Movie Mondays: The Movie Musical Part 3

Continuing on through the history of musicals, the 1960s were mostly hits from Broadway that were adapted for film. This era brings many exciting developments but only two exceptional leading ladies were brought to the screen from Broadway as well.

One of these stars came flying in on an umbrella from her Broadway success of My Fair Lady. Julie Andrews, denied the staring role of Eliza in the movie version of the show because she was (and I quote) "not photogenic enough," was asked to portray the first 'Super Nanny' in Walt Disney's Mary Poppins. With incomparable Dick Van Dyke as co-star, Julie shines in her Oscar winning performance which would lead her to the role that made her career, Maria in The Sound of Music. Julies magic can also be found in the hilarious Thoroughly Modern Millie and the astonishing Victor/Victoria (in a role which she later originated on Broadway).

The other leading lady for this era worth mentioning don't have Julie's charm or class for that matter, but she is truly sensational. Debuting in Funny Girl, a role she originated on Broadway, Barbara Streisand's excellent performance won her the Oscar for Best Actress. Other musicals in her repertoire included, Funny Lady(the sequel to Funny Girl), Hello Dolly (big hair, long nails and Louis Armstrong :D) and Yentl (oh man, so much awkward).

Other musicals with roots in Broadway that were total hits include, Bells are Ringing, The Music Man, My Fair Lady, A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to The Forum, Sweet Charity, West Side Story, Oliver! and Finian's Rainbow.

A musical you should never see (and I mean NEVER. I couldn't even make it through the whole thing... it was that bad) is Camelot. Super boring and terrible showmanship. Just plain bad.


In the 70s, there were more of Broadway's hits were turned into movies with mixed results. Fiddler on The Roof and Cabaret did well but most did terribly.

The 70s also brought the use of rock songs in musicals like Jesus Christ Super Star, Hair, The Rose, Tommy and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Unfortunately critic and audiences alike really hated most of these attempts.

Two movies contradicted these trend however.

First, Grease, full of catchy songs and teen angst, immediately won over audiences and critics alike. John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John provided fun for the whole family in their portrayals of the rough and tough greaser and the sweater toting goody-two-shoes.

Although Rocky Horror Picture Show was not received well by critics, it has developed an impressive and bizarre following especially among college students.



At the end of the 70s, most people considered the movie musical to be pretty much dead. It would take some puppets and mythical water creatures to convince people that the movie musical should be a part of our world.