Top 10 Favorite Broadway Musical Movies (10-6)

 With the 69^th annual Tony Awards just around the corner, I think this is a perfect time to bring up some of my favorite adaptations of some of my favorite Broadway musicals. This is something that I've been thinking about doing for quite some time. I love musicals, it's something that people work harder on more so that any kind of film or play. The amount of effort put into it even rivals action films, in my eyes. Not that I'm saying they do, but that's what it feels like. So what better way to pay tribute to them, then by listing off some of my favorites. Now before we get started, here are the ground rules:

1. It has to be adapted from an existing musical prior to the film's release. If the film was a musical to start with, then it doesn't count. These are all ADAPTATIONS of musicals that have to be on the list. And as much as that pains me, “Singing in the Rain” and “Newsies” won't be on my list.
2. If a film is turned into a Broadway musical, then the musical has to have been adapted into a film itself. So as much as I do love the Broadway renditions of “Catch Me If You Can,” “Evil Dead,” and “Carrie,” it can't make it on the list because the musical isn't a movie...at least not yet.
3. This is all strictly my opinion. I'm only counting the ones that I have both seen and really loved. Which means, no “Grease” or “Mamma Mia.” Sorry, but those films and their stage versions are ones that I really did not like.

Now that we have that out of the way, let's get started!

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#10: The Rocky Horror Picture Show – This is by far one of the strangest films that anyone could possibly make. Based on the British musical by Richard O'Brian and Jim Sharman, who also work as actor and director, the film tells of a couple that stay at a castle where they experience some of the most nonsensical chaos you could never find on film. And that “nonsensical” thing is completely true. If you watched this film without any knowledge of what it is, you'd be like “what the fuck is this?” with each passing scene. No, even if you DID know anything about this, you'd still go “what the fuck is this?” Hell, even THE MUSIC is like that too, if you listen to it on it's own.

It's a film that does not have a complete narrative or understanding on what it's trying to be. And while that may not work for the typical film, here it somehow manages to work. While the film was a box office bomb at the time, it has since then gained one of the biggest cult followings for any movie in history. So much so, that there have been midnight showings for it, people dressing up as the characters, yelling at the screen, throwing bread, crazy shit like that.

And to make the insanity even more so, you have the villain Dr. Frank N. Furter, played by Tim Curry...do I even need to say anything about this? I feel like anybody who talks about this film says the same thing, that Tim set the bar for how much you can ham up a performance and STILL be good in a film. I won't go into much more detail, because it truly is one of those films you have to see to believe.

A bizarre film, based on a bizarre show.

#9: Chicago – Being one of the few Broadway movies to win Best Picture, Rob Marshall was able to finish the job that Bob Fosse had planned after Fosse passed away. Marshall was a theatre director and choreographer long before film, so him doing a musical movie seemed like an easy task for him. Not only that, but the way he did “Chicago” was really clever, cutting back and forth from being a regular film and then going into the songs, which were filmed and performed on a stage, like they were fantasies. It was a really unique way of getting the songs into the film, without the characters just bursting into song out of the open.

The acting in the film is fantastic, shifting over from Renee Zellweger's Roxie Hart to Catherine Zeta-Jones' Velma Kelly, who look like they're having so much fun working off one another at every second. I honestly do think Zeta-Jones deserved her Oscar for this film, but I felt like she should have been nominated for Lead Actress instead of Supporting, but that's just me. Queen Latifah also gives a powerful performance, pulling off such a demanding character. She's brash, and she knows how to keep things in tact the way they should be. John C. Reilly as Amos, was a character I grew to love with every moment. The door mat guy, somebody who wants to be respected but just doesn't know how to stand up for himself. Reilly is a damn good actor, and while my favorite film of his will always be “Wreck-It Ralph,” I say his best live action role would be this, especially since he got an Oscar nod for it.

While the singing is good, it's the dancing that really sells the film. Every step, every angle, every light cue, it's all just hypnotic to watch. My favorite dance scene is the “Cell Block Tango,” where Velma and five other murderesses talk about how they ended up in the Cook County Jail to begin with. If you hired an expert cinematographer to film a stage show up close, I have a feeling this is what it would feel like. However, my favorite song in the film is “Mr. Cellophane,” where John C. Reilly really shows how good an actor, and singer, he can be. It's one of my favorite moments in film, and it's one of the most memorable scenes of the past decade, through and through.

Dancing, singing, murder, women, all of it rolled up in the Roaring 20's.

#8: The Music Man – This 1962 film directed by Morton DaCosta is the version of this Meredith Wilson classic that people remember the most. It tells the story of a con artist named Harold hill, who comes to River City to scam people out of their money by forming a marching band and leaving town the next day. But things change, when he starts to gain a soft side from being with the town librarian, Marian, played by Shirley Jones.

“The Music Man” is a Broadway classic, and remains one of the most iconic musicals of the 20^th century by many. The music ranges from both energetic to somber in a way that works so effectively well. I'm sure everyone remembers the Monorail episode from “The Simpsons” and the “Shipoopi” number at the football game from “Family Guy.” Well, this is where it all came from.

Robert Preston owns the role of Harold Hill, and his performance is too good to be topped, not even by some of the best performers. His fast talk and swindling skills are something only he's perfected, especially since he played the role on Broadway, knowing every point of the character through and through.

Buddy Hackett as Marcellus Washburn is one of the best supporting characters of any musical, because of his constant energy and great timing with comedy. His big number, “Shipoopi” is an iconic song, and one that everybody remembers and sings along to no matter what.

Shirley Jones as Marian is the classic uptight woman who wants nothing to do with the main character, and we know exactly where it goes. She'll be conned into his charm, then hate him for lying, then love him again, a cliché that's most common with classic musicals. But even then, you do get invested with Harold and Marian's chemistry throughout the film, even during some of the predictable moments.

Another thing I like is how big the film feels, especially since it was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Sound. If you haven't seen this film yet, check it out. Otherwise, ya got trouble.

#7: Guys and Dolls – Another classic that a good majority are familiar with. In this Frank Loesser musical, we follow two gangsters, Nathan Detroit and Sky Masterson. Nathan is a crap shoot game arranger, always finding a spot for games, but at the same time balancing his 14-year engagement with his nightclub singer of a fiancee, Adelaide. Sky is a professional gambler, who hardly loses due to his dedication. When Nathan becomes desperate for money for a spot, he bets Sky on sweeping a missionary, Sarah Brown, off her feet to Havana. Sky accepts, but soon finds himself in love with Sarah Brown, and wants to really fulfill a promise to her and bring her people to the mission.

“Guys and Dolls” is a show that most people have a chance at performing during their school career. And why not? It's a fun, easygoing, feel good show, and the film adaptation has just as much charm as the show does. Songs like “Fugue for Tinhorns,” “Luck Be A Lady,” and “I've Never Been in Love Before” are still remembered by talented actors and Broadway fanatics alike.

Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando do a good job as Nathan and Sky. Being two of the biggest stars at the time, all the while polar opposites of what made them famous, they manage to work off each other pretty well. While there aren't as many scenes of them together, they still manage to carry one on their own, when working off others. What's really interesting is that Brando wasn't the first candidate for Sky. Gene Kelly and even Sinatra himself wanted the part of Sky, but the studio wanted Brando instead, because he was a bigger box office draw. This wasn't the first time Brando stole a Sinatra role, as “On The Waterfront” was another film Sinatra had his eye on.

Jean Simmons was a fairly good Sarah Brown, and the scenes with her and Brando manage to be pretty touching. The two have worked together in “Desiree,” so they have good experience working off one another. Vivian Blaine, the actress from the original Broadway cast, reprises her role of Miss Adelaide, Nathan's fiancee. Being that Adelaide was her Broadway debut and that she was still very fresh with the character, Sam Goldwyn made the right decision keeping her in the role, even if others like Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe were both eager to get the part. No one else can fit the bill better than Blaine, and I think that's how it's likely to stay that way.

Blaine wasn't the only one to be in the film after the stage play. Stubby Kaye and Johnny Silver reprise their roles as Nicely-Nicely Johnson and Benny Southstreet, who both have excellent chemistry together. They can be funny, and at times they allow for some really memorable moments, like in the beginning. From that point on, you do enjoy them whenever they're onscreen. And lastly, we have B.S. Pully as Big Jule, who made his career based on a role such as this. After playing the role in over 1,000 performances and reprising the character in the film, he's the one who people draw inspiration from when playing this character.

That's not to say that the adaptation is completely perfect, especially when Loesser himself said he didn't like it. I can get why he would, with the ending changed up, the added songs being okay but not memorable, and him not liking how Sinatra portrayed Nathan, even though he wanted Sky. But aside from that, it's still a great film, and has more touching moments to it than one would expect.

Now you might also be wondering what I think about the upcoming remake starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Channing Tatum. Well, I can't really say much about it, because all I know is that the two are really interested in doing it. Depending on who they get to direct the film, and the rest of the cast, I'll go into more with that. I'm probably guessing Gordon-Levitt will be Sky, since he's played a big shot gambler before in “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For,” but that's just me. Until then, we'll have to settle on the old film.

It's one of the oldest established, and it's unlikely to leave.

#6: Hairspray – Based on the musical, which is based on the 1988 John Waters film, this 2007 hit tells of a chubby high schooler in the early 60's, Tracy Turnblad, who tries to climb her way to fame on her favorite show, and fight against the studios racial views, so anyone can dance on the show whenever they want.

What Marc Shaiman and Scott Whitman were able to accomplish in this, was turn a raunchy low-budget comedy into one of the most energetic films of the past decade. Every song in the film always makes you feel like getting up to dance to every note that's sung, even slow songs like “Timeless to Me.” Director Adam Shankman managed to bring the film up the highest level, especially since he choreographed all the dancing, something he's an expert with doing...It's just too bad he couldn't transition that completely into “Rock of Ages.”

Nikki Blonsky performance as Tracy was a bit of a challenge, since she had big shoes to fill in after Rikki Lake in the original film, and Marissa Winokur in the original Broadway cast. Despite that kind of pressure, Nikki managed to really match up with them both, especially with her amazing singing voice. I do wish more films would cast her, because I haven't seen her do much since her guest work on “Smash.” Zac Efron plays Link, Tracy's love interest, and he was definitely one of the biggest surprises for me. I did have doubt about him, especially after “High School Musical,” which was what almost didn't get him the role. However, he managed to prove both the director and me wrong, as he was fantastic, showing us that he really can act in a high class film such as this, and then later on in future films.

Now we move onto John Travolta as Edna, Tracy's mother. I've said before that I wasn't too fond of Travolta as an actor, especially for most of his work in the 80's, but I have to admit this is one of those performances that I can actually watch him in and like. He keeps in with the tradition of Edna being played by a man, taking over the torch that was held by the famous drag-queen, Divine, then passed onto Harvey Fierstein on Broadway. He does a good job of playing the character, and at times he was convincing as a woman in the make-up. Queen Latifah as “Motormouth” Maybelle, what can I say? She just rocks the place, with her big and powerful presence, just from that first note she sings. I mean, after her work on “Chicago,” you know you're in for a treat when she starts singing in a film. Michelle Pfiefer as Velma Von Tussle is equally wonderful on screen. After a three year hiatus, this film and “Stardust” were a great return, AND as a villainess no less. Interesting fact, Michelle was considered for this film by Travolta himself, mostly because they both were in a “Grease” film (Travolta being in the original film, and Pfiefer being in the sequel).

Amanda Bynes and Elijah Kelly as Penny and Seaweed are also pretty damn good. Putting aside all the controversial stuff that happened with Bynes afterwards, she and Kelly prove to give out their best performances, playing off of each other with such likable chemistry to such likable characters. While I do enjoy Bynes in the film, I feel like Kelly upstages her every time they're onscreen together. He just has more wild energy that feels like he's still got loads to spare at the end of every dance scene.

James Marsden as Corny Collins, also does a fantastic job. The performance was said to be inspired by Buddy Deane, who did a show that “The Corny Collins Show” is based on, and you can definitely see the similarities. After appearing in the “X-Men” films, you'd never expect someone like him to be a singer. But then again, Marsden did sing in the movie “Enchanted,” that same year. Another interesting fact is that Marsden beat out his “X-Men” co-star, Hugh Jackman, to this role during auditions. Funny that Cyclops beat Wolverine at something. And then we move onto Christopher Walken as Wilbur Turnblad, Tracy's father. Since Walken was a dancer long before he became an actor, a role like this was a walk in the park for him, even if he only has one or two scenes dancing. But aside from the dancing, we also get some nice tender moments between him and both Blonsky and Travolta.

Now while the film does change some things from both the stage show and original film, like Velma being fired, Tracy not being arrested, and the whole conflict with Edna thinking Wilbur is cheating on her, I feel like it works out. As a movie, I feel like it should take some liberties, that way it fits better as its own identity.

Not to mention, the music is fantastic. The energy, the movements, the groove, everything about it makes it a fun movie to watch. And that's what I think most musicals should be: fun. Sure, you can have as much drama as you want, but you got to have some life brought into it from time to time, and this one is like an overdose of it.

“Hairspray”: Energetic, colorful, hypnotic, and all around fun.

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Well, that's all I can give for now. Check in for part 2, coming soon.