The 10 best Musicals on film
Mar 24 '01
The Bottom Line Perfect for pre-teens when they have outgrown Disney but their parents aren’t completely comfortable with allowing PG or PG-13 yet.
I began my appreciation for Broadway musicals early in life. All my young life, my father was a high school administrator; a job that entails many obligatory activities beyond the 9-3 that school is in session.
My father had to attend proms, sports events, concerts, plays, etc. Often, when these functions fell on weekends, my father would bring my sister and I.
I learned many things from these outings. I found out that the money from the snack bar has to be put in the safe at half time. I realized that I didn’t like the stench of a locker room after a wrestling match. I learned that the beautiful people on stage are often not as beautiful without all that make up. But most of all I learned that sometimes, very rarely, a boy with a strong voice and a impressive stage presence on a high school stage can go on to become a man with powerful voice and a commanding stage presence on a Broadway stage.
To me, Musicals are able to express a wide variety of emotions through the characters and songs. No other stage medium has felt so passionate to me. Though I am still enamored with this type of movie, my interest was at its strongest in my adolescence. Musicals are perfect for the 8-13 set. What other genre of movie can this group graduate to when they have outgrown Disney but their parents aren’t completely comfortable with allowing PG or PG-13 yet? The subject matter is more mature than in Disney, but there is still music.
And the music is the attraction for the pre-teen crowd. Let’s face it, if the tunes aren’t catchy and appealing to a wide variety of people, why are all the Musicals sold out on Broadway?
Let me put it another way- I can’t get my pre-teen interested in watching “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” beyond the mild curiosity level of, “Huh, isn’t there a song by that name?” before she walks away to play Nintendo. But...she has watched my video of “My Fair Lady” ten times as much as I have.
And that brings me to my Top 10 (finally!) You might think that “My Fair Lady" would be my number one choice, since I mentioned it. This video is the only (non-Disney) musical I own. Despite the many times I have given detailed lists, this is the only one I have ever received. I hope this editorial will change that horrible ratio of movies I want to movies I have.
***Birthday Hint*** These are the movies I want.
10. Sound of Music
This movie has a theme appropriate to youthful viewers. Julie Andrews is a novice who is sent to be a governess for the seven children of a military captain. There are running love themes between Maria (Julie Andrews) and (Christopher Plummer) and the teen lovers Liesel and Rolfe. Even its darkest moments aren’t as frightening as some of the Disney movies. It has music by Rodgers and Hammerstein including such catchy tunes as “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and “How do you Solve a Problem Like Maria?” My personal favorite is “Edelweiss”.
9. My Fair Lady
This movie is based on George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion. It stars Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle and Rex Harrison as Professor Henry Higgins. The theme of one person trying to change another is prevalent in pre-teen books and movies. The real attraction in this movie isn’t the music. After all, it isn’t really Audrey Hepburn singing and Rex Harrison talks through his lines in the songs rather than sing. The clothing and the scenery is what catches attention in this flick. Eliza wears some real knockouts, the best of her outfits can be observed in the scene at the polo match.
8. Yankee Doodle Dandy
This is based on the life of composer/performer George M. Cohan and his family.
"Over There," "It's a Grand Old Flag," "Give My Regards to Broadway" and “Yankee Doodle Dandy” are the films best numbers. I knew that Jimmy Cagney was a wonderful actor but was amazed to find that he could also sing. Younger viewers may find an interest in classic films through watching this.
7. Cats
I have to say that I have not seen the video of this musical. Since the video is just a filming of the stage production when it was in London, I think I can add my recommendation. I saw this musical in a theater, sitting in the 4th row and I have to say that if you ever get a chance to experience this, do it! This will definitely appeal to young girls. The realism of the cat costumes and characteristics is fascinating to any audience member. The song that is most impressive in this is “Memories.”
6. South Pacific
Another Rodgers and Hammerstein musical score is what keeps me coming back for more of South Pacific. “I’m Gonna Wash that Man Right Outta My Hair,” "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy," and the fantasy woven in "Bali H'ai” are some of the more memorable moments. Mitzi Gaynor is a believable heroine, but I never understood the attraction to Rossano Brazzi. This is your basic star-crossed (or war crossed) lovers theme.
5. Camelot
I have seen this on stage with Richard Harris in his later years. I don’t care if the rumors are true about his drinking; he was captivating in this role. I have always been fascinated with King Arthur and Guenevere and I blame this musical for my obsession. Vanessa Redgrave plays the role of Guenevere in this movie. I have seen this as a live production so many times that I can not picture her as the Queen of Camelot- she just isn’t that memorable compared to others. I am hard pressed to give a song recommendation as they are all wonderful, but the most spectacular songs are “Camelot,” "If Ever I Would Leave You," and "What Do the Simple Folk Do?"
4. Grease
This movie is fairly well known by the pre-teen set. Grease and its inferior sequel are replayed on cable TVs across America. Just ask my 12-year-old who watches it every chance she gets and has some how trained my 3-year-old to do a whole routine to “Greased Lighting”. John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John get top billing in this flick, but I think Stockard Channing puts in a much better performance in acting as well as singing as the outrageous Rizzo. Her rendition of “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” is my favorite song from this movie. "You're the One that I Want," "Greased Lightning," and "Summer Nights” are also great songs.
3. Chorus Line
"What I Did For Love” and “One” are my two favorite songs from Chorus Line. This is one of those that should be experienced live if possible, even if it is just by an exceptional high school drama club. This musical follows the life of dancers trying out for a chorus line and each are at different places in their Broadway career.
2. West Side Story
This movie boasts a Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim score and a very young Natalie Wood. It’s your basic Romeo and Juliet plot set in 1950’s New York City. It’s the Jets versus the Sharks, baby and no one has done it better before or since. Best song in the whole movie is “America” with a young and spunky Rita Moreno. This song really highlights the music, singing, dancing and costumes of the picture. This song and “Officer Krumpke” are the film’s most humorous moments. My parents had the soundtrack to this movie and my sister and I used to sing and dance until we made the record skip (yes…I am that old.)
1. Oklahoma!
What can I say about Oklahoma? This is my all time favorite movie of any genre. Again Rodgers and Hammerstein penned the score. “People Will Say We're in Love," "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin," and "Oklahoma!" are the standouts. It’s a goofy love story starring a young Shirley Jones (pre-Partridge Family) as a farm girl going to her first big dance. It’s chock full of all the usual musical complaints; the characters aren’t well developed, the dialog is just a plot device to get to the next song and dance number, etc (or as they would say in the King and I: etcetera, etcetera.) But I don’t care! I just love this movie and I don’t care who knows it. I love the singing, the dancing, the silly romance, and each and every overly dramatic gaze.
My wish is that big Broadway Musicals will make a comeback at the movies. I would love to see a better film version of Les Miserables made (with music!!) I know I can’t be the only one who cherishes these old movies. After all, I see them given away for free at Qool.com all the time. That must mean they are in demand, right?
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Member: Susan Whipple
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