Understudy Joined: 3/26/09
So I am watching "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" and the opening sequence (Kate Chapshaw singing "Anything Goes" in Mandarin in a nightclub) got me thinking that maybe Spielberg should tackle a movie musical next.
The cinematography was very Busby Berkley-esque (fitting with the 30s time period).
What movie musical should he try?
I was thinking "Nine", but that's already been tackled (hopefully well). Should be something with intelligence and a good sense of musicality.
A remake of "Little Night Music" perhaps? This time Liz can play Mdme. Arnfeldt...just kidding (can you imagine her rendition of "Liasions"?)
Well I am convinced I will see a Movie version of Ragtime: The Musical before I die so...
Understudy Joined: 3/26/09
GOOD IDEA!
Part of it speaks to his Jewish-American heritage.
Oh, now I'm excited - I think you've hit the nail on the head.
I'd love to see how Spielberg's eye would tackle "Crime of the Century", "Baseball", and the title song.
Maybe Kate Chapshaw as Mother?
Updated On: 3/27/09 at 12:02 AM
Spielberg directed HOOK, which was originally going to be a musical.
I think RAGTIME is a great project for him. In fact, I don't think I would want him to direct anything else. Perhaps THE SECRET GARDEN. Perhaps THE COLOR PURPLE. Slightly perhaps LES MISERABLES.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
He should direct none. He should direct zero musicals.
Understudy Joined: 11/16/04
spielberg does sondheim. i think it would work. maybe into the woods.
In My Life with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.
I'd LOVE to see a Spielberg "Ragtime". That idea has a lot of potential. The musical already feels so cinematic in scope that I think it would naturally lend itself to film.
Personally, I'd still rather see someone like Tim Burton or Baz Luhrmann tackle "Into the Woods".
I've always thought Parade would work better as a movie musical than a stage musical.
While the idea of a Spielberg PARADE is intriguing, I don't see him doing it as much justice as other directors could do.
Ron Howard I think would do PARADE better, but I still wouldn't want Ron Howard to direct it neither.
Why Ron Howard of all choices? I find Howard to be a bit of a bland director. Certainly not creative enough to successfully do a musical.
I would love to see what he could do with Side Show
I've always thought "Parade" would be a terrific movie musical with the right director. With the subject matter tough, I can't see it being a big budget studio picture. I'd love to see an indie company take it on.
Broadway Star Joined: 7/17/08
I'm curious to see what he would do with Miss Saigon, which I'm surprised has never come up nearly as often as some others in talks of potential movie musicals. When I listen to the cast recording I often visualize it far more as a cinematic piece than I do as a staged production. Imagine the long, slow pan from a close up of the statue of Ho Chi Minh to a great wide shot during the "This is the moment" after Kim shoots Thuy. Or the shots of the helicopter leaving the embassy. A talented director with a gifted cinematographer could produce a visually stunning movie with that material.
Follies.
He might do well with Follies, but the directing duties for that film at this point belong to Sam Mendes.
Mackintosh wanted him to do Miss Saigon
none
The opening sequence of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" was actually supposed to be much bigger than what was filmed. Kate Capshaw had learned to dance for the number but when she got her costume they realized it was so tight there was no way she could dance in it. So, it was scaled down to what you see in the film today.
I think "Ragtime" would be a perfect vehicle for him. Though I wouldn't mind to see him tackle lighter fare. While his films are more serious he actually seems to have a "musical comedy" mentality about him. If you've ever seen him in "behind the scenes" specials you'll know what I mean.
Miss Saigon was the first to pop into my head.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
Yeah, right, let's all hold our breaths until Mendes actually makes that film of FOLLIES.
Starmites or Starlight Express of course!
Actually - he'd be an interesting choice to direct a film version of City of Angels.
Broadway Star Joined: 7/24/07
Ragtime is perfect. It has a cinematic feeling like people said before and Spielberg would really make it creative, powerful and in general amazing.
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