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Best movie based on a musical

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#1

Best movie based on a musical

Posted: 8/22/09 at 12:10pm

What do you think the best movie that was based on a musical is?

For me I would have to say its a tough choice between Chicago and West Side Story.

I was more than pleasently suprised with Chicago and I thought they all actually sang quiet good.
I remember alot of people were hessitant when it was coming out.
"Everything in life, is only for now" -Avenue Q
#2

re: Best movie based on a musical

Posted: 8/22/09 at 2:38pm

I think that the way Chicago was done just worked really well on screen. They really needed to do it where the characters were performing to keep songs like "We Both Reached For The Gun". That would be my vote.
#3

re: Best movie based on a musical

Posted: 8/22/09 at 2:40pm

Chicago and Hairspray are by far my favorites.
"There's nothing good on. The media hates Christmas. The media loves vampires, though. Maybe they will show a Twilight Christmas."
-Danmeg's 10 year old son.
#6

re: Best movie based on a musical

Posted: 8/22/09 at 2:48pm

The Sound of Music
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#7

re: Best movie based on a musical

Posted: 8/22/09 at 2:53pm

I am one of the few that loves the Sweeney Todd film.
"There's nothing good on. The media hates Christmas. The media loves vampires, though. Maybe they will show a Twilight Christmas."
-Danmeg's 10 year old son.
#8

re: Best movie based on a musical

Posted: 8/22/09 at 2:56pm

I also really like West Side Story. But my favorites are probably Little Shop of Horrors and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
#9

re: Best movie based on a musical

Posted: 8/22/09 at 3:17pm

West Side Story
Chicago
The Sound of Music
"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert
#11

re: Best movie based on a musical

Posted: 8/22/09 at 3:54pm

Chicago was beautiful. Even though it was made for TV, I loved Bette Midler's Gypsy.
#12

re: Best movie based on a musical

Posted: 8/22/09 at 4:06pm

I think I agree with everything already stated.

Some, The Sound of Music especially, I think work better on film. I really do not care for The Sound of Music on stage. Maybe it's because I've really only seen community theatre productions, but I feel the changes made to the script for the screen greatly improved upon a lot of things.
#13

re: Best movie based on a musical

Posted: 8/22/09 at 4:11pm

The Sound of Music bettered the source material.

Cabaret was transformed into something uniquely cinematic.

The King and I gave us a perfect translation of what was on the stage.



#14

re: Best movie based on a musical

Posted: 8/22/09 at 4:16pm

If you're asking for "best" and not "favourite" it would have to be 1962's THE MUSIC MAN, which is still probably the most faithful transfer of any stage musical to the screen and at the same time manages to be superbly cinematic. Robert Preston's definitive Harold Hill is also preserved for future generations and my 8 year old niece loves this film as much as I did when I first saw it near her age and fell in love with Shirley Jones.
My Avatar is the amazing young singer, James Anest
#17

re: Best movie based on a musical

Posted: 8/22/09 at 5:11pm

Cabaret-Is it the most faithful? Certainly not. There were several character and song cuts, but those were needed. What makes this film version most interesting is that every song (excluding Tomorrow Belongs To Me) were all sung at the Kit Kat Club. I find that to be genius!

The Sound Of Music-Having seen the stage play myself for the first time a few months ago; I find the film to be superior. Like philcrosby said: The film bettered the source material. Having "Do-Re-Mi"set when Maria takes the children out on a playdate, rather than when she first meets them. There are many other changes that I admire, but the list is too long. Don't get me wrong though, I do LOVE the stage play.

Sweeney Todd- This film was so good that I saw it twice in theatres! The songs that were cut weren't needed, the entire atompshere was perfect, and the cast was,surprisngly, in tune. All expect poor Alan Rickman.
#18

re: Best movie based on a musical

Posted: 8/22/09 at 5:26pm

Chicago
The Sound of Music
West Side Story


I'm surprised at how many people are saying West Side Story. I mean.. I love it too, but I got the impression that most people didn't like it and thought it was flawed (or is that just Arthur Laurents?). Oh well, I still love the movie.
#20

re: Best movie based on a musical

Posted: 8/22/09 at 6:17pm

My top five:
"The Sound of Music" - agreed it is a vast improvement on the stage play which I adore.
"West Side Story" - Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins (even though they didn't get along)are both to be applauded
"The Music Man" - the most faithful film adaptation ever!!
"Oliver!" - another vast improvement on the original material
"Chicago" - the "rebirth" of the movie musical
#21

re: Best movie based on a musical

Posted: 8/22/09 at 6:19pm

As far as the "best" adaptations go, in no particular order:

The Sound of Music
Chicago
The Music Man
West Side Story
Little Shop of Horrors (despite the altered ending)

That's not to say I don't have other favorite movie musicals, but those five IMO were most successful in terms of adapting their respective source material for the screen.

"You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!" - Betty Parris to Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible

Updated On: 8/22/09 at 06:19 PM

#22

re: Best movie based on a musical

Posted: 8/22/09 at 6:32pm

Mine...

1) West Side Story
2) Sound Of Music
3) Sweet Charity
4) Chicago
5) Caberet
#24

re: Best movie based on a musical

Posted: 8/22/09 at 6:41pm

Cabaret and Sweeney Todd are definitely two of the finest. The makers of the films understood that its necessary to adapt the stage show to the screen, really translating them into their new medium rather than just transferring.
#25

re: Best movie based on a musical

Posted: 8/22/09 at 7:07pm

I agree with a lot said here but it really all just comes down to personal taste. Some people even love "Mame" - although I can't figure out why!

My list would include Oklahoma, 1776, The Music Man, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Chicago, and most of West Side Story.
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