The American Film Institute exists to come up with groovy movie related lists to argue over. They've just put out their list of the 25 greatest movie musicals. Here's their list:
- Singin' In The Rain 1952 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- West Side Story 1961 United Artists
- The Wizard of Oz 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- The Sound of Music 1965 Twentieth Century-Fox
- Cabaret 1972 Allied Artists
- Mary Poppins 1964 Disney
- A Star Is Born 1954 Warner Bros.
- My Fair Lady 1964 Warner Bros.
- An American In Paris 1951 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Meet Me In St. Louis 1944 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- The King And I 1956 Twentieth Century-Fox
- Chicago 2002 Miramax
- 42nd Street 1933 Warner Bros.
- All That Jazz 1979 Twentieth Century-Fox, Columbia
- Top Hat 1935 RKO
- Funny Girl 1968 Columbia
- The Band Wagon 1953 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Yankee Doodle Dandy 1942 Warner Bros.
- On The Town 1949 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Grease 1978 Paramount
- Seven Brides For Seven Brothers 1954 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Beauty And The Beast 1991 Disney
- Guys And Dolls 1955 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Show Boat 1936 Universal
- Moulin Rouge! 2001 Twentieth Century Fox
Some of these you just couldn't argue against, but some of these newer ones just aren't making it in in terms of songs. Chicago was a nice glamorous movie, but I can't remember more than one or two of the songs at all — and none of them seem to me like any kind of classics. Beauty and the Beast was a pretty good Disney movie, but not because of these largely mediocre songs. Plus, they need knocked up side the head for including
Grease.
Now we get to the good part: my alternative list. I'm prone to concocting things like "the true and objective list of the best..." I won't presume to do that here, mostly because I have very limited knowledge of movies from the real prime era of proper Broadway musicals. This would be in the 1930s and '40s, prime time for Irving Berlin and the Gershwins among others. Note that this time frame is barely represented in the AFI list. Anyway, I'll just humbly call this list from Al's Film Institute --
Al's Favorite Movie Musicals
Oklahoma! (1955) I guess you don't get any extra cool points for picking the obvious, but this is THE gold standard for classic musicals on every level. You just don't have a legitimate list without it. It's the Sgt. Pepper of traditional Broadway musicals.
For one thing, it was the exemplar trend setter in the idea of the "integrated" musical, in which the story is not just a coat rack on which to hang random, unrelated songs. The songs are not breaks from the story, but they really establish the characters and advance the story.
Besides the bigger story though, all of these Rodgers and Hammerstein songs are individually classics in their own right. "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" is flatly one of the most beautiful melodies ever to grace a pop song. "I Can't Say No" is a particular favorite of mine, and you can't pass by without some props for "People Will Say We're in Love."
Article comments
1 - Dominick Evans
Al,
I agree with some of your assessments in the need to remove Beauty and the Beast and even Grease. However, I disagree with Sign o' the Times, The Jungle Book, and the Little Mermaid.
First, Disney movies are not musicals. They are cartoons with singing. I only think they have singing in the first place because it attracts little kids with the simplistic catchy tunes.
Guys and Dolls is a good example of a musical that should have been on the list. When I think of musicals I want to see Frankie Sinatra, Shirley Jones, and Gordon McRae.
I think of the teams of Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and Kander and Ebb. I think of Sondheim, Schwatz, Porter, and the Gershwins.
Whatever happened to the days of the traditional musical?
I don't think of Appalonia and Prince or even Elton John. I like Elton but the Lion King comes to Broadway? Come on!
Even the more musically inclinded operettas (think Candide, Die Fledermaus, and anything by Gilbert and Sullivan) would have been more welcome than the AFI's current picks.
Besides...shouldn't My Fair Lady get penalized considering Audrey Hepburn didn't actually sing?
Dominick
2 - Al Barger
We could argue over the definition of movie musicals. I could certainly understand a serious fan of classic era Broadway sniffing at some of this modern pop era stuff. My knowledge of traditional Broadway is, as I said, somewhat marginal. But I know enough to see that some of the modern traditional style stuff like Chicago just ain't keeping up with Rodgers and Hammerstein.
I'll have to defend Disney though. Most of the newer stuff just isn't that great, but "Chim Chim Cheree" for example is absolutely a standard, covered by serious jazz performers even. You might argue boundary lines about whether animation counts, but "Under the Sea" is an outstanding song worthy of a major musical. Plus, "Poor Unfortunate Souls" is not just an easy little kiddie singalong.
Prince has done serious work equal to Duke Ellington or any other serious cat you want to name. You might argue over whether a concert film properly would count as a "musical" but that seems a bit churlish. The compositions and orchestrations are major league, and the choreography isn't far behind.
3 - Clavos
Al,
I'm delighted you included Finian's Rainbow in your list--I've always felt it was one of the best "underrated" musicals. My Irish grandmother used to sing "How Are Things In Glocamorra?" to me when I was little.
But how could you ignore Carousel? Or Kiss Me Kate?? Those Cole porter lyrics are "Wunderbar", whose opening words are: "Gazing down on the Jungfrau..." what a marvelous "insider" quip!!
Of course, that's the danger in compiling this kind of a list--someone's always going to have a favorite or two that don't get included, and beat up on you for it.
SMACK! :>)
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
Al, you like Team America? Had no idea.
5 - Dominick Evans
Al,
I was a theatre major and professionally trained singer for years. Some of my favorite classes in college were Musical Theatre Analysis where we watched musicals, tore then apart, did reports on composers, and dissected the songs.
I have nothing against Disney. My son loves Disney and my girlfriend's favorite Disney movie is Little Mermaid, but I don't really consider it a musical. That doesn't mean I don't like the songs because I do.
As for Prince I agree 100% he is a forced to be reckoned with in the music industry but I do not see him as the "musical" type. It's kind of like Rosie O'Donnell doing Broadway. Don't get me wrong, I love Rosie...but she just wasn't Broadway material.
As for comparing Prince to Duke Ellington...hard comparison. It's the whole apples & oranges...to distinctly different sounds and in my own assessment I'd say you just can't consider them in the same league because there so drastically different in their musical styles.
I do have to say I am a huge Cole Porter fan though. Ever since I did Anything Goes....a very long time ago...I've enjoyed his music.
Dominick
6 - El Bicho
Good, interesting list and like any other there's agreement and head-scratchers. Good to see the inclusion of Stormy Weather and The Blues Brothers. Not sure what your problem is with Grease.
I remember plenty of songs from Chicago especially "All That Jazz", which I would consider a classic. The musical is a great look at celebrity, which is just as accurate today as it was when it premiered. Look at the legal system today, even politicians to an extent, and tell me that the song isn't spot-on that all you have to do is "Razzle Dazzle 'em." I also enjoyed the tune about the women killing their husbands and John C Reilly's "Mr. Cellophane."
Sign O the Times doesn't sound like it makes the cut from your description, and while enjoyed it, I don't think A Mighty Wind is a musical. It too is a concert film. If your standards are so loose might as well include Dylan's Don't Look Back. You could also throw in the recent Prairie Home Companion.
All I remember from Little Mermaid is "Under the Sea." "Beauty and the Beast" is a better musical just for the song about Garcon alone. I am in stitches every time I hear it. "Be Our Guest" is anything but mediocre. It's Jerry Orbach singing for crying out loud. Aladdin also tops Mermaid with better songs and a great use of Robin Williams. Best villian? Malificent would tear her apart. And I'd put my money on Capt. Hook as long as Ursula didn't summon the croc. She also loses points for a face that looks like Cruella DeVille.
No mention of The Jazz Singer?! Sorry, but the first always deserves some props. Both AFIs get a demerit.
I understand you not picking movies for degenerates and hippies like Rocky Horror Picture Show and Yellow Submarine, but they have some very goos songs and are classics in their own right. How about Little Shop of Horrors? Everyone Says I Love You has very good moments, especially the end dance sequence.
I saw Prince and Simon, but you forget to get Elvis Costello or Sinead O'Connor in here. You're slipping, Al.
Disney movies are absolutely musicals. How are they not? Characters break into song, some times in the service of telling the story.
"shouldn't My Fair Lady get penalized considering Audrey Hepburn didn't actually sing?"
And Natalie Wood did in WSS? Ask Marni Nixon.
Now quick, let's get out of here before the High School Musical fans trash the joint!
7 - El Bicho
Clavos, move to the head of the class for the Cole Porter reference.
8 - Al Barger
Bicho, you have me kicking my own ass about three or four ways. I just plain forgot Rocky Horror. That would certainly make the list. Duh!
Not quite as good, but I'd count votes for Little Shop of Horrors, while I'm thinking about it. That was excellent. I considered Tommy, too.
Also, I'm out to lunch on The Jazz Singer. I've never seen the whole movie. It's one of those things that I intend but never get to, like reading Dostoevsky. It was exactly my limited knowledge of the very early years of movie musicals that made me specifically call it "my favorites" rather than my usual authoritative "objectively true" type lists.
Jolson related: The funniest thing I've seen on tv recently involved Archie Bunker, George Jefferson and mother Jefferson, whom Archie offended by calling her "mammy." Archie thought that was how all colored folk addressed their mothers. Why, Al Jolson called his mother "Mammy" for years.
Some of y'all are encouraged to write your own new articles with lists of musicals like this. I would especially appreciate hearing from a connisseur of early musicals, the 1930s and 40s.
9 - El Bicho
Al, that's the beauty of someone else doing this list like Clavos mentioned. The rest of us can swoop in and look like geniuses after you do all the hard work. Glad to see you can appreciate what I think are some brilliant songs in RHPS. I'm surprised Curry didn't do more musicals because he had a great voice, but he might have become too iconic.
I loved Levi Stubbs from the Four Tops as Audrey II. I could listen to that man's voice all day.
Off topic anecdote: While attending Cal State Long Beach, one cakewalk film class I had was unofficially called "Monday at the Movies" by the students. There were a couple hundred of us and we'd get new films, even pre-releases, and the filmmakers to come down and discuss.
We were about to screen Little Shop with a producer before it came out, and our teacher told us how the rumor was Bill Murray was paid a million for the day to fly to London and shoot his role. He suggested we find a creative way to ask around it and try to draw it out because that was a lot of money in Hollywood 1986 for one day's work.
After the screening and brief discussion with the moderator, we went to a Q&A. The first person to ask a question got extremely creative and asked, "There's a rumor that Bill Murray got a million dollars to shoot his cameo. Is that true?" A collective groan filled the whole auditorium with faint, but detectable chuckles and even a "jackass" or two. The producer immediately denied it and it was off to the next question.
There was supposedly a ton of footage with Murray and Steve Martin riffing that got cut. I hope it surfaces one day.
I wouldn't put Jazz Singer as a favorite, but thought it should get a mention for historical signifigance and it might be the first films with the "son goes into show business leaves the family way" archetype. I hear the Neil Diamond's remake is so bad it's good.
Tommy has some very good moments. Good call. One that is not a musical, but certainly has some of the best songs ever in film is Monty Python's Meaning of Life.
10 - Clavos
Thanks, Bicho. I'm not sure I could even find the head of the class.
I've been a Porter fan since I was a kid (my parents were fans). As a lyricist, he's unsurpassed in his wordplay and sophistication.
I do a lot of regional and community theatre. I don't sing well, so usually play small, non-singing roles in musicals. In Kate, I had the dual role of Harry, the stage manager, and Kate's father.
11 - Nancy
One of the things I like best about "list" articles is that people mention great stuff I've missed or never heard of. As source information, these articles are the best. Thanks, Al. This is very informative.
I'd be inclined to say that any production that features specific songs as part of the plot qualify as musicals, so that Disney cartoons are just as equal as movies like Oklahoma or Music Man - which, btw, didn't get mentioned yet by anybody (and Shirley Jones did her own singing)! Talk about your classics.
Now, a question: would/could something like Victor/Victoria be considered a musical? If not, why not? I'm not arguing for its inclusion, just curious as to where the parameters fall.
Interesting that Dominick should mention Gilbert & Sullivan; in a sense, they are the originals of the 'modern' musical, as opposed to the traditional operatic, and if Pirates of Penzance is any indicator, they translate well into modern musical/movie format.
12 - Mistress La Spliffe
Alright, I can't stand this anymore. "Team America" was a good movie and a good musical. But if you're honest with yourself - reallly honest - come on.
"South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut" was three or four times better by both measures. "American, Fuck Yeah" made me laugh. "Unclefucker" made me DIE. Sort of. Every song in South Park was pure genius. Satan's little Disney outing? The medley as the boys put together "La Resistance"? THE FUCKING BRIAN BOITANO SONG?
I liked "Team America", but I think I'll start to hate it if everybody keeps acting like it even held a candle to "South Park" . . .
13 - Al Barger
Mistress la Spliffe- I'd hate for you to turn on Team America, but it is a considerably bigger deal creatively than the South Park movie. For starters, it has a much more interesting batch of songs. "Uncle Fucka" was a cute little joke, but as songwriting, it's not up there with several of the Team America songs, including "I'm So Ronery."
14 - Mistress La Spliffe
Well, "I'm So Ronery" doesn't stack up to "Up There", when it comes to that. "Team America" might have been more topical social commentary at the moment it came out but pound for pound, after a couple of years, there's nothing reccommending it over "South Park".
Certainly nothing musical! Every song in the South Park movie is bang on. Not to mention, music is far more prominent in it than it is in "Team America". Does your typical audience member get more songs from "Team America" than the theme, "Ronery" and possibly "Everybody Has Aids", which is a much weaker joke and much less memorable than "Uncle Fucker"?
I can't retract my huge boooooooo for "Team America" making this list when "South Park" didn't.
15 - JR
Al Barger: Tim Robbins was deservedly graphically executed for treason by Team America, but he does have talent.
I can almost believe you don't actually know the difference between the real Tim Robbins and the fictional character in Team America.
16 - Dominick Evans
Nancy,
I love Gilbert and Sullivan. I'm a bit partial to the Mikado though as opposed to Pirates, but that is just personal choice.
I don't see Disney movies in the same league as the Music Mans of the world. I love Disney and knew when I had children I'd encourage them to watch all of the Disney movies (and my son loves them), but its hard for me to even see the Disney movies as a part of the same genre.
I also don't see South Park or Team America in the same league. Don't get me wrong...I love Trey Parker and Matt Stone. They are creative geniuses in their own right, but when choosing songs to perform while in college I was considering the songs from Little Shop, Oklahoma, or even Rent...not "Uncle Fucker".
As far as Victor/Victoria is concerned...I always considered it a musical. Julia Andrews is a tremendous talent and when you think of her you do associate her with the musicals.
Coincidentally, the Mary Poppins Disney debate is one where I would consider it a musical merely because you have Dick and Julie singing along with the cartoon aspect, but it isn't specifically a cartoon...if that makes sense.
If, you want to say that anything where a person breaks into song randomly is a musical then we'd have to turn to actual cartoons...like the Smurfs. The Smurfs had random moments of song interwoven in many of the cartoons, but I do not consider them musicals anymore than the Drew Carey show's episode where Mimi and Drew broke out into random dance numbers (Pricilla Queen of the Desert vs. Rocky Horror).
Dominick
17 - madison declare
My favorite disney characters and disney villains of all time would be maleficent from sleeping beauty and jafar from aladdin.Maleficents the most hotest villain ever!and i think maleficent and jafar would make a good couple i am 11 years old and i made a bookabout that and i called it 2 evil sidekicks.I also like scar,yzma and kaa.
18 - Al Barger
Howdy Madison. Glad you dropped by. I like Scar to. He's bad news!
19 - bender
Thank God Oliver! wasn't there. Even though it was one of the candidates, it's really a british musical so AFI did a good job of eliminating that.
20 - Jezza
I was shocked that Who Framed Roger Rabbit wasn't eligible afterall who could forget Jessica Rabbit's Do it right or the Merry-go-Round broke down to Looney Tunes.
My buddy's Eddie V
A sour puss you see
But when I'm done
He'll need no gun
To a joker he will be
I love to entertain
Believe me it's no strain
It feels so great
to smash a plate
and look at me no pain.