Thoroughly Modern Musicals
Apr 12 '01
The Bottom Line The combination of music and laughter is magical, and most of these movies combined the two exceptionally well.
I spent most of my adolescence listening to my parents' records rather than the music that was popular in my childhood spanning the late 70's and the 80's. My parents had very eclectic taste in music and their records spanned everything from opera to swing to oldies to folk to showtunes. Both of my parents loved Broadway musicals and between them we had at least one copy of the original cast recording of most major musicals of the 50's and early 60's. Sometimes they both had a copy, and sometimes we had both the original cast recording and the movie soundtrack. One thing was certain, I loved them all - I had definitely inherited my parent's love of musicals.
I didn't see many musicals on television or video until I went to college - until then most of my exposure came from records and stage productions. But when I hit college and had control of my own finances I started buying movie musicals. Coming up with a top 10 list was difficult but I finally managed to cull one out.
The movies that just missed my top 10:
South Pacific, Bells Are Ringing, Guys and Dolls, Damn Yankees, and Gigi
10. The Pajama Game, 1957
The only role Broadway great John Raitt reprised in the movie, The Pajama Game tells the story of a new pajama factory supervisor and the head of the union that is about to go on strike. As the potential strike tension builds so does the tension between the two characters. Starring Raitt, Doris Day, Eddie Foy Jr, and Carol Haney this was the first musical choreographed by Bob Fosse. Standout songs include Hey There and When a Man Loves a Woman.
9. Evita, 1996
I was amazed at how good this movie was. Madonna was Eva Peron. Jonathan Pryce and Antonio Banderas shone. I never particularly cared for the stage show or the music, but I loved the movie version. More of an opera than a traditional musical, this is the only drama among my selections. Standout songs include The Actress Hasn't Learned Her Lines, And the Money Kept Rolling In, and You Must Love Me.
8. The Music Man, 1962
Robert Preston is Professor Harold Hill. Period. I cannot watch stage productions of The Music Man because everyone pales in comparison to Preston. Hill is a con man out to swindle the people of River City, Iowa out of their hard earned money by selling them imaginary musical instruments. Other standouts in the cast include Shirley Jones as Marion the librarian, the woman who falls for Hill, a very young Ron Howard as Marion's little brother Winthrop, Buddy Hackett as an old friend of Hill, and Hermione Gingold as the mayor's wife. Standout songs include Ya Got Trouble and Sadder But Wiser Girl.
7. Finian's Rainbow, 1968
Fred Astaire's last musical, Finian's Rainbow is a delightful romp from start to finish. Finian McLonergan and his daughter Sharon travel to America with a pot of leprechaun gold intending to plant it and watch it grow (after all, why else would we plant gold in Fort Knox). They end up in a poor town harrassed by government officials bent on segregating the racially integrated town. Meanwhile Og the leprechaun wants his gold back. Truly a delight, Tommy Steele is magnificent as Og and Petula Clark shows she can act as well as sing as Sharon. Standout songs include Look to the Rainbow and When I'm Not Near the One I Love.
6. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, 1954
Howard Keel, Tommy Rall, and Russ Tamblyn join Jane Powell in the rollicking tale of mountain boys who steal their brides from a nearby town. The scene where the brothers duel against the town's menfolk is quite possibly the finest dance scene in any musical. It is certainly one of the most athletic. Standout songs include Bless Your Beautiful Hide and Goin' Cou'tin'.
5. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, 1967
Robert Morse is J. Pierpont Finch, a lowly window washer who fakes his way to the top of the corporate world with the help of a book of advice on how to get ahead. Co-starring a very young Michelle Lee as Finch's love interest Rosemary and Rudy Vallee as the somewhat clueless president of the company, How to Succeed is fun from start to finish. There are no bad songs in this musical, but The Company Way, I Believe in You, and Brotherhood of Man stand out just a bit above the rest.
4. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, 1966
Bringing several generations of comedic and musical legends together including Zero Mostel, Phil Silvers, Buster Keaton, Jack Gilford, and a very young Michael Crawford. Set in ancient Rome, Forum is a series of intertwined mishaps rife with physical comedy. Although the music isn't outstanding as a whole, it does contain two truly exceptional songs: Comedy Tonight and Everyone Ought to Have a Maid.
3. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 1968
I read the book before I ever saw the movie, and I still love the movie. Based on the children's book by Ian Fleming (yes, the same Ian Fleming that brought us Bond), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a witty visual and auditory treat. Starring Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, and Lionel Jefferies, Benny Hill also has a hilarious cameo as the toymaker in a town that has outlawed toys. This movie is so much more than just a children's movie or a musical. It blends great storytelling with great music and makes me wish for a father like Caractacus Potts and a flying car that goes chitty chitty bang bang. Standout songs include You Two, Toot Sweets, and Hushabye Mountain.
2. 1776, 1972
Who knew the founding fathers could be this funny? Filled with amusing lines, running jokes, and physical comedy, 1776 makes history fun. Howard da Silva is brilliant as Benjamin Franklin, William Daniels is the driven John Adams, and Ken Howard the more laid back Thomas Jefferson. Following the process of writing, debating, and signing the Declaration of Independence, this movie makes you question whether Congress will ever really declare independence (even knowing the eventual outcome you still wonder). Standout songs include Piddle, Twiddle, and Resolve, The Lees of Old Virginia, and Is Anybody There?.
1. Thoroughly Modern Millie, 1967
This little known musical is one of the funniest movies ever made. It takes hollywood stereotypes of the roaring twenties and weaves them into a tale of white slavery and life at the Priscilla Hotel for Girls in New York. Intrigue surrounding new arrival Miss Dorothy and stranger Jimmy lead our heroine Millie and her new boss Trevor Grayden into the worlds of vaudeville, high society, and Chinatown. The stellar cast includes Julie Andrews, Carol Channing, Mary Tyler Moore, James Fox, and John Gavin. The music isn't exceptional except for the title song, but it is very well integrated into the movie.
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