I was just watching Finian's Rainbow for about the 15th time.  I was wondering what other people's favorite or favorites are? :)

Cabaret
Grease
Rocky Horror Picture Show

Grease is an ALL TIME classic.  Haven't seen Cabaret yet. :)

Didn't care too much for the movie of Cabaret.  For me:


Oliver
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Finian's Rainbow
Hello Dolly
Fiddler on the Roof
The Music Man
Just about all the Rogers & Hammerstein's: i.e. South Pacific, The Sound of Music, Carousel, Oklahoma.
Gypsy (with Bette Midler)



I'm sure there is more.



Cat

The Music Man with Shirley Jones and Robert Preston is wonderful.  I've watched The Sound of Music about 1600 times. (okay, slight exaggeration)  DVDs are such a wonderful thing! :)

WESTSIDE STORY...IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST EVER AND STILL IS TODAY. HW

Most definitely Grease
West Side Story
Chicago
and Rent!

All That Jazz

wait a sec, is this thread for before the 70's?

Oliver!
The Sound of Music
South Pacific
Carousel

All before 1970.

All That Jazz

wait a sec, is this thread for before the 70's?

It is! Oops!! ;D

Oliver!
The Sound of Music
South Pacific
Carousel

All before 1970.
Please add Half A Sixpence to my list.

Hair
Godspell
Jesus Christ Superstar

Please add Half A Sixpence to my list.



Oh man, I thought I was the only one who has even HEARD of Half a Sixpence. I love it so much that I bought it on DVD.




Cat

Oh man, I thought I was the only one who has even HEARD of Half a Sixpence. I love it so much that I bought it on DVD.




Cat
I remember being taken to see it in the cinema at a tender young age.

I remember being taken to see it in the cinema at a tender young age.



Me too. I also remember seeing "The Most Happiest Millionaire" with it (also with Tommy Steele). Remember that one?




Cat

Me too. I also remember seeing "The Most Happiest Millionaire" with it (also with Tommy Steele). Remember that one?




Cat
Remember yes indeed, but only on TV for me. Tommy Steele has always been a favourite of mine, especially Tommy The Toreador.

Remember yes indeed, but only on TV for me. Tommy Steele has always been a favourite of mine, especially Tommy The Toreador.



I don't recall ever seeing that one-but I may have. He is a favorite of mine, too. He was good but hasn't done anything in YEARS!!!




Cat

I don't recall ever seeing that one-but I may have. He is a favorite of mine, too. He was good but hasn't done anything in YEARS!!!




Cat
Tommy The Toreador was not a musical (as on stage), but a film with songs in it written by Lionel Bart (Oliver!).

Tommy The Toreador was not a musical (as on stage), but a film with songs in it written by Lionel Bart (Oliver!).



I'll have to see if Netflix has it (and if they do, I have to twist Carlos' arm  ;) )




Cat

This is blissfull, I'm glad I'm not the only one!!! :)

Tommy Steele played in Finian's Rainbow.  I love West Side Story.  (Natalie Wood was incredible)  Jesus Christ Superstar was quite inavative for it's time. :)

Tommy Steele played in Finian's Rainbow.  I love West Side Story.  (Natalie Wood was incredible)  Jesus Christ Superstar was quite inavative for it's time. :)



The problem I have with Natalie Wood in West Side Story (and Gypsy), as well with a lot of other movie versions of musicals, WHY, WHY, WHY do they insist on casting people in musicals who can't sing or dance??  ??? ??? ???




Cat

Here's my theory!  Most people in "Real Life" can't sing... therefore in order to portray "real life" talent is not a necessity.  BUT Natalie Woods does look PURTY don't ya think??? ;D

The problem I have with Natalie Wood in West Side Story (and Gypsy), as well with a lot of other movie versions of musicals, WHY, WHY, WHY do they insist on casting people in musicals who can't sing or dance??   ??? ??? ???

THEY TRIED TO CAST HER IN SURFER MOVIES BUT SHE'S THE ONLY WOOD THAT WOULD NOT FLOAT.

BAD JOKE ...SORRY




Cat

THEY TRIED TO CAST HER IN SURFER MOVIES BUT SHE'S THE ONLY WOOD THAT WOULD NOT FLOAT.

BAD JOKE ...SORRY




Yeah, REALLY bad. BOO HISS! (Besides, I have heard that joke before.  ;) )




Cat

West Side Story
Sweet Charity

I just saw "Fiddler on the Roof" for the dirst time, I loved it. :)

Hell, how can I forget Bye Bye Birdie?  :-[

I spent last night listening to Les Miserables on the radio, that was just wonderful.

Tommy Steele has always been a favourite of mine, especially Tommy The Toreador.


'Little White Bull'?

Aaarrrgh!

I spent last night listening to Les Miserables on the radio, that was just wonderful.



You should see "Les Miserables in Concert". VERY powerful production.





Cat

You should see "Les Miserables in Concert". VERY powerful production.





Cat
I do plan to see it in one form or other.

I do plan to see it in one form or other.



"In Concert" was a one time preformance that they filmed. Just watching it on video was very powerful I can imagine how it was sitting in the audience that night. One thing that I liked about it, at the end, they had 17 guys who played Jean Valjean around the world come out and they all sang one of the songs in their own language. It was really cool. I am getting goosebumps just thinking about it.



Cat

Hi! I'm new here. In response to the question: I love Broadway musicals! I have a lot of favorites but if I had to pare them down, I would say my top faves are "Fiddler On The Roof", "Oklahoma!", "Gypsy", "Carousel", and I don't know if this counts, but "The Wizard of Oz".  :)

"In Concert" was a one time preformance that they filmed. Just watching it on video was very powerful I can imagine how it was sitting in the audience that night. One thing that I liked about it, at the end, they had 17 guys who played Jean Valjean around the world come out and they all sang one of the songs in their own language. It was really cool. I am getting goosebumps just thinking about it.



Cat
The song Bring Him Home always gives me goosebumps.

The song Bring Him Home always gives me goosebumps.



I cannot watch that without bawling my eyes out. "A Little Fall of Rain" and "Empty Chairs and Empty Tables" (and a few others) just kills me.



Cat

Hi! I'm new here. In response to the question: I love Broadway musicals! I have a lot of favorites but if I had to pare them down, I would say my top faves are "Fiddler On The Roof", "Oklahoma!", "Gypsy", "Carousel", and I don't know if this counts, but "The Wizard of Oz".  :)



Welcome. You should check out the section "All the World's a Stage". We talk about Broadway musicals as well as non-musical plays.




Cat

I cannot watch that without bawling my eyes out. "A Little Fall of Rain" and "Empty Chairs and Empty Tables" (and a few others) just kills me.



Cat
Now listening to the same broadcast for the third time.

One of the first musicals I ever saw on Broadway was KISMET, which was starring Alfred Drake and Doretta Morrow.  I had, what turned out to be, the best luck...We went on their day off.  We had the privilege of seeing William Johnson in the starring roll.  He was fantastic.  I mean, I think Alfred Drake was great but Bill Johnson was really super. 

In the movie...Howard Keel and Ann Blythe were OK...but they just couldn't match the Broadway cast. 

I have a bunch of favorite shows that were made into fine movies.

My Fair Lady
Annie
South Pacific
and all the Rogers and Hammerstein stuff...Oklahoma, Carousel, etc.
West Side Story
A Chorus Line
Damn Yankees

I  particularly enjoyed the movie version of "Stop the World."
Anthony Newly starred in the Broadway production and was wonderful.
But the movie was made with the star of the London production, Tony Tanner.  He gave an entirely fresh and exciting performance in the leading role.

I loved the Broadway production of Pippin.  I saw it twice...(never with Ben Vereen until they came out with a fine video of an HBO Production made in Toronto,) but always with a wonderful "leading player"...Northern Calloway and Sam Wright.  But...I don't think that they ever produced Pippin as a Hollywood musical

I have a bunch of favorite shows that were made into fine movies.

My Fair Lady
Annie
South Pacific
and all the Rogers and Hammerstein stuff...Oklahoma, Carousel, etc.
West Side Story
A Chorus Line
Damn Yankees

I  particularly enjoyed the movie version of "Stop the World."
Anthony Newly starred in the Broadway production and was wonderful.
But the movie was made with the star of the London production, Tony Tanner.  He gave an entirely fresh and exciting performance in the leading role.

I loved the Broadway production of Pippin.  I saw it twice...(never with Ben Vereen until they came out with a fine video of an HBO Production made in Toronto,) but always with a wonderful "leading player"...Northern Calloway and Sam Wright.  But...I don't think that they ever produced Pippin as a Hollywood musical




I didn't care too much for My Fair Lady-only because of Audrey Hepburn. I didn't think she did a good job in the role and why do they always insist on casting people who can't sing in musicals? (Same with West Side Story) I was disappointed with both Annie & A Chorus Line (saw both of them on Broadway and it just didn't compare). I do agree with you about the R & H movies-they were all well done. Damn Yankees was ok but probably could have been better (I own a copy of it).


If you want to see a GOOD production of Stop the World-I saw it with Peter Scolari & Stephanie Zimbalist. It was recorded on stage and when they showed it on t.v. I recorded it. They both did an OUTSTANDING job.


I have yet to see Pippin.  :-[



Cat

I didn't care too much for My Fair Lady-only because of Audrey Hepburn. I didn't think she did a good job in the role and why do they always insist on casting people who can't sing in musicals? (Same with West Side Story) I was disappointed with both Annie & A Chorus Line (saw both of them on Broadway and it just didn't compare). I do agree with you about the R & H movies-they were all well done. Damn Yankees was ok but probably could have been better (I own a copy of it).


If you want to see a GOOD production of Stop the World-I saw it with Peter Scolari & Stephanie Zimbalist. It was recorded on stage and when they showed it on t.v. I recorded it. They both did an OUTSTANDING job.


I have yet to see Pippin.  :-[



Cat


I agree with you...Without question, the stage version was far superior to the screen version of My Fair Lady.  The woman who's voice was used for Audrey Hepburn was Marnie Nixon.  You might find the following article of interest:

"You might not know Marni Nixon's name, or recognize her face. But it's very likely that you have heard her sing.

Nixon dubbed the voices for Deborah Kerr in The King and I, Natalie Wood in West Side Story and Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady -- three of Hollywood's biggest movie musicals. Her new memoir, I Could Have Sung All Night, is being published this week.

Nixon, 76, has had a career that defies categorization. She has performed on Broadway and in opera houses, hosted an Emmy Award-winning children's television show and is a well-regarded singing teacher in New York.

Born in Southern California, Nixon had become a sought-after singer by the time she was a teenager. She had perfect pitch, and an ability to read any piece of music handed to her, no matter how difficult. She even premiered works by composers such as Igor Stravinsky.

Because she was such an excellent musician, Marni Nixon worked constantly, dubbing voices for Hollywood studios. In 1954, she got a call to ghost Deborah Kerr's voice in The King and I. Kerr understood that she needed to be dubbed, and Nixon says their relationship was very collegial.

"Whenever there was a song to be sung in a scene, I would get up and stand next to her and watch her while she sang and she would watch me while I sang," Nixon says. "After we recorded that song, she would have to go to the filming of it and mouth to that performance."

Twentieth Century Fox was so protective of Kerr that Nixon had to sign a contract saying she would never reveal the ghost-singing on The King and I. The story later came out in the press, when Kerr herself credited Nixon's work in an interview.

In the more than 40 years since My Fair Lady, Nixon has only appeared in one movie. In The Sound of Music, she plays Sister Sophia, one of the nuns singing "How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria?"

Nixon never became as famous as the actresses she worked with. But she is hoping her new book will set the record straight about her very recognizable voice.

(From NPR)

 

I agree that most of the screen versions of the Broadway musicals are simply not as good...in terms of the individual performances of the actors.  I don't think that a motion picture can capture the "magic" of sitting in a legitimate theater and watching a live performance. 

One of my favorite live shows was "The Fantastiks."  Did they ever make a screen version?

BTW The video of PIPPIN, with Ben Vereen, was taken, I believe, from a live performance
done up in London, Ontario, and produced by HBO.  Very good.  But the performance by Northern Calloway, who was one of the stars of Sesame Street, was amazing.  I understand that Mr. Calloway has passed away.  Too bad...he was a wonderful performer. 

I agree with you...Without question, the stage version was far superior to the screen version of My Fair Lady.  The woman who's voice was used for Audrey Hepburn was Marnie Nixon.  You might find the following article of interest:

"You might not know Marni Nixon's name, or recognize her face. But it's very likely that you have heard her sing.

Nixon dubbed the voices for Deborah Kerr in The King and I, Natalie Wood in West Side Story and Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady -- three of Hollywood's biggest movie musicals. Her new memoir, I Could Have Sung All Night, is being published this week.

Nixon, 76, has had a career that defies categorization. She has performed on Broadway and in opera houses, hosted an Emmy Award-winning children's television show and is a well-regarded singing teacher in New York.

Born in Southern California, Nixon had become a sought-after singer by the time she was a teenager. She had perfect pitch, and an ability to read any piece of music handed to her, no matter how difficult. She even premiered works by composers such as Igor Stravinsky.

Because she was such an excellent musician, Marni Nixon worked constantly, dubbing voices for Hollywood studios. In 1954, she got a call to ghost Deborah Kerr's voice in The King and I. Kerr understood that she needed to be dubbed, and Nixon says their relationship was very collegial.

"Whenever there was a song to be sung in a scene, I would get up and stand next to her and watch her while she sang and she would watch me while I sang," Nixon says. "After we recorded that song, she would have to go to the filming of it and mouth to that performance."

Twentieth Century Fox was so protective of Kerr that Nixon had to sign a contract saying she would never reveal the ghost-singing on The King and I. The story later came out in the press, when Kerr herself credited Nixon's work in an interview.

In the more than 40 years since My Fair Lady, Nixon has only appeared in one movie. In The Sound of Music, she plays Sister Sophia, one of the nuns singing "How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria?"

Nixon never became as famous as the actresses she worked with. But she is hoping her new book will set the record straight about her very recognizable voice.

(From NPR)

 



It is a shame. They should have just cast her instead of these Hollywood names who couldn't sing.




Cat

"Restored 'My Fair Lady' returns to theaters to mark 50th anniversary, plus more local movie events"

http://www.nola.com/movies/index.ssf/2015/10/restored_my_fair_lady_returns.html

How about movies turned into Broadway musicals such as "The Wiz" Broadway musical is coming to TV, How do you think It'll do compared to 1978? ???

Oliver!
The Sound of Music
South Pacific
Carousel

All before 1970.
Add "West Side Story" to my list!

How about movies turned into Broadway musicals such as "The Wiz" Broadway musical is coming to TV, How do you think It'll do compared to 1978? ???
Disney's "The Lion King" has done well for itself.