Jojo's Top Ten Musicals
Submitted by JojoDelv on Tue, 02/20/2001 - 09:16
Tags:
- Singing in the Rain
- West Side Story
- The Music Man
- Holiday Inn
- Beauty and the Beast
- The King and I
- My Fair Lady
- Mary Poppins
- Funny Girl
- Fiddler on the Roof
Author Comments:
Judging by what I've seen on the music lists, I'm guessing that I'm about fifteen years older than most of the Listologly participants at this point, so chances are that a lot of you will not be familiar with some of my choices. Therefore, consider this an opportunity to expand your muscial movie horizons and check out some of those listed above.
I have to agree with you that Holiday Inn is much more enjoyable, somehow, than White Chirstmas, although they are so similar... I'm in my late twenties and I've seen your whole list.. so young people do like musicals, too. I tend to prfer the live shows of musicals like the King and I and My Fair Lady, which were written for the stage.. but I like the movie versions, especially if they somehow expand or change the show instead of just filming a stage musical.
I haven't seen My Fair Lady or Funny Girl yet, but a pretty solid list. Singin' in the Rain, especially in that musical 'ballet' toward the end, is great. West Side Story is great from a musical and dance view, but only works wonders if one can ignore the awful dialogue the characters utter between songs. I'm very disappointed, however, not to find Cabaret on this list. Has everybody forgotten Bob Fosse?
Beauty and the Beast is probably the best musical film of the 90s, in my book.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Bob Fosse's best film isn't a musical, it's All that Jazz. Cabaret on stage is just so great, I don't think the movie can top it! (But then I'm a stage show person, not a movie person, really.)
I usually believe the transition from stage to film ruins a work; however, Cabaret actually improved upon it, chopping out a few of the weakest songs and adding a few classics such as Money. Additionally, Fosse knew how to direct a musical like few could - very kinetic.
From your wording, it sounds as if you haven't seen the film yet. Am I correct? If so, I strongly urge you to check it out. Cabaret is Fosse's best.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
I've only seen Cabaret twice (once when it first came out and sometime within the last year on video - I fell asleep part way thru the video). Although I've always loved the music, there's something about the movie that just doesn't click with me and I don't know why. Maybe I need to check it out again.
I saw Cabaret once, but I was very young (7th or 8th grade), and i didn't like it. I may be able to see it through new eyes now, though...