tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post4121725960792630345..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: My Favorite Films: MusicalsAndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-77300180476811667422014-01-27T23:06:41.411-05:002014-01-27T23:06:41.411-05:00Andrew, I think my problem is that the 80s and I a...Andrew, I think my problem is that the 80s and I are not good buddies. :PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-87589607278360004982014-01-27T17:43:22.066-05:002014-01-27T17:43:22.066-05:00KRS, There are people who will view anything other...KRS, There are people who will view anything other than total obedience to dogma as heresy. They don't tolerate jokes. They don't tolerate fiction. They denounce facts they don't like.<br /><br />I'll be curious to see how people respond to this latest discovery about the story of Noah's Ark coming from an older civilization in Iraq.<br /><br />In any event, I think Judas is the character you're supposed to like in JCS. He's charismatic. He's got the best lines. You follow him throughout the plot. And it is a tragedy. Whether or not he gets used or if he acts out of jealousy isn't clear, but I think we're ultimately meant to see it as jealousy because Judas could have stopped if he was being used (but he doesn't) and he wouldn't have hung himself after he felt he lost Jesus if he had been used.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-5226503335439860342014-01-27T17:08:23.007-05:002014-01-27T17:08:23.007-05:00Oops, forgot that Tim Rice wrote the lyrics, ALW t...Oops, forgot that Tim Rice wrote the lyrics, ALW the music. Please make the appropriate substitutions in my previous.KRSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-44765608908007289992014-01-27T16:57:29.591-05:002014-01-27T16:57:29.591-05:00Well, Andrew, I thought I was talking literature w...Well, Andrew, I thought I was talking literature with them. I musta been confused. ALWebber is a Brit, so I really think he intended JCS as a tragedy, certainly not as worship. But I guess they thought it made Jesus look cool and took it as worship - even though Judas gets all the best lines: "Did you mean to die like that?/ Was that a mistake, or/ did you know your messy death/ would be a record breaker?"<br /><br />Really, I think ALW has some issues in this one. He sounds, dare I say it, cynical?<br /><br />But then, maybe I'm a little biased because I've always had a little bit of sympathy for Judas. When I started reading real literature in high schoool, I kinda got the idea he was being used and I never really shook it.<br /><br />Oh, dang! I could have used that in the favorite villians thread!KRSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-77807880347961975962014-01-27T15:21:58.440-05:002014-01-27T15:21:58.440-05:00KRS, Good point. Things have been getting more and...KRS, Good point. Things have been getting more and more cynical of late. And the few good musicals we've had in the 1990s were pretty cynical.<br /><br />On your second point, never talk religion with true believers. They don't tend to take ideas like that well.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-73624688538910951552014-01-27T15:08:48.867-05:002014-01-27T15:08:48.867-05:00This is a bit OT, Andrew, but your pick of Jesus C...This is a bit OT, Andrew, but your pick of Jesus Christ, Superstar reminded me of an argument I had in high school. JCS had been out for a few years and had even been on TV. The New Jerusalem movement had kicked off and a bunch of my friends who joined it all had their own soundtrack albums. <br /><br />After a whole year of studying English authors in class - including Shakespeare - I saw the musical and recognized the pattern of a classic Elizabethan tragedy with Judas as the story's hero protagonist doomed by his "tragic flaw." <br /><br />They piled on me like Puritans at a witch burning. I tried to stand my ground politely, but when I pointed out that in JCS it's Judas who gets resurrected, I think I did some real damage to our friendships.<br /><br />Teenagers, whaddaya gonna do?KRSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-16230237968259523322014-01-27T14:52:03.127-05:002014-01-27T14:52:03.127-05:00Musicals died in the 1980s because it's just t...Musicals died in the 1980s because it's just too hard to make a cynical one.<br /><br />Singing in the Rain is my favorite and Gene Kelly's dance number to the title song is the most enjoyable I've ever seen. Kelly developed a a style of dance that was almost Olympian in athletic quality, yet he delivered it with an effortless joy. A quinessentially American style that no one has matched, not even his contemporaries (although Astair and O'Conner each came close in their own way).<br /><br />One thing about Astair, O'Conner and Kelly was their style of tap seems utterly lost. They could almost float across the floor. Today's tappers are just a bunch of nail drivers. I mean, they attack the floor like it's going to rise up and choke them.<br /><br />Another personal favorite - which I've mentioned before - is Scrooge (1970) with Albert Finney. Wonderful songs and the only version that takes the time to revel in his redemption.KRSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-34197931769068680072014-01-27T01:36:47.836-05:002014-01-27T01:36:47.836-05:00goldvermilion, You've only seen one? Wow. Fas...goldvermilion, You've only seen one? Wow. Fascinating.<br /><br />Good call on "Hello Dolly."<br /><br />I love Opera, but I rarely go anymore. And yeah, <i>Phantom</i> is not opera.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-54522255400850161802014-01-26T23:00:37.354-05:002014-01-26T23:00:37.354-05:00I forgot Oliver! My first tape was the Oliver sou...I forgot Oliver! My first tape was the Oliver soundtrack! :)<br /><br />Does Porgy & Bess count as a musical, Jed? I have always considered it an opera. <br /><br />(A real one. Unlike the people who make me want to cry when they say "Oh yeah! Opera? I've seen Phantom!" Phantom is awesome. But it is not an opera. And Sarah Brightman is NNNOOOTTTT an opera singer.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-45131354833038586482014-01-26T22:55:11.219-05:002014-01-26T22:55:11.219-05:00Can I just say that I was SHOCKED to see a list of...Can I just say that I was SHOCKED to see a list of favorite musicals that only included one I'd ever seen! (Sound of Music) I love musicals, But yeah . .. only seen one on your list.<br /><br />Mine would be:<br /><br />Singin' in the Rain<br />White Christmas<br />Hello Dolly<br />My Fair Lady <br />West Side Story<br />Royal Wedding<br />On the Town<br />Anchors Aweigh<br />Top Hat (mostly because I had to choose one Astaire/Rogers musical, and that's always the most memorable for me.)<br /><br />If we were doing Disney films, I'd go with Beauty and the Beast and The Jungle Book as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-73977660199190554012014-01-26T19:36:23.934-05:002014-01-26T19:36:23.934-05:00Jed, Try to snooker us whippersnappers at your own...Jed, Try to snooker us whippersnappers at your own risk! LOL!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-3930353123273832512014-01-26T19:24:12.073-05:002014-01-26T19:24:12.073-05:00"threw" l.o.l."threw" l.o.l.Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-30348035474012871012014-01-26T19:23:27.860-05:002014-01-26T19:23:27.860-05:00I miss Lawhawk. I through out a 1955 film "Pi...I miss Lawhawk. I through out a 1955 film "Picnic" starring William Holden and Kim Novack. It wasn't a musical, but nobody noticed. Oh well, :)<br />Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-80226124961130060402014-01-26T14:12:37.866-05:002014-01-26T14:12:37.866-05:00Doris Day is very, very, very cute.Doris Day is very, very, very cute.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-22107110476898714162014-01-26T14:05:14.247-05:002014-01-26T14:05:14.247-05:00never cared for Evita. The music was weak to my ta...never cared for Evita. The music was weak to my tastes. Madonna did a good enough job in the film, but I couldn't get into it. Probably the very first film I saw that was a musical was Calamity Jane with Doris Day and Howard Keel ( a Broadway star of the 50's known to younger generations more as Clayton Farlow on the original Dallas.) It was recently on one of the movie channels. The songs were still great ("whip-crack-away") but the movie was kind of weak.Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-89047237803177103472014-01-26T13:54:27.095-05:002014-01-26T13:54:27.095-05:00Backthrow, I love Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Fa...Backthrow, I love <i>Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory</i>, though again I don't think of it as a musical. I really dislike the remake.<br /><br />I have seen <i>The Phantom of the Paradise</i> several times. I don't like the film and I don't like the music, but still I find the whole thing strangely compelling. Interesting.<br /><br /><i>Little Shop of Horrors</i> was fun.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-80992636330938525642014-01-26T13:51:27.073-05:002014-01-26T13:51:27.073-05:00Bev, Ranking favorites is really hard because tast...Bev, Ranking favorites is really hard because tastes change according to moods. But I figured I would try nevertheless.<br /><br />On your other point, true! Musicals died in the early 1980s and only make sporadic comebacks now. And there is no way we'll get back to the 1960s in terms of production or popularity. Even in cartoon ranks, you're just as likely to have a song-free film (<i>Wreck-It Ralph</i>) as you are a musical cartoon these days.<br /><br />I am glad to hear that <i>Xanadu</i> is making a comeback. I think it was unfairly ignored and it has some truly inspired music.<br /><br />On Parker and Stone, I was impressed both with <i>South Park The Movie</i> and that they pulled off the Mormon thing. They are actually very solid when it comes to musicals.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-73038776075641878982014-01-26T13:47:08.573-05:002014-01-26T13:47:08.573-05:00tryanmax, I don't quite see the Disney films a...tryanmax, I don't quite see the <i>Disney</i> films as classic musicals. Somehow, they just don't fit to me. That said, if I were to add them to the list, I would be tempted to add <i>Beauty and the Beast, Robin Hood, Cinderella, Jungle Book</i>.... and that starts to fill up the list pretty fast.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-74019940120827508872014-01-26T13:44:56.901-05:002014-01-26T13:44:56.901-05:00Kit, Good list. I liked Evita a good deal too, th...Kit, Good list. I liked <i>Evita</i> a good deal too, though I'm talking pre-Madonna.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-86322095974174192082014-01-26T13:43:10.922-05:002014-01-26T13:43:10.922-05:00tryanmax, Those are strong words! LOL! You better...tryanmax, Those are strong words! LOL! You better hope R&H don't read this blog and come kick your butt! I'm sure they aren't above a flight out to Nebraska. ;-P<br /><br />In all seriousness, I am not a fan of <i>South Pacific</i>.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-2254742902501296722014-01-26T13:35:32.281-05:002014-01-26T13:35:32.281-05:00Jed, I forgot about My Fair Lady! What a great mu...Jed, I forgot about <i>My Fair Lady</i>! What a great musical! :DAndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-43627582736997083792014-01-26T13:33:52.026-05:002014-01-26T13:33:52.026-05:00Dave, I avoided things like The Blues Brothers bec...Dave, I avoided things like <i>The Blues Brothers</i> because I don't see that as a musical. To me, a musical is more about characters singing their lines periodically for no particular reason and without them being conscious of the fact that is unusual. The Blues Brothers keep running into musicians.<br /><br />On <i>The Wizard of Oz</i>, I love the film, but actually don't like it as a musical. I find the songs to be the slowest part of the film.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-68580056210521719652014-01-26T13:31:20.385-05:002014-01-26T13:31:20.385-05:00Shawn, I like the music of Xanadu much more than t...Shawn, I like the music of <i>Xanadu</i> much more than the film, but I think it is a competent little love story.<br /><br />And yeah, <i>Grease</i> is the word!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-61785457129612185782014-01-26T13:29:18.495-05:002014-01-26T13:29:18.495-05:00GypsyTyger, During was fantastic. I love his danc...GypsyTyger, During was fantastic. I love his dance. And yeah, everything about that film just works.<br /><br />I love <i>Grease</i> too. That's a great all-around movie with some great songs.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-76081092959826422252014-01-26T11:23:24.786-05:002014-01-26T11:23:24.786-05:00My all-around least-favorite major movie genre, bu...My all-around least-favorite major movie genre, but there are some I like. I tend to prefer the ones that are more about the singing and less about the dancing, and it helps a lot if they are witty/funny. My list is basically what I have, Musical-wise on my DVD shelf (plus one 1950s obscurity I have burned on DVD-R from an old cable broadcast), minus animated films and rock group films like A HARD DAY'S NIGHT and ROCK N' ROLL HIGH SCHOOL:<br /><br /><i>The Wizard of Oz</i> (1939)<br /><br /><i>Yankee Doodle Dandy</i> (1942)<br /><br /><i>Meet Me in St. Louis</i> (1944)<br /><br /><i>Annie Get Your Gun</i> (1950)<br /><br /><i>Oklahoma!</i> (1955)<br /><br /><i>Hey Boy! Hey Girl!</i> (1959) A cheapo B-movie with a lame plotline, and Keely Smith's acting ability is less than a wax dummy's, but none of that matters when Louis Prima, Keely and The Witnesses do their swingin' thing.<br /><br /><i>L'il Abner</i> (1959) Several of the songs are nothing to write home about, but the film is pretty funny, some of the songs (like "Jubilation T. Cornpone") are good, the recreation of the comic strip's world is well done, and the women are stunning (Leslie Parrish, Julie Newmar, Stella Stevens).<br /><br /><i>The Music Man</i> (1962)<br /><br /><i>Bye Bye Birdie</i> (1963)<br /><br /><i>The Umbrellas of Cherbourg</i> (1964) Interesting, well-regarded oddity. No dancing, and instead of actual songs, all the dialogue is sung. What makes it work is the excellent direction and incredibly young and beautiful Catherine Deneuve. <br /><br /><i>Viva Las Vegas</i> (1964) Pretty dopey in general, though the songs and scenery are good, but mainly.... prime Elvis and Ann-Margret!<br /><br /><i>The Sound of Music</i> (1965)<br /><br /><i>Finian's Rainbow</i> (1968) Some good songs, and having most of the film take place outdoors, in the country, is refreshing. The cross-country "Look to the Rainbow" "opening credits sequence is amazing.<br /><br /><i>Oliver!</i> (1968)<br /><br /><i>Paint Your Wagon</i> (1969) Clint Eastwood's singing is mostly bad, as is Lee Marvin's "The Next Thing You Know" (but his "Wanderin' Star" fits him well), while the rest of the songs are fine, the Paddy Chayefsky script is wickedly funny, more great outdoor shooting, and I always love to watch the town systematically collapse at the end.<br /><br /><i>Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory</i> (1971) <br /><br /><i>The Phantom of the Paradise</i> (1974) Totally insane... I personally prefer this to <i>The Rocky Horror Picture Show</i>, which I could never get into, other than the "Time Warp" song/sequence.<br /><br /><i>The Blues Brothers</i> (1980) I, like a lot of people, tend to think of this as a comedy first and a musical second, since a lot of the songs are performed on-stage before an audience, rather than characters suddenly breaking out in song, but Aretha Franklin's "Think" and Ray Charles' "Shake a Tail Feather" are enough to push this into actual Musical territory.<br /><br /><i>Little Shop of Horrors</i> (1986)<br /><br /><i>Cry-Baby</i> (1990)Backthrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02289433396695381105noreply@blogger.com