Movie Musicals That Are Better Than the Stage Version... — Page 2

The film of Sweet Charity was infinitely better than this production. Not sure I would say the film is better than a typical professional production of the show with the original Fosse staging and choreography (I enjoyed the Debbie Allen revival in '86).

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Margo --- I agree that the '86 revival of Charity (with the full Fosse direction & staging) was at least as good as the Shirley MacLaine movie. I still remember it vividly (and very fondly).

And the TV movie of Gypsy with Midler was very good, but I wouldn't say it was better than the Tyne Daly revival on Broadway. I didn't see the Lansbury version or the Merman original (I ain't that old!)... but I can't see the TV version actually being better than those two incarnations either. I'm speculating on the latter two, and I didn't see Bernadette, but the TV version was incredibly faithful to the stage show... since there was no real "insight" or new creative spin on it... I'm guessing I would have liked it at least as much on stage.

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The Chicago movie is a completely different take. I think its a great movie, but misses the point of the show in some ways... no comparison stage so much better...

Damn, b12b, I hate to die!

Anyway, I like the Little Shop of Horrors film better than on stage (though only a little more). Also Oliver! is better on film, too.

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Umm definitely every Disney show thats been made and Tarzan will probabaly be added to that list before long. Definitely Chicago, NOT PHANTOM!! I LOVE THE SHOW!! MOVIE SUCKS COMPARED TO IT!!

Oh I like the Phantom movie, I even bought it, but compared to the stage version it's nothing.

"The Unsinkable Molly Brown" is a better movie than the stage show.

"West Side Story" at least feels better as a movie, if for no other reason than they opened up the beginning of it, and allowed the dancers to spread out over the streets of New York. If you've ever seen WSS on stage, the dancing is also thrilling, but it feels so "boxed in" to the confines of the stage. I kept waiting for them to break out and run up the aisles, at least! It felt "trapped," even though it was very good.

Edit: DayDreamer--I agree with you about the order of the songs too. It feels "forced" to have Maria (unknowingly) singing "I Feel Pretty" AFTER the rumble. It makes the song seem even more frivolous, and less of a sweet joke.

"The King & I" is at least equally as good.

"Oklahoma!" is a toss-up for me. The movie locations (and the awesome cinematography) make the film better, but I cringe at the hokey acting (sorry Mr. MacRae and Ms. Jones!). Oklahoma doesn't need the old-school Hee-Haw style acting to make it "charming." If you've ever seen really good actors in the major roles, it can make it way better than the movie. So, it's a toss-up, for me.

I should EDIT this as well: I don't believe that Ms. Jones and Mr. MacRae are bad actors at all!!! (I think it sounded that way in this post.) But for whatever reason, the acting style used in this film is "Broadway hokey," and they went with it. I just personally think it's an unecessary choice, and the show works so much better for me without it.

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Updated On: 9/26/05 at 11:03 AM

I have to add my support for WSS if only for the re-arrangement of Pretty and Krupke. You know I wonder why stage productions since then havn't kept the movie order of those songs (with maybe 'Cool') which make alot more sense.

The Sound of Music is the only one I have found better than the stage version. If WSS is staged and choreographed well, it's energy simply can't be matched by a screen reproduction.

I would include Little Shop except that the ending was changed and Meek Shall Inherit was chopped out. These things really ruined the spirit of the show. Otherwise, everything else about it was superior.

I like the film of Hair, but it's so different from the stage version, they really can't be compared. They are both good, but they are two completely different shows. I like the stage version better, simply for the increased score and the environmental feel (when directed well).

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