Nah, just kidding. Probably Singin' In The Rain - the "Broadway Melody" number always troubled me for pace, but "Make 'Em Laugh", "Moses Supposes" and the title track are gold. Them folks can dance!
I haven't read all the posts in this thread, but my favorite musical and as far as I'm concern the apogee of the art form is SINGIN' IN THE RAIN with incomparable Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds in the role of her life and the very underrated Francis O'Connor. Just movie magic! Kelly singing the eponymous title tune is divine.
One other musical I'd like to single out is one that was savaged by the critics when it came out a couple of years ago and that would be the much-maligned Cole Porter bio pic, DELOVELY starring Kevin Kline as Porter and a bunch of guests sing Porter tunes. I can't think of a film where the critics were more wrong. A real sleeper.
Another personal favorite is Bye Bye Birdie. Great songs and a great cast. Rogers and Hammerstein it is not, but, it is a thoroughly enjoyable family movie.
Posts: 1206 | Location: Hunting in the Korengal | Registered: 04 January 2006
I realize that nowadays it's not too cool to love musicals, but since many of the most entertaining films I've ever seen ARE musicals, I don't get that.
Cabaret!! Go ahead and watch that, tell me it's not entertaining and devastating, and that it's not as completely new now as it was ahead of its time in 1972.
"Naked Woman, Naked Man Where did you get that nice sun tan?"
Posts: 12874 | Location: Behind the Orange Curtain | Registered: 14 May 2004
Moulin Rouge is by far my favorite of all time, and of course, The Rocky Horror Picture show is a classic.
I will be interested to see what they do to Sweeney Todd when it hits film. Casting Johnny Depp might have been a really good choice, well have to see.
You used to be someone who meant something to me.
Posts: 11 | Location: Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: 07 June 2007
Sweeney Todd was excellent, and not only b/c Johnny Depp could hit a good note, but the rest of the cast pulled off singing without being annoying.
I am looking forward to seeing Mamma Mia! in a few months...
But as far as my favorite musicals: -Grease I & II (i know the second is not widely appreciated, but the songs stay stuck in my head for days) -Moulin Rouge -The Little Mermaid...and pretty much every disney musical cartoon classic
Posts: 188 | Location: ...that's neither here nor there... | Registered: 11 February 2008
If there is anything good about this movie, I think it's Meryl Streep, who used her talent in singing, dancing and acting to save this long-performed broadway musical. Except good music, the movie itself is pretty draggy. Trailer
Originally posted by turtles run: Sweeney Todd was excellent, and not only b/c Johnny Depp could hit a good note, but the rest of the cast pulled off singing without being annoying.
I am looking forward to seeing Mamma Mia! in a few months...
But as far as my favorite musicals: -Grease I & II (i know the second is not widely appreciated, but the songs stay stuck in my head for days) -Moulin Rouge -The Little Mermaid...and pretty much every disney musical cartoon classic
If there is anything good about the Mamma Mia movie, I think it's Meryl Streep, who used her talent in singing, dancing and acting to save this long-performed broadway musical. Except good music, the movie itself is pretty draggy. Trailer
Grease is always going to be tough to beat. After the fiasco of Sgt. Peppers I thought all attempts at Beatle musicals would fail. However, Across the Universe is worth viewing. Though I don't know if it really can be called a musical, Footloose was a great use of music to tell a story.
Boy, you got to carry that weight a long time!
Posts: 401 | Location: Georgia | Registered: 14 October 2005
Mama Mia!!! (2008) gets my vote for best musical. It's hip, it speaks directly to the babyboomer generation, it connects, and expresses what I feel is what musicals are mostly about - entertainment at its finest...a joy to experience.
Posts: 955 | Location: Utah, United States | Registered: 22 July 2005
I still remember going to see Evita, and asking my then-girlfriend, "When does the dialogue begin?" (I had no idea it was a musical!) That said, for me, it has to be Grease.
Posts: 22 | Location: Downtown | Registered: 11 July 2008
I recently watched Be Kind Rewind and it reminded me of one of my favorites, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. I watched it the other day and it's still great.
Posts: 3130 | Location: FoCo | Registered: 07 January 2005
