Sheldon Posted September 5, 2006 Any thoughts on this? The list came out today. Many wonderful choices, but..."Grease" and " Moulon Rouge?"?? I believe the R & H musicals were ignored as was one of my personal favorites"The Pirate." Any thoughts? Check the list of 25 at CNN. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheldon Posted September 5, 2006 One correction-I just double-checked. " The King and I " IS on the list.Thanks to Buddha!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
path40a Posted September 5, 2006 Chicago (2002) is #12 and Moulin Rouge! (2001) is #25 of All-Time !?!?!? I don't think so;-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
path40a Posted September 5, 2006 Here was the ballot of 180 to choose from: http://www.afi.com/docs/tvevents/pdf/musicals_ballot.pdf Just for fun, why don't we each submit our 25 favorites. Here are mine, in alphabetical order: Cabaret 42nd Street Gigi (not on AFI's list!) Gold Diggers of 1933 (not on AFI's list) The King and I Mary Poppins Meet Me in St. Louis The Music Man (not on AFI's list) My Fair Lady Oklahoma! (not on AFI's list) Oliver! (not on AFI's list) On the Town The Rocky Horror Picture Show (not on AFI's list) Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Show Boat (1951 instead of 1936) Singin' in the Rain The Sound of Music A Star is Born Swing Time (not on AFI's list) Top Hat Victor/Victoria (not on AFI's list) West Side Story White Christmas (not on AFI's list) The Wizard of Oz Yankee Doodle Dandy And though AFI included Beauty and the Beast (1991) in their top 25, I'd have put either Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), The Jungle Book (1967), The Little Mermaid (1989) or The Lion King (1994) on mine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackBurley Posted September 6, 2006 Here are the AFI TOP 25: 25. Moulin Rouge (2001) 24. Show Boat (1936) 23. Guys and Dolls (1955) 22. Beauty and the Beast (1991) 21. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) 20. Grease (1978) 19. On the Town (1949) 18. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) 17. The Band Wagon (1953) 16. Funny Girl (1968) 15. Top Hat (1935) 14. All That Jazz (1979) 13. 42nd Street (1933) 12. Chicago (2002) 11. The King and I (1956) 10. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) 9. An American in Paris (1951) 8. My Fair Lady (1964) 7. A Star is Born (1954) 6. Mary Poppins (1964) 5. Cabaret (1972) 4. The Sound of Music (1965) 3. The Wizard of Oz (1939) 2. West Side Story (1961) 1. Singin' in the Rain (1952) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheldon Posted September 6, 2006 Here's my strange but extremely personal list. I trasure all these musicals. In no particular order-it's just too difficult! Yolanda and the Thief The Harvey Girls Calamity Jane Singin' in the Rain A Star is Born-Garland The Wizard of Oz The Belle of New York The Pirate The Music Man Oklahoma! Carousel The King and I Meet Me in St. Louis It's Always Fair Weather Silk Stockings Gigi Mr. Imperium Summer Stock Girl Crazy The Band Wagon Ziegfeld Follies Broadway Melody of 1940 The Pajama Game Damn Yankees Romance on the High Seas Thanks for reading this list! I love all these films for various reasons !! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
path40a Posted September 6, 2006 Jack, I'd rather read your top 25 (from the linked to ballot) than AFI's;-) Thanks for yours Sheldon! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackBurley Posted September 7, 2006 It was a selfish act, path40. I wanted to know what the AFI had chosen, and it seemed appropriate that a thread entitled AFI Best Musicals List should feature it. I tried accessing it from CNN with no luck, and tried some more with the AFI site with the same result. Once I found it, I thought I'd best post it here for future reference (if only for my own). In the meantime, I haven't ignored your request for our own lists. But it's taking some time and effort. I have managed a list of about 50 that I'm winnowing down now. Part of the problem is that I keep running into this paradox: my favorite musical scenes do not come from my favorite musicals. For instance, I immediately think of the sublime "Begin the Beguine" number from Broadway Melody of 1940 This is definitely one of my top 10 favorite movie musical moments, but the film as a whole wouldn't make the top 50. Hopefully I'll post it here eventually... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheldon Posted September 7, 2006 I know what you mean, Jack. In all fairness, MY top 25 were my immediate emotional response , even though I know in my heart of hearts, many of my choices shouldn't make the 25 best FILMS. But what the hell! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackBurley Posted September 7, 2006 An American in Paris The Band Wagon Beauty and the Beast Cabaret Fiddler on the Roof Funny Girl For Me and My Gal The Gangs All Here Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Gigi Girl Crazy Gold Diggers of 1933 Hedwig and the Angry Inch King and I Kiss Me Kate (3-D!) Meet Me in St. Louis Pennies From Heaven Oklahoma Orchestra Wives The Red Shoes A Star Is Born (1954) Singin' in the Rain Top Hat Victor/Victoria The Wizard of Oz There are so many that I either haven't seen, or it's been so long since I've seen them that memory doesn't serve... I wonder if they'd be on the list above. Movies like: Show Boat (1936), Love Me Tonight, Louise or One Night of Love, Evergreen... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheldon Posted September 7, 2006 I'm so glad you mentioned "Love Me Tonight." I love that film, also. I love your choices, by the way! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SalMarz Posted September 7, 2006 My top 25 in alphabetical order: AN AMERICAN IN PARIS ANCHORS AWEIGH BABES IN ARMS BIG BROADCAST OF 1938 BROADWAY MELODY OF 1940 FLYING DOWN TO RIO THE GANG'S ALL HERE GIGI THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT GOLDDIGGERS OF 1933 GREASE A HARD DAY'S NIGHT HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH JAILHOUSE ROCK MARY POPPINS OLIVER ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW SHOWBOAT (1936) SINGING IN THE RAIN SOUND OF MUSIC SUMMER STOCK TOP HAT WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY WIZARD OF OZ YANKEE DOODLE DANDY Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daneldorado Posted September 10, 2006 Thanks, guys, for confirming that I am not the only film fan who disagrees with the AFI list of Top 25 musicals. I was at the Hollywood Bowl last Sunday, when John Mauceri and the orchestra unveiled the AFI choices... and I'd say they got the Number One musical (Singin' in the Rain) absolutely right. But the other 24, are absolutely WRONG! Does ANYBODY agree that West Side Story (1961) was the second best musical in film history? I would have chosen any of a dozen others. But of course that's just my opinion. Of the Top 25, though, it is CRIMINAL that the AFI would neglect the following three great musicals: Gigi (1958) Kiss Me Kate (1953) The Music Man (1962) That's right, none of these great films was even on the list. At one point in the evening, the failings of the AFI list was made obvious when Mauceri paused, turned towards the audience, and breathlessly proclaimed that the film he was about to introduce was -- and I quote -- "the greatest musical of the first half of the 20th century." What do you think it was? Show Boat (1936). It came in at Number 24 on the AFI list. But then, the maestro proceeded to contradict his own words, when SIX pre-1950 musicals went on to make the list, ahead of Show Boat! What's THAT all about? Fred Astaire was represented in two musicals, Number 15 Top Hat (1935) and Number 17 The Band Wagon (1953). But in truth, they deserved much higher rankings than that. In all, the AFI's list was as subjective as the annual Oscar awards are. Politics rule the day here. Of particular notice was the fact that Judy Garland was represented in THREE (3) of the TOP TEN films, and her daughter Liza Minnelli was represented in another of the Top Ten. What greater proof can there be, of Judy Garland bias? Yes, the woman could sing. But those rankings? Bogus. Let's have more Astaire-Rogers. More Busby Berkeley. And to leave The Music Man off the list entirely is, in my humble op, criminal. Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackBurley Posted September 10, 2006 I don't know if it's political so much as ill-informed. Frankly, I never pay attention to these AFI lists. It was my understanding that anyone can vote; and I would imagine that many who are voting don't have the background to know what the top 25 musicals are. I'm a big fan of musicals, yet I don't consider myself qualified to make that decision. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mrsl Posted September 10, 2006 Just curious, where was Oklahoma on that list? Every time a revival of it comes out from Broadway to summer stock, to college campuses, its a sellout. Where can I see the list from AFI? Anne Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackBurley Posted September 10, 2006 "Where can I see the list from AFI?" I posted the AFI list below, Mrs. L. You can either scroll down or go directly here: http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/thread.jspa?messageID=7830276? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mrsl Posted September 10, 2006 Thanks, Jack: I can't believe 'Oklahoma' is not on that list! Why have you lately been referring to me as Mr. L? It's unnerving, unless you have some reason for it. One question. My computer is acting idiotic again, when I go into General Discussions here, the main listing shows Sept. 10, 2006, but when I go into it, on the actual pages, I'm 'back in time' to June, 2006. Anything like this ever happen to anyone else? At first I was reading about the colors changing, from blue to greenish and brown, but that's what my colors have always been. BTW, I checked to make sure I was on page 1, and I was. Anne Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackBurley Posted September 11, 2006 Yes, the AFI list is odd. I believe every list that the AFI has published has been odd. This is why I pay so little attention to them; I find them to be meaningless. There is a poster that is going through and deleting all of his old posts today. Whenever someone goes into an old message and makes an edit, it shows the new date on the TCM Message Board home page. But it doesn't update the date within the messages. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mgm16 Posted October 21, 2006 I agree that the list is a little odd. I don't think Grease belongs on the list at all. I think that many of the songs are catchy and the film itself is "cute" but I wouldn't consider it a musical masterpiece. It is too simplistic. Though many musicals on the list are simplistic, they were groundbreaking in some way. A movie like Meet Me In St.Louis is simplistic, yet a masterpiece. Anyone who knows anything about the history of Hollywood musicals knows that MMSL was different from many musicals that came before it. In most musicals that came before it, the story lines consisted of wannabe performers and the only songs that were included in the film were ones that the characters were putting on in a fictional show. But there were no aspiring singers in MMSL, the songs were used to tell the story. I think that Moulin Rouge, while not one of the most amazing scores of all time, did help in bringing back the musical to an age where they are very much shunned. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stephhxxx3 Posted December 2, 2006 Ok, this list is okay, but insane at the same time. I agree that Singin' in the Rain is a WONDERFUL musical but I see it as my 3rd favorite. TOP 3 [in order] 1. The Sound of Music 2. West Side Story [as it is #2 on the list] 3. Singin' in the Rain. I think that An American in Paris should have been higher up, but I think that Oz is wayyy to overrated and TSoM is so much better than it. All in my opinion, of course. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NZ Posted January 3, 2007 Okay, Grease does not belong on this list. If we're talking the top 100 movie musicals, then okay, maybe...at number 99. I also don't think Cabaret is a #5 choice. All That Jazz and Chicago are wrong for this list too. Where is Gigi, The Music Man, Anchors Aweigh, The Great Ziegfeld, Hello Dolly!, This Is The Army, Bathing Beauty...I could go on, but won't working from the AFI list without changing a thing I'd have to go with the following changes (see below) the first set is their list. The second is my revamp. 25. Moulin Rouge (2001) 24. Show Boat (1936) 23. Guys and Dolls (1955) 22. Beauty and the Beast (1991) 21. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) 20. Grease (1978) 19. On the Town (1949) 18. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) 17. The Band Wagon (1953) 16. Funny Girl (1968) 15. Top Hat (1935) 14. All That Jazz (1979) 13. 42nd Street (1933) 12. Chicago (2002) 11. The King and I (1956) 10. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) 9. An American in Paris (1951) 8. My Fair Lady (1964) 7. A Star is Born (1954) 6. Mary Poppins (1964) 5. Cabaret (1972) 4. The Sound of Music (1965) 3. The Wizard of Oz (1939) 2. West Side Story (1961) 1. Singin' in the Rain (1952) 25. Chicago (2002) 24. Grease (1978) 23. All That Jazz (1979) 22. Cabaret (1972) 21. Show Boat (1936) 20. Beauty and the Beast (1991) 19. Moulin Rouge (2001) 18. On the Town (1949) 17. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) 16. The Band Wagon (1953) 15. Funny Girl (1968) 14. Top Hat (1935) 13. 42nd Street (1933) 12. Guys and Dolls (1955) 11. Mary Poppins (1964) 10. The King and I (1956) 9. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) 8. An American in Paris (1951) 7. My Fair Lady (1964) 6. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) 5. A Star Is Born (1954) 4. The Sound of Music (1965) 3. The Wizard of Oz (1939) 2. West Side Story (1961) 1. Singin' in the Rain (1952) Message was edited by: NZ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill_McCrary Posted January 4, 2007 I'd have to go with the following changes (see below) the first set is their list. The second is my revamp. Decent list(s), but where are "Flying Down to Rio" and "Dames"????? And almost all the rest of the similar early WB musicals? No Nelson/Jeanette? "Chacun a son gout," I guess. (Sorry about the missing French diacritical markings!) Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cinemascope Posted March 9, 2007 It's not a terrible list, if you overlook Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music and take out the two most recent titles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BrendanSpencer Posted March 10, 2007 I find all those AFI lists to be counter to everything they should represent. Imagine saying one film is better than another. It's okay if you and I do that, but the AFI should represent all film as something great. It's stupid, I think. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cinemascope Posted March 10, 2007 Don't see what is stupid about making lists that try to sum up all the best examples of particular genres or best of all time or what have you. B-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
