5. Sound of MusicĀ (1965)
Composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein created the modern American musical with 1943's Oklahoma!, a Broadway production that combined catchy songs and dancing to tell a frontier love story. This legendary pair went on to write classic after classic: South Pacific, The King And Iāāāto name a fewāāāand the one that I think is their masterpiece, The Sound of Music. Itās not only their finest work but also the basis of the best movie based on one of their Broadway smashes. Robert Wiseās directorial vision was clear: cast a megawatt star in the lead as Maria, a nun in training who nannies a widowerās family in Austria during the early days of World War II. The starās name was Julie Andrews, and her smooth, powerful voice fills every memorable song with charm and sunshine. The Sound of Music also stars Christopher Plummer as a taciturn Captain who canāt connect with his kids, and guess who helps? Thatās right. Maria. This is a wholesomely horny movie about new beginnings, with a side of evil Nazis.
4. Hedwig And The Angry InchĀ (2001)
Hedwig is a genderqueer drag queen from Germany played by John Cameron Mitchell, critically lauded Off-Broadway in the late 90s in New York City and in a 2001 movie, which slightly improves on the stage show. With sharp, heartbreaking glam rock bangers by Stephen Trask, Hedwig is a tragicomic tornado of wigs, eyeshadow, and bitterly witty one-liners. The original production is loose and funny, but the movie gives Traskās musical more narrative muscle. Directed by Hedwig herself, Mitchell, Hedwig, and the Angry Inch is a cult hit that deserves to be mainstream. Mitchellās movie balances humor and pathos as he tells a story about love and self-discovery in middle-of-nowhere Kansas. He brilliantly visualizes melancholy hits like āThe Origin of Loveā and āWicked Little Town.ā Michael Pitt is raw and pouty as Hedwigās lover and protege, a rising star who outshines his wounded mentor.
Grief. Friendship. Jazz hands. My debut memoir, Theatre Kids, comes out on June 18th.
3. Fiddler On The RoofĀ (1971)
Director Norman Jewisonās Fiddler On The Roof is a gritty, grounded period movie about Russian Jews suffering oppression in 1905, starring Chaim Topol as a deeply religious, charismatic, desperately poor milkman with five daughters and a wife. The movie is more than just a historical drama; itās a family portrait. There isnāt an uninspired or unnecessary song in the production; each tune is either rollicking, soulful, or both. The original writersāāāmusic and lyrics by Jerry Brock and Sheldon Harnick and Joseph Steinās bookāāāare helped by John Williamsā score and a cast of actors who look like humble peasants but sing like seraphim. The Oscar-winning movie preserved Jermoe Robbinsā original foot-stomping Broadway choreography. Fiddler On The Roof is a stirring look at a father whose world is changing faster than he can pray. The movie is warm and intimate⦠and heartbreaking.
2. Little Shop Of HorrorsĀ (1986)
Songwriters Howard Ashman and Alan Menkenās Little Shop Of Horror started life as a surprise doo-wop-inspired Off-Broadway musical comedy hit. In 1986, it was given the Hollywood treatment. The movie is a hilariously morbid send-up of 50s sci-fi horror that mixes camp, special effects, and celebrity cameos. Thanks to director Frank Ozāāālongtime Jim Henson collaborator and the man behind YodaāāāLittle Shop of Horrors is a wildly successful movie musical that turned superstar nerd Rick Moranis into a romantic lead. His character Seymour is a Skid Row flower shop schnook in love with the beautiful Audrey, played by Ellen Greene. Greene is funny and vulnerable, and she has pipes. The movie's star, though, is Audrey II, a giant man-eating plant puppet voiced by R&B singer Levi Stubbs. Itās an incredible prop, and Stubbs has fun laughing at mortals.
1. CabaretĀ (1972)
The characters in Cabaret donāt break into song on the street. The musical numbers all occur inside the seedy KitKat Club, on a small stage where scantily-clad dancers and sultry singers entertain Weimer Berlinās night owls on the eve of Nazismās rise. (Like Indiana Jones, musicals hate Nazis.) Legendary choreographer Bob Fosse directs Cabaret with a mix of grim realism and show business razzmatazz. Written by longtime collaborators John Kander and Fred Ebb, Cabaret tells the story of a pair of misfits with small dreams crushed by fascism. It is a bleak musical with darkly cynical songs about money, sex, and power. Fosse was a Broadway veteran and understood American musicals were shots of optimism, but he subverts the entire genre in Cabaret. This is a musical about doomed lovers. It's also the story of a society slowly poisoned by fear, one drip at a time. Cabaret turned Liza Minelli and Joel Grey into legendsāāāher Sally Bowles is one of cinemaās greatest losers, and Joelās emcee is an unforgettable demon, smiling for whoever is paying.
Love anything R&H and loved Little Shop. Fun review John šš
I am not a musicals fan, because of the "bursting into song on the street" thing you mentioned. BUT I would add another vote for "Chicago," and I would also add "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Which is bad based on Broadway/classic movie film standards, but also part of its charm was that it both lampooned and honored those standards.