Musicals that would do well on film but without songs
Musicals that would do well on film but without songs
JakeB
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#0Musicals that would do well on film but without songs
Posted: 12/16/03 at 9:33am
Although RENT would make a good film, I think to be a financial hit it would fair better to scrap the songs, perhaps rewriting the lyrics into the form of a script. The storyline would have bags of appeal, but I think being a 'musical' loses a lot of audience from non-musical fans.
Also, The Last Five Years would make a great romantic comedy, but again, without the songs but with a new script, just taking the excellent devices created by JRB.
(this is kinda in response to the Guys and Dolls thread - I don't think it should be remade, it doesn't do anything good for the name of musicals.. turning them into straight scripts would IMO)
#1re: Musicals that would do well on film but without songs
Posted: 12/16/03 at 9:37am
So it's a better idea to make movie musicals that aren't, um, musicals than it is to make a movie musical you might not want to see?
#2re: Musicals that would do well on film but without songs
Posted: 12/16/03 at 9:50am
Interesting topic!!
It's no secret that I adore RENT,. and im not against a movie being made if it;s done correctly. I agree that it has a strong enough dramatic plotline and the story can stand on its own, but I feel SO MUCH would be lost without those wonderful songs that really drive the message home!!
It just wouldn't be the same to hear the all-important lyric "no day but today" spoken in a normal tone of voice as opposed to it being BELTED at the top of Mimis lungs =)
I actually think Phantom makes a much better play than a musical. But in general, I do prefer musicals over straight plays =)
#3re: re: Musicals that would do well on film but without songs
Posted: 12/16/03 at 10:22am
But don't you think the majority of the people who would want to see a film of Rent are the fans who already love the music? I, for one, would be hugely disappointed if there was a film version of the show that didn't include the music. The story is already base on La Boheme and is readily available to be adapted by anyone, so what would be the point of doing Rent without the music?
If the film musicals were made without the music, then I think they should be retitled as they are no longer the same work. It would do nothing to promote musicals as the films would not be musicals themselves. It's kind of an oxymoron, don't you think? "You will love the musical Rent because you liked the film that had no music"??? If the reason people like the non-musical film is because the score was removed, then it doesn't promote the musical. If people loved the musical because of the score, then they'll be outraged by its removal.
If I pay to see Guys and Dolls, then I expect the Loesser score. If there is no Loesser score, then it should be retitled "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" after the original Runyon story. I would pay to see that, knowing what I was getting.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
thirdrowcenter
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#4re: Musicals that would do well on film but without songs
Posted: 12/16/03 at 10:34amThe show that comes to mind is Imaginary Friends. I loved the show but hated the musical parts
#5re: Musicals that would do well on film but without songs
Posted: 12/16/03 at 10:35amEspecially given how many musicals are adaptations, the idea of putting them out there without the score is pretty pointless. As Mister Matt said, 'Guys and Dolls' without the score is just the Runyon story the musical was based on. True, 'Rent' is a more radical adaptation in terms of time and setting but I still don't think the story is such a draw to 'Rent' as the music and the musical itself.
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