Broadway Musicals Based On Movies - Improvement?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 6:12pm

Has a Broadway musical based on a movie ever been an improvement on the movie?

Maybe A Little Night Music?

I thought Ragtime was good, but I also thought the movie was equally as good. And that also had a book as the source material.

Updated On: 3/14/15 at 06:12 PM

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 6:15pm

Movies and Plays aren't the same thing, they're both two completely different mediums. Though I'm sure some would say that the stage adaptation of Newsies was an improvement over the film.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 6:17pm

Plays and Musicals are ALSO not the same thing.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 6:20pm

I had to say plays because there are some musicals that as of now only existed as movies.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 6:21pm

I still don't see your point. The topic was movie-musicals.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 6:24pm

^No, the topic was Broadway Musicals Based on Movies.

[philly03]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 6:38pm

Ragtime was the first thing that popped in my mind. I think the movie is good, but the musical makes the story richer.

For what its worth since its all out of copyright, the musical Jekyll & Hyde is an improvement over those 30s/40s version of the story (the novella doesn't contain any female characters, the films introduced the fiance/hooker ideas). But I'm sure not many others would agree Haha.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 6:40pm

Do people really call movies turned into stage musicals "movie musicals"?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 6:54pm

It greatly pains me to say it but PRS, you are correct. I've changed the title.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 6:55pm

You're welcome!

[ggersten]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 7:02pm

Cabaret from I Am A Camera? (although I think the musical is based on the stories)
I don't think that Nine improved 8 1/2 -but it's close in my opinion. They're just different.
I prefer some aspects of the musical The Producers over the film. Some of the musical numbers really expanded the film. But, I missed LSDickShawn.
I think Billy Elliot is an improvement.

[tazber]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 7:14pm

Little Shop of Horrors
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
The Light in the Piazza
Tommy
Xanadu

[Fantod]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 7:26pm

I disagree about Light in the Piazza. I've seen the movie and the live from Lincoln Center and I find the movie much better. I think Ragtime was also based off of the book. I would agree about A Little Night Music, and as much as I like Nine, 8 1/2 is so much better.

[Showface]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 7:37pm

Hairspray?

It's definitely one of the most successful!

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 8:34am

I would say "Newsies" since the movie was a flop and the Broadway show was a hit.

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 8:56am

"I disagree about Light in the Piazza. I've seen the movie and the live from Lincoln Center and I find the movie much better."

ABSOLUTELY!

The movie was so beautiful and moving. It was wonderful in every way. The musical was heavy-handed with a dreary, dismal score.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 9:58am

"The Light in the Piazza" was based on the novel by Elizabeth Spencer not the movie (which is also based on the novel). They didn't try to recreate the movie, they went back to the source and created something new. The same would apply to "Ragtime". The musical is based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow.




Updated On: 3/15/15 at 09:58 AM

[Fantod]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 11:06am

South Fl Marc, thank you, I did not know that there was a Light in the Piazza book. Has anybody here read it? Is it any good?

[CoverYou]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 11:50am

I think a lot of musicals bettered the movies;

Hairspray
The Lion King
Little Shop of Horrors
Newsies
The Producers
Tommy (for sure)

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 12:13pm

Xanadu and Carnival! And, yes, I'll agree with Tommy as well.

As much as I enjoy A Little Night Music it is not better than Smiles of a Summer Night.



Updated On: 3/15/15 at 12:13 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 12:35pm

I also enjoyed the Piazza film, but the musical is so exquisite in every way that it improves upon it. At least in my book.

I didn't know it was based on the original novel however.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 12:52pm

I think Little Shop is probably far and away the best example. It actually elevates its dubious source material a great, great deal and makes it almost impossible to revisit it.

[ggersten]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 1:03pm

I agree with Little Shop and chagrined I didn't think of it!

The Light in the Piazza movie is quite good. I can't say the musical improved on it - it's just different. Both use their media to full effect. The camera's closeness brings out the torment and life of Meg Johnson played by Olivia de Havilland - while the score and Victoria Clark elevate Meg Johnson.

I don't think Xanadu improved on the movie - because it was a commentary on the movie.

In my opinion, Carnival is not an improvement on Lili. If only because I like "Hi Lili" more than "Love Makes The World Go Round" - and, of course, Zsa Zsa Gabor.

[TheBoyFromNC]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 3:59pm

I think the musical adaptation of Heathers is much better than the movie. I understand it's a cult classic, but having seen both for the first time last year, the musical seems far superior.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 5:03pm

I thought KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN was better than the movie.