Live Action Musical Movie Hall of Fame

Loved your review of this movie, Clazor and yes, Howard De Silva steals the show as Ben Franklin.

Glad you enjoyed the film, Clazor...you brought up some interesting things...you mentioned that the film was more about Bert than Mary or the Banks family...you might want to watch Saving Mr. Banks when you get a chance...as for what Mary is, a witch, or whatever, I think you might be overthinking it a bit, but if it helps to consider the fact that the very first time the character is observed in the film, she is sitting on top of a very billowy cloud...take from that what you will. I think it can all be summed up when Mr. Banks demands to know what's going on when he finds 100 chimney sweeps in his living room and Mary says, "I never explain anything."

Re-watched Into the Woods last night. This was my 2nd re-watch and this is, surprisingly, one of those films that just gets better with each re-watch. This was the 2014 film version of a 1987 Stephen Sondheim Broadway musical that won 3 Tony Awards. This story of the musical mingling of several classic fairytale characters is not for all tastes, as is all the work of Sondheim. The story requires complete attention because a lot of the story rests in Sondheim's complex and clever music and lyrics and director Rob Marshall understands this...his direction completely serves this brilliant score and that's one of the things about this movie that really works...Marshall and screenwriter James Lapine made sure that the tempos on a lot of the music were slower than performed onstage making catching everything a little easier but this is not casual movie viewing and Marshall and cast respect that...speaking of the cast, I've read a lot of negatives on this site regarding Meryl Streep's Oscar-nominated performance as the Witch, but I think it's absolutely brilliant...Streep creates a character who is larger than life and vividly human at the same time. As terrifying as the character is in some scenes, some of my favorite moments in the film are the witch's moments with daughter Rapunzel...the evil and sardonic witch completely melts away during these scenes and becomes a loving mother, nothing more, nothing less. Emily Blunt and James Corden are absolutely enchanting together as the Baker and his wife and in my original review, I mentioned that Chris Pine was a little much as Cinderella's Prince, but this performance is growing on me...his duet with Rapunzel's Prince (Billy Magnussen), "Agony" is one of my favorite musical moments in the film and I LOVE Johnny Depp as the Wolf. The film features exquisite production values with some spectacular set pieces (the beanstalk is awesome) and some terrific costumes and especially makeup (as I mentioned in my original review, check out the Wolf's hands). Great nomination for this Hall of Fame.

Yeah, sorry, maybe one should actually answer questions asked. At least I think that is how it's done.

Yes, as you've been told, it's a shot from Analyze that. And now for some highlights from Mr. De Niro and his marvelous singing voice:

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OK, as most of you probably expected, I left my favorite for last and re-watched Mary Poppins today for the first time in at least five years. For a movie that is 53 years old, this extraordinary musical holds up. Of course, I was completely enchanted by this film as a child and this was the first time in quite awhile that I looked at it through completely adult eyes and looked at the technique and skill that went into the film, something I was naturally oblivious to a child. This story is told in exquisite and loving detail recalling how this magical character helps to repair a family who didn't even know they were damaged, the patriarch of the family in particular, a man so obsessed with his place as master of the house and his work that he takes his devoted wife for granted and doesn't know his children at all. As documented in the 2013 film Saving Mr. Banks, this story is about Mary getting George Banks to wake up and appreciate the wonderful family life he has and ignores. The peek into the woman that is screaming on the inside that is Winifred Banks is also quite telling. Robert Stevenson's Oscar-nominated direction here is nothing short of extraordinary...mounting what is, on the surface, a children's musical, but what is really so much more.

As you watch, it's so clear that Disney himself was a consistent presence on the set to ensure that the vision he promised to his daughters was full and true, starting with his personal choice of Julie Andrews in the title role, a performance that is simply perfection, won the actress an Oscar, and deservedly made her a movie star. There's always been a lot of talk about the inconsistency of Van Dyke's cockney accent and that hasn't changed, but he totally makes up for it with his work as the elder Mr. Dawes....just brilliant. If I found any problems with this recent re-watch, I would have to say that the "Jolly Holiday" scene goes on a little too long...we could have done without the reprise of the song by the animated barnyard animals or the romance between Bert's cane and Mary's parisol, but those penguins are still the bomb! Also, the song "Stay Awake" kind of brings the film to a dead halt, but other than that, a classic that still enchants.

A short one this time, as I really don't have much to say other than this was fine.

You can see that they'd put some serious time into the costumes, cause it takes time coming up with a wardrobe that is so different from each character, yet at the same time so homogenous as to be that they all belong with each other. That was the one thing that stood out to me as something they really worked on and perfected. The rest...not so much. I sit here an hour after watching the musical, and I have trouble remembering a single song, bar one, clearly. That is not to say I didn't enjoy them. I had a fun time watching and listening, but most songs blew by without really sticking. The one that did, All for the best, wasn't so much to do with the song itself, rather the fact that I recognized the melody from a comedy dinner show recorded in 1976 that my dad listens to now and then. They'd written new lyrics for it, but the melody was the same. Was this so big that it had much of a world-wide following? Just curious if anyone knows, cause I got surpried when I suddenly throught it sounded familiar, and when I finally figured it out I was kinda confused.

But as I said, it was enjoyable. The actors seemed to have fun, and I was surprised to learn that Jesus was played by Victor Garber and that this was his first performance. The dude can (could?) sing, I have to give him that. Other than Garber, the only other actor that stood out to me was the guy in the beginning, gathering them all together. I was a bit surprised when he got the role of Judas, cause I had him pegged as the John the Baptist analogy for the musical. Then again, there's only nine deciples this time, so I guess someone had to pull double duty.

Overall, it was fine. The guy with the blue mustasch who tried to imitate Tweety got annoying after awhile, the same with the girl with the bad Sloth impression (yes, Goonies didn't come out until 1985, I know. Dosen't change the fact that it is what I thought of when I heard it) but it didn't ruin anything.

So yeah, entertaining while being watched, gone within an hour of seeing it. Overall, 'fine' is more or less my takeaway from this. Good nom though, Ed!

Interesting review...I understand a lot of what you said here and I think a lot of the problems with this film are the fact that it is a film version of a stage musical that should have stayed on the stage. Audience interaction is a large part of the stage version...as a matter of fact, during intermission, the audience is usually invited onstage to drink "wine" with the cast. Of course, all of this is lost on a movie screen. Godspell is one of the most popular stage musicals ever, probably having been performed on more stages than any musical ever written. The movie barely made a blip on the radar. If the opportunity ever presents itself, try to see the stage show and see if you feel any differently. Oh, and traditionally, John the Baptist and Judas (played by the late David Haskell in the film) are played by the same actor. Onstage, he is John the Baptist during the first act, which ends after "Light of the World" and the same actor becomes Judas in the second act.

I like that! You're right too, the costumes and make up are very impressive in Godspell.

Was I the only person who thought the first character that we see (John The Baptist) should have played Jesus? To me he seemed more Jesus like than the guy who actually played him.

I'm constantly impressed with your knowledge of musicals, Gideon. Very interesting, I never would have thought that the audience would be invited onto stage to drink wine with the cast members. I could see how a live performance of Godspell would be very different than the movie version. Thanks for posting that.

Yeah, I wanted to defend the integrity of the piece because it is a great piece of theater. I did the show myself, but I can understand why people have issues with the movie because a lot of the fun in the piece is lost with that 4th wall.

Gideon, when did you do theater? In college? or as a paid actor? I'm interested in hearing more

I've been doing theater since I was in high school...I started the summer of my freshman year in the chorus of Damn Yankees. I also played Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls and Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, We were actually the first high school in the country to do a full production of Superstar. I majored in musical theater in college where I appeared in the chorus of Carnival, Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady, and played the Leading Player in Pippin. I then did a lot of summer stock and community theater where I played Marcellus in The Music Man, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, the Lion in Wiz, Big Daddy in Sweet Charity, and Ken in Ain't Misbehavin. I was paid for Marcellus and Nathan Detroit.

@Gideon58

Very cool Gideon! Are you still doing any theater?

Not really...haven't done anything in a long time. About a decade ago, I played the Mysterious Man in Into the Woods, the last thing I did.

that is QUITE the playlist, @Gideon58! VERY impressive. You have some great roles under belt.
Like @Citizen Rules, I've been enjoying these interesting bits of trivia you've been gracing us with.
Great lil review, @Clazor. Gotta echo CR on the observation you made about the costumes - pretty spot on

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Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (The Young Girls of Rochefort)


The description on the back of this DVD says its "delightfully lighthearted" and is it EVER!!

Such beauty, freedom and uninhibited joy of life and love have been attempted at,and with this movie it is the sweetest of nectars that pours forth in bright, glorious cascades throughout.
From the sensual ballet during the opening credits as riders "stretch" while riding the ferry, to every li song and every lil dance. There is a celebration that reaches an ecstatic release in. . . well, everything. The smiles, the conversions, the dedication to romance and to passion that drives them all, the pageantry, the colors; all of which is so deliciously displayed in song and dance that exudes frivolity in such a delightful way.

Would it be wrong of me to say that this is so utterly and deliciously French?
To only care for Love. For Romance. Poetry. Music -- and giving children champagne and using a pistol to shoot paint filled balloons to create art. Even a brutal murder that occurs was one of passion. Viva la France, indeed!!

I cannot honestly place a favorite song or find fault in another. They had a wonderful wave of joyful intoxication that, for me,to dissect and critique would be contrary to the movie itself; therefore, I cannot, will not.

I would also like to rave about the dancing. The mixing of ballet with, well I do not have the practical knowledge to say exactly, but it seemed to have this jazzy, go-go expressionism to it. Like everything else it adhered to the celebration of Life and of Love. Just freakin glorious.

Also with this were the characters. I chuckled throughout, thinking: Aw, look at all the pretty people. But then, how could they be otherwise? And I enjoyed them all. I even enjoyed the occasional look to the camera, as if they were singing right to us. Kinda nice, that.
Having others remark about Gene Kelly being dubbed, I did wonder about that. Was there an issue? Could they only afford to pay him to dance only? Who knows?

So, to @Pussy Galore, a tip of a wine glass, a kiss on both cheeks as I say, tres bonne regarding your nom!! And merci beau coup, I would never had seen this if it was not nominated here.

@Clazor, I had the same problem with Godspell that you had. It's enjoyable, but forgettable. I've watched it twice since this HoF started, but then when I sit down to write about it, I can't remember much of what I saw in the movie, but I remember enjoying it while I was watching it.

I remember the vivid colors, the crazy costumes, and the locations, but the only song that I found memorable was "Day By Day", but that's probably because I already knew the song before seeing the movie.


I was a fan of Victor Garber before seeing this movie, and I've watched this movie a couple of times before this HoF specifically because he's in it, but I agree with you 100% that the guy who played John The Baptist, (David Haskell), should have played Jesus. (Victor Garber is better in more "normal" roles.)

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OPEN FLOOR.

@Gideon58, That's an impressive résumé.

I love reading all the trivia you and @SilentVamp know about these movies. I've always been a "fan" of musicals. but you two are "fanatics", and I think that's wonderful.

Yeah, I can understand that. Being the son of god and all, breaking the forth wall and interacting with the people watching should be a thing he could do. I also get the feeling that based on the personality of the character, sing-along would be encouraged and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he'd jumped of stage with his pot of paint and started using the audience as a canvas.

I guess that would explaine how it could have its melody borrowed by a two-man comedy group for a comedy sketch ca. 1976. Thanks for the nuggets o' learning.

Ok...it that for convenience sake, or do they want to make some kind of point? Did they just think that the part were too small for two actors so they gave one guy double duty? Or maybe because they didn't want one guy dissapearing after the intermission and a new one poping up? Or is it simply a way of portraying the duality of man; that we all have a light and dark side within that we are constantly pulled between?

Am I reading too much into this?


Thank you!

No, I thought he was Jesus to begin with, too. How else was he able to blink in and out of existence like that if he's only a man? As to the appearance, yes, he looked more the part, but I thought Garber did a good job in the end.

Thanks!

Victor Garber has a pretty decent musical theater career. But, I suppose, his most notable roles would be in the original Broadway production of Sweeney Todd (as Anthony) and the original Off-Broadway production of Assassins (John Wilkes Booth).


But as long as we are on Godspell, there was something that I forgot to mention in my review, and I was going to save it for 1776, but I might as well mention this little tidbit - if anyone is interested - in case I forget to mention it in the 1776 review, too:
The actor who plays the Courier (a.k.a. lead vocal of "Momma Look Sharp") in the movie of 1776 was the guy who played Jesus in the original Off-Broadway production of Godspell. Just a little random fact for all of you.


Oh! And Maria from Sesame Street was in the original Off-Broadway cast of Godspell, too.

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When is the deadline for this again? I couldn't see it in the first post.