# Lovers of musicals check in here! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 21, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443 "2004-06-21T14:31:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/41 "2004-06-22T05:20:52Z")
Just gotta say, I’m a big musical theatre fan, and one thing that dismays me is the large number of ‘greatest hits’ musicals (Movin’ Out, er, the ABBA one, Moulin Rouge, etc etc) that seemed to be coming out the last few years. Bye bye to musical creativity. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/42 "2004-06-22T12:09:18Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Just gotta say, I’m a big musical theatre fan, and one thing that dismays me is the large number of ‘greatest hits’ musicals (Movin’ Out, er, the ABBA one, Moulin Rouge, etc etc) that seemed to be coming out the last few years. Bye bye to musical creativity. I agree with you about that. They really seem to be doing safe stuff thaye can presell with a brand name – “Twyla Tharp does Billy Joel!” – and revivals with big names (though I did see Hugh Jackman’s “Oklahoma!” on TV and liked it quite a bit). OTOH, speaking of Hugh Jackman, kudos to him for doing the Peter Allen show. And not everything on B’way is a revival – “Wicked,” “Avenue Q,” etc. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/43 "2004-06-22T13:28:47Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Although I prefer the more recent [direct-to-video version](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000056NX5/qid=1087867248/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-3108349-5840121?v=glance&s=dvd) [of Jesus Christ Superstar] to the [weird 70’s movie version](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00028HBIO/qid=1087867248/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/102-3108349-5840121?v=glance&s=dvd). You know, I tend to take the Amazon amateur reviews with a grain of salt, but these are worse than usual. One reviewer gives one star because “Christ never really existed”. :rolleyes: I have had the pleasure of seeing multiple stage versions of _Superstar_. Ranging from the original recording cast on tour in '71 or '72 (they hardly attempted to do any “acting”, they just stood on stage and sang with minimal interaction between the characters), to the most recent version last year (the national touring company of the 1999 revival version). I hadn’t known that they had made a direct to video of the stage revival. I’m not a fan of the 1973 movie so I might have to check this one out. Thanks for the tip **Max**. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/44 "2004-06-22T13:38:03Z")
> [@plnnr](#): > > No, the actors don’t sing throughout. One scene w/singing takes place in a karaoke bar, so the singing isn’t at all spontaneous. The other takes place in a restaurant and Rupert Everett, who playes Julia Roberts’ friend, starts singing a Dionne Warwick number as a joke. The lead in the movie also sings “The Way You Look Tonight,” but that’s because it was “their” song. > > It isn’t a musical at all. Well I seem to recall at least one more song and the title sequence is a charming dance number to Wishing, Hoping Praying. As far as the the singing has to be spontaneous, well that would take out quite a few musicals. Cabaret for instance. IMHO MBFW is a light musical. It wants to be a musical and it is a link in the chain of the revival of the musical. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/45 "2004-06-22T15:30:01Z")
Would anyone be interested in doing something similar to **Johnny LA** ’s 007 film festival? We could pick a movie (methodology TBA), give ourselves X amount of time (a week? two weeks?) to give everyone a chance to watch it, then come back for a discussion of the film. Classics – idiosyncratic faves – amusing bombs – whatever. The only problem would be accessibility – I live in a major city with a bunch of really, really good video stores, so it’s not a problem for me, but I realize not all of us are so lucky. Netflix sends when they send, right? You can’t put in a specific request for a specific time? We could make the “X amount of time” a month if that would help. C’mon, guys, this would be cool – I recently saw _Umbrellas of Cherbourg_ for the first time and would have loved to have someone to discuss it with. What say you? ---
**Author:** ![supervenusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@supervenusfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supervenusfreak)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/46 "2004-06-22T15:44:58Z")
OK if we are going to accept “My Best Friend’s Wedding” then I must add another one of my current favorites, “The Guru”. Not only does it have some great musical numbers, but there is a very strong Bollywood influence too. It doesn’t hurt to have the hot hunky Bobby Cannevale kiss another hunky fireman character either! As for your suggestion Twixter, I am all for it! I have Netflix here and ordering is easy enough for me. Those members who are not near a good video store may want to check it out. But who gets to choose the movie? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/47 "2004-06-22T17:32:56Z")
Hmm, **supervenusfreak** , I can’t help but notice that you chose not to dignify my “Triplets” proposal with a response. 😉 I was thinking that we could keep a list of regular members of such a group in the order they signed up (so I’d be 1, you’d be 2, etc.), and pick in that order. We could keep a separate thread for sign-ups, the membership list, and the announcements of films and dates. Then, as first picker, I’d announce my choice and give a date (two weeks? a month? hence) on which discussion would begin. I’d then write the OP – summarizing the film briefly and perhaps suggesting a couple of topics for consideration. twicks, control freak extraordinaire, meditating on _Neptune’s Daughter_ vs. _Thoroughly Modern Millie_ for her choice ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/48 "2004-06-22T17:45:32Z")
That sounds great. What movie to start with, **Twickster**? Thread starter’s choice. ---
**Author:** ![ThatDuckIsEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@ThatDuckIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThatDuckIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/49 "2004-06-22T18:20:36Z")
::raises hand:: ooh! ooh! please can I join? what fun! I’d love to be included in the watching/discussing. Also, if you need any help with sign-ups and keeping track of things, I’m a fairly organized person… -Em ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/50 "2004-06-22T18:49:01Z")
Gene Kelly!!! _sigh_ D’artagnan yummm Oh I knew ALL the words to Fiddler on the Roof Paint Your Wagon-buzz off detractors I love the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang The Music Man Among others, the time I was in junior high school. OMG! I love Julie Andrews! And Judy Garland!!! hehehe no wonder I get along with gay guys so well 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/51 "2004-06-22T19:00:40Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > I finally watched Singin’ In The Rain last Christmas and it left me completely cold. I do not get the appeal. > > No mention of Judy Garland yet? Wizard of Oz (less a “movie musical” than an icon of culture, but still), Meet Me in St Louis, The Harvey Girls, Easter Parade, Summer Stock, and on and on. My mother loved Singing in the Rain… I thought it was totally boring and pointless. I like musicals where the music furthers the plot not just provide an excuse to burst into song! Ohhh Judy Garland… I spent such a large part of my teens watching her movies… and this was in the days before video! ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/52 "2004-06-22T19:07:44Z")
What write one post not 80 little ones? HAH! I so forgot A LIttle Night Music! I had the Broadway version on VINYL! I think I wore the grooves all the way through My mother introduced me to it … and then I explained things she missed in the lyrics to her… darned know it all kid! ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/53 "2004-06-22T21:48:06Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Would anyone be interested in doing something similar to **Johnny LA** ’s 007 film festival? … I recently saw _Umbrellas of Cherbourg_ for the first time and would have loved to have someone to discuss it with. I’d be interested, primarily because your mention of _Cherbourg_ caught my attention; it’s my favorite movie musical of all time. (My favorite stage musical is _Sweeney Todd_, which has never been adapted for film, though a video crew caught a New York performance a while back; the tape is available for rental but hard to find. Check your indie shop.) Oh, and from the OP, _Moulin Rouge_ and Astaire for me. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/54 "2004-06-22T22:45:07Z")
I’ve only seen Sweeney Todd live, but amazon is selling [this DVD edition](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005JL6V/ref=pd_bxgy_text_1/103-8354518-5858257?v=glance&s=dvd&st=*). I’m also in, if we do a “film festival” type thing. ---
**Author:** ![supervenusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@supervenusfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supervenusfreak)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/55 "2004-06-22T23:37:45Z")
LOL. Sorry Twickster but I am not familiar with that one. Jayjay probably is though and he probably can even get the sheet music for it too. Plenty of time for practice before the next gathering. As for the movie suggestion, sounds good! I am very familiar with many movies old and new. Two weeks sounds like enough of a time to get the movie and see it. Or we could split the difference and make it three. Saw a very fun movie last night, “Nine Dead Gay Guys”. Kind of a gay version of the new style of british crime drama ala “Lock, Stock, and 2 Smoking Barrels”. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/56 "2004-06-23T00:10:52Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > [this DVD edition](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005JL6V/ref=pd_bxgy_text_1/103-8354518-5858257?v=glance&s=dvd&st=*) That would be the one. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/57 "2004-06-23T05:11:05Z")
AFI’s 100 Years, 100 Songs is on right now. I really am disappointed. There are so many wonderful songs that have been left out, (we’re down to #20) and … I’m sorry. #19. “Someday My Prince Will Come”?? Don’t get me wrong, I like the song, but I don’t think it belongs in the top 20. Nor do I think Cabaret should be as low as 18. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/58 "2004-06-23T06:00:16Z")
Okay, here we go, folks. According to AFI, the top 20 songs in the movies. Y’all will be up long before me, I’m sure you can start the tearing apart without me. 😃 I’m goin’ to bed. Disgruntled and grumbling. 20 Some Day My Prince Will Come 19 Cabaret 18 I Could Have Danced All Night 17 Evergreen 16 Dancing Cheek to Cheek 15 My Heart will flippin well Go On. I have not the words. Please, let’s just move on. 14 People (Who Need People) 13 Diamonds Are A Girl’s Friend (both the Marilyn and Nicole’s versions) 12 The Man That Got Away, from A Star is Born. Judy’s version. 11 – I missed it, was getting more soda, sorry. 10 The Sound of Music 09 Stayin’ Alive. No. I refuse to acknowledge it. I’m just reporting it. 08 The Way We Were 07 When You Wish Upon A Star 06 Mrs. Robinson 05 White Christmas 04 Moon River 03 Singin’ in the Rain 02 As Time Goes By 01 Somewhere Over the Rainbow ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/59 "2004-06-23T16:09:57Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Would anyone be interested in doing something similar to **Johnny LA** ’s 007 film festival? We could pick a movie (methodology TBA), give ourselves X amount of time (a week? two weeks?) to give everyone a chance to watch it, then come back for a discussion of the film. Classics – idiosyncratic faves – amusing bombs – whatever. > > The only problem would be accessibility – I live in a major city with a bunch of really, really good video stores, so it’s not a problem for me, but I realize not all of us are so lucky. Netflix sends when they send, right? You can’t put in a specific request for a specific time? We could make the “X amount of time” a month if that would help. I’m in, to the extent that my local video store’s stock allows! They actually have an excellent selection of subtitled (not dubbed) Western films, the main problem is just finding where a particular video _is_. Aside from the typically Byzantine Japanese movie categorization system, this shop always seems to be reorganizing things or setting up special displays. But I think one of the current displays is actually one for musicals, so that may be my hunting done for me! Oh, **RealityChuck** mentioned Woody Allen’s _Everyone Says I Love You_ upthread, and I’d like to add that I also think it’s worth seeing (although hardly anyone has!). Certainly not one of the great movie musicals of all time, but better than one might expect and pretty funny too. At least if you find the idea of a bunch of nurses and pregnant women dancing around a hospital hallway to the tune of “Makin’ Whoopee” to be funny, and I must confess that I do. 🙂 Here’s a question for everyone: do “dance movies” count as musicals? I’m talking about the many movies out there that have numerous scenes with the main characters _dancing_ but none with them _singing_. I rejected “dancicles” as true musicals in my thesis, but I will admit here that this was at least partially because I didn’t want to have to sit through _Dirty Dancing_ again. I do think both song and dance are important components of a musical, yet I’d personally be more inclined to consider a non-dancing movie to be a musical than a non-singing one. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443/60 "2004-06-23T19:11:46Z")
It’s rare for movie musicals to move me as much as stage musicals do – there’s something about seeing performers in real life that just can’t be duplicated on the screen. That said - I do love movie musicals in my own way… \*Seven Brides The King and I Showboat A Little Night Music \* (and I must admit that the best rendition of “Now, Later, Soon,” I’ve seen is the movie version) \*Meet Me in St. Louis My Fair Lady Sound of Music (and “Something Good,” in the gazebo scene, is awesome). - [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lovers-of-musicals-check-in-here/251443.md?page=4)