Great Movie Musicals
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Some of the Best Movie Musicals
This lens is for movie musicals that have either won or been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Since 1951, eight movie musicals have won the coveted Oscar, with six of those films winning the award between 1951 and 1968. The eight films are: An American in Paris (1951), Gigi (1958), West Side Story (1961), My Fair Lady (1964), The Sound of Music (1965), Oliver (1968), Amadeus (1984), and Chicago (2002).
What Makes a Movie Musical Great? by Claire J Rottenberg
a comparison of "My Fair Lady" and "Camelot"
Have you ever wondered why one movie musical receives critical acclaim and maybe even an Academy Award and another movie based on an equally good Broadway musical ends up on a studio shelf, rarely seen after its initial release? There are several key factors that lead to a quality movie musical. These factors include a strong story line and well-written screenplay, quality music, great casting, and effective direction. Great choreography is often a plus but a movie musical, unlike a Broadway musical, can be a quality movie without elaborate dances. In this article, I compare two movie musicals based on successful Lerner and Loewe Broadway musicals -- "My Fair Lady" and "Camelot" -- and I discuss why "My Fair Lady" was an acclaimed, award-winning movie that is still viewed and loved by millions of people and why "Camelot" has become a mostly forgotten film.
Both plays were successes on Broadway, although "My Fair Lady" did receive more praises than "Camelot" and it ran for a significantly longer time. Nevertheless, "Camelot" had a healthy initial Broadway run and both plays have had three short-run revivals on Broadway. Also, both plays earned Tony awards for their male leads and Tony nominations for Julie Andrews, the leading female star in both plays. Yet, the movies based on the plays had vastly different outcomes, with "My Fair Lady" garnering eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor, and Camelot earning only three minor awards. So, where did "Camelot," the movie, go wrong?
Read more...
Academy Award Winning Movie Musicals
movie musicals that won the Academy Award for Best PIcture
'Read about the 8 movie musicals that won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Which is your favorite? I love all of them and I own the DVDs for all, but "West Side Story" is my favorite. I've seen it at least 25 times and I adore Leonard Bernstein's incredible score.
An American in Paris (1951)
dance away with Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron
An American in Paris
Amazon Price: $6.22 (as of 05/31/2012)
List Price: $19.98
A struggling American artist, living in Paris, becomes involved with two women - a beautiful young woman with whom he falls in love and an older woman who wants to sponsor him. The beautiful young woman is involved with another man but, still, she falls in love with the artist. In the end, love prevails and there is a happy ending for the artist and his young woman. The movie is filled with music by George Gershwin and dancing and choreography by Gene Kelly. [read more...]
Release Date: 06/06/2000
Gigi (1958)
fall in love with enchanting Gigi
Gigi
Amazon Price: $6.65 (as of 05/31/2012)
List Price: $19.98
"Gigi" is the delightful story of a young girl coming of age in Paris in the late 1800s. Parallel to Gigi's story is the story of Gaston, a friend of Gigi and her grandmother. Gaston represents the carefree, upper class of Parisian society that concerns itself primarily with love, money and a life of leisure. Gigi and her grandmother, on the other hand, represent the reality of the poorer classes. Gaston is more comfortable and happier in Gigi's world than in his own and their lives are intertwined as he escapes from the boredom of his meaningless life to the reality of Gigi's world. [read more...]
Release Date: 01/08/2008
West Side Story (1961)
West Side Story
Amazon Price: $11.77 (as of 05/31/2012)
List Price: $19.98
"West Side Story" is a story of racial hatred and the tragedy that results from it. The protagonists are two rival gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, who live in the same neighborhood and both want control of the streets. The sister of the Shark's leader falls in love with the best friend of the leader of the Jets and their romance is used as a reason by the gangs for an all-out fight that ends tragically for both gangs. The plot is advanced through dramatic, energetic dances and some of the most beautiful music ever written for a musical. [read more...]
Release Date: 10/20/1998
My Fair Lady (1964)
My Fair Lady
Amazon Price: $8.30 (as of 05/31/2012)
List Price: $19.98
"My Fair Lady," based on George Bernard Shaw's play, "Pygmalion," is the story of how a professor of the English language, Henry Higgins, transforms Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower seller, into a proper English lady. The story begins with Higgins making a bet with a colleague that he can teach "proper English" and society manners to the "lowly" Eliza. Higgins succeeds and, in the process, discovers that he needs Eliza. [read more...]
Release Date: 12/08/1998
The Sound of Music (1965)
The Sound of Music (Two-Disc 40th Anniversary Special Edition)
Amazon Price: $10.83 (as of 05/31/2012)
List Price: $26.98
"The Sound of Music" is the story of Maria, a young nun who is sent to be a governess to the seven Von Trapp children. Captain Von Trapp and his children are captivated by Maria and the joy and music she brings to the family, but their happy lives are changed forever by the invasion of the Nazis into Austria. The film focuses primarily on the relationship of Maria and the children amid the backdrop of late 1930s Austria. [read more...]
Release Date: 11/15/2005
Oliver (1968)
Oliver!
Amazon Price: $5.33 (as of 05/31/2012)
List Price: $14.99
"Oliver" is a musical version of the Charles Dickens' classic, "Oliver Twist." Oliver is an orphan who gets embroiled in the dangerous world of thieves in London in the 1800s. The film follows Oliver from his removal from an orphanage to his sale to a ruthless shop owner and his escape and "rescue" by a band of thieves. Oliver is finally saved by his great uncle, who discovers Oliver's existence by accident. The film is filled with vibrant dances and songs, some of which are lively, some humorous and some poignant. The choreography was by Onna White, who won a special Academy Award for the dance productions in "Oliver." [read more...]
Release Date: 08/11/1998
Amadeus (1984)
Amadeus
Amazon Price: $5.70 (as of 06/01/2012)
List Price: $19.97
Amadeus is the fictionalized story of the rivalry between Antonio Salieri and Mozart. The story begins with Salieri's confession that he was responsible for the death of Mozart. The story of Mozart's musical genius is then told through the eyes of Salieri who was the Austrian court composer when he first met Mozart. The time is the late 1700s and the place is the Emperor's court in Vienna. Mozart is seen as a vulgar, immature musical genius and Salieri is portrayed as an average composer who admires yet envies Mozart's incredible musical talents. Salieri is determined to destroy Mozart and to ensure that this happens, he commissions Mozart to create a requiem death mass. The film follows Mozart's career from his first appearance as a young adult at the palace of the Austrian Emperor Joseph II to Mozart's final days as a struggling, dying composer.
Although rumors of how Mozart died were spread for many years after his death, there is no indication that Salieri had anything to do with Mozart's death.
Release Date: 12/17/1997
Chicago (2002)
Stars of Great Movie Musicals
Information on the cast members of great movie musicals
- An American in Paris
"An American in Paris" starred Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron and Nina Foch. Although Gene Kelly was much older than the character he played, his dancing talent more than made up for the obvious discrepancy in his age and that of Leslie Caron. Nina Foch, on the other hand, was able to pull off playing a woman much older than she actually was. Only Leslie Caron was approximately the same age as her character.
- Gigi
"Gigi" had a wonderful cast and, fortunately, the producers had the good sense to hire native French stars for the lead roles. Louis Jourdan was charming as Gaston and Leslie Caron was adorable as the younger and naive Gigi. Maurice Chevalier was debonair and thoroughly believable as the suave, sophisticated and romantic Honore.
- West Side Story
"West Side Story" had a mixed cast of talented singers and dancers, many of whom came from Broadway, and movie actors. Natalie Wood was the only big name star at the time the movie was cast.
- My Fair Lady
Although there was an uproar that Julie Andrews was not cast as Eliza Doolittle, Audrey Hepburn was perfect in the role. The rest of the cast included mostly Broadway and London theater performers and Rex Harrison recreated his Tony winning role of Henry Higgins.
- Oliver
With the exception of Oliver Reed, all of the main cast members of the movie version of "Oliver" were stage actors before making films. Both Ron Moody and Jack Wild had appeared in "Oliver" on the London stage prior to being selected for parts in the movie version.
Vote for Your Favorite Movie Musical
My Fair Lady (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/11/20082 points
The Sound of Music (Two-Disc 40th Anniversary Special Edition)
Julie Andrews in the heartwarming true story that more...2 points
Chicago (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
This Razzle-Dazzle Edition is the ultimate CHICAGO more...1 point
An American in Paris (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/16/20080 points
Gigi (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/16/20080 points
West Side Story (Special Edition DVD Collector's Set)
This brilliant (The New Republic) film sets the ag more...0 points
Oliver! (DVD Gift Set with CD Soundtrack)
Experience the high-spirited adventures of Oliver more...0 points
Amadeus - Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Gripping human drama. Sumptuous period epic. Glori more...0 points
Videos of Great Movie Musicals from TCM
Turner Classic Movies video clips for great movie musicals
- An American in Paris
TCM has three short movie clips from "An American in Paris," including one where Leslie Caron dances.
- Gigi
The three movie clips from "Gigi" are classics: (1) Maurice Chevalier and Hermione Gingold share memories with "I Remember It Well," (2) Gigi can't understand "The Parisians" and (3) Gigi's aunt teaches her how to eat like a proper lady.
- West Side Story
TCM has five excellent featurettes with cast members of "West Side Story" recounting stories about the making of the film.
- My Fair Lady
These are four memorable video clips from "My Fair Lady," including the songs "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?" and "The Rain in Spain."
"An American in Paris" on YouTube
Videos from "An American in Paris"
"My Fair Lady" on YouTube
Videos from "My Fair Lady"
"Amadeus" on YouTube
Videos from "Amadeus"
Search for Great Movie Musicals on Amazon
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Reader Comments
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smithlights
Jun 13, 2011 @ 12:43 pm | delete
- If I could lensroll, I certainly would! Great lens and lots of info!
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huvalbd
Nov 2, 2010 @ 4:09 pm | delete
- My mother loves musicals, so I grew up with them. Some of those tunes run through my head just as much as anything I grew up hearing on the radio. You have done a fine job of highlighting the prizewinners here.
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faithfuljim
Apr 12, 2010 @ 11:10 am | delete
- Great lense. I especially like your comparsiom of the film versions of "My Fair Lady" and "Camelot." I give you 5 stars and I'm lensrolling it to my lense, "Broadway Musicals Stage to Screen" at http://www.squidoo.com/Broadway-101. I trust you will be so kind as to return the favor. Thanks
Jim
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crushwb
Jan 25, 2010 @ 12:05 am | delete
- Any lenses about Amadeus is ok with me ! 5 stars ! please rate few my lenses ,got a few about movies. Saw your link on facebook
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by Clairejr
Welcome movie musicals fans.
My name is Claire and I love movie musicals, especially those from the 1950s-1980. I grew up in NYC and my parents introduced...
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