bit too over-the-top sweet. I wouldn't (and didn't) pick it for my Top 25. But I'm not surprised to see that it's a "favorite"... at least enough to get it on the list for consideration.

It has far more good going for it than bad, I think. Mostly due to Baskett and those delightful (and eye-popping) animation sequences.

And the music and songs (including the Oscar-winning "Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah") are great too... which most of you already know from the Splash Mountain ride at Disneyland... which is REALLY the "Song of the South" ride, cleverly disguised by its non-associated name. Sneaky folks!

[SDav 10495]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 4:13pm

One has to wonder...if Disney has been so scared to release "Song of the South" in the US, why did they spend time, effort, and lots of money in the early 90s creating a ride that showcased the film's great music and characters and now makes people curious about what the film was like? My guess is that very few people would care at all or give Disney any trouble about "Song of the South" were it not for the success of Splash Mountain.

Anyway, based on the film's innovative live-action-meets-animation technique and the music I've heard (and the fact that "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" did win an Oscar and is one of the most famous Disney tunes of all time), I too think "Song of the South" should have made the ballot list.

Updated On: 8/29/06 at 04:13 PM

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 4:18pm

what about Annie? everybody luvs Annie

[americanboy99]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 4:52pm

probably Sound of Music, A Chorus Line, or Oklahoma! (the last two were so revolutionary)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 4:52pm

I'll take my shot:
1) Wizard of Oz
2) Singing in the Rain
3) Sound of Music
4) My Fair Lady

And number five-- man that's a hard one. Others in the top 10 will have to be West Side, Oliver, Chicago, Cabaret...

These aren't my picks, BTW, but predictions. If it were my pick, I'd have 7 Brides, Bandwagon, 1776 and a whole bunch of squirrelly stuff!

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 5:12pm

"AFI loves John Travolta"

Really? I haven't seen much to support this claim. Why do you say so?

Anyone think EVITA will make the top 25? Wasn't it pretty highly acclaimed? I adore the film, and I know it won the Golden Globe for Musical or Comedy and for Madonna's performance.

And how many musicals can we expect from Disney (I'm talking about their Broadway-format musicals). Surely Beauty and the Beast, possibly Lion King...do Little Mermaid and Aladdin have a chance? probably not...

Americanboy99, I hope you are just referring to the stage show when you call A Chorus Line "revolutionary," because the movie was very poorly received by critics and audiences (and just sucks imo, but what do I know :) )

[americanboy99]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 5:15pm

WOOPS!! I am stupid! I read the tittle wrong. No..NOT CHORUS LINE THE MOVIE. It was crap. Ugh!! WOOPS!!!

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 8/29/06 at 5:24pm

lol I thought you must have