Top 10 Film Musicals Adapted from Stage Versions
The Top Ten Film Musicals Adapted from Theater or Broadway Versions
These top musical films are great DVD gifts. Although they are considered highly successful, previously, they already had a history of long-running stage productions in the theatrical world. These top films include Grease, Chicago, Hairspray, The Sound of Music, The Phantom of the Opera, Evita, The Rocky Horror (Picture) Show, Dreamgirls, Fiddler on the Roof, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street .
Resources, facts and information on films include the film director and author, screenplay writer, brief summary, the year the film was released, theater opening, the leading actors, and some trivia facts.
1. Grease (1978), Theater Opening, 1972
Directed by Randal Kleiser, music written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey.
Over the summer Greaser Danny fell in love with lovely girl Sandy. Later on, unexpectedly, they discover they are in the same high school. The story has lots of fun, adventure and romance for the typical teenagers. John Travolta (Danny) was cast alongside Olivia Newton-John (Sandy).
Film stars: John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing and Jeff Conaway.
2. Chicago (2002), Theater Opening, 1975
Directed by Rob Marshall, written for screenplay by Bill Condon and based on book by Bob Fosse.
Velma Kelly becomes a murderer when she killed her husband and sister after finding them in bed together, and Roxie Hart who killed her boyfriend when she discovered he wasn’t going to make her a star. Both find themselves on death row together (acted by Catherine-Zeta Jones and Renée Zellweger) as the singing murderesses and fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows. The setting is Chicago during the 1920s. The story fizzes with much cynicism and energy
Film stars: Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere.
Trivia facts: The film won 6 Oscars.
3. Hairspray (2007), Theater Opening, 2002
Directed by Adam Shankman, screenplay by Leslie Dixon.
This is a musical comedy. A nice young teenager has always been interested in her local television dance show. The trouble is that she is plump, pleasant one. She manages to integrate Baltimore with her performances on the local TV programme. But when she lands a spot on the show, the 1962 Baltimore certainly learns something from her, a lesson on attitude.
Film stars: John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah and Nikki Blonsky.
4. The Sound of Music (1965), Theater Opening 1959
The title is also known as “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music”
Directed by Robert Wise, written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, with the music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hammerstein II.
Maria (Julie Andrews) , a young woman bred in an Austrian convent becomes a governess to seven children of Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer), a Naval officer widower. The story is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, from The Story of the Trapp Family Singers.
Film stars: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer and Eleanor Parker.
Trivia facts: The film won 5 Oscars. This is the last creation of the greatest musical partnership of Rodgers and Hammerstein, as the latter died of cancer in less than a year after the film premiere.
5. The Phantom of the Opera (2004), Theater Opening 1986
Directed by Joel Schumacher, based on the novel by Gaston Leroux and stage musical by Andrew Lloyd Weber.
A disfigured musical genius has hidden himself in the Paris Opera House. This grisly phantom provoked horror as he terrorizes the opera company for the unwitting benefit of a young soprano protégée whom he trains and loves.
Film stars: Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum and Patrick Wilson.
6. Evita (1996), Theater Opening, 1978
Directed and screenplay by Alan Parker, based on the book by Tim Rice.
The hit musical based on the life of Maria Eva Duarte. She started off as a B-picture Argentinian actress and eventually becomes the wife of Juan Perón, the president of Argentina. Evita Duarte de Perón becomes the most loved and hated woman in Argentina.
Film stars: Madonna, Antonio Banderas and Jonathan Pryce.
Trivia Facts: The real María Eva Duarte de Perón was the second wife of Argentinian President Juan Perón. She served as the First Lady of Argentina until her death (1946-1952). She was called Evita, an affectionate Spanish language diminutive.
7. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), Theater Opening, 1973
Directed and screenplay by Jim Sharman, original music play by Richard O’Brien.
A weird doctor, an alien transvestite called Dr Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry) in a remote area needs to be consulted by a newly engaged couple all because they experience a breakdown in an isolated place. The story is based on O’Brien’s musical sci-fi satire.
Film stars: Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick
8. Dreamgirls (2006), Theater Opened: 1981
Directed and screenplay by Bill Condon, based on the book by Tom Eyen and based on a Broadway musical, with music by Henry Krieger.
Dreamgirls which started as a Broadway musical follows a hard-working trio, young black female soul singers from Chicago, Illinois called “The Dreams.” They crossed over to the early 60s’ pop charts and went on to become superstars.
Film stars: Beyoncé Knowles, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover and Jennifer Hudson.
Trivia facts: The story is based on the show business dreams and successes of R&B acts such as the famous The Supremes and The Shirelles.
9. Fiddler on the Roof (1971), Theater Opening, 1964
Directed by Norman Jewison, based on the book by Sholom Aleichem, play by Joseph Stein.
This is a haunting musical. During the pre-revolutionary Russia, a poor Jewish peasant must contend with marrying off his three daughters. He also had to contend with sentiment of anti-semitism that threatens his household. The endearing popular song “Sunrise, Sunset” is most notable along with “If I were a rich man…”
Film stars: Topol, Norma Crane and Leonard Frey
Trivia fact: John Williams got an Oscar-winning score for Fiddler on the Roof.
10. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), Theater Opening, 1979
Directed by Tim Burton, screenplay by John Logan and music by Stephen Sondheim.
The story is based on the Broadway musical hit. The infamous Benjamin Barker, alias Sweeney Todd, sets up a barber shop in London which is the basis for his sinister partnership with his fellow tenant, Mrs. Lovett.
Film stars: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman
Trivia fact: Sweeney Todd is a fictional character who first appeared as the antagonist of the Victorian “penny dreadful” (British fiction in the 19th century) The String of Pearls (1846-1847).
These musical films are timely for the festive season and can be rented out at video rental stores or online video rentals. Through the years, they have been extremely popular, with an all-time favourite for family entertainment, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music.
Resources of the Top 10 Film Musicals Adapted from Stage Versions
The Internet Movie Database (IMDB)
Filmsite.org – For Musical Films
Tel Asiado is a writer, author, and business consultant, previously, IT manager & consultant. Her articles reflect her interests, from small business, biographies & histories, to classical music especially Mozart, art & literature, biographies, and Christian writings. Tel has produced non-fictions, e-books and anthologies. Her education is MBA in Computer Management, BSc Chemistry, Diploma in Small Business & Internet Mktg, and Cert IV Training and Assessment (TAA). Her small office/home site is homebizideasnow.com, and numerous information of Mozart and classical music, mozartandclassicalmusic.com.
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