Musicals Ruined On Film

I liked the television remake of ANNIE.

Also liked the remake of Cinderella (the one that was touring)

But in terms of musicals that were ruined when they turned them into movies are definately

A CHORUS LINE
and even though it was not a film per say
JEKYLL AND HYDE

Definitely agree on ACL -- although I love the movie because Vicki Frederick was in it, it does NOT do the stage show justice!

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Nearly every Broadway musical bought by a Hollywood studio from 1929 to the 1950s was severely compromised in its film adaptation. Cole Porter's sophisticated and risque lyrics were especially 'cleaned up' or discarded after the Production Code came into full effect in 1935. It was more common than not for nearly the entire original Broadway scores to be junked in favor of all new (usually lesser) songs by secondary hands. In the 1950s, Hollywood adapted a somewhat more respectful stance towards Broadway originals. It's astonishing to realize that both "Moonshine Lullabye" and "I Got Lost In His Arms" were not included in MGM's ANNIE GET YOUR GUN - but it's equally astonishing (for other reasons) that "I'm A Bad, Bad Man", "Col. Buffalo Bill" and "I'm An Indian Too" were cut from the recent Broadway revival.

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Updated On: 9/30/03 at 11:22 PM

Oh man! I thought I was the only person who prefered the Chicago movie to the show! And I also thought the ABC Annie remake was cute. Ugh, I remember the helicopter scene in the first Annie movie and laughing hysterically. It was just so bad.

amen Billy.

The original Annie movie has a warm spot in my heart just because I'd watched it endless times as a kid and still enjoy the occasional rerun on tv.

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wow. I think I'm gonna fall over and die..... You thought Chicago was better on film than on stage?! *sigh* I'm not EVEN gonna go there....

And I too, love Annie the movie (the FIRST one)

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Gee, the "Too Darn Hot" number is one of the best in the KISS ME KATE film. Yes, it isn't the same setting or place in the story...but how can you dislike the fabulous Ann Miller fer Pete's sake?!?!

And the KISS ME KATE film is one of the BEST Broadway-to-film adaptations. I think only 'Bianca' was dropped.

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I had a very good time seeing the 3-D version of Kiss Me, Kate, replete with glasses in a very large screen theater. And that Keenan Wynn!! The Paul Baressi of his generation.

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I would bet dollars to Krispy Kremes that Keenan did! He probably did in "Kiss Me, Kate," now that I think about it, given that he was playing a gangster. I do have a memory Wynn's big, long cigar popping off the screen and hovering in front of my face thanks to the magic of 3-D. Or maybe it was a dream.

As for Mr. Baressi, when I think of what he looked like back in the '80s, it's clear what Mr. Travolta saw in him.

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"this was shortly before Van ran off with Keenan's wife..."


Oh, Lordy, Jaynrand! I had forgotten that! Only in Hollywood, kids!

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To Namo

I also saw Kate in 3 D & it was a real gas. Hollywood ruined 3 D by coming out with every cockamamie movie in 3 D instead of picking their spots. Off topic, House of Wax in 3 D is the ultimate Halloween movie. The paddleball sequence alone is worth the price of admission

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