I love a movie musical. Recently, I was wondering how many of the Best Musical Tony Award winners have been turned into a film. This part covers the Best Musicals from 1949-1969. Enjoy!
Kiss Me Kate (1949)
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
The first musical to win the award was a hit take on The Taming of the Shrew and the offstage/onstage conflicts. The film adaptation arrived in 1953 (in stereophonic 3-D!) with most of the songs intact.
South Pacific (1950)
Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
The partnership of 20th Century-Fox and R&H continued with this large-scale CinemaScope film released in 1958. Much of the cast was dubbed, but the songs are faithful to the stage version. The film is known for its controversial colored filters during the musical numbers.
Guys and Dolls (1951)
Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser
The hit musical was given the film treatment directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz in 1955. Several songs were cut, but Loesser wrote new songs for the film. Several original cast members appear, but overshadowed by the less-than-superb leads Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra.
The King and I (1952)
Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
The Fox film adaptation was a large hit when released in 1956. Led by Deborah Kerr (dubbed by Marni Nixon) and Yul Brynner. Brynner would win an Oscar to sit alongside his Tony win for the same role.
Wonderful Town (1953)
Music by Leonard Bernstein, Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
No feature film has been made, but the musical was broadcast as a live TV special in 1958.
Kismet (1954)
Music by Alexander Borodin, Adapted and Lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest
Vincente Minnelli directed the film adaptation in 1955. The film was not a huge success and the show hasn't been produced on Broadway since.
The Pajama Game (1955)
Music and Lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross
Most of the cast reprised their roles for the 1957 film (Doris Day was added as Babe) and most of the songs stayed, overall a faithful adaptation.
Damn Yankees (1956)
Music and Lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross
Much of the Broadway cast continued in the 1958 film adaptation, notably the scene stealing Ray Walston and Gwen Verdon.
My Fair Lady (1957)
Music by Frederick Loewe, Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Rex Harrison reprised his Tony-winning role in this fantastic 1964 adaptation. Audrey Hepburn would star (with dubbing by Marni Nixon). The expensive production stayed faithful to the show, and would win 8 Oscars, including Best Actor and Best Picture.
The Music Man (1958)
Music and Lyrics by Meredith Willson
One of the biggest hits of the year, the 1962 film featured several actors returning, including Robert Preston. In a rare move, the film director also directed the stage version, leading to its faithfulness to cast and musical numbers. Ray Heindorf won an Oscar for Best Musical Score (Adaptation).
Redhead (1959)
Music by Albert Hague, Lyrics by Dorothy Fields
While the show won several Tonys, including star Gwen Verdon. Set in a Victorian London wax museum, the show hasn't returned to Broadway and never made its way to the screen.
Fiorello! (1960)
Music by Jerry Bock, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Telling the life of New York mayor Fiorello La Guardia, the musical would win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, but never repeated on Broadway or receive a film adaptation.
The Sound of Music (1960)
Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Perhaps the most beloved film on the list, the 1965 film was a smash hit. Rodgers alone wrote new songs, which have since been added to the stage version. The film won several Oscars, including Best Picture.
Bye, Bye Birdie (1961)
Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Lee Adams
The hit musical was turned into a film in 1963, again starring Dick Van Dyke and featuring Ann-Margret.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1962)
Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser
Many original cast members appear in the 1967 film, with several original songs removed.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1963)
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
The style of director Richard Lester is all over the 1966 film adaptation. We got the returning actors Zero Mostel and Jack Gilford, but a majority of the songs were jettisoned. Ken Thorne won an Oscar for Best Music (Adaptation or Treatment).
Hello, Dolly (1964)
Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman
Barbra Streisand led the lavish adaptation in 1969 with Herman writing a new opening song. It won the Best Adaptation Score Oscar, and Louis Armstrong's title song became a hit. Modern audiences might recognize some of the film's songs as used in the Pixar film Wall-E.
Fiddler on the Roof (1965)
Music by Jerry Bock, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
The highest grossing film of 1971, Fiddler was a massive success which stayed incredibly faithful to the source material. John Williams won his first Oscar for the Score Adaptation.
Man of La Mancha (1966)
Music by Mitch Leigh, Lyrics by Joe Darion
Don Quixote arrived on the screen in 1972, with a troubled production that starred Peter O'Toole and Sophia Loren, both of which couldn't handle the singing roles.
Cabaret (1967)
Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Bob Fosse took his signature style to direct the 1972 adaptation. It was a bold move to keep only the songs that exist inside the club [see Chicago]. The film added the songs "Mein Herr" and "Maybe This Time", both of which have since been added to stage productions. Winning 8 Oscars, the film became a standard for several film musicals in the future.
Hallelujah, Baby! (1968)
Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
While the show was a breakout for Leslie Uggams, the show closed before winning the Tony. No film adaptation.
1776 (1969)
Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards
The songs and much of the original cast made their way to the 1972 film. The director's cut finally reinstated the song "Cool, Cool, Considerate Men" which was cut at the behest of President Nixon.
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