Movie Musicals, anyone?

[jo]

Someone from BWW uploaded this clip re testing teeners' knowledge of movie musicals of the past --






How did you do yourself


Jo

[mamaleh]

Pretty abysmal results, but then again I know very little about the current music scene. Still, those films are classics and very much a part of our cuktural history. Those teens definitely have an education deficit in thst genre. (In his show, Hugh reminded us that everybody knows THE MUSIC NAN, didn't he?) I guess those kids were absent when their schools put that show on.

Ellen

[jo]

They have the advantage of technology on their side -- these classic movie musicals are available online or via DVD. I do wonder if high schools still regularly put on an annual musical? I wonder what kind of shows they choose? Maybe with the new trend of stage musicals being streamed to movie theaters that there will be more interest.

Re Music Man -- as soon as I saw Robert Preston...and then hear him sing ala Jackman-- that was it!

I still have DVDs of 7 Brides and 7 Brothers ( perfect musical for Hugh, had he been a contemporary of Howard Keel), Singin' in the Rain, West Side Story, My Fair Lady, Sound of Music, and The Music Man. Did I miss any?

One of my treasured DVD is that of STUDENT PRINCE, with Mario Lanza singing the songs, but another actor acting out the part. Camelot and Man of La Mancha of course round up some of my all-time favorites...then along came Les Miserables ( little did I know that when I first saw it live that I would see it eventually as a film adaptation, with a favorite actor as Valjean) ...and then of course Oklahoma! circa 1998 ...

I also remember another operetta called ROSEMARIE and a musical western called Calamity Jane ( not really a musical but comedy with songs), American in Paris, ...a few others from way back. I think the techies have done a pretty good job transferring the films to video...or now making them available online.

The problem is that the younger generations are more used to different music now

Jo

[carouselkathy]

I can name those shows in 3 notes....ha ha! Actually, those kids did better than I thought they would, especially the girls. I think families tend to take daughters to musicals while boys go to sporting events. In my own case, I listened to musicals while my school friends followed the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Middle Schools and High Schools still produce theatrical productions. Former students still come and invite me. One was even in the LA company of WICKED. So, there is still hope. Kids love theater when they have the chance to see good shows.

[jo]

3 notes! Haha!

But there are some film adaptations with overtures so stunning and strong that one can (almost) identify them with less

Les Miserables -- with 2 notes!

Phantom of the Opera -- 1 note ( if with full orchestra!)!