If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would you choose and why?
If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would you choose and why?
#1If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would you choose and why?
Posted: 7/21/09 at 4:01pmMe I would choose "Oklahoma!" and I would have whoever I cast as Curley and Laurey do their own dancing in ballet dream sequence (just like the Hugh Jackman version). Here's why: I personally think casting a Dream Curley and a Dream Laurey for the ballet sequence works for the stage but not for film, becuase the dancers in the 1955 film version did not look like Gordan McRae and Shirley Jones at all. What musical whould you choose and why?
Mamie
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/26/04
#2re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would you choose and why?
Posted: 7/21/09 at 4:05pmGuys and Dolls. I hated most of the casting in the '55 version. (I mean I love the actors - just didn't like them in those roles.) The standout exceptions being Stubby Kaye and Vivian Blaine.
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mamie4 5/14/03
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#2re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would you choose and why?
Posted: 7/21/09 at 4:19pmCAMELOT and MAN OF LA MANCHA, for obvious reasons.
#3re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would you choose and why?
Posted: 7/21/09 at 4:23pm
Oh! Calcutta.
Because you never have too much nudity on screen.
....but the world goes 'round
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#4re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would you choose and why?
Posted: 7/21/09 at 4:27pmA Chorus Line.
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#5re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would you choose and why?
Posted: 7/21/09 at 5:02pm
Hair. Because the movie just isn't very good at all.
I'd also want to remake Cabaret. Just so it's, you know, actually Cabaret.
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#6re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would you choose and why?
Posted: 7/21/09 at 5:46pm
My Fair Lady. I find people's outrage hilarious, and I want Hugh Laurie for Higgins. No other reason. ^_^
Muhlethaler
Featured Actor Joined: 10/13/06
#7re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would yo
Posted: 7/21/09 at 5:57pmUpdated On: 6/18/20 at 05:57 PM
#8re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would yo
Posted: 7/21/09 at 6:31pm
"Hair"
Because I don't feel the original film captured the source material well, and I think it would be an awesome and exciting to open the characters and book as written into a larger scope.
My "cast" (oh, lord, I hope no one gets offended):
Berger - ZACHARY QUINTO
Sheila - JESSICA BIEL
Claude - BRANDON BOYD
Jeannie - BIJOU PHILLIPS
Woof - BRADY CORBET
Hud - MEHCAD BROOKS
Dionne - MICHELLE T. WILLIAMS
and
Crissy - AMANDA SEYFRIED
Updated On: 8/4/09 at 06:31 PM
#9re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would yo
Posted: 7/21/09 at 6:41pm
It's not a classic by any stretch of the imagination, but I'd choose Rent.
I would love to see the film done with age-appropriate actors and directed by someone who isn't afraid to tackle the grittier elements of the material.
"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
#10re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would yo
Posted: 7/21/09 at 6:52pm
It would definitely be a tie between A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC and GUYS & DOLLS. I'd say A CHORUS LINE but I really have no idea how the stage show could adapt to the screen nor what bankable names would be able to do the show.
I'd cast NIGHT MUSIC with:
Kristin Scott Thomas or Cate Blanchett-Desiree
Maggie Smith-Mme.Armfeldt
Clive Owen-Fredrick
Kristen Bell or Emily Blunt-Charlotte
Paul Dano-Henrik
Leighton Meester-Anne
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#11re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would yo
Posted: 7/21/09 at 6:56pm
GUYS AND DOLLS
PAL JOEY
ON THE TOWN
.... much as I appreciate Sinatra, he did us no favors when it comes to screen versions of great musicals.
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#12re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would yo
Posted: 7/21/09 at 7:09pm
Sweet Charity.
The film is sooooo long and drawn out, not to mention poorly directed (sorry bob).
Oh and I think Amy Adams would be PERFECT for Charity.
and... if that remake of Cabaret ever gets made, I think Scarlett Johannson would be an amazing Sally.
...everyone was doing the mambo and drinking golden cadillacs...
#13re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would yo
Posted: 7/21/09 at 9:46pmI agree with Guys and Dolls. Marlon Brando was horrible, but so were a lot of other things too.
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EganFan2
Broadway Star Joined: 9/8/04
#14re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would yo
Posted: 7/21/09 at 11:13pmCamelot and Cabaret. I'd want a Guenevere who could sing those kick ass songs and an Arthur who didn't wear that bizarre blue eyeliner and the 1998 revival as a basis for Cabaret.
njhsdirector
Swing Joined: 7/21/09
#15re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would yo
Posted: 7/22/09 at 12:24am
THE WIZ
No disrespect for Diana Ross, Nipsey Russell, MJ, or Richard Pryor, but the movie was terribly miscast and directed.
#16re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would yo
Posted: 7/22/09 at 12:28amDefinitely Cabaret.
#17re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would yo
Posted: 7/22/09 at 12:30amI think the one good thing the Rent film did WAS show the grit of the material. Mimi shaking and sweating from the drugs?
I'm a professional. Whenever something goes wrong on stage, I know how to handle it so no one ever remembers. I flash my %#$&.
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#18re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would yo
Posted: 7/22/09 at 6:37am
SHOW BOAT, because both of the previous film versions did not do justice to this great musical. The 1936 film was in black & white and played like a Cliff notes truncated version of the play and the 1951 film, although visually stunningly in Technicolor and well sung plus had the advantage of the greatest Julie of all time in Ava Gardner, abbreviated the story and score even more.
The biggest problem to overcome in remaking SHOW BOAT would be finding accomplished singing actors to play the lead roles of Gaylord Ravenal & Magnolia Hawks. Both roles require operatic quality singers and we have no such performers either on Broadway or in films today, only in the world of grand opera, although it would not be a bad thing to cast unknowns and cast a high profile star to play Julie.
As far as today's film stars go, most on this board seem to favour Hugh Jackman & Anne Hathaway in almost every role. Hugh Jackman would not be suitable for Ravenal; besides the fact that he is now too old, his voice is not nearly good enough for such a role. James Barbour would be excellent vocally but he is also too old. Although she is a good actress and has some box office appeal, Anne Hathaway is at best a marginal singer and could never get her weak unprofessional voice to a level required for Magnolia. Hathaway is also not nearly pretty enough to be convincing in the role. If SHOW BOAT is to be remade, it should be done right this time.
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Updated On: 7/22/09 at 06:37 AM
#19re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would yo
Posted: 7/22/09 at 7:59amMost of the suggestions made have been good ones, and I would add Mame to the list. The movie with Lucille Ball was awful, and the material deserves much, much better.
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fgreene1938
Leading Actor Joined: 10/25/06
#20re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would yo
Posted: 7/22/09 at 8:58am
1.) "The King and I" - I didn't like the guy who played the king. The one who played the king on the original cast recording was much better.
2.) "The Sound of Music" - I don't remember her name, but the woman they got to play Maria couldn't sing a note. Oh yeah, and the scenery looked SOOO fake.
#21re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would yo
Posted: 7/22/09 at 10:09pm
MAME - I love Lucy but God she stank up the place in this one
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC - obvious reasons for anybody who's seen this fiasco
CAROUSEL - needs a serious take on it's serious subject matter - and a glorious score
AndAllThatJazz22
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/8/08
#22re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would yo
Posted: 7/22/09 at 10:25pm
I definitely agree that RENT and Cabaret should be redone. I agree with CSonBroadway's point that some of the strong points of the film WERE the gritty parts, such as Mimi shivering and sweating and Angel VERY sick in the hospital were pretty heartbreaking moments (as they should be); however, I think the main flaw of the RENT is that all of the heart that makes RENT so beautiful was completely sucked out of the film. The dialogue in that film was a disgrace. It actually slowed the film down and some of the individual lines were just TERRIBLE. They really tried to make the film 'emotional' (so to speak), but I found that I could never connect with any of the characters and therefore did not see the message and beauty of RENT in the film.
Cabaret...ugh. That might tie for my favorite musical, but the film does nothing for me. First off... what I saw on that screen was not sexy to me, not one bit. There were some parts of the film where I literally laughed out loud at parts that were supposed to sexy and gritty *cough* Wilkomen *cough*. I will get eaten for my comments on the film, but if just seems so outdated. Cabaret is supposed to have the feel of 'the naughty movie you should not be watching', but that movie just seems like the disney channel trying to be sexy. Cabaret also works best when it's gritty and almost creepy (as proven by the recent revival)...which clearly the film is not.
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#23re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would yo
Posted: 7/23/09 at 12:34am
I would also remake "The Phantom of the Opera" and cast Hugh Jackman and Charlotte Church as The Phantom and Christine. Here's why: While I loved Emmy Rossum as Christine (in fact she delivered a much more clean and crisp sound than Sarah Brightman who in my opinion sounded like she had a nasel problem) she still had a long way to go in terms of the maturity of her voice. Charlotte Church had the much better training and vocal maturity for the role, I don't why the producers told her to lose weight. While Gearad Butler has a nice voice it's just not the voice required for The Phantom even though he does need to be a little on the dangerous side and a rock and roll sensebility. Even though Hugh Jackman turned down the role to do "The Boy from Oz" they could have pushed back the filming schedule to ensure his availibilty (Disney did the same thing for Julie Andrews for "Mary Poppins" because she was expecting her daughter Emma at the time she was cast).
Updated On: 7/23/09 at 12:34 AM
#24re: If you had to remake a classic musical for the big screen what would yo
Posted: 7/23/09 at 1:57am
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