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Post by fluxcapacitor on Dec 28, 2020 9:24:38 GMT
My problem with stage musicals on films is that they immediately assume being literal is the way to go, and therefore lose the inherent theatricality that is such an essential part of a musical on stage. It's this artifice that allows people to dance and sing comfortably within the narrative. Many films have been afraid of this, and often film trailers forget to mention that there is singing. Into the woods and Sweeney were way too literal. Totally agree with this, and it’s where the Chicago movie adaptation did so well my opinion - it embraced the theatricality by keeping all the musical numbers in a theatrical setting that perfectly matches the characters’ mindset and the era. So brilliantly done. Once is a strange one for me as I absolutely loved the movie for years and hated the idea of the musical when it was announced, but then they managed to create something equally beautiful and ultimately very different. Now I can’t decide which I prefer. The Wizard of Oz has never completely worked on stage for me. The 1939 movie is just too iconic and any stage adaptation (as Kevin mentioned above for Oliver and My Fair Lady) always struggles to match audience expectations. |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Dec 28, 2020 10:49:45 GMT
Surely a lot depends on the production?
I caught The Producers at the end of its run at Dury Lane and it had no magic and sparkle as it limped along in an empty barn of a theatre but I've seen it when it was fresh in NY... .
Cabaert. I'm lucky enough to have seen two excellent productions so it's generally going to trump the rather good film. However if I'd seen the Conservative production at Chichester in 2002 or bad am dram then I may think differently.
I do like the book changes to West Side Story film but does that really beat the thrill of live theatre?
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Post by vickyg on Dec 28, 2020 11:03:54 GMT
Better on stage:
Phantom
Les Mis
Evita
Kinky Boots
The Woman in White
Better on film:
Mary Poppins
Sister Act
Dead heat:
The Bodyguard - the Beverley Knight version. All other versions = better on film.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Dec 28, 2020 11:15:31 GMT
Better on stage: Phantom Les Mis Evita Kinky Boots The Woman in White Better on film: Mary Poppins Sister Act Dead heat: The Bodyguard - the Beverley Knight version. All other versions = better on film. But isn't the film of BG spoken and the stage version sung? Is it fair to compare the two? |
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Post by kathryn on Dec 28, 2020 14:26:30 GMT
I didn’t enjoy The Jersey Boys on stage but absolutely hated the film version. The Jersey Boys film is awful. Prime example of a director seeming to be embarrassed by the fact that he is adapting a musical instead of a straight film, and sidelining the musical bits as much as possible to try and make it ‘realistic’. |
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Post by danb on Dec 28, 2020 15:13:04 GMT
Surely a lot depends on the production? I caught The Producers at the end of its run at Dury Lane and it had no magic and sparkle as it limped along in an empty barn of a theatre but I've seen it when it was fresh in NY...? I caught it in its’ first few weeks and it still made me want to end it all from about 5 minutes in. It just wasn’t for me. Not the humour element more the whole look & style & cast & cheap sets & sheer awfulness on that glorious stage. I didn’t like it. |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Dec 28, 2020 15:34:07 GMT
Surely a lot depends on the production? I caught The Producers at the end of its run at Dury Lane and it had no magic and sparkle as it limped along in an empty barn of a theatre but I've seen it when it was fresh in NY...? I caught it in its’ first few weeks and it still made me want to end it all from about 5 minutes in. It just wasn’t for me. Not the humour element more the whole look & style & cast & cheap sets & sheer awfulness on that glorious stage. I didn’t like it. Sets looked terrible. Perhaps left over from a touring musical in the 1970's? |
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Post by distantcousin on Dec 28, 2020 16:50:52 GMT
Better on stage:
Cabaret (rewatched the film again recently and so much of it is DEATHLY dull and slow)
Sunset Boulevard
Cats
A Chorus Line
The Phantom Of The Opera
Better on film:
Dreamgirls
Evita
Sweeney Todd
Priscilla
Billy Elliot
Ghost
Equal:
Into The Woods
Grease
Chicago
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2020 16:57:00 GMT
Lion King & Aladdin - Better on film!
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Post by fluxcapacitor on Dec 29, 2020 14:58:37 GMT
Lion King & Aladdin - Better on film! Depends which film you’re talking about! Both Disney “live action” updates were average (the new version of Aladdin was horrible!), and the stage versions beat them hands down (IMO). The original animated versions on the other hand can’t be beaten. |
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Post by David J on Dec 30, 2020 13:52:46 GMT
I've shared this before but this video perfectly explains why Hollywood can't create musical films anymore.
Look at Sweeney Todd, Hairspray and Into the Woods. None of them were created as Oscar bait. Maybe get the odd nomination or award for Johnny Depp and Meryl Streep and the design department but otherwise the films didn't try and fit with the Academy Awards judging panel's standards. All were unapologetically stylistic and non-literal.
La La Land is an exception because it was an Oscar bait film that called back to the old musical films. Hollywood loves call-back films to the old days like The Artist. Maybe Sunset Boulevard will be allowed to be stylistic for that reason.
Chicago, Hairspray and Sweeney Todd are my favourite modern musical films. Only the Chicago film is better than the tired production we've had for decades. Otherwise I'd stick to the filmed stage versions like Miss Saigon, the Les Mis concerts, Cats, Barnum and Hamilton
Sound of Music on stage feels like a drawing room play compared to the film with its outdoor filming, . Maria going back to the monastery feels a bit inconsequential on stage whilst you sense that time has passed and the children miss her so much in the film. Also you get to see Nazi occupied Austria
West Side Story, Oklahoma, The King and I, My Fair Lady Oliver, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Fiddler on the Roof all have the advantage of being unconstrained from the stage. Still I find both film and staged versions offer a lot in their own ways
I find the Lion King stage musical boring as an adult. Trying to recreate the film's scenes with actors wearing masks do not compare to animated lions.
Hate the Mamma Mia film. Took me years to try the stage version and found it to be fine. None of the characters acted hyperactive and screaming all the time as they did in the film.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory miles better than the stage adaptation
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2020 19:11:53 GMT
I've shared this before but this video perfectly explains why Hollywood can't create musical films anymore. Look at Sweeney Todd, Hairspray and Into the Woods. None of them were created as Oscar bait. Maybe get the odd nomination or award for Johnny Depp and Meryl Streep and the design department but otherwise the films didn't try and fit with the Academy Awards judging panel's standards. All were unapologetically stylistic and non-literal. La La Land is an exception because it was an Oscar bait film that called back to the old musical films. Hollywood loves call-back films to the old days like The Artist. Maybe Sunset Boulevard will be allowed to be stylistic for that reason. Chicago, Hairspray and Sweeney Todd are my favourite modern musical films. Only the Chicago film is better than the tired production we've had for decades. Otherwise I'd stick to the filmed stage versions like Miss Saigon, the Les Mis concerts, Cats, Barnum and Hamilton Sound of Music on stage feels like a drawing room play compared to the film with its outdoor filming, . Maria going back to the monastery feels a bit inconsequential on stage whilst you sense that time has passed and the children miss her so much in the film. Also you get to see Nazi occupied Austria West Side Story, Oklahoma, The King and I, My Fair Lady Oliver, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Fiddler on the Roof all have the advantage of being unconstrained from the stage. Still I find both film and staged versions offer a lot in their own ways I find the Lion King stage musical boring as an adult. Trying to recreate the film's scenes with actors wearing masks do not compare to animated lions. Hate the Mamma Mia film. Took me years to try the stage version and found it to be fine. None of the characters acted hyperactive and screaming all the time as they did in the film. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory miles better than the stage adaptation Thanks for posting this. I found it really insightful, even though I haven't seen Cats on stage or film. I really hope that the upcoming Matilda film doesn't fall victim to this as I love it on stage and it is undeniably theatrical in terms of design, direction and even script. Of course Roald Dahl has been done on film many times including Danny DeVito's film of Matilda, but I think it will be a huge challenge for the creatives to keep both the Dahl and stage show spirit on film. I also wonder had the late and great Sir Alan Parker managed to create the Blood Brothers film he reportedly had in development if that would have worked. I hope someone is able to takeover and make a great film of it. |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Feb 2, 2021 13:28:01 GMT
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Post by robertb213 on Feb 2, 2021 13:53:05 GMT
If even half of those get made, I'll be thrilled. I'll happily watch anything on that list 😁
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Post by alece10 on Feb 2, 2021 16:17:42 GMT
I'd also happily watch any of them.
Follies could be glorious but is very niche.
Color Purple has to star Cynthia Erivo especially as she is now a bit of an A lister.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2021 17:09:09 GMT
I'd also happily watch any of them. Follies could be glorious but is very niche. Color Purple has to star Cynthia Erivo especially as she is now a bit of an A lister. If Oprah is still a producer then I have no doubt that Cynthia will be given first refusal. I can't imagine her turning it down but who knows. |
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Post by viserys on Feb 2, 2021 17:29:41 GMT
Which has now been in gestation/rumoured longer, Sunset Boulevard or Wicked?
Personally I can do without the endless recycling spins, i.e. stage musicals that are based on a movie and are then filmed again, such as Mean Girls or Color Purple. I also don't need the hurried milking of a franchise to squeeze every penny out of it , like Dear Evan Hansen or Jamie.
If anything, I appreciate older smaller musicals being re-discovered and given a new lease of life like "Tick, Tick, Boom" or at least shows that have already been gone for a bit and which can really benefit from added outdoor locations such as "In the Heights" actually being filmed in Washington Heights or "Come From Away" in Newfoundland. Although I'm torn about that one, since the barebones staging that leaves so much to the imagination is part of its attraction.
Remakes of classics I can take or leave. While nobody can deny that the West Side Story movie was iconic at its time, the casting of the Jets and some of the outward appearances are really dated, so why not fresh it up.
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Post by newyorkcityboy on Jan 23, 2022 16:43:30 GMT
For me, Rocky Horror, Cabaret & Little Shop all work better on film. Having finally got around to seeing the Jamie movie, I can add this to the list. Shame it was denied a cinematic release as it deserves a much wider audience than just being on Prime.
Since this thread’s last post the Wicked film has been announced, the Follies film has been strongly hinted at & the Sunset film has finally been cancelled. In The Heights & West Side Story have been critical (if not financial) hits, while the reaction to DEH seems to have been decidedly mixed…
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Post by mkb on Jan 23, 2022 18:27:57 GMT
Jamie did get a very limited cinema release. The Curzon Soho had it briefly and maybe a few others.
Catching up with the rest of this thread, much as I enjoyed the Southwark Playhouse production of Xanadu, I am going to stick up for the film. I know everyone else hated it when it was released, but I thought it was wonderful. I got the Blu-ray recently and my opinion hadn't changed. It's pure unadulterated joy. Just switch off your brain and wallow.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2022 19:00:14 GMT
You really cant compare the film version to the stage version of Cabaret, to me they are very different stories. IMO, Cabaret has far more impact on stage.
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