What Are Your Favorite Stage-to-Movie Musicals?

The Music Man

"The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas"

Hair

The Sound of Music

West Side Story (1961)

Silk Stockings

How could you not have West Side Story on your list? Arguably the best example ever of 'Stage-to-Movie Musicals.'

Because I'm just not a fan of the show or movie(s) R5.

Dreamgirls

[quote] How could you not have West Side Story on your list?

I am afraid you have horrified r5, OP, because as he suggests, everyone must share his exact taste.

Phantom of the Oprah

Call Me Madam

Show Boat (1936)

Sally (1929)

Oklahoma! (1955)

Hellzapoppin' (1941) [italic]is[/italic] a musical, and [italic]is[/italic] stage-to-movie, and [italic]is[/italic] a favorite of mine, but doesn't quite fit in here with the others (maybe best to call it a "Revue")

Agree with Fiddler, I love that movie.

I also loved Cabaret the movie but never saw it staged. I read about an amazing production where the audience was seated at tables as if they were in the Cabaret. I don't see how you could top that.

Godspell

I disapprove of dubbing the singing, so I would not put WSS on the list.

Grease

[quote] Arguably the best example ever of 'Stage-to-Movie Musicals.'

I would argue the movie added nothing much to the play by opening it up. People get all gooey over the opening shot which WAS astonishing, but beyond that, WWS is an intimate story that is perfectly suited to the stage.

Disclaimer: I was in a college production of WWS and admit we changed 'America' from the play version of 3 women singing to the movie version with the ensemble and turns out it became a showstopper.

*WSS*

I wish they'd give Les Miz another whirl. Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe ruined it.

The Music Man. 1000%

Kiss Me Kate — improves on the show and is a riot.

Cabaret — dramatically improves upon the stage show.

Sweet Charity — a seriously under appreciated gem

Cabaret

"Pajama Game" - they retained almost the entire Broadway cast, except for replacing Janis Paige with Doris Day.

And Doris is excellent.

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show"

Can we vote for the worst: "Top Banana."

I would say the worst is "Lady in the Dark."

This is only valid if you’ve seen the stage show in addition to the film.

I’ll say, Chicago. Saw it with the original cast and revival about 20 years ago. Film was superior.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

The King and I

West Side Story

My Fair Lady

The Sound of Music

Fiddle on the Roof

How to Succeed in Business (without really trying)

Did not see it on stage but Robert Morse went to my high school (way before I did) so this sort of counts.

I would have loved to see Charles Nelson Reilly in the original though

r27 Seven Brides was not a stage musical.

Took the words out of my fingers, R29.

Mame

A Chorus Line

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Hair...also better than the stage version. It actually has a better plot. Well...a through line.

Cabaret

The Sound of Music is so much better than the stage version...they cut the boring songs!

[quote] Hair...also better than the stage version. It actually has a better plot. Well...a through line.

I though Hair the movie stank to high heaven beginning with the late 70s fashions and hair. And don't even get me started with that Twyla Tharp "choreography".

No FUNNY GIRL? After having the misfortune of seeing that cheap Beanie stage version, I have a new appreciation for the Babs movie.

[quote] Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

This was a screen-to-stage musical, not a stage-to-screen musical.

For all its sugariness, the screen version of THE SOUND OF MUSIC is often counted by many movie and musical critics as BETTER than the stage version, since Robert Wise makes such brilliant use of the exteriors of Salzburg during the songs.

[quote] I would have loved to see Charles Nelson Reilly in the original though

You know that Reilly played Bud Frump in the original, not J. Pierrepont Finch (which was played in the Broadway original by Morse).

Song of Norway because it is a surefire cure for insomnia.

R37 yes, I should have been more specific. Charles Nelson Reilly as Bud Frump. I know Morse was Ponty on both screen and stage, and Rudy Vallee and Wally the window washer reprised their roles as well (I'm having mental block with names right now sorry)

A favorite? Very difficult, but I do L-O-V-E the screen version of 1776. The cast, the costuming, the sets.