Top ten musicals.

Just one more sleep till Christmas, at least for those of you in the western hemisphere, so this post is an early present of sorts. For those of you who celebrate this particular holiday, have a safe and Merry Christmas tomorrow. And for those of you who celebrated Hanukkah, I hope you thought of me when you fried up some jam doughnuts.

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We got The Sound of Music DVD for my daughter for Christmas – not among my favorite movies, but she loves all the songs the kids sing, and I have to admit that the bonus feature with all seven child actors reunited for the 40th anniversary of the film is awesome – but that spurred me to post a list I’ve meant to throw out there for a while: My own ten favorite musicals.

You’ll notice the absence of Judy Garland films, because I can’t stand her – not her voice, not her acting, nothing. And Meet Me in St. Louis was a stupid movie anyway. I also didn’t include West Side Story, which was ruined for me by the first scene; street “toughs” who run around New York dancing in tights are not tough and nothing they do afterwards will convince me otherwise.

Films that didn’t make the cut included The Muppet Christmas Carol (not enough of a musical), Brigadoon (good movie but the songs didn’t grab me), and Yankee Doodle Dandy (too long by half). One movie I have not seen that makes all of these lists is Cabaret. You’ll also notice that fatherhood has influenced this list quite a bit.

10. Mary Poppins. Probably my daughter’s all-time favorite movie, to the point where she heard a Julie Andrews song from the soundtrack of Camelot and shouted, “That sounds like Mary Poppins!” There’s enough humor for adults here and some strong visual effects, as well as a few songs that you still know by heart whether or not you want to, plus a performance from Arthur Treacher as the Constable, which makes me laugh just because of the fast-food chain that still bears his name. Best song: When my daughter was smaller, I’d swing her all around to “Let’s Go Fly a Kite.”

9. Moulin Rouge!. It still amazes me that the huge success of this movie didn’t spur a new run of musicals from Hollywood, but apparently only Baz Luhrmann has the balls – or the good sense – to capitalize on the market for musical films. I thought the movie was incredibly creative in its reworking of pop songs into key plot elements, with lots of silliness and some very good performances by Ewan Macgregor, Nicole Kidman, and several of the supporting players. Best song: “Your Song.”

8. Aladdin. I’m not sure if any movie has had me laughing as consistently as Aladdin did on my first viewing, and it’s one of the only movies I’ve ever seen more than twice. It’s also one of the only animated films that had songs I might actually want to hear outside the context of the movie. Best song: “Prince Ali.”

7. Holiday Inn. A sentimental favorite, since I’ve been singing “You’re Easy to Dance With” to my daughter since she was a few days old. The plot is silly – it’s an excuse to sing a bunch of holiday-themed songs, and it features perhaps the worst business model ever depicted in any movie: a hotel that only opens on holidays. There’s also an unfortunate blackface scene that’s woven into the plot, so if you watch the movie without it, a thin story gets thinner and a few lines won’t make sense, but watching the original version will have you cringing. Fred Astaire’s July 4th number is one of his best dances in any film. Best song: “You’re Easy to Dance With.”

6. Royal Wedding. Two iconic dance scenes make this movie: Fred Astaire dancing with a hatstand, and Astaire dancing on the ceiling. He had surprising chemistry with Jane Powell, a new partner for him who turned out to be perfect for some of the slapsticky numbers in the Astaire’s love interest is played by Sarah Churchill, daughter of Winston, although I found the idea that Astaire’s character would be smitten with her a little tough to swallow. Best song: “How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Love You When You Know I’ve Been A Liar All My Life,” a rare comic-dance number for Astaire, and later a Muppet Show sketch.

5. White Christmas. A little more story and better music than Holiday Inn, and the film avoids any racist undertones by sticking to an all-white cast. (Lest anyone get the wrong idea, that’s sarcasm.) Danny Kaye doesn’t have Fred Astaire’s dancing chops but is better with physical comedy, and Vera-Ellen was a much better dancer than either of the female leads in Holiday Inn. The film’s climax, while just as absurd as everything that leads up to it, has a lot of heart. Best song: “White Christmas.”

4. Once. A cult favorite that should have been a bigger hit, made on a shoestring budget with a plot that fit on the back of a napkin, it’s carried by two great performances and a heavy emphasis on realistic dialogue. It’s magical without magic other than the magic of music. Best song: “Falling Slowly.”

3. The Music Man. I’ve certainly made enough references to this movie in chats and on Twitter, but I have to admit I thought it was dumb the first time I saw it; it took a second viewing for me to realize how witty the movie is and the way it straddles the line between admiration and parody of the small-town Iowa culture of writer Meredith Wilson’s upbringing. The film’s vernacular is unique and comical – “You watch your phraseology!” – and the use of a barbershop quartet as actual characters in the film (they play the school board) instead of just props who sing was another nice touch. The only negative for me is that Shirley Jones gets stuck with three dud ballads, making her character boring next to all the fun that Robert Preston’s Harold Hill gets to have. Best song: “Wells Fargo Wagon,” although I imagine the most popular pick would be “Seventy-Six Trombones.”

2. My Fair Lady. Take a great play (Pygmalion) by a great playwright (Shaw) and add the most beautiful actress in the history of motion pictures (Audrey Hepburn) and a handful of memorable songs and you have the shortest three-hour movie ever made. Stanley Holloway, as Eliza Doolittle’s ne’er-do-well father, is a scene-stealer and gets the two funniest songs in the film. A remake is supposedly in the works, which strikes me as a brazen money-grab and a terrible idea, as movies like this should never, ever be subject to the indignity of a remake. Best song: “With a Little Bit of Luck.”

1. Singin’ in the Rain. The granddaddy of musicals, including no end of outstanding dance numbers – the title track, “Moses Supposes,” and “Good Morning” – a great comedy number from Donald O’Connor in “Make ‘Em Laugh,” and an actual plot aside from the standard-issue romance. The silent film era comes to an abrupt end and the characters, mostly silent-film stars, have to adapt to life in the talkies, which proves very difficult for Jean Hagen’s Lina Lamont, whose voice is like nails on a chalkboard and who mistakenly believes that the film studio’s marketing angle about a romance between her and Gene Kelly’s character has some basis in fact. Kelly, a raging perfectionist as a dancer, was at his peak here, and while he reportedly drove costar Debbie Reynolds to tears, the “Good Morning” number still amazes me every time I watch it. Best song: “Singin’ in the Rain.”

By the way, if any of you happen to end up with the new Tinker Bell DVD (The Lost Treasure), check out the fake blooper reel called “Scenes You Never Saw.” I still haven’t made it through the entire film proper (although my daughter loves it), but the four-minute outtake clip is hilarious.

Comments

brian

Dec, 25 2009 / 12:28 pm

no fiddler on the roof? or worse – willy wonka and the chocolate factory? unless you don’t like candy…
Marcel

Dec, 25 2009 / 12:37 pm

So glad to not see ‘Grease’ anywhere on that list. I hate that movie so much.
brian

Dec, 25 2009 / 1:01 pm

No “Rock & Roll High School?” Also, for a great alternative musical you should check out “Poultrygeist” by Troma.
Pete

Dec, 25 2009 / 4:22 pm

I second the aghast at no Fiddler. IMO it is hands down the greatest musical of all time. It’s story is so much richer than basically every musical out there and the music is just beautiful.

My second choice would also be My Fair Lady. Any show where a 12 year old (me) can be dragged along and end up enjoying it is a good show.

Third would be A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. The funniest musical of the golden age with a brilliant score by Stephen Sondheim.

Others you didn’t mention that I would are Sweeney Todd, Man of La Mancha, and How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying.

As for your West Side Story comments; it seems contradictory that the dancing would be be silly in that instance where sporadic song and dance is the essence of all musicals.
jake

Dec, 25 2009 / 5:54 pm

The Blues Brothers
Jason

Dec, 25 2009 / 9:54 pm

its too bad for you that you are so quick to dismiss west side story. truly one of the best american musicals ever. your loss, no one else’s.
Connecticut Mike

Dec, 26 2009 / 1:57 am

How did “Paint Your Wagon” not make the list? The dulcet tones of Lee Marvin are not to be missed.

Gonna use oil-based paint because the wood is pine!
David

Dec, 26 2009 / 8:55 am

No Guys and Dolls!!???
TC

Dec, 26 2009 / 9:05 am

My favorite bit about Singin’ in the Rain:

Jean Hagen did all her own voicework: both the squeaky talking voice (affected), the rotten offkey singing, and the supposedly dubbed singing. Which means that, in the final scene, on stage, Jean Hagen is dubbing Debbie Reynolds, whose character is dubbing Jean Hagen’s.

Otherwise, the movie could barely hold my interest.
Erik Siegrist

Dec, 26 2009 / 12:29 pm

Swing Time tops either of the Astaire films you’ve got on there. Fred was better with Ginger than with any other partner, and Never Gonna Dance — both Fred’s performance of the song, and the dance that accompanies it — breaks my heart every time I watch it. Pick Yourself Up, and A Fine Romance, are pretty damn good numbers too, and it’s even got a blackface number in it so you’ve got that angle covered.

Hmm. Astaire seemed to do a lot of blackface, didn’t he?
Jeff

Dec, 26 2009 / 6:02 pm

South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut!!
Aaron B.

Dec, 26 2009 / 11:02 pm

High School Musical? Just joking on that one…

What about Cole Porter’s Kiss Me Kate?
Daniel C.

Dec, 27 2009 / 12:45 am

Totally agree with Singin in the Rain but disagree with the having White Christmas above Holiday Inn. Fred Astaire over Danny Kaye and Bing had a young smoother voice. I actually hate the edited version. In my opinion it is silly to ignore how things were back in the day. Leave it in so people can learn about the past and show how wrong everyday people were about race.
Helen

Dec, 27 2009 / 6:21 pm

Astaire did exactly one blackface number, in “Swing Time.” It was intended as a tribute to Bill Robinson and was actually one of the least egregious of that theatrical convention. Astaire had no part in the blackface number in “Holiday Inn,” which is one of the most egregious of that theatrical convention.
Sriram

Dec, 28 2009 / 12:11 pm

“Everyone Says I Love You” – a musical that captures (and is ABOUT) what musicals are about – the urge to break into song

Great call on “Once”

“Chicago” is overrated though certainly well done. But I liked the balls behind “Across the Universe” more – which like Moulin Rouge was an artistic homerun swing.
Sriram

Dec, 28 2009 / 1:01 pm

Also the musical version of Hairspray really is inspired … yes it lacks the subversive quality of the Waters film, probably to appeal to a Broadway audience – but the songs are awesome the movie IS funny (it is not without the edge, just less of it) and the lead performance is perfect.
Brian

Dec, 28 2009 / 1:50 pm

Surprised to see White Christmas make your list, what with it being so racist and all. Bing Crosby’s dreaming of a white christmas, just like the one’s he used to know? Please. The only thing missing was German subtitles.
Brian

Dec, 28 2009 / 1:51 pm

Lest anyone get the wrong idea, that was sarcasm. Actually it was more of an ill-conceived joke. Or not-so-ill. I laughed.
Brian

Dec, 28 2009 / 1:54 pm

Wait wait wait, I thought of a better punchline: “Surprised to see White Christmas make your list, what with it being so racist and all. Bing Crosby’s dreaming of a white christmas, just like the one’s he used to know? Please It’s no wonder that song was composed by a guy named Berlin.”

WINNER!!!
Jeremy

Dec, 28 2009 / 3:24 pm

Nice call on “Once.” Did you consider South Park (also mentioned by Jeff)? Have you seen “Hedwig and the Angry Inch?”
keith

Dec, 28 2009 / 5:59 pm

I watched West Side Story to the end and hated it. I didn’t like the music. I thought the plot was a bad retelling of a better story. I found the decision to cast Natalie Wood as the lead and the more-talented (and curvier) Rita Moreno as the supporting actress mind-boggling. And yeah, I had a hard time accepting the tough guys as tough when they’re prancing around New York City in leotards.

South Park: First 30-45 minutes were absolutely hilarious, even groundbreaking, and some of the songs were very funny, but it’s not much of a movie – just a really good SP episode that went on an hour too long.

I don’t think of Willy Wonka or Blues Brothers as musicals. I used the AFI’s nomination list from its Top 25 musicals ranking and I don’t think either film was on there.

I don’t like the music from Fiddler. Never did, even as a kid. Biddy biddy blech. Also not a fan of the music in Grease.
Josh

Dec, 28 2009 / 11:10 pm

Speaking strictly of Disney movies, I think my favorite would have to be The Lion King over Aladdin, though both are good.
Ben

Dec, 28 2009 / 11:35 pm

No Les Parapluies de Cherbourg? It certainly makes the Musicals Hall of Merit…
TC

Dec, 29 2009 / 7:11 am

Sriram- Really? I thought Across the Universe was one of the worst movies I’ve ever sat through. Could they find ways to sing with less energy? And they crammed so many songs/song references into the movie, unnecessarily, that the whole thing had the feeling of a late-season Happy Days episodes where ever plot is a guest star. Sheesh.
Tim

Dec, 29 2009 / 6:23 pm

High Society-
Bing, Frank, and Satchmo, plus the ACTUAL most beautiful actress of all-time, Grace Kelly (puts that bag lady Audrey Hepburn to shame!)
Ryan Pgh

Dec, 30 2009 / 2:01 pm

Big big props for putting Once on this list. As an independent musician, this really hit home for me. And what I loved more than anything else about it was that they didn’t cut any corners in the hopes of making it more universally appealing. It’s a grown-up movie. And unfortunately, you don’t see that too often with musicals.
Jason R

Dec, 30 2009 / 2:10 pm

Couldn’t agree more on Aladdin, although I would have moved it a notch or two higher. The funny thing is Prince Ali started up in my head as soon as I saw the name of the movie. Classic songs and a classic performance by Robin Williams, possibly his last decent movie role.

Top ten musicals.

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