MovieChat Forums > Camelot (1967) Discussion > Why Don't Some Musicals Transfer Well

Why Don't Some Musicals Transfer Well

posted 8 years ago by marhefka
4 replies | jump to latest

Some great Broadway shows don't transfer well to the big screen. For example, the most popular Broadway show of all time - Guys and Dolls - did not make for a great movie. One of my favorite Broadway shows is Brigadoon but the movies was a dud. Another example is this movie - Camelot.

I maintain that the reason is that the stars of the movies are not singers. Guys and Dolls featured Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons. Brigadoon was ruined by Gene Kelly and Camelot did not fare well because of Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave.

My Fair Lady, although winning an Oscar for best picture, still came under a lot of criticism for dubbing Audrey Hepburn's voice.

[–] atlasmb 8 years ago

A good question. A lot could be written about that.

But some of this is a matter of opinion. For example, I happen to like the film version of "Guys and Dolls", though there is an aspect of it that bothers me (the casting of Jean Simmons). "Brigadoon" is a film that I originally was indifferent to. But after watching it a few times, I genuinely like it now.

You are on to something regarding the casting of non-singers (something that is totally unnecessary). But Rex Harrison in "My Fair Lady" works for me.

An idea: Is it possible that theatergoers expect and accept more fantasy with their musicals, whereas filmgoers are not so inclined as much? That might explain why some people have trouble with the film "Jesus Christ Superstar", for example, which is an abrupt departure from film conventions.

Anyway, I think filmgoers will accept the tone and concept of a fantasy, but the film needs to be consistent in its portrayal of the fantasy. If you introduce elements of reality, it can undermine the whole enterprise.

Or maybe it is partly just luck. Many times the stage production comes before the film. They can't all be hits. Do films that are adapted to the stage fare any better? Or are they hit or miss also?

[–] marhefka 8 years ago

@atlasmb. Thanks for your response. Jean Simmons is not a singer but her singing did not bother me much in Guys and Dolls. I mostly objected to Marlon Brando's singing

As far as Brigadoon, I was mostly disappointed in taking a movie with five great ballads and dropping three of them. Check out the Brigadoon Message Board and there are many complaints about Gene's voice.

Of course you are spot on regarding Rex Harrison. He won a Tony and an Oscar for the same role.

[–] atlasmb 8 years ago

The singing of Simmons did not bother me. I just had the sense that the role could have been better played by other actresses. I know Sister Sarah is supposed to be a square, but I thought something was missing. Think of Audrey Hepburn in that role, for example.

[–] liscarkat (18373) 2 years ago

They don't work because they don't do them right. A great musical should transfer as a great, or at least good, film. "Oklahoma!", "The Sound of Music", "West Side Story" (original), and "My Fair Lady" are examples of stage musicals that worked on-screen. "Carousel", "Brigadoon", and "Camelot" missed the mark. Casting and production have something to do with it. Those that failed would be interesting to re-attempt. Unfortunately there is little interest today in the 1940s-1950s style of musicals, and if any were attempted, they'd most likely be tainted by the current wokeness trend.