# Write da feem toon, sing da feem toon: Movie edition! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 24, 2018, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479 "2018-02-24T17:47:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/1 "2018-02-24T17:47:08Z")
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](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uOngXn0CGI)—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](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749543) 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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Knowledge_%28film%29)**_, 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. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/2 "2018-02-24T18:05:46Z")
Neat one here, but not quite right I bet. Minnie Driver sings the closing song during the credits of Phantom of the Opera. 1. She actually does not sing during the musical itself. She was dubbed over. 2. The song was original for the movie. It’s called “Learn to be Lonely”. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/3 "2018-02-24T18:06:04Z")
I’m betting that [at least a few Elvis movies](https://rateyourmusic.com/list/Rocket88/elvis_presley_movies __the_title_tracks___ a_chronological_guide/) 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_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9AbcIzNJxk). ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/4 "2018-02-24T18:11:34Z")
Do the Monty Python movies count? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/5 "2018-02-24T18:22:02Z")
Will Smith - Men in Black (?) Barbra Streisand & Ryan O’Neal - You’re The Top (from “What’s Up, Doc?”) ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/6 "2018-02-24T18:37:41Z")
Fred & Gene in _That’s Entertainment_. This may violate your #4 rule, however. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/7 "2018-02-24T18:50:18Z")
Another possibility that just came to mind is [_Labyrinth_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVD-X0eqB2w), but it also may fall into your definition of a “musical.” ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/8 "2018-02-24T19:14:13Z")
And one that should comfortably fit–[_9 to 5_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6okRayU0UFA&list=RD6okRayU0UFA). ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/9 "2018-02-24T19:17:23Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Another possibility that just came to mind is [_Labyrinth_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVD-X0eqB2w), but it also may fall into your definition of a “musical.” Yep, musical. 1. Connelly looked incredible in the ball-room scene; 2. The choreography was done by Gates McFadden. BIP: The Netflix original movie, “[A Futile and Stupid Gesture](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5566790/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1),” has Martin Mull joined by the rest of the cast singing the end credits song. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/10 "2018-02-24T19:17:59Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > And one that should comfortably fit–[_9 to 5_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6okRayU0UFA&list=RD6okRayU0UFA). Ah, good one! ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/11 "2018-02-24T19:20:46Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Do the Monty Python movies count? 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. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/12 "2018-02-24T19:22:51Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > > > And one that should comfortably fit–[_9 to 5_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6okRayU0UFA&list=RD6okRayU0UFA). > > Ah, good one! Yeah, this is exactly the sort of film I had in mind. Keep 'em coming, everyone. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/13 "2018-02-24T19:34:28Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Yep, musical. 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.) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/14 "2018-02-24T20:22:49Z")
Thinking more about movies that had an established singer in the cast that weren’t musicals, I remembered [_Six Pack_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg-T64xrx30) (Kenny Rodgers, _Love Will Turn You Around_) and [_Smokey and the Bandit_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSfenkzBFl0) (Jerry Reed, _The Legend_.) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/15 "2018-02-24T20:35:32Z")
I’m going to take a wild guess and say that Kenny Rogers sang the theme song for “Coward of the County”. Robert Mitchum co-wrote and sang the theme song for the 1958 movie “[Thunder Road](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdwUpxkfSJw)”, in which he starred. ---
**Author:** ![Egnu\_Cledge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/34f0e0/32.png) [@Egnu\_Cledge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Egnu_Cledge)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/16 "2018-02-24T21:24:03Z")
Paul Anka and Mamie Van Doren sing the theme to the delightfully awful [Girls Town](https://youtu.be/LG5ttzxRAsE). 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. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/17 "2018-02-24T22:47:22Z")
Madonna had a small part in _Die Another Day,_ but I wouldn’t call it star billing. She wasn’t even credited. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/18 "2018-02-24T22:48:58Z")
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_. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/19 "2018-02-24T22:52:23Z")
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_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNfDZB_bwQ4) was also sung by costar Tina Turner. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479/20 "2018-02-24T23:14:38Z")
Found [the trope for that](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DoItYourselfThemeTune) 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_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-da-feem-toon-sing-da-feem-toon-movie-edition/809479.md?page=2)