Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
#1Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/12/25 at 4:59pm
Which one is better in "Death Becomes Her?" Movie or Musical?
#2Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/12/25 at 5:22pm
The movie.
Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.
DaveyG
Broadway Star Joined: 8/11/05
#3Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/12/25 at 5:31pm
The movie, no contest.
#4Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/12/25 at 6:09pm
I think the musical improves on the movie in quite a few ways, in terms of plot and structure. I think it's the "better" piece overall.
ElephantLoveMedley
Broadway Star Joined: 10/14/21
#6Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/12/25 at 6:32pm
Musical is far more entertaining and we discussed this after and all seem to agree that the musical is better than the movie!
#7Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/12/25 at 6:55pm
I love them both.
The movie has two Academy Award winners behaving badly and creating an indelible mark on queer pop culture as an eminently quotable cult film.
The musical takes that, pays homage, elaborates on it by leaning fully into the camp, and manages to be a great musical comedy with marvelous stage effects that enhance the show, rather than overpower it to cover up shortcomings.
#8Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/12/25 at 8:04pm
The movie!! The Streep VS Hawn energy was iconic — Simard and Hilty could absolutely never!! Also, where was the glow-up / transformation with Hilty?? I could never get past this part to suspend disbelief. She started and ended the show the same damn way.
pablitonizer
Leading Actor Joined: 4/8/21
#9Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/12/25 at 8:37pm
The movie has 2 amazing leading ladies, I mean there's no discussion there.
However, I feel the musical took it to another level and fixed parts of the movie that felt weird to me. Earnest being an actual murderer and walking free always left me a bad taste. Then Helen never getting her chance to go against Madeline full force. The musical makes it all about the 2 ladies which feels more cohesive imo. Also the ending of the musical has a pretty philosophical view when saying you get eternal life but you'll never get an ending. I think it feels closer to the original movie ending that Goldie talked about in an interview. However, the movie ends more on a comedic tone. I think story-wise the musical is better
#10Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/13/25 at 1:05pm
I think both the movie and musical start coasting once both ladies realize they have drunk the potion, but the musical has a more satisfying conclusion. It's been a while since I've seen the film all the way through, but does Ernest get drunk in the "second act" and start hallucinating talking inanimate objects in that too?
Updated On: 6/13/25 at 01:05 PM
JSquared2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/17
#11Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/13/25 at 1:09pm
pablitonizer said: "The movie has 2 amazing leading ladies, I mean there's no discussion there.
However, I feel the musical took it to another level and fixed parts of the movie that felt weird to me. Earnest being anactualmurderer and walking freealways left me a bad taste. ThenHelen never getting her chanceto go against Madeline full force. The musical makes it allabout the 2 ladies which feels more cohesive imo. Also the ending of the musical has apretty philosophical view when saying you geteternal life but you'll never get an ending.I think it feels closer to the original movie ending that Goldie talked about in an interview. However, the movie ends more on a comedic tone. I think story-wise the musical is better"
What murder does Ernest commit in the film (and then get away with)?
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#12Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/13/25 at 2:32pm
What murder does Ernest commit in the film (and then get away with)?
In the film, he’s one who pushes Madeline down the stairs, initially killing her. It’s the musical, it is Helen who pushes her down the stairs.
JSquared2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/17
#13Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/13/25 at 2:42pm
BrodyFosse123 said: "
What murder does Ernest commit in the film (and then get away with)?
In the film, he’sone who pushes Madeline down the stairs, initially killing her. It’s the musical, it is Helen who pushes her down the stairs."
If they can't "die", there's no murder.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#14Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/13/25 at 2:56pm
His intentions, as in the musical, is to kill her. It’s not until she rebounds that everyone becomes aware that she can’t die.
tomorrowBIGLITES
Understudy Joined: 5/27/25
#15Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/13/25 at 3:43pm
The musical is a better comedy. It’s funnier, it’s more surprising, and it knows exactly what it is and how to play to the audience.
The movie is a camp cult classic so I love it but I also see why it’s not great? Like it’s “great” but it’s not actually good. Gen X and Millennial gays just enjoy it cause you can’t stop them from enjoying what they love.
but I do think the musical IMPROVES upon the film.
pablitonizer
Leading Actor Joined: 4/8/21
#16Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/13/25 at 4:58pm
JSquared2 said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "
What murder does Ernest commit in the film (and then get away with)?
In the film, he’sone who pushes Madeline down the stairs, initially killing her. It’s the musical, it is Helen who pushes her down the stairs."
If they can't "die", there's no murder.
"
You do understand that Earnest pushes her with the intention of killing her, right? He does not know she's unable to die. So, yes, he's a murderer that walks free in the end
Owen22
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/11
Mskuphantm
Understudy Joined: 10/1/23
#18Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/13/25 at 7:11pm
Both are their bests in their own mediums.
The film gives full camp, with an amazing score by Alan Silvestri, MerylStreep plays into the camp. The film will always Have a nostalgic factor to it plus it's special effects for the time was revolutionary.
The musical does the same with the camp gives a bit more pathos, with a score that gives musical homages to Silvestris score, while making it its own. Plus the ending is, from what I have heard from Goldie Hawns interviews, gives an ending similar to what was going to be for the film.....if they choose casting right; the Broadway version can last for quite some time too
KarenValentine'sheadband
Featured Actor Joined: 1/26/24
#20Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/13/25 at 11:18pm
Claree, are you high? THE MOVIE.
#21Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/15/25 at 12:11am
I am saving money up to hopefully see the musical soon, but while the best line is in both the movie and musical, "NOW a warning?!", only the movie has my second favorite line, "Exactly which part of the plan were you unclear on?"
Every time I've heard the line while watching the film I crack up.
By the way, I actually feel the movie is good. It's highly, highly entertaining with a great message by the end.
pablitonizer
Leading Actor Joined: 4/8/21
#22Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/15/25 at 8:56am
MagicalMusical said: "I am saving money up to hopefully see the musical soon, but while the best line is in both the movie and musical, "NOWa warning?!", only the movie has my second favorite line, "Exactly which part of the plan were you unclear on?"
Every time I've heard the line while watching the film I crack up.
By the way, I actually feel the movie is good. It's highly, highly entertaining with a great message by the end."
That line is gold lol! The way Goldie delivers it after Earnest's full explanation is superb
#23Which Death Becomes Her Is Better? Movie or Musical
Posted: 6/17/25 at 12:41am
pablitonizer said: "MagicalMusical said: "...only the movie has my second favorite line, "Exactly which part of the plan were you unclear on?"
Every time I've heard the line while watching the film I crack up."
That line is gold lol! The way Goldie delivers it after Earnest's full explanation is superb"
I fully agree! So nice to know you feel the same way!
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