Dreams Of Noise

Yes, agree to the top three...as much as I don't care for Wizard Of Oz (though it has been years upon years since I've seen it; maybe I'll go back some tome), I can't argue with its placement.

The Sound Of Music definitely deserves a place within the top 25, and maybe even the top ten...but you're right, maybe not #4. But Cabaret as #4? I dunno. Maybe My Fair Lady should be moved up...and The King And I should be a place or two higher, too.

Grease is a misstep...and where is Fiddler On The Roof? Maybe it's my background but I feel that deserves a place.

Oh, and only one Disney animated? Sure, if I had to pick one, that's the one, but there are one or two others which deserve a place...but Beauty And The Beast looks to be a stand-in, representing all the Disney animated musicals.

With a few of these, I get the sense there's too much emphasis on good songs within the musicals, and not enough consideration for the rest of the show, so a few good songs can carry a show--which I don't think is good.

Also, though I know it had to happen that way, I have to wonder what that list would look like if they didn't allow movie adaptations of Broadway musicals...

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Crap! I knew there was another one I was thinking of...

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...As is The Music Man, which Tom added to the post after my below comment.

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Yeah, sorry about that. I often get a quick post up and then edit really fast as I find new tidbits. Either I was a little slow on the draw or you were a little quick. ;)

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I absolutely think The Wizard of Oz deserves its place there, and I urge you to revisit it. It may not be to your taste; then again, sometimes that distance is necessary. I'm going to try The Sound of Music again soon for that very reason.

I agree on Fiddler. It should be up there. Cabaret broke a lot of ground, but I'm not sure it should be #4. And All That Jazz is excellent, I've got it on my shelf... but I'm not sure it should be in the top 25.

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*grin* The latter. I've gotten comments to the effect of "what, do you have LiveJournal wired into your brain?" before.

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No South Pacific? No Fiddler on the Roof?

Not to mention the ones you mentioned.

And please. If you have to have only one Disney animated film (and I don't understand why, if other studios can have multiple entries), Snow White kicks Beauty's tail from here to Happily Ever After. Doubly so, if you consider it as a musical.

Me, I'd rank My Fair Lady lower, but that's because I take issue with (a) the casting and (b) the use of a stand-in voice.

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I would personally disagree on the Snow White vs. Beauty and the Beast thing myself, but that doesn't mean that [a] both aren't on my shelf and [b] Snow doesn't deserve to be on the list. I could make a case for Hunchback and Aladdin as well.

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pyrephox.livejournal.com

I think the songs in Hunchback are pretty brilliant, myself, although the choice of adaptation was...a little bizarre. Then again, Disney also adapted The Fox and the Hound from one of the most depressing and painful books ever written, so...y'know.

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Sorry 'bout the delete -- I was fixing italic tags. It still all works.

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Aladdin I can see--Hunchback, not so much. But what about Cinderella?

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annechen-melo.livejournal.com

Gypsy is one that I would care to see on the list. But Grease on the list and not the Professor? Bah.

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I could probably also make those cases (though I'd go for The Little Mermaid before either of the latter two). I'd love to see their next 25, just to see how many of the ones being pushed here just missed the cut. (Have you noticed that the ballot (PDF link) is online? So far, at least all of the alternates suggested here are on it.)

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james-rayner.livejournal.com

I'm looking at the ballot.
And I weep.
Because "The Producers" - Arguably Mel Brook's Finest work EVER is not even on the Ballot.

I'm looking at the list. I have to rewrite this entirely.

The first three, I can agree with to some degree- Although I would put West Side Story above Singin in the Rain any day of the week...
But for the rest...I will leave in place the ones that deserve, to some degree, to remain.

#4 - Carousel (If you can watch this old movie and not cry, You have no heart.)
#5 - The Muppet Movie (Because nothing says "Childhood Memories" Like Rainbow Connection.)
#6 - Mary Poppins ( I must admit, this deserves it's spot.)
#7 - Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (Why isnt this on the list either? OOMPA LOOMPA DISCRIMINATION!)
#8 - The Music Man (o/~ Seventy Six Trombones led the Big Parade...)
#9 - The Lion King ( It's SO hard to choose between this and Beauty and the Beast - but Hakuna Matata is catchier than Be our guest.)
#10 - Beauty and the Beast (see above.)
#11 - The King and I (Keeps it's place due to classical merit.)
#12 - Chicago (Keeps it's place due to Catherine Zita-Jones' Legs, and the good music.)
#13 - Evita (One of the most fantastic looks at the truth of love.)
#14 - The Producers (Because Mel Brooks deserves it, damnit.)
#15 - Annie Get Your gun (For No Business Like Showbusiness.)
#16 - Bye Bye Birdie ( Truly a Great American Musical, but needed to be a bit further down the list.)
#17 - Guys and Dolls (Needed to be further up, Because I did it in Highschool.)
#18 - Moulin Rouge! (I happened to love this movie, and it's oh-so-simple message, which I am going to put on my Tombstone.)
#19 - All that Jazz (See #11.)
#20 - Annie (which deserves a spot SOLEY Because Aileen Quinn was ridiculously cute.)
#21 - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (We Love you, Ai! oh! Everywhere we go!)
#22 - The Little Shop of Horror (FEED ME!)
#23 - Rocky Horror Picture Show (Which deserved the cut because of how huge of a cult hit it has been. And EVERYONE Knows the Time Warp.)
#24 - Yankee Doodle Dandy (I love it's songs. ALL OF THEM.)
#25 - Aladdin (I would put this further up, but there are far too many better choices. Aladdin was, however, an awesome peice of Disney.)

I have a soft spot for "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" but I've never seen the film.

This is how the list OUGHT To look, damnit.

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The original movie of The Producers is not a musical, and the new movie apparently sunk.

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james-rayner.livejournal.com

Okay, History of the World Part 1 then. (I liked the new movie, personally..)
I dont know, I consider any movie with more than one acted musical number in it to be a Musical. (Southpark - Bigger, Longer and Uncut Was even on the ballot. XD)

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jss

I'm sorry, but I just can't sit through South Pacific. I've tried, several times, and it just doesn't do it for me. It feels slow and clunky, the thing is sexist and misogynist, and while some of the music is great, much of it goes on for about three times as long as it should. I don't miss it not being in the top 25.

YMMV, etc.

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South Park was a musical. No question.

But...History Of The World isn't a musical either, any more than Blazing Saddles. At least, the way I see it.

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zenturbo.livejournal.com

I have to agree with 'The King and I', that is one of my favourite musicals and I was shocked to see it so low. I also agree with 'Litte Shop of Horrors', 'Rocky Horror', and 'The Music Man'.

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ladystarblade.livejournal.com

My own rambling thoughts...

Never been a fan of musicals, though "My Fair Lady" is one of my all-time favorite movies, period...but the one I'm surprised isn't anywhere..."Jesus Christ Superstar." Looking at it from a purely musical standpoint, it out and out rocks. Carl Anderson (rest in peace) was a force to behold as Judas both on the big screen and stage. And notice how Judas got all the best songs even after he died? "Heaven on Their Minds," "Superstar," and "Herod's Song" are big standouts for me...I just love the music.

"Beauty and the Beast" is wonderful, no doubt, but I would've taken "The Little Mermaid" first. C'mon...Samuel E. Wright and "Under the Sea." Need I say more? And I will admit to soft spots for "Evita" (Antonio Bandaras singing "Oh, What a Circus"!) and "Rent" of late. "Chicago" and "Moulin Rouge" did wonders for reviving the modern musical...who knew Richard Gere could tapdance and Ewan McGregor could sing?

I would've nudged "The King and I" a little higher and knocked "Mary Poppins" a little lower. And no "Rocky Horror"? Sigh.

And last but not least...wouldn't life be a little more interesting if it was like a musical and people broke into random song and dance numbers?

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ladystarblade.livejournal.com

On the "stand-in" voice in "My Fair Lady," Audrey Hepburn did do all her own singing originally and was upset when the studio decided to dub in Marni Nixon instead. That was just studio stupidity. If I recall correctly, Marni Nixon also dubbed in Natalie Wood's singing voice in "West Side Story." (The supporting cast stole that movie anyway.)

And who would've made a better Henry Higgins than Rex Harrison? So brilliantly perfect...and I think I went to high school with a younger version of him, LOL

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No problem with Rex Harrison. It was not casting Julie Andrews, who had, IIRC, originated the role on Broadway, that bothered me.

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wouldn't life be a little more interesting if it was like a musical and people broke into random song and dance numbers?

Seen it done, mostly on TV. I think (and feel free to speculate just how it happens that I remember this random factoid, fifteen years later) Clarissa Explains It All did that once, and a few others I can't place at the moment.

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