# Musicals that are "musicals" in-universe **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2019, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304 "2019-04-09T22:56:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/21 "2019-04-10T13:58:22Z")
Your mention of \*Enchanted \*made me think of the \*Trolls \*movie(s?). Don’t they perform a song or two because that’s the sort of thing Trolls do when they get together? ---
**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:** [April 10, 2019, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/22 "2019-04-10T14:00:13Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > I was trying to think of a musical in which all the songs are “real” _White Christmas_ [fails](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH2KGboA35c). _Blues Brothers_ [fails](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vet6AHmq3_s). I’d suggest _Hedwig and the Angry Inch_. Not the film version, but the stage show set-up is literally just Hedwig and her band, with Hedwig monologue-ing and performing numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/23 "2019-04-10T14:05:57Z")
The crossover Flash episode ‘Duet’ featured The Flash and Supergirl - in civilian identities - singing songs to each other - and others - while in a coma produced by the Music Meister that forced them to learn about themselves and their feelings for others to escape the coma. Goofy as hell, but a ton of fun due to the chemistry and charisma of the two leads. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/24 "2019-04-10T14:13:28Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > [Five Guys Named Moe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Guys_Named_Moe). A story about a group of professional singers with a repertoire of songs. Oh man. For nearly 30 years I’ve thought this was just a lyric in a [song by the Look People](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1b-mGb-qJU). Now I learn it’s about a musical featuring Louis Jordan?! How did I miss this? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/25 "2019-04-10T14:47:13Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Sister Act > [@needscoffee](#): > > Oops, should have read the OP better. The second one fits, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/26 "2019-04-10T14:50:55Z")
How about “O Brother Where Art Thou?” While I’m not totally sure it qualifies as a "musical’ it does have a lot of characters singing songs and all are in-universe actual songs the other characters are aware of. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/27 "2019-04-10T14:51:23Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Your mention of \*Enchanted \*made me think of the \*Trolls \*movie(s?). Don’t they perform a song or two because that’s the sort of thing Trolls do when they get together? Arguably “I Will Get Back Up Again” isn’t diegetic, given that it’s a montage scene. “Hello” is also debatable. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/28 "2019-04-10T15:06:16Z")
_The Cotton Club_, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/29 "2019-04-10T15:53:35Z")
_Yankee Doodle Dandy_ qualifies, and also _Words and Music_. Pretty sure _Till the Clouds Roll By_ fits, too. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/30 "2019-04-10T16:12:16Z")
Not sure if it qualifies, but how about [Waiting for Guffman](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118111/)? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/31 "2019-04-10T16:23:54Z")
Fanwank\*: when the dwarfs break out into song in _The Hobbit_, they are singing a traditional dwarf song that they all know. Chip the glasses and crack the plates! Blunt the knives and bend the forks! That’s what [**insert name**] hates- Smash the bottles and burn the corks! And when Thorin sits down and starts singing about gold, it is a song he has previously composed and rehearsed. - not that I’m actually a fan of the trilogy, just a figure of speech. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/32 "2019-04-10T16:36:54Z")
Been awhile since I saw it, but I think _Jersey Boys_ qualifies. _Beautiful_ also seems to set all its songs at either a performance or showing someone plugging it. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/33 "2019-04-10T17:19:12Z")
The Commitments? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/34 "2019-04-10T17:22:13Z")
[This Is Spinal Tap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_Spinal_Tap) ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/35 "2019-04-10T18:40:07Z")
**Star! (1968)** Julie Andrews stars as actress and singer Gertrude Lawrence, and there are many great musical numbers performed on stage as part of the story. Julie Andrews was never better than in this movie. I’ve enjoyed finding some clips: [Someone to Watch Over Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKvnUGSNbys) [Burlington Bertie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOJp_oJgMTM) [Saga of Jenny](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd1j8vC_vzo) (spectacular circus number, don’t be put off by the first 30sec) Playing [Gertrude Lawrence drunk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qr3rPWsx_A) (non-musical, but brilliant) [My Ship](https://youtu.be/ELM_BrFYC8g?t=2h25m5s) - exceptional ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/36 "2019-04-10T19:13:14Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > **Star! (1968)** > > Julie Andrews stars as actress and singer Gertrude Lawrence, and there are many great musical numbers performed on stage as part of the story. Likewise, _Darling Lili_ ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/37 "2019-04-10T21:22:18Z")
36 posts and no one mentions _Viva Las Vegas_? Most of the songs are during Las Vegas stage shows or rehearsal. It was on TCM recently and I have that available. Let’s see. Outside of the above: Evlis and A-M sing to each other by a pool, Elvis has a guitar as accompaniment. It sort of fits in with the rest of the Vegas act stuff. An awkward 3-way between Elvis, A-M and Cesare Danova (yeah, right). An Elvis solo set next to a stage after a show which is the hokiest one of all. But other than that, they seem to be all performing for others or rehearsing. Sadly, William Demarest wasn’t allowed to perform. Oh, well. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/38 "2019-04-10T21:40:07Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Your Word of the Day is: **[diegetic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diegetic_music).** Thank you. I was too lazy to look that word up last night, but it’s exactly the word I needed for this thread. > [@MrAtoz](#): > > For those who haven’t clicked on the link, the song in question is “Count Your Blessings.” I’d call this one sort of a mix. > > It’s true that Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney are singing about their feelings here. But Crosby’s character is a songwriter, so it’s not impossible that he would have written a song about this. Later in the film, Crosby says, “Let’s rehearse that ‘Blessings’ number.” So even within the film, this is clearly a song that they are planning to include in the show they’re putting together. I’d lean toward this being a diegetic song as well. Interesting edge case. Thanks. > [@ftg](#): > > 36 posts and no one mentions _Viva Las Vegas_? > > Most of the songs are during Las Vegas stage shows or rehearsal. > > It was on TCM recently and I have that available. Let’s see. Outside of the above: Evlis and A-M sing to each other by a pool, Elvis has a guitar as accompaniment. It sort of fits in with the rest of the Vegas act stuff. An awkward 3-way between Elvis, A-M and Cesare Danova (yeah, right). An Elvis solo set next to a stage after a show which is the hokiest one of all. But other than that, they seem to be all performing for others or rehearsing. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2019, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/39 "2019-04-10T21:46:36Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Fanwank\*: when the dwarfs break out into song in _The Hobbit_, they are singing a traditional dwarf song that they all know. > > Chip the glasses and crack the plates! > Blunt the knives and bend the forks! > That’s what [**insert name**] hates- > Smash the bottles and burn the corks! > > And when Thorin sits down and starts singing about gold, it is a song he has previously composed and rehearsed. > > - not that I’m actually a fan of the trilogy, just a figure of speech. I agree with both of these. > [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > [This Is Spinal Tap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_Spinal_Tap) > [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > _Yankee Doodle Dandy_ qualifies, and also _Words and Music_. Pretty sure _Till the Clouds Roll By_ fits, too. Good suggestions all. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304/40 "2019-04-11T00:24:58Z")
_Casablanca._ Oh, I know some will nitpick that it’s not a “musical.” 😉 But it has a lot of singing in it, and it’s all in character. In fact, [Warner Brothers actually produced a musical stage production of Casablanca.](http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/livechina/2005-03/28/content_428690.htm) It didn’t work. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicals-that-are-musicals-in-universe/832304.md?page=3)