Funny Girl (worked as well as the show if not better) Lil Abner (by no means a good movie but a great stage to film transfer) Little Shop of Horrors (same reason as Lil Abner) Chicago Music Man (thank God they used Preston) West Side Story (unfortunately although it received a slew of awards it hasn't aged that well) Oliver (should have used the "less is better" motto though...way overblown) Carousel (great cast, superb score and wonderful technicolor) King And I Sound of Music (surpassed the stage version) Annie Get Your Gun (underrated) Show Boat ('36 version) Cabaret (like "Chicago", I loved the way they integrated the musical numbers)
WORST:
Mame Annie Chorus Line The Wiz South Pacific (yea those color gels really sucked) A Little Night Music (no thanks to an overweight Liz as "Desiree") Finian's Rainbow On A Clear Day (Minnelli needed to tone down Streisand's performance) Bye Bye Byrdie (not as bad though as the TV version with Jason Alexander)
FAIR:
Gypsy (Natalie Wood was the best Louise ever) Hello Dolly (have found it more enjoyable as time has passed) Evita (pretty faithful to the stage version regardless of Madonna) Phantom Fiddler Oklahoma Call Me Madam (interesting only as a study of Merman's shows) Half A Sixpence Sweet Charity (only worthwhile for "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This") Camelot Hair Bells Are Ringing (nice to see Judy Holliday recreate her role but kind of runs out of steam))
Worst movie musicals NOT based on a stage vehicle:
"A Matter of Time" (a horror!) "Les Damoiselles De Rochefort" "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" "Doctor DoLittle" "Funny Lady" "Yentl" (did anyone like this movie anyway?) "Star Is Born" '74 (even worse today)
I can't even decribe my loathing for A Chorus Line..blah
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."
I know the point you are trying to make with me, and I, as a HUGE fan of movies from the 1930's ,understand why the number is in the movie. I understand how vaudeville worked, and know it made sense that there was a blackface number in the movie.
However, I still shudder, as Irene Dunne in blackface was not enjoyable to watch. Nor is Fred Astaire in blackface enjoyable to watch. I love the hell out of the Bill Bojangles Robinson tribute number, but blackface still makes me shudder. It has nothing to do with the movie itself, nor the actor/actress in blackface. I just don't enjoy seeing white actors hamming it up in blackface.
"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."
Best: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS HIGH SOCIETY EASTER PARADE DAMN YANKEES STATE FAIR (1945) WEST SIDE STORY CHICAGO CABARET HAIR GYPSY ('62 & '93) ANNIE ('99) BYE BYE BIRDIE ('63) ROCKY HORROR PIRATES OF PENZANCE 42ND STREET EVITA SHOW BOAT ('36 & '51) JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR FLOWER DRUM SONG BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE SINGING IN THE RAIN OKLAHOMA BELLS ARE RINGING KISS ME KATE ON THE TOWN ANNIE GET YOUR GUN TOMMY OLIVER SWEET CHARITY BRIGADOON FIDDLER ON THE ROOF GOOD NEWS THE PAJAMA GAME HELLO DOLLY GENTLEMAN PREFER BLONDES MY FAIR LADY FINIAN'S RAINBOW CABIN IN THE SKY FUNNY FACE
Worst (mostly because of bad casting or changes for the ones that were based on plays. I don't necessarily hate all of these, just wish they were a lot better): MAME MAN OF LA MANCHA A CHORUS LINE ANYTHING GOES ('36 & '56) A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC PORGY AND BESS PAL JOEY STATE FAIR (1962) SOUTH PACIFIC CAMELOT PAINT YOUR WAGON
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
I wanted to put Grease 2 on my best list, but I was scurred. :-P
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
I loved FUNNY LADY! There are some great numbers in that film even though it tries a bit too hard by using the FUNNY GIRL formula.
By the way are we talking about stage to screen or just movie musicals in general?
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds."
~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns
Best for me: Star Is Born (Judy Garland version)- probably my favorite movie of all time, and "Born In A Trunk" is one of the best numbers on film with Judy.
Funny Girl-Glad they got to use "My Man" at the end of the film. Made it more powerful I think. Plus love the addition of "I'd Rather Be Blue" and Streisand's version of "I'm the Greatest Star" is a better rendition then that on the OCR.
Cabaret-Although not following the stage version closely, the movie itself is fantastic. There is just SO much going on in that movie under the surface it's amazing.
Reefer Maddness needs to come out on video. I wish I had Showtime. And I recently bought "Cannibal the Musical" I haven't watched it yet. Is it worth it?
Updated On: 8/22/05 at 05:54 PM
Best: The Music Man (1962 with the amazing Robert Preston) West Side Story
Worst: Bye Bye Birdie ( one of my favorites on stage; the script changes for the film are detestable.) South Pacific (not just the gels but also for the acting: WORST I've ever seen in a musical. Gotta question Joshua Logan's directorial abilities.)
Slight hijack here -- Someone mentioned they didn't like WSS because of the switch of Gee, Officer Krupke and Cool. I actually think this change makes SO much more sense. In the movie, Cool is a release after the rumble, Krupke acts as a pre-rumble release, also showing a much greater "innocence" almost in the fact that they are joking around. To me, this works so much better than it does in the play!
But anyway, favorites: West Side Story Sound of Music Chicago Fiddler on the Roof 1776 (I don't think anyone mentioned this one - it's one of my favorites!) My Fair Lady
Worst: Chorus Line!!! Brigadoon (I love Gene Kelly, but this movie just did nothing for me) Camelot - great score, movie is WAYYYYY too long!
Goodness, I would get stoned if I posted a list! I seem to like a lot of the ones many of you listed as worst (though it might just be a touch of nostalgia!)