Best Modern Film Musicals
Discussion
Eric Mc said:
shirt said:
Halb said:
Eric Mc said:
How can shows that are over 30 years old be looked on as "modern"?
Modern in style and content as opposed to the classics.i can watch things such as moulin rouge, but would gladly slit my wrists to avoid rodgers & hammerstein et al.
Even then, there is often extreme blurring of the genres within a show. I am currently rehearsing "Jesus Chtrist Superstar" with my company and, even though it is labelled as a "rock opera" (and is now 40 years old), the way the music is written and arranged you can tell that it is distinctly classic in structure. "Chess" as mentioned befiore, even though written by Tim Rice and Benny and Bjorn from Abba, shares more in common with Bach and Beethoven than "Dancing WQueen" or "Mama Mia".
The music in Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd" is probably the most complicated and difficult I have ever come across - and I have performed in a few full scale operas.
And don't dismiss Rogers and Hammersein too much. I admit that The Sound of Music is a bit sickly, but in some of their earlier musicals they actually tackled quite difficult and serious issues, such as redemption (Carousel), sexual perversion (Oklahoma), racism and war (South Pacific).
I am happy to try virually any musical - although I don't like them all. I find them more fun to be in than sitting watching them.
the exception for me is les mis. excellent in scope, score and story.
i think people are not defining 'modern' in terms of song structure eric but in thematic content and direction/production values. less w
ky wholesome families singing about how gosh darn happy they all are, that kind of thing. shirt said:
i find the majority of musicals the be dull and boring, with mediocre songs. i did [for my sins] grow up with amateur dramatics and have been in more than a few myself, but I the 'classic' musicals are just really dated.
the exception for me is les mis. excellent in scope, score and story.
i think people are not defining 'modern' in terms of song structure eric but in thematic content and direction/production values. less wky wholesome families singing about how gosh darn happy they all are, that kind of thing.
Agreed and same here.the exception for me is les mis. excellent in scope, score and story.
i think people are not defining 'modern' in terms of song structure eric but in thematic content and direction/production values. less w
ky wholesome families singing about how gosh darn happy they all are, that kind of thing. My top three are the ones I mentioned, I watched them ad nauseum when I was younger, just thought of another!
The Return of Captain Invincible, Chris Lee is excellent.
I was privileged to have seen the Rocky Horror Discworld show earlier this year for it's one and only performance, wish I had opted to be in it now
shirt said:
Eric Mc said:
shirt said:
Halb said:
Eric Mc said:
How can shows that are over 30 years old be looked on as "modern"?
Modern in style and content as opposed to the classics.i can watch things such as moulin rouge, but would gladly slit my wrists to avoid rodgers & hammerstein et al.
Even then, there is often extreme blurring of the genres within a show. I am currently rehearsing "Jesus Chtrist Superstar" with my company and, even though it is labelled as a "rock opera" (and is now 40 years old), the way the music is written and arranged you can tell that it is distinctly classic in structure. "Chess" as mentioned befiore, even though written by Tim Rice and Benny and Bjorn from Abba, shares more in common with Bach and Beethoven than "Dancing WQueen" or "Mama Mia".
The music in Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd" is probably the most complicated and difficult I have ever come across - and I have performed in a few full scale operas.
And don't dismiss Rogers and Hammersein too much. I admit that The Sound of Music is a bit sickly, but in some of their earlier musicals they actually tackled quite difficult and serious issues, such as redemption (Carousel), sexual perversion (Oklahoma), racism and war (South Pacific).
I am happy to try virually any musical - although I don't like them all. I find them more fun to be in than sitting watching them.
the exception for me is les mis. excellent in scope, score and story.
i think people are not defining 'modern' in terms of song structure eric but in thematic content and direction/production values. less w
ky wholesome families singing about how gosh darn happy they all are, that kind of thing. George and Ira Gershwin - nope
Cole Porter - nope
Lerner and Lowe - nope
Rogers and Hammerstein - a couple
Rogers and Hart - nope
Cy Coleman - nope
Stephen Sondheim - nope
Leonard Bernstein - nope
Jery Bock - nope
Kander and Ebb - nope
Having performed in so many of thse guy's shows, the only two musicals I can think of that had any sort of "happy family" content were Carousel and Oklahoma - but both those shows have extreme dark sides too.
Eric Mc said:
Halb said:
thehawk said:
Rather liked The Producers.
Zero Mostel is aceI do like Lane and Broderick.
The original film is not really a musical - it is a film about two producers who are trying to stage a bad taste musical ("Springtime for Hitler") so they can create a tax loss. The film was made in 1968 and is very good. There IS music in the film, but only in the sections where the cast are performing or rehearsing "Springtime for Hitler".
The stage musical is only about ten years old. The writers took the basic plot of the film and expanded it by adding music and songs into the main body of the piece as well as retaining the original "Springtime for Hitler" segments.
The new musical version was later made into a film (2005) which had mixed reviews.
I saw the stage version in London about four or five years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Apart from the original "Springtime" songs, the new songs are not that memorable, but the show is funny.
The stage musical is only about ten years old. The writers took the basic plot of the film and expanded it by adding music and songs into the main body of the piece as well as retaining the original "Springtime for Hitler" segments.
The new musical version was later made into a film (2005) which had mixed reviews.
I saw the stage version in London about four or five years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Apart from the original "Springtime" songs, the new songs are not that memorable, but the show is funny.
They are both good - and Zero Mostel was a well know musical performer. He was the original Tevye in the very first production of "Fiddler on The Roof" and he also played Pseudolos in the original production of "A Funny Thing Happened on teh Way to the Forum". He also starred in the film version of "Forum". The stage version is very, very funny - the film version is shockingly poor - mainly down to lame direction by Richard Lester.
One lesson I have learned from being both in and having watched so many musicals (both professional and amateur) is that the same show can be completely different - depending on the quality of the performers, the quality of the orchestra, the interpretation by the director/producer and the quality of the sets, scenery and lighting.
I have seen or been in many shows multiple times - Sweet Charity, Chicago, Oklahoma, South Pacific, Cabaret. My Fair Lady, and Oliver to name just a few and every time I saw them it seemed like I was watching a completely different show. Granted, the songs and the dialogue were the same, but everything else was different.
One lesson I have learned from being both in and having watched so many musicals (both professional and amateur) is that the same show can be completely different - depending on the quality of the performers, the quality of the orchestra, the interpretation by the director/producer and the quality of the sets, scenery and lighting.
I have seen or been in many shows multiple times - Sweet Charity, Chicago, Oklahoma, South Pacific, Cabaret. My Fair Lady, and Oliver to name just a few and every time I saw them it seemed like I was watching a completely different show. Granted, the songs and the dialogue were the same, but everything else was different.
Edited by Eric Mc on Saturday 11th December 11:20
Can't believe no one has mentioned Cabaret on here so far.
I think its excellent and Joel Grey plays a superbly ambiguous MC.
I have an issue with musicals thought tbh.
When music is in the show in the way Cabaret does it I can deal with it happily. I.e. on stage, in context.
When all of a sudden everyone starts singing and dancing in the street with sides of beef on their shoulders ala Oliver, I just cant suspend disbelief enough.
I think its excellent and Joel Grey plays a superbly ambiguous MC.
I have an issue with musicals thought tbh.
When music is in the show in the way Cabaret does it I can deal with it happily. I.e. on stage, in context.
When all of a sudden everyone starts singing and dancing in the street with sides of beef on their shoulders ala Oliver, I just cant suspend disbelief enough.
cazzer said:
Can't believe no one has mentioned Cabaret on here so far.
I think its excellent and Joel Grey plays a superbly ambiguous MC.
I have an issue with musicals thought tbh.
When music is in the show in the way Cabaret does it I can deal with it happily. I.e. on stage, in context.
When all of a sudden everyone starts singing and dancing in the street with sides of beef on their shoulders ala Oliver, I just cant suspend disbelief enough.
In a way, ALL drama requires a suspension of disbelief - no matter how realistic it APPEARS to be. No scripted film, TV series or play can ever be absiolutely truthful in the way it portrays people, action and dialogue. However, most of us are prepared to accept the limitations of drama in order to enjoy the experience. Stage or film musicals are just another way of telling a story. To me, music can allow characters to express themselves in a way that mere dialogue cannot.I think its excellent and Joel Grey plays a superbly ambiguous MC.
I have an issue with musicals thought tbh.
When music is in the show in the way Cabaret does it I can deal with it happily. I.e. on stage, in context.
When all of a sudden everyone starts singing and dancing in the street with sides of beef on their shoulders ala Oliver, I just cant suspend disbelief enough.
Whether people like a story told with music is often a very personal thing, I'm not a big fan of ballet, although I often like the music.
And of course, dance and movement can also be expressive and allow a plot to develop and thoughts and motions to be expressed without a single word being spoken or sung.
Edited by Eric Mc on Sunday 12th December 08:41
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