Question for my fellow Cinephiles (1 Viewer)

[Mr. Blue Sky]

I like old movies because when someone says "It doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world", I'm glad I get the reference.

I loved that line in Gone with the Wind!

 

[Madmarsha]

I loved that line in Gone with the Wind!

Frankly, Mr. Blue Sky, I don't give a dam.

 

[Tapxe]

There have been a few. North by Northwest and The African Queen come to mind. But no musicals for me. I generally dislike the injection of song and dance into my life. Prior to flash mobs had that ever happened?

Maybe the whole idea stems from someone getting caught up in a second line by accident. Maybe my dislike is due to a birthday gone wrong. IDK about any of that. I do know that in my life there has never been a break with reality so sudden and complete that song and dance happened. Even including the 80's when that whole zombie Thriller thing was happening.

 

[Dago]

For Valentines Day I chose a classic romantic movie to watch with the wife

Return of the Living Dead

 

[Optimus Prime]

which brings up another question. Why are musicals so polarizing. I enjoyed Annie when I was a kid. Wizard of Oz is probably my favorite movie of all time. But I can’t really think of another one I enjoyed. If you are acting and suddenly the whole set breaks out in song and dance, my suspension of disbelief is toast. Why can’t I buy into This being normal life behavior?

singing in the rain & little shop of horrors

 

[AARPSaint]

Never been enamored of Citizen Kane. I much prefer The Third Man if you want an Orson Wells flick. Somewhat agree with the musicals comment-- but, if the songs really appeal to me, then they're fine. So, My Fair Lady, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, even Guy and Dolls--those I find acceptable.

By the way, what is up with casting leads in musicals who can't sing? And Audrey Hepburn could sing, but Marnie Nixon's voice was dubbed in for My Fair Lady.

Yes, I love old movies, even ones that predate me, as my DVR proves.

 

[Madmarsha]

"My Darling Clementine" is my all-around favorite version of the OK Corral. I know people love the diseased Val Kilmer in Tombstone (which is getting to be an "old" movie now, too, my Millennial standards), but it's very hard for me to sit through that movie while MDC I can watch over and over even if for no other reason than to see Monument Valley.

 

[Moon]

which brings up another question. Why are musicals so polarizing. I enjoyed Annie when I was a kid. Wizard of Oz is probably my favorite movie of all time. But I can’t really think of another one I enjoyed. If you are acting and suddenly the whole set breaks out in song and dance, my suspension of disbelief is toast. Why can’t I buy into This being normal life behavior?

Feel much the same, but Grease is the word

 

[Zack Lee]

Feel much the same, but Grease is the word

Ah yes. Forgot about that one. Sandra D was my home girl.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

Ah yes. Forgot about that one. Sandra D was my home girl.

Zeetes’s home girl

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

which brings up another question. Why are musicals so polarizing. I enjoyed Annie when I was a kid. Wizard of Oz is probably my favorite movie of all time. But I can’t really think of another one I enjoyed. If you are acting and suddenly the whole set breaks out in song and dance, my suspension of disbelief is toast. Why can’t I buy into This being normal life behavior?

let's really address this
*caveat* i am not a huge fan of the genre as a whole - mostly bc of live theatre musicals -- like Shakespeare, musicals really need talent up and down the cast to truly work and a great cast is seldom happening outside of broadway
and i do have some of the issues some of y'all have expressed - the bursting into song - not necessarily that it happens but because some/many musical writers so love the genre that they don't concern themselves with transition or story (I get frustrated if the song did not move the story along or give insight into character)

BUT

I do have an issue with the broad dismissal of musicals -
most every poster in this thread also participates in just about every music video thread there is and seemingly have no problem with narrative erupting into song in music videos - so you're ok with the premise
then like i alluded to earlier, most everyone is fine with superheroes or alien visitation or space travel, et al, so fantasy is not a hangup
most don't seem to have a problem with shlubby 50 yr old guys winding up with the hot 20 yr old women, so strained romance contrivances aren't an issue

so what is it?

 

[FLEA]

Huge fan of Gene Kelly and "Summer Stock". That is the extent of my musical knowledge; besides The Wizard of Oz.

 

[DaveXA]

let's really address this
*caveat* i am not a huge fan of the genre as a whole - mostly bc of live theatre musicals -- like Shakespeare, musicals really need talent up and down the cast to truly work and a great cast is seldom happening outside of broadway
and i do have some of the issues some of y'all have expressed - the bursting into song - not necessarily that it happens but because some/many musical writers so love the genre that they don't concern themselves with transition or story (I get frustrated if the song did not move the story along or give insight into character)

BUT

I do have an issue with the broad dismissal of musicals -
most every poster in this thread also participates in just about every music video thread there is and seemingly have no problem with narrative erupting into song in music videos - so you're ok with the premise
then like i alluded to earlier, most everyone is fine with superheroes or alien visitation or space travel, et al, so fantasy is not a hangup
most don't seem to have a problem with shlubby 50 yr old guys winding up with the hot 20 yr old women, so strained romance contrivances aren't an issue

so what is it?

I think part of it is context and expectations. When I'm sitting down to watch a 90 minute to 3 hour movie, I'm not thinking in my mind I'm gonna watch a musical. I'm there for the action, adventure, drama or whatever genre. I'm not thinking watching groups of people singing and dancing, although there are some out there that are pretty great, classics like Sound of Music and Wizard of Oz, or stuff like Breakin' and Footloose.

Theater and opera would be more where it's at, I would think than theaters. So I dunno, I guess it's more of where we are in terms of modern movies. But High School Musical seemed to do well, so I guess there remains a niche for it.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

I think part of it is context and expectations. When I'm sitting down to watch a 90 minute to 3 hour movie, I'm not thinking in my mind I'm gonna watch a musical. I'm there for the action, adventure, drama or whatever genre. I'm not thinking watching groups of people singing and dancing, although there are some out there that are pretty great, classics like Sound of Music and Wizard of Oz, or stuff like Breakin' and Footloose.

But let’s be 100
Action/fight scenes in action/adventure movies serve pretty much the same narrative effect as a song n dance number
It’s choreography, almost always set to music, filled with elements just as (in)likely as musical numbers, and seldom advance the story

just sayin

 

[BigOdin504]

But let’s be 100
Action/fight scenes in action/adventure movies serve pretty much the same narrative effect as a song n dance number
It’s choreography, almost always set to music, filled with elements just as (in)likely as musical numbers, and seldom advance the story

just sayin

Agreed
Watching a well done fight seen, particularly karate is like a ballet in some ways