The MoFo Top 100 Musicals Countdown

[Gideon58]

68. Moana (2016) - This one stuck in my memory for a couple of reasons. First, the animation was extraordinarily pretty to look at and at times down right awe-inspiring. Second, the songs were as catchy as the most infectious pop tunes imaginable. Pretty good, and a really nice surprise for me. As much as I liked it, it couldn't push out any of my worthy contenders on a Top 25 ballot - but it was one I stopped and really thought about. It deserves a place on this Top 100 list - that's for sure. It'd be on my Top 100.

67. A Star is Born (1954) - This is probably the best Star is Born, although I get a funny feeling that one or two of the other versions are going to appear further up - most probably that Lady Gaga 2018 version. It feels like that was released yesterday! Time flies. I'm not so sure about the '76 version, although that was okay I think. ("Not bad. Not great," I said on Letterboxd.) Judy Garland had already been through a lot by the time she appeared in this. Couldn't quite do enough for me to make my ballot.

Seen 23/34

I just wanted to throw this in here:

https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=58423

[kgaard]

I have seen three of the last four, all except A Star Is Born (I haven't seen any version of this one).

O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes are both good, fun movies that didn't find a place on the bottom half of my list but certainly could have.

Moana was my #4, not just the best of the modern Disney animated films, but the best of all Disney animated films. A cracking adventure story that hits the right notes of humor and pathos. I'm a fan of the songs already mentioned, but the moment when Moana restores the heart of Te Fiti is an emotional high-water mark in Disney animation--it never fails to set my skin tingling.

. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9FIg6Zr0dg)

[Thursday Next]

8lists61pointsSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/13885-sweeney-todd-the-demon-barber-of-fleet-street.html)Director
Tim Burton, 2007

Starring
Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall

[Thursday Next]

4lists63pointsDuck Soup (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/3063-duck-soup.html)Director
Leo McCarey, 1933

Starring
Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx

[Thursday Next]

I haven't seen the film of Sweeney since it came out, but I did see the stage musical last year and it was very good, so I should probably give the movie another try.

[cricket]

I watched Demon Barber for this countdown and really liked it, but I kept thinking the musical aspect was unnecessary.

I'm not a big fan of Duck Soup.

5. Charlotte's Web (#79)
17. Calamity Jane (#84)
20. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (#66)
21. A Star is Born 1954 (#67)
25. 42nd Street (#76)

[Allaby]

Sweeney Todd was my #11. I really like the costumes, set design, and cinematography. Johnny Depp is fantastic and the story is told in an entertaining and engaging way. I rated Sweeney Todd a 9/10. I have seen Duck Soup and found it underwhelming. I expected it to be funnier and more entertaining. It's a 6/10 from me.

Seen: 35/36

[Thursday Next]

Sweeney Todd is the first time I remember seeing trailers for a musical that don't make it clear it's a musical. That happens all the time now (Recently: Cyrano, The Color Purple, Joker 2...), but that's the first time I remember noticing it. I don't know when that started as a marketing ploy. It seems a bit daft to try to 'trick' people into watching musicals and I do remember some of the outraged reviews from people who hadn't realised it was a musical (and one of those musicals that is more singing than speaking, not just a movie with songs thrown in, moreover).

[Thursday Next]

Coming up... three more movies also with 63 points, hopefully in the right order.

[iluv2viddyfilms]

Duck Soup!!!

All Marx Brothers films, that I'm aware of, have some great musical numbers and musical elements. Duck Soup is considered to be one of their best films alongside Animal Crackers, Horse Feathers, and A Night at the Opera. My favorite musical number in a Marx Brothers film is in The Cocoanuts with "The Tale of the Shirt" and also I absolutely love Kay Francis who has a solid role in the film too. But the Marx Brothers films, to my mind, qualify as musicals just because musical moments are so integral to a Marx Brothers film. Now I'll be honest, I was tempted to vote for The Cocoanuts, as to my mind it's maybe their best film in terms of the musical elements, but I wanted to vote in a way as to guarantee a Marx Brother film place on the list. This is why Duck Soup is my number 14 pick.

https://youtu.be/uSsUoxlSADk?si=827O8EvWXMHbWJft

[iluv2viddyfilms]

Also just another observation, since Duck Soup only made four lists including mine, but still managed as many points as it did, the other three voters must've also voted it up pretty highly too on their list or at least not at the bottom, considering it had half as many votes as Sweeny Todd and still managed to edge it out in the placing.

[Holden Pike]

101633

Duck Soup was #12 on the MoFo Top 100 of the 1930s as well as #8 on the MoFo Top 100 Comedies.

[seanc]

Haven’t jived with the Marx brothers yet, judging from my response to the first few I watched, I won’t be giving them another chance.

Sweeney Todd was on the pretty short watchlist that remained for me. Maybe I will get to it soon.

[Holden Pike]

Haven’t [jibed] with the Marx Brothers yet, judging from my response to the first few I watched, I won’t be giving them another chance.
File under different strokes for different folks, and such.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6qjibwpEzM

[stillmellow]

I forgot that Duck Soup had 3+ songs. I was thinking it only had 2 and didn't qualify. I don't think it would've made my list, as all but the "war song" were eh. I did really like the movie though.


Yellow Submarine is on my ballot at #9 (fittingly, for the Beatles), and A Star is Born (1954) is my #6. So it's my turn to say:


HOW is A Star is Born not in the top 20-30?! Judy tore my heart out with her voice and acting performance!


First Judy Garland's robbed of an Oscar, and now of her rightful place towards the top of this chart!


Harumph!

[stillmellow]

Oh Brother Where Art Thou was my #8. It's great, but niche enough that I understand why it didn't rank higher.


Seen: 21 out of 36
List: 3/25
Should've been on list: 1 (The Burden)

[Miss Vicky]

There are things I love about Sweeney Todd and things I hate about it, but my overall impression was positive enough to land it at #20 on my ballot.

Here's what I wrote about it when I rewatched it for the countdown:
https://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/NewMFPics/sweeney.gif

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
(Tim Burton, 2007)

I've been on the fence about rewatching this one. I'd seen it once back when it was new and I strongly remember absolutely hating the songs. But I do love Johnny Depp and that Tim Burton aesthetic so I thought... maybe it'll grow on me?

And I have to say that it did grow on me. I loved the look of the film. The costumes and sets are absolutely gorgeous. I also thought the casting and performances were really strong and the story kept me engaged. I have to admit that I actually genuinely enjoyed myself. I didn't love it, but I enjoyed it and that's kind of a hard thing for me to admit about a musical.

However, I still really hated those damn songs. Which then begs the question: Is it wrong to vote for a movie for a best musicals countdown if you hated the thing that makes it a musical? Probably, but I'm gonna do it anyway.

3.5

I watched Duck Soup once ages ago and didn’t like it.


My Ballot:
2. Charlotte's Web (#79)
6. Walk the Line (#95)
20. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (#66)
25. Joe's Apartment (One Pointer)

[rauldc14]

Two very middling films for me.

[kgaard]

I had to check to see if Sweeney Todd was on my list. It wasn't, but I definitely considered it. Tim Burton is much more miss than hit from me, but this is one of the exceptions, perhaps because the source material aligns so well with his particular brand of Gothic macabre leavened by whimsy.

Duck Soup is great, but I didn't vote for it simply because I didn't consider it musical enough.

[Thief]

Count me in as someone else who didn't really think of Duck Soup when making my list. If I had, I might have included it which would've put it way higher. Anyway, it was my first (and so far, only!) Marx brothers film but I had a lot of fun with it. I really enjoyed the energy of this film. For anyone interested, here's my review (https://www.movieforums.com/reviews/2208383-duck_soup.html).

Sweeney Todd, I did remember. Had it at #17. I was sorta burned out on Burton at the time, so when I saw it a couple of years ago, I was pleasantly surprised by it. I really dug the mixture of tones of horror and comedy and the usual pomp of musicals. I also enjoyed Depp's performance quite a bit and it's always a treat to watch Alan Rickman in anything. Again, here's my review (https://www.movieforums.com/reviews/2225105-sweeney_todd_the_demon_barber_of_fleet_street.html) for anyone interested.


SEEN: 9/36
MY BALLOT: 3/25


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13. Moana (#68)
14.
15.
16.
17. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (#66)
18.
19.
20.
21. The Band Wagon (#80)
22.
23.
24.
25. Hallelujah (One-pointer)

[Thief]

Also, I appreciate the font adjustment for the longer title of Sweeney Todd. However, my OCD side wants it to be done to the previous ones that were too big (Walk Hard, Seven Brides...) :laugh:

[Little Ash]

Duck Soup - I didn't remember any songs in it other than the last one, so I didn't remember this as a musical.

Sweeney Todd - I finally watched this as part of putting together my ballot, but it didn't make it. People said it was better latter-Burton and I saw a stage production of the play and enjoyed that well enough. But something just didn't work for me in the movie. Not terrible, but didn't love it (being compared to the stage play probably hurt it in that respect). I remember preferring the stage ending.

[Thief]

Also just another observation, since Duck Soup only made four lists including mine, but still managed as many points as it did, the other three voters must've also voted it up pretty highly too on their list or at least not at the bottom, considering it had half as many votes as Sweeny Todd and still managed to edge it out in the placing.

It's interesting the contrast in some of the recent entries. Like you said, Duck Soup was only in 4 ballots and still managed to get only a tad more points than Sweeney Todd, which was in twice as many ballots.

Same happened with O Brother, Where Art Thou? a couple of days ago, getting almost as much points as Sweeney Todd (60) with only three ballots. No need to go that far either; O Brother was paired/tied with Gentlemen Prefer Blondes both with 60 points, but that one was in 7 ballots.

[Takoma11]

You would be unhappy and miserable with five loving and masculine husbands?

I don't think I said/implied he was unhappy or miserable (nor about anyone being loving and/or feminine). I mean, having 5 different spouses (not even counting the long-term relationship he had with Elaine May) is somewhat exceptional. I just think it's a funny fact that someone who directed a movie called Seven Brides had five brides of his own. Just two short for true life/art synthesis!

[Holden Pike]

It's interesting the contrast in some of the recent entries. Like you said, Duck Soup was only in 4 ballots and still managed to get only a tad more points than Sweeney Todd, which was in twice as many ballots.

I am not at all surprised some of these titles that technically count as Musicals but aren't primarily considered such have a handful of very high votes but few lower votes. Makes perfect sense to me.

[Wyldesyde19]

Take two turkeys, one goose, four cabbages, but no duck, and mix them together. After one taste, you'll duck soup for the rest of your life!

[iluv2viddyfilms]

I am not at all surprised some of these titles that technically count as Musicals but aren't primarily considered such have a handful of very high votes but few lower votes. Makes perfect sense to me.

You know, the more I think about this, the more challenging it becomes and I'm second guessing myself. Think about Casablanca for example... "Battle of the Anthems," "As Time Goes By," "Knock on Wood."

[Citizen Rules]

Duck Soup is a musical??? Who knew Harpo could sing:p But he does play a mean harp! I like the Marx Brothers and I probably seen this one but it's been such a long time I don't remember. Still I'm happy it made the countdown, so congrats to those who voted for it.

[rauldc14]

How many more Disney are making it? I really think quite a bit honestly. 7 more maybe?

[SpelingError]

I haven't seen Sweeney Todd.

Duck Soup was #12 on my ballot.

[SpelingError]

4. The Burden
12. Duck Soup

[iluv2viddyfilms]

How many more Disney are making it? I really think quite a bit honestly. 7 more maybe?

Beauty and the Beast will make it... good.
So will The Lion King... bad.
Fantasia will make the list... IF it qualified for a musical.

And The Little Mermaid will definitely make the list... which I'd be fine with. I just hope The Lion King doesn't make the list, which I bet it will. The story is fine though could have been better handled considering it's a retelling of one of the greatest pieces of literature, however I hate the music in it... today, back when it came out when I was 12, and anytime I heard the songs in the between times.

[Holden Pike]

https://youtu.be/KHmRmjsKIAk?feature=shared

I expect Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Frozen, The Little Mermaid, Beauty & the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King will all make it. Coco and possibly Robin Hood may be on the bubble, though they would have to show very soon.

So...six or so more from Disney/Pixar, plus the already revealed Moana.

That makes five animated features, so far: The Prince of Egypt (#94), Anastasia (#87), Charlotte's Web (#79), Yellow Submarine (#72), and Moana (#68).

[Omnizoa]

I thought Sweeney Tood was super overrated and gory for gore's sake.

Released right in between super stinkers, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (one of most insultingly bad movies I've ever seen in my life) and his "darker take" on Alice in Wonderland which was completely outdone by a video game the following year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFrs5UGB-ns

I don't remember any songs from Sweeney Todd and have zero interest in revisiting it, so as far as I was concerned, the mid-2000s was really just a bad streak of crap that undermined the reputation Burton had built for himself in the 80s-90s. I never saw Corpse Bride.

[gbgoodies]

The Band Wagon (1953)

The Band Wagon is a good movie with some great dance numbers, but it didn't make my list.


Charlotte's Web (1973)

I've seen Charlotte's Web a few times, and it's a cute movie with great music, but I have a hard time getting past the spider due to my fear of spiders. (Yes, I even panic when I see cartoon spiders. :eek: )


Easter Parade (1948)

Easter Parade is a great movie, but I just couldn't find room for it on my list.


Funny Girl (1968)

I like Barbra Streisand as a singer, but I'm not a fan of her as an actress. There's just something about her that I find annoying. It works in some of her comedy movies, like What’s Up, Doc? and The Owl and the Pussycat, but it doesn't work for me in Funny Girl. There are a couple of great songs, ("People" and "Don't Rain on My Parade"), but the movie is only okay.


42nd Street (1933)

42nd Street is another movie that has some great songs, but the movie is just okay for me.


The King and I (1956)

The King and I is a great movie with some great songs, but there was no room for it on my list.


Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)

I haven't seen Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, and I didn't know that it was a musical, so it wasn't even on my radar.


Everyone Says I Love You (1996)

I watched Everyone Says I Love You for this countdown, and I liked it, but it didn't make my list.


Yellow Submarine (1968)

I've seen Yellow Submarine a few times, but I'm not a big fan of The Beatles music, and I think the movie is very weird.


Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

I love Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, but I just couldn't find room for it on my list.


O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

I've seen O Brother, Where Art Thou?, but it was a while ago so I don't remember much about the movie. I remember that I liked the soundtrack, but I didn't remember that the movie was a musical, so I never considered it for my list.


Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a good movie, and I considered it for my list, but there were too many other musicals that I like more than this.


Moana (2016)

I wanted to have more animated musicals on my list than I was able to include, and Moana was one of the final animated movies to get cut. It was in contention for my #25 spot, along with several other animated movies, but it lost out to a different one that hopefully will appear higher on the countdown.


A Star Is Born (1954)

If I could have found room for one version of A Star Is Born on my list, it would have been this version. This is my favorite version. But with space being at a premium on my list, I was looking more for reasons to cut movies rather than adding them. and the scenes with the still images gave me enough of a minor reason to cut it from my list. I'm glad to see it made the list without my help.


Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2016)

Sweeney Todd is another movie that is good, but it just doesn't live up to the Broadway show.


Duck Soup (1933)

I love Duck Soup as a comedy movie, but I don't think of it as a musical, so I didn't consider it for my list.

[gbgoodies]

https://youtu.be/KHmRmjsKIAk?feature=shared

I expect Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Frozen, The Little Mermaid, Beauty & the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King will all make it. Coco and possibly Robin Hood may be on the bubble, though they would have to show very soon.

So...six or so more from Disney/Pixar, plus the already revealed Moana.

That makes five animated features, so far: The Prince of Egypt (#94), Anastasia (#87), Charlotte's Web (#79), Yellow Submarine (#72), and Moana (#68).


You forgot about Disney's The Jungle Book.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BH-Rxd-NBo

[gbgoodies]

And maybe Disney's Tangled.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILRs2r6lcHY

[Holden Pike]

I'd put thise and Pocahontas on the bubble with Robin Hood. Definitely beloved by some, but enough that they would choose them over or in addition to several of the others?

Time will tell.

[Gideon58]

A Star is Born and Sweeney Todd were both in my top 25 ballot.

[iluv2viddyfilms]

I'd put thise and Pocahontas on the bubble with Robin Hood. Definitely beloved by some, but enough that they would choose them over or in addition to several of the others?

Time will tell.

I did love Robin Hood, but it didn't make my list. I completely forgot about Snow White and truth be told, it's a film that remains in my childhood as I honestly haven't watched it since I was probably around six or seven and it's never been one of my favorites. In fact I remember it more for being the film that plays in Gremlins. I need to watch it as an adult and see how I like it, classic that it is.

I only have one animated film on my list and it barely, just barely edged out Beauty and the Beast, which is my favorite Disney musical film.

[stillmellow]

I gave O' Brother Where Art Thou 18 of its 60 points, which means two other people gave it the remaining 42.


The lowest spot one of them could've given it is #9. The average is both giving it #5. I wonder who my accomplices are...

[dadgumblah]

Sweeney Todd is one Tim Burton I have yet to see, but see it I will...one day. I pretty much dig all Burton films so I'm sure I'll be into this one.

I love Duck Soup and all the Marx Brothers films, but I didn't include any on my ballot. I saved room mostly for straight-up classic musicals of yore...although several exceptions made it in. My list anyway, don't know about the list proper. Nice to see today's pick.

So far:
#1. On the Town #93 (list proper)
#6. Easter Parade #78 (list proper)
#10. Gigi #85 (list proper)
#12. Calamity Jane #84 (list proper)
#14. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers #71 (list proper)
#25. Neptune's Daughter (one-pointer).

[PHOENIX74]

66. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) - Ahh yes, I remember watching this because I'd bought the DVD for a buck and had got around to watching it. That was three years ago - I wrote on Letterboxd : "Tim Burton manages to infuse horror with his usual cutesy antics, and adds music to boot. More watchable than many of his other Johnny Depp whimseys." I seem to remember that a lot of the songs were really theatrical, and there's an exaggerated flair to everything. I gave it 3.5/5, so that's really liking something without it quite crossing over into "favourite" territory. Didn't make my list, and I never knew it was this popular.

65. Duck Soup - I've been meaning to watch Duck Soup for ages because it's on half a dozen lists. I had absolutely no idea that it was a musical. Edit - Oh I guess all of the Marx Bros movies could be considered musicals, they have at least three musical numbers in them. Okay.

Seen : 24/36

[rauldc14]

I'll be very shocked if Alice in Wonderland doesn't make it

[Wooley]

How many more Disney are making it? I really think quite a bit honestly. 7 more maybe?

I would think a huge chunk of their catalog is both eligible and well-liked. If you start with Snow White in 1937 (which qualifies) we are probably talking a couple dozen that could make this list. Disney animated alone could make 25% of the list. And then you have Mary Poppins and Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Enchanted, Beauty and the Beast and Into The Woods, and let's not forget High School Musical.
And I mean, there have to be at least decent odds that a Disney animated film is going to be the No.1 musical (looking at you, Frozen, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, etc.)

[Wooley]

I never saw Corpse Bride.

Corpse Bride is Tim Burton's last good film.

[rauldc14]

I predict we see another Disney today.

Little Mermaid
Little Shop of Horrors

[seanc]

I predict we see another Disney today.

Little Mermaid
Little Shop of Horrors

Feel like it’s early for both to me. We shall see.

[Little Ash]

Possibly a Little Mermaid musical, but probably not the Disney one.

[Thief]

Feel like it’s early for both to me. We shall see.

It better be.

[John W Constantine]

Any reveals today?

[iluv2viddyfilms]

Any reveals today?

Still too early, I think. My guess is Sweet Charity and The Jungle Book.

[John W Constantine]

The Jungle Book.
Much too early.

[MovieMeditation]

I can’t believe it… I have seen both!

Sweeney Todd is a movie I’ve tried to watch multiple times but never gotten through it somehow.

Duck Soup I remember liking okay. But don’t remember much about it.

[Thursday Next]

4lists63points1776 (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/14902-1776.html)Director
Peter H. Hunt, 1972

Starring
William Daniels, Howard Da Silva, Ken Howard, Blythe Danner

[Thursday Next]

5lists63pointsThe Jungle Book (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/9325-the-jungle-book.html)Director
Wolfgang Reitherman, 1967

Starring
Bruce Reitherman, Phil Harris, Sebastian Cabot, George Sanders

[Thursday Next]

Still too early, I think. My guess is Sweet Charity and The Jungle Book.

1/2

[Gideon58]

Sweet Charity better make this countdown

[Allaby]

I've seen and liked both, but voted for neither.

Seen: 37/38

[John W Constantine]

The Jungle Book is my #4. More than just a great musical, and a member of my AT81.

[Holden Pike]

101655

The Jungle Book was #88 on the MoFo Top 100 of the 1960s and #59 on the MoFo Top 100 Animated Films.

[Miss Vicky]

The Jungle Book is fun and the songs are really catchy. I had it at #15 on my ballot

Here's what I wrote about it when I rewatched it for the countdown:
http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/AnimationCountdown/Gifs/59thejunglebook.gif

The Jungle Book
(Wolfgang Reitherman, 1967)

I don't know if I ever saw this movie as a child, but in any case my only memories of it from adulthood and within the last ten years. While I have a strong love of animation, I'm not overly fond of many of Disney's classic animations specifically because so many of them are musicals. So I was really quite surprised when I first watched this as an adult that I not only enjoyed the movie in general but actually liked the songs. They're fun and memorable, especially Baloo's "Bare Necessities," and the movie's characters are equally fun and memorable.

This is a really enjoyable and easy watch that while not a childhood favorite (if I even saw it back then), has become one now. Perhaps not a huge favorite, but enough of one that I will definitely be giving it a vote.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BH-Rxd-NBo

4.0

I haven't seen 1776.


My Ballot:
2. Charlotte's Web (#79)
6. Walk the Line (#95)
15. The Jungle Book (#63)
20. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (#66)
25. Joe's Apartment (One Pointer)

[iluv2viddyfilms]

Sweet Charity better make this countdown

It will. It's too good of a film/musical not to make it AND it was featured in that thing we did where we picked a musical for MoFo members to watch and then comment on it. It's how I saw it for the first time this summer AND it also has one of the best sequences/scenes in any film, let alone musical in the ridiculous, silly, absurd, horribly great and endlessly fun and creative and stylish "Rich Man's Frug" number.

I didn't vote for Sweet Charity, but if we did... say, a top 30 instead of 25 it likely would have made my list. My only issue is that sum of the entire film doesn't quite live up to its individual great moments, but that's just being very nitpicky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuCgGm4i5-8

[Gideon58]

It will. It's too good of a film/musical not to make it AND it was featured in that thing we did where we picked a musical for MoFo members to watch and then comment on it. It's how I saw it for the first time this summer AND it also has one of the best sequences/scenes in any film, let alone musical in the ridiculous, silly, absurd, horribly great and endlessly fun and creative and stylish "Rich Man's Frug" number.

I didn't vote for Sweet Charity, but if we did... say, a top 30 instead of 25 it likely would have made my list. My only issue is that sum of the entire film doesn't quite live up to its individual great moments, but that's just being very nitpicky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuCgGm4i5-8

One of the most underrated and misunderstood musicals ever made.

[iluv2viddyfilms]

Still too early, I think. My guess is Sweet Charity and The Jungle Book.

lol, one out of two guesses, is pretty good. Called The Jungle Book, what do I win? I love The Jungle Book, but again, I only had one animated film on my list and this ain't it. Largely because I didn't want to contribute to the list to be too bogged down with animated Disney or Pixar films, especially when there's soo many great musicals out there that aren't going to be as widely seen or known perhaps as the standard Disney films that 90-percent of us watched as kids. At least those of us who were kids in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. I can't speak for these new fangled generations.

[honeykid]

I watched Demon Barber for this countdown and really liked it, but I kept thinking the musical aspect was unnecessary.

I saw this as a birthday treat to myself, I knew it was musical, but was unaware it was so musical/opera. I was so disappointed when I found out it was a musical, as a straight telling of that story would've been great with that cast/director. A wasted opportunity, IMO.

I had absolutely no idea that it was a musical. Edit - Oh I guess all of the Marx Bros movies could be considered musicals, they have at least three musical numbers in them. Okay.

TBH, I did consider putting more of their films on my list, but that really didn't feel right.

I had Duck Soup at #9. It's not my favourite Marx Bros. film, but it probably is the best in terms of music/songs and it's a great film. Not a musical, I admit, but it qualified and I wanted to get to 25 and, once I'd done that, it had to be high for obvious reasons.

Jungle Book was the first film I ever saw in a cinema and my first memory of being in a cinema, too. Not much of a fan of the film though, but then, I don't care for Disney very much, but some of those songs are great.

Not seen either of todays, in fact, 1776 doesn't ring a bell at all.

[iluv2viddyfilms]

1776 is great and I watched parts of it as a child in a music appreciation class we all had to take in sixth grade. 1776 is really the first film that got me to think about our nation its founding and Independence Day beyond just the fireworks, picnics, games, and parades of childhood. I absolutely loved what I saw on screen and while some of it comes off as a bit hokey or ill balanced, there's a lot of great stuff in the film. And without getting into a political or historical interpretation argument, for my money I do like how the musical addresses that issue with South Carolina and does a good job at hinting at the "Faustian bargain" compromise the colonies had to make if we ever really wished to unite become a nation in permitting slavery to be legal. Yeah, that whole thing was really pushed off until the Civil War, and 1776 addresses those couple lines in the original draft of the Declaration of Independence that Jefferson wrote which had to be struck out before each colony would sign it.

Back when teachers were actually allowed to teach and do their job before public education was hijacked by madness during and post-Covid, when I was teaching a founding documents unit in American Literature, we would read Patrick Henry, some John and Abigail Adam's letters, Thomas Paine, and of course Jefferson's Declaration. I would typically take time to show the kids the "But, Mr. Adams" number. It's really great.

1776 was on my long list, but I just couldn't cut any others in my top 25, so it didn't make my list for this countdown, however I would be aghast if the film didn't make the MoFo Top 100 Musicals list, so I'm thrilled that MoFo members on here saw fit to vote for it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09A6oY5cb0I

[kgaard]

These are two more that I have seen, though I'm not a big fan of either. The animated Jungle Book is at least preferable to the recent, annoying "live action" version. I could not get into 1776 at all--the music is just not to my taste.

[dadgumblah]

Still have not seen 1776 in its entirety but would like to.

Love The Jungle Book but didn't include it on my list. Glad to see both made it.

So far:
#1. On the Town #93 (list proper)
#6. Easter Parade #78 (list proper)
#10. Gigi #85 (list proper)
#12. Calamity Jane #84 (list proper)
#14. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers #71 (list proper)
#25. Neptune's Daughter (one-pointer).

[iluv2viddyfilms]

I could not get into 1776 at all--the music is just not to my taste.

William Daniels who plays John Adams and who anyone with a 4 or 3 in front of their age came to love and adore as Mr. Feeny in "Boy Meets World" does have that love it or hate it Rex Harrison not quite full singing, but not quite full speaking way about delivering the musical lines. And I love it.

[Thief]

I saw 1776 a couple of years ago and liked it, but for some reason, it didn't stick with me that much. On hindsight, I probably could've sneaked it in at the bottom of my list, but I went with other musicals whose songs stuck with me more. Glad it showed up, though.

The Jungle Book is fun and the songs are catchy, but I think I left it out because I already had a couple of Disney films on my list. But it's good it showed up.


SEEN: 11/38
MY BALLOT: 3/25


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13. Moana (#68)
14.
15.
16.
17. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (#66)
18.
19.
20.
21. The Band Wagon (#80)
22.
23.
24.
25. Hallelujah (One-pointer)

[MovieMeditation]

Seen Jungle Book. It’s a Disney classic of course, but I think it’s merely okay. It’s not one of my favorites and I didn’t vote for it.

Not seen the other one.

[cricket]

I've seen The Jungle Book but I don't remember it. I voted for 2 animations and it probably would've been several more if my memory were better. As it is, much of my list was made by going back and just checking past ratings I gave to musicals I watched, but I also forgot many of these animations were musicals.

I had 1776 on my radar for this but didn't get to it. I probably just forgot about it.

[John-Connor]

101657
Grew up with Jungle Book so it was a simple bare necessity for my ballot. Had it @ #12.

SEEN 15/38
BALLOT 4/25

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/8LDVAMImGuMrNvyUWctvF4qkHwQ.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/yspPkeBWScMxqhjoKdRa4P2Em3v.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/uWRbjdJ0z16yfMDar0dbKaIt8bg.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/wbpOfs3k0VyUH15xwpDORLWz7ZV.jpg

25. Anastasia (1997)
19. Purple Rain (1984)
17. Moana (2016)
12. The Jungle Book (1967)

[rauldc14]

Cool to see Jungle Book make it.

I haven't seen 1776

[Omnizoa]

Much too early.
Wha-BAM!

The Jungle Book was a meh experience back when I watched it as a kid, but I might rate it more highly today. My only takeaways were that "Bear Necessities" earworm of a song and that Shere Khan's voice and personality are arguably on par with Scar from The Lion King.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpC4a6jCxSA

[Gideon58]

1776 is great and I watched parts of it as a child in a music appreciation class we all had to take in sixth grade. 1776 is really the first film that got me to think about our nation its founding and Independence Day beyond just the fireworks, picnics, games, and parades of childhood. I absolutely loved what I saw on screen and while some of it comes off as a bit hokey or ill balanced, there's a lot of great stuff in the film. And without getting into a political or historical interpretation argument, for my money I do like how the musical addresses that issue with South Carolina and does a good job at hinting at the "Faustian bargain" compromise the colonies had to make if we ever really wished to unite become a nation in permitting slavery to be legal. Yeah, that whole thing was really pushed off until the Civil War, and 1776 addresses those couple lines in the original draft of the Declaration of Independence that Jefferson wrote which had to be struck out before each colony would sign it.

Back when teachers were actually allowed to teach and do their job before public education was hijacked by madness during and post-Covid, when I was teaching a founding documents unit in American Literature, we would read Patrick Henry, some John and Abigail Adam's letters, Thomas Paine, and of course Jefferson's Declaration. I would typically take time to show the kids the "But, Mr. Adams" number. It's really great.

1776 was on my long list, but I just couldn't cut any others in my top 25, so it didn't make my list for this countdown, however I would be aghast if the film didn't make the MoFo Top 100 Musicals list, so I'm thrilled that MoFo members on here saw fit to vote for it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09A6oY5cb0I

Love 1776…directed a musical revue in college where I included “But Mr Adams”

[John W Constantine]

Wha-BAM!

My only takeaways were that "Bear Necessities" earworm of a song and that Shere Khan's voice and personality are arguably on par with Scar from The Lion King.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpC4a6jCxSA


That would be courtesy of George Sanders and Phil Harris.

[Citizen Rules]

I rewatched 1776 for the countdown and my opinion went way up! I didn't have room on my ballot for it but very glad it made it. It's a real musical!:)

Previously I wrote this:

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fimg5.bdbphotos.com%2Fimages%2Forig%2Fw%2Fy%2Fwy8hnd9qkv8tywhv.jpg%3Fskj2io4l&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=850766bb6c5b5bf289f1c3f4a1485de8d7bee6d4ab349261f2baa3072366d28d&ipo=images
1776 (1972)

Yup, this is a musical. No George aka G. Washington doesn't sing we don't even see him. It's about the Continental Congress and their struggles to declare independence...and write the Declaration of Independence. I almost spelled that Decoration of Independence, yikes John Adams would not be happy!

I liked this much better the 2nd time watching it. I was fascinated by the personal struggles of John Adams who according to the movie was not liked by anyone...but was respected by many. I found the actor who played him, William Daniels to be an excellent John Adams. Likewise veteran actor Howard Da Sivla who I mainly know from noir brought Benjamin Franklin to life in a most satisfying way.
rating_4

[Takoma11]

I'd put thise and Pocahontas on the bubble with Robin Hood. Definitely beloved by some, but enough that they would choose them over or in addition to several of the others?

Time will tell.

I really love the songs in Robin Hood.

[stillmellow]

I've never seen 1776. Jungle Book was a good contender that didn't quite make my list. It's another musical where the songs and music numbers are much stronger than the rest of the film.


Seen: 22/38


List: 3 (A Star is Born, O Brother Where Art Thou, Yellow Submarine)


Should've been on list: 1 (The Burden)

[SpelingError]

Both films are just average for me. Neither made my ballot.

[Little Ash]

I don't know if I've heard of 1776, though the title doesn't sound promising to me.


I haven't seen The Jungle Book since I was a little kid. Well, it did have George Saunders going for it, so that isn't nothing, but I don't really have any strong desire to revisit it. Though rewatching it would probably sound more appealing than the 90's stuff, tbh.

It's a weird test I'm mentally doing with some of these I haven't seen in a long time: if a friend said they were hosting a movie night where they were showing this movie, would you go or come up with an excuse to not go. The Jungle Book... doesn't pass. I could see myself going to Charlotte's Web out of curiosity and then realizing something from my childhood doesn't hold up.

[gbgoodies]

1776 is one of my all-time favorite musicals. It was a lock for my list from Day 1. It was #9 on my list.


I thought The Jungle Book made my final list, but I just checked, and apparently it was cut in the final round of cuts. I'm thrilled to see that it made the countdown.

[PHOENIX74]

Consider this my countdown day off :

64. 1776 (1972) - Never, ever, heard of this one.

63. The Jungle Book (1967) - This is an animated Disney film I haven't seen.

Seen : 24/38

[iluv2viddyfilms]

The MoFo Top 100 Musicals Countdown promises an exciting journey through the world's most beloved musicals. From iconic songs to unforgettable performances, this countdown has something for every theatre lover. While you wait for your favorites to be revealed, why not take a break and play the Dinosaur Game? It’s a fun way to fill the time as you anticipate each musical masterpiece!

"It doesn't know it's an ad; how can it not know what it is?"

https://youtu.be/uvFaTytedkU?si=EUYbj6jJy8W1oQPs

https://youtu.be/OWK6oSbSKKc?si=vPz9gwPNfC61o777

[iluv2viddyfilms]

Also my prediction for tomorrow....Funny Face

[rauldc14]

I'll predict Sting Ray Sam and Fiddler on the Roof

[iluv2viddyfilms]

I'll predict Sting Ray Sam and Fiddler on the Roof

Fiddler on the Roof will definitely make this list, as it should, but we might be too low right now on the list. I imagine it'll place in the 30s or 40s. The only thing it might have going against it would be maybe not as many people have seen it. I counted myself in that number, until I watched it for the first time earlier this year and I was absolutely floored by it and loved it and had no clue why it took me so many years to finally get around to watching it, when I've known about it for years.

I'm not familiar with the other title.

[John-Connor]

I'll predict..

62. Hearts Beat Loud
61. The Court Jester

[Holden Pike]

Grease 2 and South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut?

[Thief]

Grease 2 and South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut?

Ugh, you just reminded me that I should've included South Park on my list. Love that soundtrack :facepalm:

[Thursday Next]

7lists63pointsFrozen (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/109445-frozen.html)Director
Jennifer Lee, 2013

Starring
Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad

[Thursday Next]

5lists64pointsCorpse Bride (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/3933-corpse-bride.html)Director
Mike Johnson, 2005

Starring
Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Tracey Ullman

[Holden Pike]

101687

Frozen was #40 on the MoFo Top 100 Animated Films list while Corpse Bride was #69.

[Miss Vicky]

Corpse Bride is creative and fun. If it had a stronger soundtrack I might even like it better than The Nightmare Before Christmas. But as it is I still liked it enough to put it at #12 on my ballot.

Here's what I wrote about it when I rewatched it for the countdown:
http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/AnimationCountdown/Gifs/69corpsebride.gif

Corpse Bride
(Tim Burton, 2005)

I don't remember when I last watched this movie, but it's been quite awhile (also, holy shit this movie is 19 years old?!). I vaguely remembered liking it quite a bit but never quite loving it, but didn't really remember what about it I had liked.

Now that my memory is refreshed, there really isn't anything about this movie that I didn't like. You've got that signature Tim Burton style coupled with the music gifts of Danny Elfman (and while Elfman's songs for this aren't as memorable as his contributions to The Nightmare Before Christmas, they're still pretty great). Add to that a wonderful voice cast (including the usual suspects Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, but also Emily Watson, Tracey Uhlman, Joanna Lumley, Albert Finney, and Christopher Lee) and a whimsical - if macabre - story and the result is a really fun time.

But what really stood out to me was the juxtaposition of the land of the living and the land of the dead. The land of the living is rigid, cold, and miserable, lacking in both color and life, while the land of the dead is free, colorful, and full of life - like one big party where everyone can be their authentic selves.

Now I don't know if my enjoyment of this movie was heightened by it following a lot of musicals that I didn't like quite so much, but regardless this one is sure to rank high on my ballot.

4.0

I've seen Frozen a few times and I don't like it.


My Ballot:
2. Charlotte's Web (#79)
6. Walk the Line (#95)
12. Corpse Bride (#61)
15. The Jungle Book (#63)
20. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (#66)
25. Joe's Apartment (One Pointer)

[MovieMeditation]

Not only have I seen those two… I even voted for them both!

So Frozen was #17 on my list. I did not send in a full 25 so this was one of the lowest entries on my list, but definitely still a movie I would like on there.

In a way it’s very overhyped and all, but I think the songs are really good and well written and the animation is gorgeous. It’s not the strongest story but it’s quite good. I think it’s a solid film.

Now… Corpse Bride was #2 on my list. I love that movie. I adore stop motion and it goes hand in hand with Burton’s dark and wicked universe. I love the look and feel of this.

The songs are absolutely amazing to be honest. So well written, so creative and super fun. The movie is overall just a nice little package of awesomeness. Sad to see it this low actually.

[Thursday Next]

Frozen was my #19. Had I watched this just once as a single adult, I probably would have thought nothing more of it. But Child #3 was just at the right age (around 3 or 4) to succumb to Frozen-mania and we had to watch it approximately eleventy billion times over the next few years. So it could be a kind of Stockholm Syndrome, or it could just be that the more I watched it, the more clever things about it I noticed and the more the songs and the characters grew on me.

[kgaard]

Frozen is solid and fun. Not on my list, but definitely worthy. I've mentioned that Tim Burton is not always my cup of tea, so I haven't had a strong urge to get to Corpse Bride.

[rauldc14]

Disney is making it's run!

[Thief]

Seen both but voted for neither.

Frozen is pretty good, and I like how it perfected this new trend within Disney films to focus on non-romantic relationships (in this case, sisterhood) without a tangible antagonist. I think it makes for a more interesting film. Plus, on the other side, you get some fun, silly stuff with Olaf, and I think he's hilarious. However, other than "Let It Go", I don't remember much about the other songs so I decided to leave it out in favor of several other DIsney films.

Corpse Bride is one I saw with my kids a couple of years ago, but to be honest, it didn't really register that much. I think I enjoyed it, but it's a blur right now and I didn't even remember it was a musical.


SEEN: 13/40
MY BALLOT: 3/25


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13. Moana (#68)
14.
15.
16.
17. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (#66)
18.
19.
20.
21. The Band Wagon (#80)
22.
23.
24.
25. Hallelujah (One-pointer)

[seanc]

Frozen is fine, not really made for me.

Maybe I will watch Corpse Bride for Halloween. Problem for me is Nightmare seems to be the benchmark for this type of movie, and that one doesn’t do much for me.

[Thief]

Stats: Pit Stop #4
https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExb2w2N3Z3YWo3NG1iN3kxOXZvdWY4OHo4Z25ubDhqdzNvdXA2NDJoMiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfY nlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/UFt9TE8mmHlnt4MmWE/giphy.gif

-

Now that we've hit the fourth pit stop (60), here are some stats:

Decade Breakdown


1920s = 0
1930s = 4
1940s = 2
1950s = 8
1960s = 4
1970s = 3
1980s = 3
1990s = 3
2000s = 5
2010s = 6
2020s = 2


Strong showing by the 2000s and 2010s, with 3 and 2 respectively in this last batch; but as expected, the 1950s continue at the top with another 2 as well.


Recurring Directors


Stanley Donen = 2
Vincente Minnelli = 2
Tim Burton = 2


Tim Burton just jumped into this pool with two entries: Sweeney Todd at #66, and now his co-directorial effort in Corpse Bride. Other than that, no changes.

Animation keeps racking up entries with four entries in this batch, for a total of 9 animated films so far.

[Citizen Rules]

Believe it or not I've seen and liked Corpse Bride...I wrote this:

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fimages2.fanpop.com%2Fimages%2Fphotos%2F4400000%2FCorpse-Bride-making-the-film-corpse-bride-4429685-450-305.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=1524f7e9f65b981e70106d938e2c3d3e6002d99f3991c5eca19442222d2b6b28&ipo=images
Corpse Bride (2005)


I really like many of Tim Burton films: Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, Mars Attacks... Yes they are strange but they still pack in some good old heart felt emotions and are so creative! That's why I used that screenshot because I appreciate the artistry and attention to detail that Burton put into his film Corpse Bride. The world of the dead was so creative and fun. Enjoyed the creativity of it all, even the skeleton pet dog was cute. Nicely told story too and I did feel for the characters especially at the end of the film which says alot for Burton's story telling skills.

As far as Frozen, Disney=meh.

[dadgumblah]

I"ve seen Frozen and loved it enough to spring for the DVD. Prime Disney.

The Corpse Bride is one Tim Burton I've yet to see, despite my love for the guy. Will get to it.

Neither on my list, so things remain status quo:

So far:
#1. On the Town #93 (list proper)
#6. Easter Parade #78 (list proper)
#10. Gigi #85 (list proper)
#12. Calamity Jane #84 (list proper)
#14. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers #71 (list proper)
#25. Neptune's Daughter (one-pointer).

[rauldc14]

24/40 seen from me so far!

[Miss Vicky]

I've only seen 16/40 so far. :laugh:

[MovieMeditation]

Seen 15/40

Actually more than I expected haha

[cricket]

I've seen both but didn't care for either.

[WHITBISSELL!]

Have watched 12 of 40. 5 so far made my ballot.

I took my niece to watch Corpse Bride. Having never seen Nightmare Before Christmas I didn't know much about it but hey, it was Tim Burton. Can't go wrong with Tim Burton. When the first song came out of nowhere I remember thinking, "Okay". Then there's a second one. "Hmm ... okay". When the third one started I blurted out, "Wait a minute! This is a musical!" My niece got a big kick out of that even though I was being serious. But I settled down and ended up enjoying the hell out of it. I did vote for a Marx Brothers movie but it wasn't Duck Soup.

Corpse Bride (#24)
The Jungle Book
Duck Soup
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Yellow Submarine
Purple Rain (my #9)
White Christmas
The Burden
Gigi (#17)
Tommy (#15)
Amadeus
Cinderella (#5)

[Citizen Rules]

...*edit* in fact, just for you Holden Pike... I'm willing to go and watch Frozen and do an analysis/review of the film and then post it here.That's more than I would do:p My only reason for not watching Frozen is I'm not into Disney anything, not Disney Land/World, not Mickey Mouse, nothing. I never was even as a kid remotely interested in Disney.

[iluv2viddyfilms]

That's more than I would do:p My only reason for not watching Frozen is I'm not into Disney anything, not Disney Land/World, not Mickey Mouse, nothing. I never was even as a kid remotely interested in Disney.

I used to be a fan of Disney... A LOT when I was basically 12 and under though. I remember watching The Rescuers Down Under in the movie theater when it came out and loved it and I also watched Beauty and the Beast when it came out in the theater and it was spectacular. I saw The Little Mermaid on VHS when it first hit the format and not in the theater, but it was truly great and I loved it in multiple levels. In fact my only animated film on this countdown was released in theaters the same year as Little Mermaid and, sadly, had no chance to compete against the juggernaut of Disney and Ariel. Two of my constant go-to's as a young, young kid that absolutely enraptured my imagination were Robin Hood and Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

The first time I recall being ambivalent toward a Disney film was with Aladdin, mainly because I couldn't get into the genie character or really enjoy Robin William's louder than life style and interpretation of a genie character - it's almost as though he was trying to one-up the flamboyant take of the genie from the live action Thief of Bagdad.

However, the first Disney film where I really felt dislike toward it was The Lion King... the animation was great, but the more pop-music "sing along" style of Elton John songs were just so overbearing to me and the style I didn't like, whereas the music in Beauty and the Beast I absolutely... and still to this day, adored.

Holden isn't wrong though; if I did want to do a full review of the film Frozen, obviously I would need to watch it, but my interest is primarily in how it's had such an insane and huge impact on culture... well very similarly to how I don't like the trend of comic book films and the MCU on the film industry. I can still examine their impact without having seen each MCU film and I've seen a couple Deadpool films, the first Avengers, an Iron Man movie or two, and the first couple Spidermans of the early 2000s - enough to know what they are and how they present themselves. I've maybe watched 10-15 minutes of Frozen, just enough to get a taste of its style, a couple songs, and how its presenting itself as a piece of film or art.

[Citizen Rules]

I used to be a fan of Disney... A LOT when I was basically 12 and under though. I remember watching The Rescuers Down Under in the movie theater when it came out and loved it and I also watched Beauty and the Beast when it came out in the theater and it was spectacular. I saw The Little Mermaid on VHS when it first hit the format and not in the theater, but it was truly great and I loved it in multiple levels....That's probably the general experience most MoFos have had with Disney...They grew up with it, watched it over and over on VHS or DVD. I'm old enough that there was no VHS when I was a kid so I don't recall seeing any Disney films when I was a little, not even the classics.

[Omnizoa]

Never seen Frozen, but it strikes me as one of those movies that probably would have been rated much higher 10 years ago.

I've never been interested in seeing it, it along with the likes of Tangled and Big Hero Six all come together to create a pretty painfully by-the-numbers series of mainstream 3D Disney movies that resemble, but don't quite capture, the spirit of early Pixar.

Other than Pirates of the Caribbean, this style of movie completely dominated the worlds in Kingdom Hearts 3 too, even featuring a Frozen world where Elsa sings the main number. It was a such a huge step down from Kingdom Hearts 2 that featured such a diversity of worlds as Tron, Nightmare Before Christmas, Steamboat Willie, and renaissance era classics like Beauty and the Beast.

And if you didn't already know, playing through those worlds usually meant experiencing an inferior retelling of the story, often without the original's orchestration or even context. Today I learned that KH3's rendition of "Let it Go" was actually very faithfully animated and even uses the original song... but at least to me it just seemed like a weirdly impromptu (and pretty generic) musical number for a character who I didn't have any background for, so I couldn't really sympathize with her alleged struggle with being a "perfect girl" or having to conceal her ice powers.

Also the obligatory Disney joke character (in this case the snowman) is just such a turn-off at this point.

[stillmellow]

Obviously, I like Frozen. It's my #21. Corpse Bride was very good, but the songs weren't that memorable to me, so it didn't make my list.

Seen: 24/40

List: 4 (A Star is Born, O Brother Where Art Thou, Yellow Submarine, Frozen)

Should've been on list: 1 (The Burden)

[Gideon58]

I've seen Frozen, but I've never seen Corpse Bride

[Citizen Rules]

I've seen Frozen, but I've never seen Corpse BrideI think you'd really like Corpse Bride and be surprised by it's creative charm.

[Yoda]

I've removed several posts for violating the No Politics rule. The initial post and the direct replies, since that's the only fair way I can come up with to excise things. If anybody would like a copy of the text of their deleted post so they can use some of the non-political stuff in a post, just PM me.

And, to that point, "just PM me" is probably a good rule if you're not sure if something qualifies as political or not. But I'd say the threshold there should be even lower in a thread like this, which is meant to be breezy, fun, and a celebration of the films in question.

[Wooley]

Jeez, what'd I miss?

Anyway, just dropped in to say that, while it was nowhere near my list for reasons I will keep to myself, I had no intention of ever watching Frozen, I did, and I had to admit it was pretty damn good.

[Holden Pike]

I did not vote for Frozen, though I probably should have made room for it on my ballot. It was one of only three animated features I had on my short list, and ultimately I figured none of them needed my help. My granddaughter is four and a half years old so I have very happily watched Frozen over and over and over again the last few years. I saw it theatrically when it was released and loved it, probably only watched it one other time after that...until that impossibly cute little girl wanted to watch it. Incessantly. I would guess, conservatively, we have started that movie at least fifty times. At least. The actual number may be closer to a hundred. She wasn't always able to finish the whole movie, due to a nap schedule or going back to her own house, but once started my wife and I rarely turned it off, whether our granddaughter was in the room anymore or not.

It is brilliantly made, some truly gorgeous animation, the songs are all terrific, it has so many deep, genuine laughs, it cleverly subverts some of the Disney fairytale genre conventions while embracing others, and after countless viewings I am not in the least bit tired of watching it.

I didn't vote for it, but I really should have. Elated or gassy, I'm somewhere in that zone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UA3xY0OxI4

[Gideon58]

I think you'd really like Corpse Bride and be surprised by it's creative charm.

I have a feeling I would because I LOVED The Nighmare Before Christmas which I rated 5

[SpelingError]

I like Frozen quite a bit, but it didn't make my ballot. Though it's received a fair share of backlash, I think it holds up pretty well. I also think "Let it Go" is very good, in spite of how overplayed it was after the film's release.

I haven't seen Corpse Bride.

[Allaby]

I loved Frozen. It was my #3. The animation is wonderful, the characters are fun, and the songs are fantastic. Olaf is my hero and I base my life on his teachings. Corpse Bride is very good too, but didn't make my ballot.

Seen: 39/40

[gbgoodies]

I didn't have enough room for most of the animated musicals that I wanted to include on my list, but Frozen was one of the few that I was able to include. I narrowed my last spot down to several of my favorite animated musicals, and Frozen was the one that made it as #25 on my list.


The songs in Corpse Bride were enjoyable while I was watching the movie, but forgettable by the time the movie ended. So while I liked the movie, it didn't make my list.

[Little Ash]

I have not seen Frozen nor The Corpse Bride. No interest in the former, not really sure why I haven't on the latter. I think it came out in the period where Button could very much do wrong and I was now suspicious of his output. I also just wasn't watching that many movies in the 00's. Despite knowing Nightmare Before Christmas was a musical, it didn't register in my mind that The Corpse Bride was as well.

[honeykid]

Seen neither, wish to see neither.

I think I've seen 11 so far.

[Sedai]

I thought I wouldn't care for Frozen when I went to finally watch it, you know, once I had a little girl who managed to key into it and wanted to see it. I ended up really enjoying it, even if I do prefer the older, more traditional bent of some of the classics. I am a traditional guy like that, but am fine watching films with differing views.

But yes - let's keep this thread light and fun, thanks!

Also: Moana has some of my favorite music from any Disney film, ever.

Sad I didn't get a ballot in in time, but I still have hope that the mighty Xanadu makes it onto the countdown. ;)

(I understand it doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell, but one can hope)

[MovieMeditation]

I have a feeling I would because I LOVED The Nighmare Before Christmas which I rated 5
WATCH IT!


Although my review is almost ten years old, it still stands… great film.
—— 2005 ——
CORPSE BRIDE
—— animation ——
EXTENDED REVIEW
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/71/69/2a/71692a30f0b3a61a45a40ad4c4085ebd.jpg
REWATCH
Tim Burton and his accomplished animation corps ride the audience straight through
the underworld and above the groundbreaking evolution of stop-motion animation!

The hauntingly humorous uncrowned ruler of darkness stands behind this bride story from hell, which is essentially a barebones romantic story about a young man named Victor, who is pushed into an arranged marriage by his parents and the parents of his coming bride, Victoria, for the sake of raising social class and restoring wealth, respectively. The story takes place in the Victorian-era, ironically enough, but that is also the last thing being a victim of traditions and tales of formality. Burton breaks free from the banality of boring animation and creates a continued vision of his craft for crude humor combined with bright cleverness. You can feel the spirit of ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ with the same skin and bone character designs, which is escorted elegantly by Burton’s familiar blend of fearsome fun and chilling warmth – together with the brilliance of stop-motion animation the dead characters are resurrected and make this movie come to life in a way that demands both skill and skull…

‘Corpse Bride’ starts by inviting us into the dying lands of the living, which seems bleak and bare from any kind of real heart or humanitarian response. This is a dark place, completely drained of color and character, where people go about their routine rudiments without interrelating or interfering with each other’s daily doings. The opening credits are simple and mysterious, moved flawlessly forward by a daunting dream-like score by Burton’s favored baton, Danny Elfman, who successfully captures the canny atmosphere of the film by delivering a grand gesture to the melancholy and yet moving story of undying love. Elfman’s score embraces the ambiance of the film and elevates what is already an astonishing accomplishment in its own right. Scoring a soaring piece of artistic beauty is one thing, but Elfman also wrote and composed each and every song, which happens to be some of my favorite musical makings ever in an already constantly creative film. Starting from the creative cross-cutting intro piece that…

describes the plot while our guests reach the spot; not giving anything away but just enough to clearly say – it’s a beautiful and terrible day for a wedding. We see them crossing the street in a carriage, but only so to ensure the marriage. When one family leaves another one grieves; one is broke beyond belief the other in social mischief – but both make profit from this glorious wedding. Soon they set feet in a place where they rehearse for days, but the groom somehow cannot get it. He walks for hours to practice his vowels, but he seems to be completely out of luck. But all of a sudden there’s change, he stumbles slightly but finds his pace; his words come fluent and he starts to dance, he bows down faintly and put the ring on a branch. He did it all well, no more need to rehearse, but little did he know he just lifted a curse. While Victor was in trance he proposed to a branch, but I can tell you it was worse than you think; with some vowels and a dance, there was a change of plans and his bride became a corpse in a blink. Once a bride now a corpse, left for dead but of course; now she walks in the land of the living. The groom turned practice to mistake, left the dead wide awake – this is a terrible day for a wedding.

Hey now, wait a minute, what just happened there? I’m sorry everybody, I got a little carried away I guess… moving on… Our dear Victor appears to be in grave danger as he arrives in the land of the dead, which is placed below the grounds, where everything is upside down and everything seems to be going down hill for our doubtful hero. Victor has a bone to pick with someone, and he really wants one particular bone with one specific ring on it, in order to return to the land above and marry his loved one – because even if the marriage was arranged, Victor and Victoria have more in common than their given names. The underworld may be full of dead people, but never has a place felt so alive, which Victor quickly finds out as yet another brilliant song begins to play. It is called ‘Remains of the Day’ and plays out as a soulful composition sung by soulless corpses, who sings and shows us the story of corpse bride, and how she ended up under ground and overrun by the saturated soil of the forest. Danny Elfman once again opens his creative cranium and cracks out another catchy tune, which shows us that dead men do tale tales and do it tremendous well. This jazzy juncture in the movie simultaneously shows off the skills behind and in front of the camera, with superb storytelling and brilliant characters, who moves fluently along to the music with a magnificent sense of humor. There are plenty of creative gags and witty visuals in the land of the dead, which is all vividly brought to life in a stream of powerful colors and cool set designs.

The film continues to move up and down in altitude, between our world and the underworld, but it never moves up and down in quality. It is charming and enchanting entertainment, which has Tim Burton’s signature blend of dark humor and weird wittiness all over it, which is being presented both in direct and indirect manners. ‘Corpse Bride’ has definitely drawn its inspiration from Burton’s previous works, but that doesn’t mean it should be compared to anything in my opinion. A film that holds both rotten corpses and rotten personalities feels as fresh as anything to me, with a simple story that keeps making surprising twists and turns throughout. You would think that these worlds would remain separated, but that is only until Victor comes up with a smart way to victory, by fooling the dead into having the wedding between him and the corpse bride on the “top floor” – also known as the land of the living. Meanwhile, things are already looking pretty dead up there, even before the dead has arrived, since the wedding above is still going ahead after a new groom showed up to marry Victoria – a man named Lord Barkis, who certainly has a few skeletons in his closet. Unfortunately for him, the wedding plans turn sour once the rotting corpses and skeletons show up to ruin the “party” upstairs. This film doesn’t stay behind closed caskets at this point either, especially not in this wild third act that happens to be both fun, fearsome, exciting and frightening all at the same time. It is even a little touching and sweet in way, though it certainly ends on a typical Burtonesque note – which is a good thing.

Who knew that a plot guided by the cold hands of the dead would end up feeling so warm and full of heart. Who knew that being dead could be so cool and colorful and have you almost die of laughter at times. Okay, maybe you won’t exactly die of laughter, but this is definitely a fun little film full of everything you could ask for and more. Maybe it wouldn’t be right to say Burton has never been as lively and darkly witty as he is here, but it is damn sure one of his finest and most twistingly amusing tales of terror from his web-infested mind. ‘Corpse Bride’ is absolute genius and the non-stop entertainment escorted by stop-motion animation is just a joy like no other… It may be an obvious pun, but I have to say it anyways – this film is just to die for, simple as that!

4.5+

[Thursday Next]

6lists64pointsAnnie (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/15739-annie.html)Director
John Huston, 1982

Starring
Aileen Quinn, Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, Ann Reinking

[Thursday Next]

5lists65pointsJesus Christ Superstar (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/12545-jesus-christ-superstar.html)Director
Norman Jewison, 1973

Starring
Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Elliman, Barry Dennen

[MovieMeditation]

Annie was on my list at #12!

I was honestly surprised of how much i enjoyed it. Didn’t expect anything from it but it had the perfect blend of warm and whimsical as well as being both a good musical and family movie. Good harmless fun.

I have not seen Jesus Christ Superstar but I have heard good things. So I definitely want to see it.

[seanc]

This countdown is hard to predict.

Watched Annie when I went through Huston’s filmography a year or so ago. I really didn’t care for it despite it having a couple great songs. It was okay.

Haven’t watched Jesus Christ Superstar. Don’t know that I will. Maybe if I figure out whether it was made for me or not.

[Allaby]

I love Annie! It has wonderful songs and fantastic performances. Annie is my #17. I liked Jesus Christ Superstar too. The acting and singing were very good, but it didn't make my ballot.

Seen: 41/42

[Citizen Rules]

Annie worst musical ever!:D


Just kidding Allaby:)
I watched Annie for the first time in the Group Watch and was impressed. It almost made my ballot and was a last minute cut. Glad to see it here, it's deserving.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.Ku3WGHq08EiB3euMnNe2XgAAAA%26pid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=84a4238bb6b309d6a1ce0c48458a178ebfde3f041c8ba90977b1e92533031fa4&ipo=images
Annie (1982)


I really enjoyed this one. Unlike some musicals, the story was strong and coherent and the songs really moved the story along. Actually it didn't seem to have that many songs and when they occurred the staging was very creative especially in the orphanage. I have to say the kids did a great job and I'm not one to like movies with kids all that much. Aileen Quinn as Annie was so good that I forgot I was watching a movie. But the show stealer for me was Carol Burnett as the comically evil orphanage owner. Carol Burnett was so good that I now want to watch more comedies with her in it. Tim Curry of course gave a solid character performance as Rooster the conniving brother of Carol Burnett. Directed by John Huston one of my favorite directors.

[Citizen Rules]

I really meant to watch Jesus Christ Superstar before sending in my ballot. I've never seen it but intend to. Maybe tonight???

[Thief]

Haven't seen any of these two. I might've seen Annie, or bits of it, when I was a kid but if I did, I don't remember anything at all.


SEEN: 13/42
MY BALLOT: 3/25


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13. Moana (#68)
14.
15.
16.
17. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (#66)
18.
19.
20.
21. The Band Wagon (#80)
22.
23.
24.
25. Hallelujah (One-pointer)

[rauldc14]

Seen neither and don't really feel a rush to change that.

[Miss Vicky]

Seen neither and don't really feel a rush to change that.

What he said.

[stillmellow]

Annie and Jesus Christ Superstar?


If we must.


Annie has a couple great musical numbers, but it was way too squeaky clean and saccharine. And me and my sisters were just the right age that it was constantly overplayed.


Hard Knock Life is still one of the best music numbers in movie history. Didn't make my list though.


I didn't care for JCSS at all. I preferred Godspell, which still missed my list by about 10 places.

Seen: 26/42

List: 4 [A Star is Born (1954), O Brother Where Art Thou, Yellow Submarine, Frozen]

Should've been on list: 1 (The Burden)

[kgaard]

I saw Annie again recently for the first time in forever. It was ... fine. I'm not sure if John Huston really had the knack for musicals, but I also don't think it's particularly strong musically.

I can't bring myself to watch Jesus Christ Superstar, but I'm open to be convinced I should.

[rauldc14]

What he said.

It's always satisfying to agree with you for whatever reason

[Gideon58]

LOVE Jesus Christ Superstar...I even did the show myself twice. I didn't expect Annie to rate this high. The 1999 TV version they did on ABC was way better than this one.

[cricket]

I saw Annie as a kid. I don't remember it but I know I didn't like it.

I may have seen Superstar at some point but I'll have to mark it as a no.

[Thief]

Worth mentioning that both of today's entries are the only ones so far with a "Rotten" score on Rotten Tomatoes, both at 50%. What a coincidence.

[Little Ash]

I watched Annie a lot as a kid. I think. I have little recollection of it and even less desire to revisit it.


Still have never seen Jesus Christ Superstar. I know there's supposed to be a technicolor, um, rain-cloak? Cloak-like article of clothing.
I've not heard anything that has really interested me in it.

[Miss Vicky]

Still have never seen Jesus Christ Superstar. I know there's supposed to be a technicolor, um, rain-cloak? Cloak-like article of clothing.
I've not heard anything that has really interested me in it.

I'm not a Jesus expert, but that sounds like you're getting it mixed up with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

[Steve Freeling]

Yes! Annie was my #1.

[mrblond]

#59. Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) was my #12 for 14 of its 65 pts.

The concept music album (1970), composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, was very popular among my high school circles in the mid to late eighties. The great Ian Gillan, singing as Jesus Christ, excited us a lot.
I saw the film, based on this album, in the early 90's when it was again in the theatres here.
Can't imagine a musicals list without this title.

101726
-----

My Ballot
▽
...
5. Everyone Says I Love You (1996) [#73]
6.
7. Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) [#99]
8.
9. Amadeus (1984) [#97]
...
12. Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) [#59]
...
16. Rocketman (2019) [#91]
...
25. The Gypsy Camp Vanishes Into the Blue (1975) [one pointer]

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/Mn1eql8AHHo2MTiwF7VwiHfoOu.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/81Po3VN1Bc0xNeTULKTUUlpq7ur.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/tsqcwBp1jYZdcceXXoVEby0dZkt.jpg https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/vFgAKNdJdQp4LExhwSqFYxPa4XT.jpghttps://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/f4FF18ia7yTvHf2izNrHqBmgH8U.jpg
https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/1AIhyecxthQuvJNvPC4cKxTxCRp.jpg

-----

[iluv2viddyfilms]

I need to watch Annie, I just haven't gotten around to it. Maybe it's worth a watch to be a John Huston completist and I do find the "Tomorrow" song to be endearing.

Jesus Christ Superstar, a film I watched years ago when I was in college with a group of friends, is a film that is soo over the top, dated, and ridiculously bad in a cringe kind of way that it is, for my money, a true Mystery Science Theater 3000 type of film. Count me as a person who has very little use for Andrew Lloyd Webber and his brand of pop/rock/opera oriented style. I did find a couple numbers in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to be tolerable enough, but Jesus Christ Superstar is one of those films or musicals that is so insane and out there, that I can't believe what I'm watching. The Herod number alone speaks volumes. I will say, I do like Norman Jewison, in fact so much, one of his films made my list, and I will say I like the idea of the Romans carrying MP40s and Uzis (although a bit ironic considering the Uzi is an Israeli firearm) and I like the idea of transposing the Jesus story into a modern time or sensibility, but the hippie thing is just too much to be taken seriously at all, for me at least. I know and have read that it divided the Christian community a bit - some loved it, others thought of it as blasphemy. I don't consider myself a part of either camp, as I'm neither enthralled or offended by it. It's just not my thing, at all, and to my mind I put it up there with something like Hamilton, that's very much a product of its time, panders to contemporary pop sensibilities, and has ultimately aged or will age horribly.

I am happy to see two more non-animated films make the list and it makes sense that both Annie and Jesus Christ Superstar would make the top 100, as they are and have been main stays and widely seen and known about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEmScsUkbo4

[iluv2viddyfilms]

This countdown is hard to predict.


I was thinking the same thing. This might be the most eclectic and random countdown we've seen so far... mainly because there's so much variety, but I imagine as we get higher up on the list some of them will become more predictable. There are some pleasant surprises so far... I'm glad 1776, The Smiling Lieutenant, Duck Soup, and Easter Parade all made the list.

[Little Ash]

I'm not a Jesus expert, but that sounds like you're getting it mixed up with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.


Damn, you're right. I was conflating these two unseen musicals in my mind.
By virtue of that being a title that human beings recognize, that probably means it'll also show up somewhere on the list.

[Omnizoa]

Annie is the second movie so far that I've voted for. Saw it a long long time ago and it still stands out in my mind.

There's probably a lot that could be said about it today in terms of "class", but at the end of the day it's a simple romp about a tomboy finally experiencing "the good life" with a few memorable songs to stick with you.

https://youtu.be/6WhPIjetvaQ?si=IJOkBTl2Rb7uC5p4&t=6

[SpelingError]

What he said.

What she said.

[Citizen Rules]

Question for everyone who voted for Annie, when did you first see Annie? I mean as a kid? Or an adult?

[SpelingError]

Question for everyone who voted for Annie, when did you first see Annie? I mean as a kid? Or an adult?

I've only seen parts of the film since my Mom is a huge fan of it. Maybe I'll watch the whole film someday.

[Allaby]

Question for everyone who voted for Annie, when did you first see Annie? I mean as a kid? Or an adult?

I was a kid when I first saw it, but I have rewatched it at least a couple times as an adult.

[dadgumblah]

I've only seen Annie but I really liked it. It was fun and charming and the cast sold it for me as I liked pretty much everybody. I'd totally forgotten John Huston had directed it!

I've not watched Jesus Christ Superstar all the way through but it seemed very interesting to say the least. And I like Yvonne Elliman quite a bit. As an Eric Clapton fan, I'm quite used to her voice on his albums. All that said, I voted for neither but nice to see them make it.

So far:
#1. On the Town #93 (list proper)
#6. Easter Parade #78 (list proper)
#10. Gigi #85 (list proper)
#12. Calamity Jane #84 (list proper)
#14. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers #71 (list proper)
#25. Neptune's Daughter (one-pointer).

[Allaby]

I will guess Encanto and Curly Top for tomorrow.

[stillmellow]

Tomorrow: The First Nudie Musical and Repo! The Genetic Opera.

[Allaby]

Tomorrow: The First Nudie Musical and Repo! The Genetic Opera.

I liked both of those. Fingers crossed they make the countdown.

[PHOENIX74]

Minor catch up! I've seen all of the last 4, the previous 2 of which were on my ballot :

62. Frozen (2013) - Yep, I've seen Frozen. Millions and millions of children seem bedazzled by this Disney animated feature so I had to check it out. It didn't stick with me, but soon after watching it I was mightily impressed, giving it 4.5/5 and writing on Letterboxd : "I hear this one is popular with the kids, and I can really see why. It's also a film that has absolutely no consensus when it comes time to see how everyone rates it. Well, how does it look? It's looks beautiful - one of the best looking animated films I've ever seen, with snow-filled landscapes, animals and icy architecture that's dazzling. It also sounds great, with plenty of extremely catchy tunes - a little pop-music, but fitting all the same, and enjoyable. The funny stuff is very winsome, and I thought that this movie was full of clever comedy that works for adults and kids. The story takes inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale "The Snow Queen", which is popular in Russia, but isn't adapted quite as much in English-speaking countries - so it's a nice change. You've gotta give this one to the kids - they've voted with their nagging insistence to see Frozen again, and this animated film is set to unleash a wave of nostalgia in the decades to come. Already a classic - and I think excellent." I'll have to watch it again one day - it almost feels like I'm recommending films to myself when I read reviews which are impressed with movies I barely remember watching.

61. Corpse Bride (2005) - I've seen this as well. On Letterboxd I simply wrote "Impressively alive and exuding life for an animated film about a corpse bride." Three years later and it's another case of remembering a movie in a very general way, but having forgotten many of the specifics - including all of the songs. I gave Corpse Bride 3.5/5, so it's another animated feature that I appreciated at the very least.

60. Annie (1982) - I watched Annie for the first time fairly recently, and I never expected that I'd one day be putting it on a ballot regarding my favourite musicals, but here we are. What got it over the line was the fact that Carol Burnett, Tim Curry, Albert Finney and Bernadette Peters are in it - and all four are wonderful to watch. I love Carol Burnett - I really do. Soon after seeing it for the first time, I watched it again - always a sign that something has really clicked with me. I'd avoided watching Annie for my entire life, thinking I'd hate it - but approached with an open mind, it's a lively Depression-era update on Oliver Twist with a few absolutely unforgettable music numbers and impressive visual period film optics. I think it gets unfairly maligned, and until now I would have been one of the people putting it down - but I've changed, and as such this made it onto my ballot at #23.

59. Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) - This film introduced me to Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera - and it quickly became a huge hit with me. I immediately took to all of the songs, and I have since listened to what feels like dozens of different artists sing them. This unusual, theatrical interpretation is interesting - and while the cast perform in modern-day Israel/Palestine as if somehow transported from the past to the present they perform with incredible gusto and commitment. All I can say is that I love everything about Jesus Christ Superstar (even though I'm not at all religious - although that's surely not a requisite when you take a good look at it.) I have it at #5 on my ballot.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seen : 28/42
I'd never even heard of : 6/42
Movies that had been on my radar, but I haven't seen yet : 8/42
Films from my list : 5

#59 - My #5 - Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
#60 - My #23 - Annie (1982)
#72 - My #22 - Yellow Submarine (1968)
#92 - My #8 - Tommy (1975)
One-pointer - My #25 - Shock Treatment (1981)

[gbgoodies]

Annie is another movie that is good, but it doesn't live up to the Broadway show. (But I may be a bit biased because a friend of mine played one of the orphans when I saw it on Broadway many years ago.) I prefer the 1999 movie over the 1982 version, but they're both good movies with great music. While I wouldn't have voted for either version, the songs are so good that I'm glad to see that at least one version made the countdown.


Jesus Christ Superstar has a few great songs, but the movie is only okay for me.

[Citizen Rules]

Just got through watching this...
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-hcoJWz6gRng%2FTnjo_Q__SnI%2FAAAAAAAABXk%2FYzEaUFo2z-Y%2Fs1600%2FJesus%2BChrist%2BSuperstar%2B1973.JPG&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=c821ba8a5b19653802dc5acfa1c068510643b49394e3c4670b57fcda6d1d8611&ipo=images

I'd never seen Jesus Christ Superstar before and I gotta say I was impressed! The song arraignments blew me away. The song lyrics were bold and biting at times, not at all what I had expected. It's narrative was well balanced between a religious view of Jesus and a humanistic view of Jesus. The cinematography was sublime and I'm not talking about the gorgeous shooting locations, I'm talking about the shooting techniques.

While I was watching the film my thoughts were probably much different than the average viewer. I was thinking about how amazing it was that the Israels allowed the film crew to shoot on ancient historic ruins. I can't believe that the film crew got that lucky, it really makes the film special. Today they wouldn't be allowed to do that so we'd get CG instead. The film makers even got the Israel Air Force to fly two jet fighters over Judah's scene out in the desert.

Impressive everything in the film except the King Herod scene which was not only flat out silly but took me right out of the film. Still I rate this

rating_4 I should say that rating is coming from someone who is not religious.

[stillmellow]

I liked both of those. Fingers crossed they make the countdown.


Sadly, my other two guesses don't have enough songs to qualify: Possibly in Michigan (1983), and Night Trap for the Sega CD (1992).

[Wooley]

I probably should have found room for Annie, I thought Albert Finney and Anne Reinking were both great, Carol Burnett, Burnadette Peters, Tim Curry, Geoffrey Holder, all great.

I got to be in a small production of Jesus Christ Superstar about 20 years ago so I do have a pretty strong appreciation for it but I don't think I ever watched the film all the way through.

[stillmellow]

Seriously though, I'm actually guessing double Disney. Coco and Encanto.

[Thursday Next]

6lists70pointsTop Hat (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/3080-top-hat.html)Director
Mark Sandrich, 1935

Starring
Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edward Everett Horton, Erik Rhodes

[Thursday Next]

5lists73pointsThe Greatest Showman (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/316029-the-greatest-showman.html)Director
Michael Gracey, 2017

Starring
Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson

[Allaby]

Seen and loved both, but didn't have room on my ballot for either. Glad they both made the countdown.

Seen: 43/44

[Thief]

Haven't seen either. Top Hat came up often when I took an online course on Musicals a while ago, and I probably should've seen it by now. I just haven't found the time.

The Greatest Showman is one that a lot of relatives love; my brother, some in-laws... but again, I just haven't found the time.



SEEN: 13/44
MY BALLOT: 3/25


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13. Moana (#68)
14.
15.
16.
17. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (#66)
18.
19.
20.
21. The Band Wagon (#80)
22.
23.
24.
25. Hallelujah (One-pointer)

[Thief]

Worth mentioning that both of today's entries are the only ones so far with a "Rotten" score on Rotten Tomatoes, both at 50%. What a coincidence.

The Greatest Showman becomes the third one with a "Rotten" score so far. Surprising, cause I thought its overall reception was more positive.

Friendly reminder: a 50-something RT score only means that critics were divided in their opinion of the film.

Also, at 5 and 3, these two tie for the biggest point gaps so far. Like I said before, most of what we've had so far are either ties or 1-2 points apart.

[seanc]

Two more meh’s from me. Expected both though.

[MovieMeditation]

I was ready to hate The Greatest Showman but ended up really enjoying it.

I had it at #17 on my ballot.

[Miss Vicky]

I thought The Greatest Showman (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2473778#post2473778) was awful, much like the man it celebrates. I haven't seen Top Hat.

[rauldc14]

I like The Greatest Showman. I think it's got good songs and I really like Jackman in it. I've never given it a good rating though.

Have not seen Top Hat yet.

[cricket]

Top Hat was in contention for my ballot and would've made top 30.

Haven't seen the Greatest Showman.

[kgaard]

Two more whiffs for me. I do like Hugh Jackman, though, so I may give that a go someday. Fred Astaire is fine, he can dance a little.

[stillmellow]

I've seen Top Hat, and it was alright. A little too clean and Fancy for me. I tend to like my musicals a bit darker and/or strange. Or at least 'rocking'..


The Greatest Showman is just not my cup of tea. I'm actually surprised it rated this high, considering I've never heard of any notable songs from it

[Thief]

Even though I haven't seen it, I've seen this musical number several times and I love it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocHPjJfW4LI

[Citizen Rules]

Well Yahoo! Top Hat was my #14. If it wasn't for Fred Astaire I wouldn't be here at MoFo!

I wrote this:
https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=53878

Top Hat (1935)


There's nobody smoother on the dance floor than Fred Astaire. He's easy to relate to as he's not the tall, handsome leading man type. Let's face it he's a bit different looking. I mean Fred Astaire is no ladies man and yet he's perfect as he's likeable and relatable and has to work at winning the pretty girl.


And what a girl he wins! Ginger Rogers...goes with Fred Astaire like ice goes with cream. Sure Fred had different female dance partners over the years and some were even better dancers than Ginger, but none of them had the down to earth charm that Ginger has. And yes she can dance up a storm too. Ginger and Fred are legendary.

My favorite number was the second dance number No Strings (I'm Fancy Free) with Fred Astaire doing a noisy tap dance in the hotel room above a slumbering Ginger. Loved the choreography which was lose and light and so full of optimistic exuberance. The second part of that with the sand dance was clever too, loved the soft shoe, and the art deco hotel room set was a great place to dance in!

The next music number with Fred and Ginger taking cover from the rain in a band stand gazebo in Isn't This a Lovely Day (to be Caught in the Rain) was my other favorite. Lots of charm and innovation in this number. All the music/dance numbers are beautifully staged and quite unique. A big shout out to the great Irving Berlin who wrote the music numbers (melody and lyrics).


https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=53879


Did I mention that Venice set, wow! I read that it was 300 feet long and took up two entire sound stages. Nowadays with CG everywhere, it might be hard for those use to modern movies to be impressed by a set like that, and that's a shame as the craftsmanship and artistry that was put into movies like Top Hat was half of their charm. The rest of the charm came from the beauty and glamour of it all.

[SpelingError]

Top Hat was #8 on my ballot.

I haven't seen The Greatest Showman.

[SpelingError]

4. The Burden
8. Top Hat
12. Duck Soup

[Citizen Rules]

I watched this in prep for the countdown. I never considered it for my ballot, but cool that it made the musical countdown:

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fimage.tmdb.org%2Ft%2Fp%2Foriginal%2FfI4IM5xb94b3FWYpeMfY7orB3Gn.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=fc88bf3aaafb12ae94cb5484b09766bb58263fdcdb899f67b33083ce2bf2cecc&ipo=images
The Greatest Showman (2017)

I liked this, Hugh Jackman was great as P.T. Barnum showman, promoter and famous for the the Ringling Brothers Circus. I was engaged and entertained. I liked some of the songs but like many newer musicals there were too many songs for me that went on too long. What I really wanted was more of the story of Barnum, still I did enjoy it for what it was.

[Holden Pike]

101783

Top Hat was #73 on the MoFo Top 100 of the 1930s.

[iluv2viddyfilms]

While I've always preferred Gene Kelly to Fred Astaire, I still need to watch Top Hat.

[PHOENIX74]

58. Top Hat (1935) - I'm not all that familiar with Top Hat. I looked up "Top Hats" on Google to see if people still wear them, and saw one for sale at Lock & Co for $8,500, so obviously rich people still wear them sometimes.

57. The Greatest Showman (2017) - I watched this solely because it features on the front cover of my edition of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and features as one of their 2017 entries. I thought it must be pretty damned good if it graces the front cover. I didn't really like it all that much though. I pointed out on Letterboxd why that was : "I finally got around to seeing this. What can I say? The first 30 seconds or so had me pumped, but it didn't waste too much time dampening that enthusiasm with bubblegum pop music and very broad characterizations of all the real-life characters who inhabit the film. The colours somehow pop out of the screen - there's great design, probably greatly enhanced with CGI, but beyond it's themes of empowerment and diversity I didn't get much from the historical narrative of P. T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman) and business partner Phillip Carlyle (Zac Efron). It doesn't help that I'm not a huge Hugh Jackman fan I guess, but there's definitely an element of the poison eating away at mainstream movies these days - the whole commercial package overwhelming all sense of complex storytelling, conflict and the essential qualities of each and every person we come across. I've heard of this film being compared to a Pepsi commercial - and it indeed does come off like that. People have worked hard to perfect it's technical qualities - but where are all the great storytellers and writers these days? To all producers out there : the audience isn't as dumb as you think, and people are becoming less eager to go to the movies because when they walk out they're feeling "eh" instead of "wow"." - So, it's obviously not on my ballot.

Seen : 29/44

[Wooley]

I got one!
First film from my list, I'm so excited.

Top Hat at No.23, by the way.

[Citizen Rules]

Top Hat and Band Wagon have a link besides Fred Astaire...hint it's being auctioned at the beginning of the film and alludes to Top Hat (1935).

[John W Constantine]

This countdown could definitely use more of my picks.

[iluv2viddyfilms]

I got one!
First film from my list, I'm so excited.


You do?


You have?

No kidding? Uh huh...


WE GOT OONNNEEEE!!!!!


https://youtu.be/IOfMKv5fxgQ?si=dk0giUDEq2L8yRVL

[rauldc14]

I got 6 so far that showed. I was thinking 20/25 for me but starting to wonder if it will be just 18.

[Thursday Next]

6lists75pointsPennies from Heaven (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/17450-pennies-from-heaven.html)Director
Herbert Ross, 1981

Starring
Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Jessica Harper, Vernel Bagneris

[Thursday Next]

4lists76pointsThis Is Spinal Tap (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/11031-this-is-spinal-tap.html)Director
Rob Reiner, 1984

Starring
Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner

[Allaby]

I've seen and liked both, but neither made my ballot.

Seen: 45/46

[Gideon58]

Love both of these movies, but neither made my ballot either. Never thought of Spinal Tap as a musical, but I love it, have watched it a million times.

[Miss Vicky]

Seen both, like neither.

Seen: 19/46

[Thursday Next]

Pennies From Heaven was my #13. Dark, unpleasant and very well done. Worth watching for Christopher Walken alone.

My list:
#13 - Pennies From Heaven
#19 - Frozen
#24 - Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
#25 - High Society

Seen 42/46

[KeyserCorleone]

Just rewatched Spinal Tap last month. Raised it from an 8 to a 9 now that I get more of the jokes.

[rauldc14]

0 for 2 from me here.

[Gideon58]

Seen and loved both, but didn't have room on my ballot for either. Glad they both made the countdown.

Seen: 43/44

Pleasantly surprised to see The Greatest Showman on the countdown. I remember getting very little response to my review regarding it.


https://www.movieforums.com/reviews/1844018-the_greatest_showman.html

[iluv2viddyfilms]

Love both of these movies, but neither made my ballot either. Never thought of Spinal Tap as a musical, but I love it, have watched it a million times.

That's the ONLY reason Spinal Tap didn't make my list... it's a great film. An A+ film in my mind and the whole thing about "these amps go to eleven" is an absolute running joke between my wife and I whenever we rate or evaluate something on a scale of 1-10. I think of Spinal Tap as a comedy, as a mockumentary, and as a great film, but I haven't generally considered it to be a musical for whatever reasons - whether that's a good thing or bad thing. Of course, maybe I should... the songs are original, I believe and it fits the MoFo criteria. Of course Spinal Tap showed what "the meathead" had in store with his masterpiece and one of the greatest films of all time, period, in The Princess Bride. I'm so happy something like Spinal Tap exists, and even though I didn't vote for it... maybe I should have, I'm glad it made this countdown.

https://youtu.be/uMSV4OteqBE?si=Dhe93ioqmGV5hHqp

[iluv2viddyfilms]

Seen both, like neither.


I'm sorry. Both are A+ films, endlessly brilliant, charming, clever, perfect, unique, innovative, singular, timeless, and the fact that they exist in the universe makes it a better place... but to each their own I guess.

[iluv2viddyfilms]

Pennies From Heaven is soooo spectacular and I really do need to watch it again, because I didn't specifically watch it for this list. It is the quintessential "charming scumbag" Steven Martin role... even more so than the canonical The Jerk, where he was also paired up with Bernadette Peters. Martin and Peters just have a chemistry on screen that is so real and joyous to watch with Peters being more subdued as a the "straight man" while Martin is scheming, amoral, and all over the place.

The Depression era sets and styling in Pennies From Heaven is something to behold and even if you don't care for the music or the characters or the story of a down on his luck sheet music salesman who escapes into the world of fantasy and song and music, then just the look of the film should be worth your time alone.

Gordon Willis was the cinematographer, one of the GOATS if not THE GOAT, he's certainly on the short list, he modeled and styled the look after Edward Hopper paintings and even infused the actors and camera to do "live action" recreations of some of Edward Hoppers most famous paintings including "Nighthawks" and "New York Movie."

It's a downbeat film, absolutely, but it does celebrate how we have music, film, musicals, and sometimes just each other to escape from the cruel and harsh realities that is inherent with life and being in this world.

It's for those reasons and many more than Pennies From Heaven not only made my list, but it was in my top 10 at number nine. And this pair of two films, both A+ is the "best" pair from this list that has dropped yet. Both are not only great musicals, but essential viewing for anyone who considers them an even marginal film buff.

Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I've convinced myself I need to trudge into my basement and dig it out of a box I have of old DVDs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqF-dwI82gw

[Citizen Rules]

Yahoo!...Once again:p Another from my list. Pennies From Heaven was my #20. I watched it for the first time as it was selected by our host Thursday Next in The Musical Countdown Group Watch.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.X_QaLZ8jD9MIxLO2SM0gIwHaEI%26pid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=8d0e46586e87631db1010b899d29e6219c5937b72406d91f38000c1c78cbbaf3&ipo=images
Pennies From Heaven (1981)

I am impressed. It's been a long time since I seen a movie that utterly wowed me. Pennies From Heaven wowed me...

I cut my movie watching teeth on 1930s musicals, especially Fred Astaire and Busby Berkeley musicals like Golddiggers of 1933. I loved how this movie cleverly wove those escapist 1930s style music numbers into a story that's brutally grounded in the depression era. It's the juxtaposition of those glitzy, fantasy musical numbers that were popular in the 1930s, Pennies From Heaven show us what life was really like for the poor during the depression era and that made this film so fascinating as a musical.

The movie was uncomfortable to watch at times as Steve Martin's character becomes odder as the story progresses and becomes dangerously sex obsessed. Despite being an idealist dreamer who believes the lyrics of songs are some magic gateway to happiness, he's creepy with his stalking of women. The movie threw me for a loop and said something deeper than I expected of the film and I admired that element of the narrative.

The look of the film is flat out gorgeous. With some amazing recreations of famous paintings being staged. I recognized this one:

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=99971

I thought the women in the 3rd story window modeling fur coats was odd but such a cool cinema shot. Later I found out that was also styled from a painting.

People talk about how the lip syncing to songs sounded weird coming from the characters. I don't believe the audience is suppose to interpret that as the character actually bursting out into song. Instead it's an inner monologue expressed in music of the day. Remember Steve Martin's character at the beginning of the film tells his wife that the lyrics of the songs are what life is about.

Pennies From Heaven is making my ballot even if I have to bump an old favorite. rating_4_5

[SpelingError]

I haven't seen Pennies From Heaven.

This is Spinal Tap is pretty good, but it didn't make my ballot.

[seanc]

Pennies was my 18. First time watch for me during list prep. I just thought it was really original and a ton of fun despite the dark tone. I have no doubt my love of Martin helped a bunch.

Spinal Tap is fine. I didn’t consider it.

[Miss Vicky]

I'm sorry. Both are A+ films, endlessly brilliant, charming, clever, perfect, unique, innovative, singular, timeless, and the fact that they exist in the universe makes it a better place... but to each their own I guess.

101793

[MovieMeditation]

Aaaaaand we’re back

… to seen neither.

[iluv2viddyfilms]

101793



101795

[Thief]

I'm a fan of This Is Spinal Tap, but I haven't seen it in a good while. It's another one I probably could've find a spot on my ballot, but I just didn't.

Haven't seen Pennies from Heaven.


SEEN: 14/46
MY BALLOT: 3/25


1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13. Moana (#68)
14.
15.
16.
17. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (#66)
18.
19.
20.
21. The Band Wagon (#80)
22.
23.
24.
25. Hallelujah (One-pointer)

[Citizen Rules]

I think tomorrow is the day for what I'm waiting for.

[dadgumblah]

Top Hat is terrific stuff and there's not an Astaire film I've seen that I've disliked, but I only have a handful on my list with Fred, because I had to make room for others. Still, nice to see it make it.

I've only seen The Greatest Showman once but I enjoyed it and thought everyone did a fine job, especially Mr. Jackman. No vote.

Despite my love for Steve Martin, I've never seen Pennies From Heaven. It looks very entertaining and I will see it some day.

This is Spinal Tap is a favorite in my household and I think it's just brilliantly done. I love all the jokes and songs, especially "Stonehenge" and what happens during that number. One of the movie moments where I busted a but and it's never healed. Also, the running joke about losing drummers, including the one who died by choking on vomit, except it was someone else's vomit! :D Still, I didn't think of it as a musical either, despite all the music in it! So, for all four, no vote.

So far:
#1. On the Town #93 (list proper)
#6. Easter Parade #78 (list proper)
#10. Gigi #85 (list proper)
#12. Calamity Jane #84 (list proper)
#14. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers #71 (list proper)
#25. Neptune's Daughter (one-pointer).

[cricket]

Spinal Tap is very funny but I did not consider it for this countdown.

I had Pennies from Heaven on my watchlist but didn't get to it. If I had known it was so dark, I would've made it a priority.

[Wooley]

You do?


You have?

No kidding? Uh huh...


WE GOT OONNNEEEE!!!!!


https://youtu.be/IOfMKv5fxgQ?si=dk0giUDEq2L8yRVL

This is absolutely how I heard it in my head.

[Wooley]

Oh, but I was wrong, somehow I missed Seven Brides For Seven Brothers.

[PHOENIX74]

Oh lord - two fantastic ballot-worthy movies I love that somehow weren't on my ballot! They perhaps should have been :

56. Pennies From Heaven (1981) - Okay, I'm impressed. Whoever had this on their ballot, you've impressed the hell out of me and I like you one hell of a lot (even more if I already like you one hell of a lot.) Somehow I failed to put this favourite on my ballot, despite the fact that Jessica Harper is in it, and despite the fact that the original 450-minute series written by Dennis Potter is one of the greatest works of art I've ever seen on a television screen. This cinematic adaptation was an infamous flop, and to be fair it did fail to live up to the glowing aura of the original (even though Dennis Potter wrote the adaptation as well.) It was a massive change of pace for Steve Martin, who was at the time still that wild and crazy guy only known for his comedic roles. But because I love the original so much, and because I was already a huge fan of Jessica Harper, I simply had to love this as well. It partly escaped my mind while compiling my ballot, but if I'd remembered it I may have questioned it's overall quality, and would definitely have considered it thrown away votes. There's no way I would have thought it would have made the countdown. I'm shocked, and I also feel a lot of joy that it has. Thank you! To those who voted for it - many, many thank yous.

55. This Is Spinal Tap (1984) - And here is another favourite film of mine that I didn't vote for. When it comes to a mockumentary like This Is Spinal Tap the "musical" label comes after a good half a dozen other labels have already been applied. As such this never came into consideration for me when I was getting right down to deciding how to vote. I know it's not a documentary, but still, anything like a doc wasn't going to make the definition. I'm not saying it shouldn't be here, I'm just explaining why I personally didn't end up voting for it - and at least this means that other musicals I love got votes that they may have needed. But yeah, this is one of the best comedies ever made, and it never fails to cheer me whenever I watch it. To those who voted for it, I salute you regardless of whether I see it as a musical or not.

Seen : 31/46

[Holden Pike]

101802

This Is Spın̈al Tap was #33 on the MoFo Top 100 of the 1980s as well as #13 on the MoFo Top 100 Comedies.

[Holden Pike]

Expected both of these to make the collective, but a bit disappointed they are so relatively low. No shocker, both were on my ballot...

101804
Yes, This is Spın̈al Tap is brilliant and hysterical and endlessly influential and of course it featured prominently on my ballot. I had to place it somewhere so I settled on being a bit cheeky and placing it at number eleven. Had to be done. Did the other three of you MoFos who voted for it also slot it at eleven? I was going to put it at ten but of course I needed just a little bit more to push it over the edge. Like any great spoof of a musical style or genre, part of why this proto-mockumentary works so well is that the songs, while outrageously silly, are not much sillier than the sort of overly loud, self-serious, bloated Eurotrash garbage of some of the actual early '80s headbangers were yelling on arena stages to burned out teenagers. Yes indeed, poetry like "My baby fits me like a flesh tuxedo, I love to sink her with my pink torpedo" seems just about right. The origin story of flower power cockney hippies to leather-clad, sex-fueled maniacs who don't realize the ride is ending is a joy to behold.

101803
I consider Herbert Ross' Pennies from Heaven to be a bonafide masterpiece. You can read my full review on the site HERE (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1047762#post1047762), but suffice to say this dark, weird, sad, and beautiful cinematic concoction adapting Dennis Potter's TV mini-series has seeped deep into my soul. It is intellectually on point, satirically sharp, and dazzlingly produced. I have always summed it up as the Musical as psychotic episode, and when viewed through that prism it is easy to be amazed.

I had Pennies from Heaven third on my list, good for twenty-three of its seventy-five points.

That makes five of mine to show in the bottom fifty.

HOLDEN’S BALLOT
3. Pennies from Heaven (#56)
11. This is Spın̈al Tap (#55)
17. Amadeus (#97)
21. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (#69)
25. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (#74)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmV_V0zeGxA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxh9Q_o21s4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6g_4A9FIp4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_wAkyv7VGQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMWQgGiC0Vc

[Holden Pike]

A framed poster of Pennies from Heaven actually hangs in my office, right next to where I am typing this response.

101807

[iluv2viddyfilms]

Next to a Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid poster too, no less, that is mostly hiding behind you. I gave Pennies From Heaven my number nine spot and actually rewatched it just this afternoon. Something I picked up that didn't resonate with me as much as seeing it in my 20s or even early 30s is how bad and awful I felt for the Jessica Harper character as the wife, when previously my sympathies largely were with the Bernadette Peters character. Not that it's a pissing contest, but it resonated differently, but it's been almost 10 years since I last watched it.

[Gideon58]

Truthfully, the Steve Martin character in Pennies From Heaven treats both ladies dreadfully.

[Holden Pike]

Truthfully, the Steve Martin character in Pennies From Heaven treats both ladies dreadfully.
He does, indeed. One of the many ways PFH subverts the Musical is by having the protagonist be a delusional creep. But ain't those songs pretty?

https://youtu.be/4DBHXeBCUtE?si=PLM_oiVGROzoNVHu

[Sedai]

A framed poster of Pennies from Heaven actually hangs in my office, right next to where I am typing this response.

101807

I love so much about this picture!

I STILL need to see Pennies from Heaven...

[FilmBuff]

Any movie where Steve Martin gets his hands on a musical instrument is worth savoring, imho.

[Thief]

Top moment from This Is Spinal Tap...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAXzzHM8zLw

[stillmellow]

I have never heard of Pennies from Heaven, and I've seen The Lonely Guy, which I assumed was Steve Martin's most obscure film. I'll have to check it out.


I didn't consider This is Spinal Tap to be a musical. I like it, but it wouldn't have quite made my list in any case.

[stillmellow]

He does, indeed. One of the many ways PFH subverts the Musical is by having the protagonist be a delusional creep. But ain't those songs pretty?

https://youtu.be/4DBHXeBCUtE?si=PLM_oiVGROzoNVHu


"Likable characters are for cowards." - David Sedaris

[Thursday Next]

5lists77pointsSouth Pacific (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/17352-south-pacific.html)Director
Joshua Logan, 1958

Starring
Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor, John Kerr, Ray Walston

[Thursday Next]

5lists79pointsInside Llewyn Davis (https://www.movieforums.com/movies/86829-inside-llewyn-davis.html)Director
Ethan Coen, 2013

Starring
Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, Ethan Phillips

[Allaby]

Seen both, neither made my ballot. South Pacific is a good musical, but not a personal favourite. Inside Llewyn Davis is fantastic, but I don't really consider it a musical, so I didn't vote for it.

Seen: 47/48

[rauldc14]

I like Llewyn Davis but I don't consider it a musical.

I've almost watched South Pacific a bunch of times but then I never did.

[Citizen Rules]

Yes! another from my ballot and a film I truly love. South Pacific was my #3 choice on my ballot...I wrote this:

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.N3EStF0QCWVNeFBl9bciswAAAA%26pid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=d28ccc6a46bc77a5efd9211bc6ef9c5751794fd57f606eb8c923e05f3b485cc1&ipo=images
South Pacific (1958)

I flat out love this movie. I love the songs, I love the story and Mitzi Gaynor is a peach. This is the only Rodgers and Hammerstein play that was made into a movie with all of the songs intact. The usual fare was to cut a number of the Broadway songs for runtime so that the movie wasn't too long. At 2 hours 37 minutes the time flew by as I watched this and I can't always say that when I watch a long musical. The anti-racist anti-hate song, "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught", was a bold move and necessary to show that even in the tropical paradise on a south pacific island good people can still be raised to have bigoted views. The film has it's heart in the right place. I read that when this first came out some areas most likely in the south boycotted the film.

I'm a huge fan of Mitzi Gaynor who was known for her dancing and singing. Here she plays a conflicted woman who's in love with a Frenchman who has two children that are Polynesian. That bothers her as she was raised in the south to 'not mix'. Mitzi really is able to convey these complex emotions by facial expressions alone. Truly a fine dramatic performance from her.

A young France Nuyen is as cute as a button especially during the song 'Happy Talk'. Her mother played by Juanita Hall is colorfully entertaining as was Ray Walston. Besides the conflicted emotions of bigotry there's a serious note as John Kerr a young lieutenant, is sent on a mission along with Rossano Brazzi (the Frenchman) to spy on the Japanese army on a nearby island. Their mission during WWII is very dangerous and they are not expected to return.

Yes the color filters the director used are annoying at times but even he didn't like the effect once he seen it, but by then it was too late to re-shot those scenes as the film was in post production. I've learned to look past the color filters and see the deeper beauty of South Pacific.
rating_5

[Wyldesyde19]

So many non musicals making the list sadly pushes out actual musicals.
Oh well. Grin and bear it.

[Gideon58]

Not a big fan of South Pacific, but not surprised it made the countdown.

[Miss Vicky]

The only thing I liked about Inside Llewyn Davis was the cat. I haven’t seen South Pacific.

[Takoma11]

I got to see Top Hat on the big screen years back and it was a lot of fun. (I'm trying to remember what it was playing with, because it was a double bill. Hmmmm.)

[stillmellow]

Haven't posted my standings in a while:


Seen: 28/46


List: 4 [A Star is Born (1954), O Brother Where Art Thou, Yellow Submarine, Frozen]


Should've been on list: 1 (The Burden)

[iluv2viddyfilms]

So many non musicals making the list sadly pushes out actual musicals.
Oh well. Grin and bear it.

Yeah, I think that is an inherent issue with any musicals list as so many films have musical elements but are not necessarily musicals that we think of in the traditional sense and understanding of the genre. I'm OK with that. It's why I didn't vote for Spinal Tap whereas otherwise I would have. Inside Lleywn Davis is a fine film. I've only seen it once, but it wasn't on my list of contenders because it pushed what's understood to be a musical, just like a film like Georgia or Sid and Nancy might. Only three of my picks might push the boundaries of what qualifies as a musical, one of which, Duck Soup, has already appeared.

[iluv2viddyfilms]

The only thing I liked about Inside Llewyn Davis was the cat. I haven’t seen South Pacific.

All films need a cat.

[iluv2viddyfilms]

I need to watch South Pacific... never seen it, but I do love Joshua Logan films and how they look with lighting, staging or mise en scene, and they seem to have a charming dreamy quality to them. Two of his films, did make my list.

[MovieMeditation]

Inside Llewyn Davis is fantastic. A top movie in my book. An easy number one…

… had it been a true musical. So yeah, I didn’t vote for it because I don’t consider it a musical, but it would have been my #1 probably.

Haven’t seen South Pacific.

[iluv2viddyfilms]

It looks like South Pacific is now available for streaming on the free app Tubi.

[SpelingError]

I've seen parts of South Pacific, but I don't believe I've ever seen it from start to finish.

Inside Llewyn Davis was #6 on my ballot.

[SpelingError]

4. The Burden
6. Inside Llewyn Davis
8. Top Hat
12. Duck Soup

[Citizen Rules]

I need to watch South Pacific... never seen it, but I do love Joshua Logan films and how they look with lighting, staging or mise en scene, and they seem to have a charming dreamy quality to them. Two of his films, did make my list.Must be the last two he directed, which I approve of and seen but didn't have room on my ballot for. I do want to watch his film non musical movie Fanny (1961).

[seanc]

Inside Llewyn Davis is one of the best movies of the last decade but it doesn’t belong here.

South Pacific suuuucks, but does belong here.

So carry on I suppose.

[iluv2viddyfilms]

South Pacific suuuucks, but does belong here.



Actually, I started watching it and am about half way through... so far, yeah that's about right. What's interesting is that over the years, when I watch a musical certain names start to repeat... for instance Rodgers and Hammerstein as well as another pairing of lyricists/music writers Lerner and Loewe.

As it turns out, more often than not, I tend to absolutely adore the musicals that grace the name Lerner and Lowe, and also more often than not, I find that musicals that grace the name of Rodgers and Hammerstein to be dull, laconic, empty, joyless and almost artificial. They are often cold and leave me empty - nor do they challenge me on any sort of intellectual level nor go their pierce into my soul and make with swell with emotion... the way a certain piece of music in a certain Lerner and Loewe musical that made my list does.

The stories and characters in a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical seem to be thinly drawn out and almost going through the motions like they are AI... there's no spirit or soul to it. It's almost like they're too clean, too polished, and too perfect to evoke any kind of emotion.

It's almost like Rodgers and Hammerstein are the Andrew Lloyd Webber, another musical writer that does zero for me, of the pre-1970s.

I will say Rodgers and Hammerstein do have some solid numbers such as the "Wonderful Guy" piece, which makes me think of the Fallout video games and also some of the songs in Sound of Music, but these are songs that seem more "radio friendly" and don't really fit into a world of musicals, but rather written and then have a musical attached to them as opposed to songs that are great, but are invariably married seamlessly to the musicals they are in, such as works by Lerner and Loewe, to create a complete and wholistic work of art.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl6I_bou5rw

[stillmellow]

I'm gonna have to disagree with the consensus on Inside Llewyn Davis, and not about whether or not it's a musical.


I love the early Coen brothers movies, but this and a Serious Man don't work for me.


It feels like they're gravitating towards making a film where they introduce a flawed, but ultimately sympathetic character, and then immediately beat them to death with baseball bats.


This is not for me.

[cricket]

I loved Llewyn Davis but count me as another who doesn't believe it belongs here.

Haven't seen South Pacific.

[dadgumblah]

Love South Pacific but need to see it again as it's been a little bit. But Ray Walston as his dancing stomach really sticks in my memory. :p

Haven't seen Inside Llewyn Davis but as it's a Coen Brothers film, I need to.

So far:
#1. On the Town #93 (list proper)
#6. Easter Parade #78 (list proper)
#10. Gigi #85 (list proper)
#12. Calamity Jane #84 (list proper)
#14. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers #71 (list proper)
#25. Neptune's Daughter (one-pointer).