Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 38

innerSpaceman · 06-08-2006, 08:54 PM

I tend to like filmed Broadway musicals less than original movie musicals.

Singin' in the Rain is tops of the tops in this category. Most people don't think of The Wizard of Oz as a musical, but it is ... and obviously one of the most beloved movies of all time. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is also one of the top three movie musicals, in my book.

Most other movie musicals, alas, have great song and dance ... but are otherwise crappy films. This applies to most from the classic age of movie musicals.

In the last few decades, however, there have been some better ones ... among them, Victor/Victoria and (though it features only one original song) - Moulin Rouge.

Of the Broadway adaptations, my faves are West Side Story, Chicago, and - odd as it may seem - 1776. (ooooh, and July 4th is coming up soon, and with it my annual screening of this underappreciated gem!)

Motorboat Cruiser · 06-08-2006, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

and - odd as it may seem - 1776. (ooooh, and July 4th is coming up soon, and with it my annual screening of this underappreciated gem!)

I have fond memories of this film, for when I was a mere 10 yr. old, we actually took a school field trip to the theater to see it. Seems nobody had screened it first for potential bad language and we were all delighted to have a school trip in which we got to see a movie where people cussed.

Good times, that was.

Alex · 06-08-2006, 11:33 PM

Saw Cars last Monday. Liked it a lot so once again the advertising was, for me, misleadingly blah.

mousepod · 06-08-2006, 09:08 PM

Singin In the Rain only features one original song, too.

innerSpaceman · 06-08-2006, 10:48 PM

Wow, mousepod ... you are correct. I hadn't thought of that, and it never occurred to me when I first fell in love with Singin' in the Rain as a child. But it would have been obvious to anyone seeing it in 1952 that the songs were all real tunes from the period portrayed in the film (i.e., the late 1920's.)

Not all of those songs were big hits of their day (though two or three were certainly well-known). Moulin Rouge went for very popular songs, not selected for the vanity of its producer (Arthur Freed used a bunch of his own songs from the '20s when he produced 'Singin' in the Rain' in the 50's).

But what a cool pedigree these two movies share. Just shy of fifty years apart, and two of the Best Movie Musicals of All Time!

Prudence · 06-08-2006, 11:42 PM

I forgot about The Wizard of Oz. I used to really really love it, and I suppose I do a bit, but I seriously overdid it some years ago and don't feel the need to see it again for another, oh 20 years or so.

Although I would love to read the books again. I wonder if they're still in my parents' attic?

Allegedly the hotel we'll be at tomorrow night has movies to rent. Perhaps I will have new thoughts after.

tracilicious · 06-09-2006, 07:49 AM

We watched The Crossing last night. While it was good, I felt unfulfilled by a movie only about crossing the Delaware to battle at Trenton. I would have liked a George Washington movie that was longer and broader historically. I love history movies, I'm going to have to seek out some others.

scaeagles · 06-09-2006, 07:53 AM

Going to take the kids to see Cars tomorrow. Rotten Tomatoes has it at 74% at present.

I read through some of the clips of reviews, and one reviewer who hated it was talking about how it failed to even improve upon the horrible Incredibles. WHAT????? I loved The Incredibles.

tracilicious · 06-09-2006, 07:55 AM

We're seeing Cars today. It will be the first movie that Indi will (hopefully) sit through. I hope it's good.

Gemini Cricket · 06-09-2006, 08:00 AM

I've decided to give less credence to movie reviewers from now on. They blasted 'Da Vinci' and although it wasn't great, it wasn't that bad. I also felt they were off on 'X3' as well. Again, not perfect but not horrible either.
I'm going to see 'Cars' this weekend.

06-08-2006, 08:54 PM	#1
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	I tend to like filmed Broadway musicals less than original movie musicals. Singin' in the Rain is tops of the tops in this category. Most people don't think of The Wizard of Oz as a musical, but it is ... and obviously one of the most beloved movies of all time. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is also one of the top three movie musicals, in my book. Most other movie musicals, alas, have great song and dance ... but are otherwise crappy films. This applies to most from the classic age of movie musicals. In the last few decades, however, there have been some better ones ... among them, Victor/Victoria and (though it features only one original song) - Moulin Rouge. Of the Broadway adaptations, my faves are West Side Story, Chicago, and - odd as it may seem - 1776. (ooooh, and July 4th is coming up soon, and with it my annual screening of this underappreciated gem!)
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06-08-2006, 11:33 PM	#3
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Saw Cars last Monday. Liked it a lot so once again the advertising was, for me, misleadingly blah.
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06-08-2006, 09:08 PM	#4
mousepod You broke your Ramadar! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,635	Singin In the Rain only features one original song, too. __________________ "Give the public everything you can give them, keep the place as clean as you can keep it, keep it friendly" - Walt Disney
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06-08-2006, 10:48 PM	#5
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Wow, mousepod ... you are correct. I hadn't thought of that, and it never occurred to me when I first fell in love with Singin' in the Rain as a child. But it would have been obvious to anyone seeing it in 1952 that the songs were all real tunes from the period portrayed in the film (i.e., the late 1920's.) Not all of those songs were big hits of their day (though two or three were certainly well-known). Moulin Rouge went for very popular songs, not selected for the vanity of its producer (Arthur Freed used a bunch of his own songs from the '20s when he produced 'Singin' in the Rain' in the 50's). But what a cool pedigree these two movies share. Just shy of fifty years apart, and two of the Best Movie Musicals of All Time!
	Submit to Quotes

06-08-2006, 11:42 PM	#6
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	I forgot about The Wizard of Oz. I used to really really love it, and I suppose I do a bit, but I seriously overdid it some years ago and don't feel the need to see it again for another, oh 20 years or so. Although I would love to read the books again. I wonder if they're still in my parents' attic? Allegedly the hotel we'll be at tomorrow night has movies to rent. Perhaps I will have new thoughts after. __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
	Submit to Quotes

06-09-2006, 07:49 AM	#7
tracilicious avatar transition Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in-between Posts: 2,487	We watched The Crossing last night. While it was good, I felt unfulfilled by a movie only about crossing the Delaware to battle at Trenton. I would have liked a George Washington movie that was longer and broader historically. I love history movies, I'm going to have to seek out some others. __________________ And now Harry, let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure! - Albus Dumbledore
	Submit to Quotes

06-09-2006, 07:53 AM	#8
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	Going to take the kids to see Cars tomorrow. Rotten Tomatoes has it at 74% at present. I read through some of the clips of reviews, and one reviewer who hated it was talking about how it failed to even improve upon the horrible Incredibles. WHAT????? I loved The Incredibles.
	Submit to Quotes

06-09-2006, 07:55 AM	#9
tracilicious avatar transition Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in-between Posts: 2,487	We're seeing Cars today. It will be the first movie that Indi will (hopefully) sit through. I hope it's good. __________________ And now Harry, let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure! - Albus Dumbledore
	Submit to Quotes

06-09-2006, 08:00 AM	#10
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	I've decided to give less credence to movie reviewers from now on. They blasted 'Da Vinci' and although it wasn't great, it wasn't that bad. I also felt they were off on 'X3' as well. Again, not perfect but not horrible either. I'm going to see 'Cars' this weekend.
	Submit to Quotes