AFI's 25 Greatest Movie Musicals — Page 2

"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?

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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.

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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.

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

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"(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.

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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.

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

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Here.
Song of the South

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

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.

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

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

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"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 :) )

lol I thought you must have