the eagle!
July 2nd, 2008
Why do I like musicals? Is it simply because my parents bombarded my sister and I with soundtracks to Cats, Les Miz and a dozen Gilbert & Sullivans? Is it something bigger, like my general love for old-timey things, or the nostalgia for an age before I was born? Does it have to do with the innocence that musicals have, the general tone of joy that fills acting when it has to break into song?
Whatever the reason, if it’s a good musical, I’m into it. When it was fleet week a little while back, every time I saw a sailor in manhattan, I thought he was gonna break into a tune from On the Town. Sometime i wanna go out in New York, and do like that On the Town poster says: "Paint the town with joy!"
Now don’t get me wrong, I won’t like a film JUST because it’s a musical, it has to be good as well. And just like there are relatively few good dramas, or comedies, or action films, there are relatively few good film musicals. But c’mon, you can’t knock Singin’ In the Rain, West Side Story, Les Miz, or Sweeney Todd (that Depp/Burton one was great!)…
Tonight in the park across from our house they’re going to be doing a sort of Screen on the Green thing where they will show 1776, a two and a half hour musical about the founding fathers. One of them is played by that guy who was in Magnum and is the voice of K.I.T.T. on Knight Rider. Maxine was all set to come see the film until she heard what it was going to be, and I have to say, I don’t blame her — if you’re not into musicals at all, this doesn’t sound like it would be a good time.
But I thought you should get a little taste of it to see what you think…I’ve never seen it, so I can’t wait…in case you hate musicals I’ve spared you the singing in this clip…and it’s short…
Maxine can’t believe that I’m posting this at all…wants to go on the record that she thinks it is "boring as hell."
With all due respect to the lovely, wonderful Maxine, should we expect anything else from a Brit during this July 4th Week??!!
Winning is Entertaining, Losing isnt!!!
Love Ya Max!
My all time favorite movie is High Society, which is one of the finest non-musical musicals ever made! Jazz, Louis Armstrong, Frank, Bing and cocktail in hand at all times.
good musicals rule.
Odin’s got a point
and don’t forget Jazz Singer
So what did you think? Jamie was in a 6th grade production of this masterwork and I’ve loved it ever since. I fine myself defending it on a far too often basis and most people dismiss it out of hand without having actually seen it. Is the premise really that bad? Compared to other musicals, I’d say it’s par for the course. If there’s a musical about famous assassins, why not the founding fathers?