Musicals made into Movies

[timote316]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 10:55pm

Everyone knows that big-budget movie musicals are the new thing (again), thanks to Chicago. The Producers, Rent, and Phantom come to mind. I've also heard rumors that the producers of Chicago and The Music Man are going to be making a new Footloose movie and a Guys and Dolls movie. Now, don't get me wrong, I look forward to all these movies! It just seems like one movie caused a wave. I must thank the producers of Chicago! lol

Anyway, what musicals, now playing, would translate well to the screen, as Chicago did? I haven't seen the show (yet), I've only read the script, but I think Aida could. Any comments or other suggestions? (go ahead, Emcee, I'm sure you've thought about that possibility lol)

EDIT: any other rumors of musical movies? Updated On: 8/5/04 at 10:55 PM

[Bohoboy]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 11:03pm

As Avenue Q was originally conceived as a television series I see no reason why it wouldn't translate well to the small screen... as a series. Marx and Lopez have certainly shown they've got more that these characters can say, as well as the show's final product presented them ("Vote Your Heart") Even the cut songs are getting their day in the way of bonus CD if you buy the OBC at the theatre. Much better than the special CD label that Aida did... although apparently the cut songs for Aida needed to be just that, cut with the pyramid

Posted: 8/5/04 at 11:06pm

I wouldn't want to see Avenue Q on the small screen unless it was HBO. Don't censor those puppets! I don't know if it would gain a huge following on TV either.

I don't know what other shows would transfer well. There's just that special connection you get in a theater, sitting just feet away from the actors... I thought The Fantasticks musical was a great idea, and, well, I like some parts of the movie...

[Kelliexo90]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 11:35pm

I think Wicked the book would be an Oscar-worthy film. It would be like 9 days long, but definitely a good one.


I think a lot can translate well from stage to screen if done correctly. Didn't Chicago take years and years to be conceived to film, because they didn't want it to look cheesy? I would love Rob Marshall to do some more. I would love to see Thoroughly Modern Millie turned into a movie.

Posted: 8/5/04 at 11:40pm

Aside from the original Millie? I actually found that movie when I was a kid (like and obsessed with Julie Andrews. It was pretty good, from what I remember... But Sutton on a DVD I can take with me wherever I want? PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!

Phantom by Susan Kay turned into a movie would be so incredibly wonderful for this little Phan. Like Wicked (loved the book, but prefer Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister), it would definately be 8 hours. Eh. They can make it like Lord of the Rings. Part One: Erik from birth through the Luciana scandal. Part Two: Persia, because it deserves a whole two hours. Part Three: To the end.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 11:43pm

They're going to have to create a new category of movies made into musicals made into movies, with The Producers and Hairspray coming in the near future.

I wonder how Bombay Dreams would do as a "real" Bollywood movie?

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 8/5/04 at 11:49pm

A lot of shows would work on screen if the producers didnt feel the need to change them. A Chorus Line would of been perfect, but they changed parts of the story and they cut songs. I would love to see a new Millie movie. Sutton Foster would be added to the list of people who have won both a Tony and an Oscar.

Posted: 8/8/04 at 8:35pm

They're doing a new hairspray movie?

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/8/04 at 9:39pm

I wonder how Bombay Dreams would do as a "real" Bollywood movie?

It would probably be like Hollywood Bollywood.

[jo]

Posted: 8/8/04 at 9:44pm

SUNSET BOULEVARD --

From film classic to stage musical hit to movie musical ?

I hope so!

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 8/8/04 at 9:58pm

I agree- I think Aida would be a good choice. I would love to see that as a movie. I'm still trying to see the B'Way show! What about Wicked as a movie? That would be awsome.

[Jon]

Posted: 8/8/04 at 11:42pm

Jo - I hate to get into this again, but Sunset Boulevard was NOT a hit on stage. The producers lost their entire investment. It only sold out when Glenn Close was in it, and they were paying her an obscene amount of money. When they replaced her with Bety Buckley, sales plummeted and they were losing money every week. When Elaine Paige came in, it got even worse, and they had to close.

Yes, it won the Tony Award (against virtually no competition), but I doubt the inverstors would term it a "hit".

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/8/04 at 11:54pm

Just to add, "Sunset Boulevard" lost so much money that it almost bankrupted ALW's production company. It was anything BUT a hit show.

The original film is a classic and any film made of the musical would simply be a pale and inferior adaptation (as the musical was) of the Billy Wilder/Gloria Swanson legendary original.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 12:01am

The Billy Wilder SUNSET BOULEVARD is one of my all time favorite movies. I love it. Anywho.......BOMBAY DREAMS is becoming a movie. At ALW's official site, it says that he already sold the rights (Which I think it would make a pretty good movie, since it has a movie feel anyway). I also think Lippa's version of THE WILD PARTY would rock as a movie musical

[CapnHook]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 12:04am

Alas, we forget MOULIN ROUGE?

There were once (or still are, in some cases) plans for URINETOWN, INTO THE WOODS, WICKED, DREAMGIRLS (Miramax was going full speed with this one, then total stand still), SUNSET BLVD, HAIRSPRAY (still happening, but very slowly), and others.

Don't know what happened to INTO THE WOODS. There have been draft scripts for the film pop up on eBay. Lots of talk during the revival - then when the show closed, so did hopes of a movie.

THE PRODUCERS and PHANTOM OF THE OPERA are the only ones that are definite.

[little_sally]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 12:09am

I always thought Lippa's Wild Party would make a great movie too.

[timote316]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 12:17am

I have the CD from Urinetown, and love it. Wouldn't mind a movie of that one, so I can see it lol. But, Hunter Foster would HAVE to be in it. Otherwise, scrap it lol.

And, speaking of Moulin Rouge, what musical movie should Ewan MacGregor do next? I think he was awesome in MR, he needs to do another musical!

[AnothaPartofMe]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 12:31am

How would CHICAGO had fared, had they filmed back 5 years ago like originally planned with Goldie Hawn, Madonna, and Rosie O' Donnell in the roles that Zellweger, Zeta Jones and Latifa all have now, respectively, made famous.

[timote316]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 12:35am

HORRIBLE lol. Chicago was a success because the cast was basically perfect. Anyone else would have brought the movie down

[jo]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 12:46am

Billy Wilder was very happy with the stage musical adaptation when it opened at the West End. He was quoted so in interviews when he attended Opening Night in London.

I have also noticed how many posters on this forum often talk of the musical with fondness when the subject comes up.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 12:47am

SWEENEY TODD. Actually was in talks with Miramax and Sam Mendes directing. But that was a year ago. A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC should be redone. With all the songs and in the hands of a good director it can become a great film. Also INTO THE WOODS, DREAMGIRLS, URINETOWN, and Lippa's WILD PARTY (might be good, might be bad. either way if they made it, a cult would follow. My prediction)

[Thoroughly_Modern_Rockette]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 1:26am

They are currently casting roles for another remake of Bye-Bye Birdie.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 2:52am

Billy Wilder hated the musical. He was very polite about it publicly, being the classy individual that he was, but read the account of him seeing the musical in "Close-up on Sunset Boulevard" by Sam Staggs.

Page 328,

"Certainly, the public Wilder did the gentlemanly thing: he toasted these theatre people with praise they wished to hear. But the real Wilder, speaking from the other side of his mouth, told a different tale. A person close to him got a typical earful later that night: 'It's my movie in a permanent long shot.'"

Posted: 8/9/04 at 3:56am

I think 'Aspects of Love'would make a good movie.

[jo]

Posted: 8/9/04 at 5:25am

Sorry, but praising and toasting it in public...and dissing it in private is not very gentlemanly or classy to me. Mr. Wilder could have just kept quiet in public or given perhaps an inscrutable opinion. Or maybe, he should not have even given permission to have the film musicalized in the first place. Updated On: 8/9/04 at 05:25 AM