In television series, it’s not unknown for members of the main cast to sing the show’s theme song. Examples include Frasier (sung by Kelsey Grammer), Family Guy (sung by the entire main cast), and All in the Family (sung in character by Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton). Some actors have sung the theme tunes to so many of their series that it becomes a subject of (good-natured) ridicule—the linked clip, from Little Britain, lampoons Dennis Waterman, who sang the theme tunes to at least four of the shows he starred in. A previous thread here catalogues some of the TV theme tunes that were or weren’t sung by members of the cast.
Except for musicals and musician documentaries/docudramas, I think it’s much rarer for movie theme tunes to be performed by members of the cast. Can anyone think of any that meet all of the following criteria?
[ol]
[li]A performer with star billing in the film performs the theme tune. No appearances by cameo or archival footage.[/li][li]Feature-length films only. No shorts, TV series, or miniseries. Direct-to-video and made-for-TV movies are OK.[/li][li]The song must have been performed specifically for the film, not some back-catalogue recording.[/li][li]No musicals, and no documentaries/mockumentaries/biopics/concert films of musicians. (If the film features members of the main cast frequently breaking out into diegetic or non-diegetic musical numbers, then it’s utterly unremarkable that they would also do so for the title or credit sequence.)[/li][/ol]
The only one I can think of off the top of my head is The Knowledge, a 1979 TV movie about a group of aspiring London cabbies. Mick Ford, who muddles his way through the film with a perpetually perplexed expression on his face, sings the title tune. But I’m sure there must be quite a few more that match the criteria above.
I’m betting that at least a few Elvis movies fit this criteria (assuming that you aren’t counting movies with 2 or 3 songs in them as a “musical.”) For example, Viva Los Vegas.
Connelly looked incredible in the ball-room scene;
The choreography was done by Gates McFadden.
BIP: The Netflix original movie, “A Futile and Stupid Gesture,” has Martin Mull joined by the rest of the cast singing the end credits song.
I suppose Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life counts, but I can’t think of any others offhand. The theme to The Life of Brian is sung by someone not appearing in the film (or at least with no major role) and the title sequence for Monty Python and the Holy Grail features an orchestral instrumental.
Yes, it seemed like an edge case–I don’t really conciser something to be “a musical” unless the music is a large percentage of the movie and the focus of it–West Side Story and Little Shop of Horrors I conciser to be musicals. Labyrinth and even Frozen, I don’t. (But YMMV.)
Thinking more about movies that had an established singer in the cast that weren’t musicals, I remembered Six Pack (Kenny Rodgers, Love Will Turn You Around) and Smokey and the Bandit (Jerry Reed, The Legend.)
Paul Anka and Mamie Van Doren sing the theme to the delightfully awful Girls Town.
As for what makes a musical, I would say the songs have to be presented not as performances, but as regular dialog or exposition in musical form. Paul sings a couple of tunes within the movie, and there’s a weird appearance by the Platters that’s shot so that you never see who’s singing, but they’re all part of a real stage performance within the movie. It’s a movie that has music in it, but is not a “musical”.
Oddly, Mel Tormé also has a starring role, but never sings. Instead he plays the worlds least convincing 34 year old teenage street tough. The “Velvet Hog” as Mike and the Bots call him.
Without putting a great deal of effort into it I found frank Sinatra for The Tender Trap, A Hole in the Head and others, and Dean Martin for Rio Bravo.
I couldn’t remember if Beyond the Thunderdome was the opening theme for Mad Max: Beyond the Thunderdome. It isn’t, but the theme One of the Living was also sung by costar Tina Turner.
Found the trope for that which has a small number of examples, including an utterly unexpected Sylvester Stallone and Lon Chaney Jr. (but not the same song.) Also two more Will Smiths other than the mentioned Men in Black–Wild Wild West and Hitch.
