How many of you have seen Chicago or Rent? How about Phantom of the Opera? The Importance of Being Earnest? Did you know that these were all plays before they were turned into movies? Specifically, the first three were musicals, and the last was a play written by Oscar Wilde. The links are, of course, to the most recent versions of those that have more than one version.
The turning of Broadway musicals into films is a recent phenomenon, starting with Chicago. In the next year, two more Broadway musicals will make their way to film: Hairspray and Sweeney Todd. There are also talks of turning Wicked into a film, along with a few other musicals.
Things also go the other way, though. Stories that were initially films are being turned into musicals for Broadway. These include Beauty and the Beast (which is being taken off Broadway this summer in favor of The Little Mermaid), Tarzan, Mary Poppins (seeing a trend of Disney here?), and Monty Python and the Holy Grail (turned into Spamalot). Of course, I'm sure there are plenty that I am forgetting.
So, what's the point in me telling you all this? Well, it made me think about how plays and films are different. Things that make a play truly great are things that would make a movie horrible, and visa versa. Take, for example, the setting. A play is good if the settings are fairly consistent from scene to scene, since it reduces the amount of time required between the scenes for the set change. If a film were to take place in one setting, though, it would look like a play being filmed, which isn't a good film. Instead, a film needs to open up the setting (as in Mimi's Out Tonight as she's walking home from the club in the movie, but only in the apartment in the play).
The Importance of Being Earnest as a play is best suited for the time period, but the latest movie has modernized the dress and such a bit. These liberties make the film more appealing to the newer audience, but the same liberties in the play would cause a loss of integrity for the play.
I admit, though, that Importance is the only play that I've seen both the movie and the play for, so I am talking from a limited background. Still, from what I've heard of plays such as Wicked, they would not make good films because they are best suited for the stage (and if we revert back to the original plot of the book, I think a number of people would be disappointed).
So, here's my question for everyone: Should we try to adapt Broadway plays (or any play, really) to make them more accessible to a larger audience (since it would be less expensive and more available)?
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There are some things movies can bring to life in a story that Broadway can't, and vice versa. :) Phantom of the Opera is the only show I've seen as a play and movie, and I can love each almost equally. Each version holds its own beauty. I'm sure the same can be said for any other story too. :)
I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people."
-Van Gogh
It is not a new thing. Rogers and Hammerstein wrote several of their musicals to be adapted into movies during the forties and fifties. Movies were just becoming popular, and they saw a window. I.E. Cinderella starring Julie Andrews, and South Pacific. And I believe it was during the eighties that Evita was turned into a movie staring Madonna and Antonio Banderas. Chicago wasn't adapted until 2002 or 2003. Beauty and the beast opened on broadway in 1994. So this is not a "recent phenomena."
I do believe in adapting musicals, in order to make them more accessible. However, they are very different, and if possible, anyone who has seen a movie adaptation should try to see it live if it comes to town, because they are very different, and each has pros and cons. For example, movies have advantages with special effects, but seeing a play or musical live is a completely different experience and is seen as the writer meant it to be seen.
Wicked is a play that is not considered to be able to adapted because special effects could ruin it.
Broadway shows into musical movies is relatively new. Turning movies into Broadway musicals (ala Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, etc, many of which were 'musical movies' before they went to Broadway), or turning Broadway musicals into movies (ala the old version of Hairspray... that one's a little confusing. It started as a MOVIE, and then they did a musical on Broadway, and then turned it into a musical movie, which just came out last year).
Evita I wasn't aware of. But it wasn't made into a movie until 1996. Which, you know, is within the past 11 years, and considering we've had good movies since the 40's, that's pretty recent.
~C
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One more little tidbit: Hairspray was originally a nonmusical movie, with Sonny Bono, and then became a musical.
I said it was a nonmusical movie... I just thought it was a broadway show back in the 80's before it got made into a movie.
~C
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I am not trying to argue with you, but since "recent" is objective, I would like to know what you are considering as recent. I'll admit I did not check my facts on Evita, but look up Rogers and hammerstein. The sound of music opened on Broadway in 1959 and was made into a movie in 1965. While I couldn't find any information on Cinderella on Broadway, the Rogers and Hammerstein version was made for TV in 1957, and was another movie adaptation in 1965. South Pacific opened on Broadway in 1949 and was made into a movie in 1958. Other musicals have been made in to movies including My Fair lady, staring Audrey Hepburn and the King and I. So it is true that musical movies are making a comeback, but it started not too long after the popularity of videos (not movies in theatres). Also, Wizard of Oz was made in 1937, and was later adapted for the stage.
Use the reply link at the bottom of the comment to respond to it. Keeps things neater.
I stand corrected.
~C
Check out the latest entry in the Between The Lines column!