Stage to Screen Adaptations: Best and Worst

[fbueller]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 1:53pm

Which movie adapatatations of Broadway shows rank as your best and worst..and why?
Updated On: 11/27/07 at 01:53 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 2:00pm

I'd love to respond to this post, but what on EARTH are adapatatations?!!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 2:03pm

I'm sure everyone will focus on more recent films, so I'll mention some oldies but goodies. Brigadoon is perfectly cast and, had it been filmed on location (or at least out doors) instead of on MGM sets, I think it would have been one of the all-time greats. It's just hard to believe all the comments about the beautiful forests and hillsides when they are clearly made of papier-mache.

The Sound of Music is an almost perfect adaptation. Beautiful locations across Europe, also.

[madbrian]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 2:04pm

Auntie Mame

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 2:08pm

WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF
CABARET
STREAMERS
COME BACK TO THE FIVE AND DIME JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN (better than the play!)


Worst: Too many to mention.

[tazber]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 2:14pm

BEST
Virginia Woolf
Chicago
Fiddler On The Roof
West Side Story
The Lion In Winter

WORST
Annie
Chorus Line
A Little Night Music

[Mag Wildwood]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 2:15pm

The Boy Friend

[tazber]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 2:17pm

Is that a best or worst?

[Mag Wildwood]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 2:20pm

Tazber: If you have to ask, you haven't seen the movie :)

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 3:44pm

BEST:

Chicago
Cabaret
West Side Story
Witness for the Prosecution
Becket
The Lion in Winter

WORST:

The list is too endless to consider, but some of the real stinkeroos have to be:

A Chorus Line
Rent
The Producers
How to Suceed in Business Without Really Trying
Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Hello, Dolly
Glass Menagerie
Majority of One

Although not a bad movie per se, I think it was CRIMINAL that Bernstein's score (with 3 exceptions and the rest of it pretty much druk) wasn't retained in On the Town. And I know I'm in the minority on this, but I don't think Gypsy was a bad film; it's just that Ethel Merman's shadow was cast over the whole thing. Rosalind Russell didn't stand a chance.

[jondouglas]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 4:04pm

BEST........West Side Story, The Sound of Music, Chicago, Hello Dolly, Hairspray, My Fair Lady, Fiddler On The Roof

WORST.........Annie, A Chorus Line,

[Coolness_]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 4:08pm

Best: Dreamgirls
Worst: The NEW Hairspray

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 5:01pm

I like:

The Music Man
Little Shop of Horrors

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 5:06pm

Best:
Cabaret
Sweet Charity
Hair
Hairspray
The Producers
The Pajama Game

Worst:
Phantom of the Opera
A Chours Line
A Little Night Music
Rent
South Pacific

[jaystarr]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 5:18pm

I definitely agree with you guys on RENT & HELLO DOLLY as the WORST

I like Joel Schumaker's The Phantom of the Opera- very visual and I love the old Opera house.. plus I love Patrick Wilson & Gerard Butler.

I cant comment on CABARET-( I love the movie so much) bec. I did not see the original production ..only the Revival at Studio 54

J*



Updated On: 11/27/07 at 05:18 PM

[nealb1]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 5:46pm

Top of my list for the best is "Hello, Dolly!" All the other bests that have been listed are also fantastic - "West Side Story," "My Fair Lady," etc..

Jaystarr, I agree with you 100% - the film version of "The Phantom Of The Opera" is visually stunning....breathtaking production design, cinematography, etc. I think we can all agree that the direction is rather flat. Most of the actors are on all the same level. Minnie Driver as Carlotta is the only one with any range of emotions.

The film version of "Cabaret" is so different from the stage musical. The movie is all about Liza.
Updated On: 11/27/07 at 05:46 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 6:24pm

Best

Damn Yankees
West Side Story
POTO
Becket
Chicago

Worst

Jesus Christ Superstar
A Chorus Line

???

Hello Dolly

[Pascal/Menzel/Bundy]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 7:11pm

I KNOW I am going to get flammed for this but...

I really enjoyed the movie version of RENT. And yes, I did in fact see the stage version FIRST (which was better than the film, but the film didn't suck by any means.)

Worst?
phantom

[Mag Wildwood]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 7:13pm

I didnt mind the film version of Rent, and I saw the show the first week it opened.

I didn't HATE the Phantom movie, but it just didn't go anywhere, and whoever played the Phantom was really awful.

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 7:20pm

BEST:
Umm, if it counts from Screen to stage to screen again, then:
Hairspray
Chicago

and that's all really, in my opinion

WORST:
Rent
A Chorus Line
POTO (I LOATHE the movie!)
I also wasn't a fan of the WSS movie.

[Broadwaynut81]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 7:37pm

BEST:
Hairspray
Chicago
Dreamgirls (I really enjoyed the movie, I never saw the show, but tony clips and performances are what I based my opinion on).

Worst:
Didn't like Phantom (and I am a HUGE fan of the show--was just TOO slow.)
The Producers... movie was OK... but if I wanted to see a filming of the show, I would have frankly just filmed the show live and saved a boatload of dough!!

I am impartial to Rent... I loved the show, liked the movie. The music was good, I liked the original cast, but some of the plot changes kind of spoiled it for me.
Updated On: 11/27/07 at 07:37 PM

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:00pm

One of the best: THE MUSIC MAN

The absolute worst: GYPSY with Rosalind Russell. Her husband was the film's producer so it's no wonder she was the "star". Don't get me started on this one.

[luvcaroline]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 9:53pm

BEST

Cabaret
Not only my favorite musical, but also my favorite movie of all time. The performance by Liza will never be matched, in my opinion. I still get chills watching this. Amazing.

West Side Story
A Classic. Defines movie musicals.

Sound of Music
Forget the wholesome story line. Some of the greatest musical numbers ever filmed. Not to mention Ms. Andrews was at the very top of her game. This can be enjoyed even after countless viewings (which my family and I did on almost an annual basis in the 60's and 70's--it seemed to come back to theaters that often).

Little Shop of Horrors
Just great fun. Perfectly realized on film.


WORST

A Chorus Line
What is tragic is that we will never have an opportunity to see a truly great filmed version of this musical. One of the biggest cinematic missed opportunities in movie history, in my opinion.

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 10:03pm

Best
Little Shop Of Horrors
Hairspray
Annie Get Your Gun

Worst
The Music Man Remake
Rent

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 10:03pm

Best
Little Shop Of Horrors
Hairspray
Annie Get Your Gun

Worst
The Music Man Remake
Rent