10 Musical Movies That Are Completely Different From The Live Show

10 Musical Movies That Are Completely Different From The Live Show

From Cats to Cabaret, many stage-to-screen adaptations of classic Broadway musicals fail to capture the magic and experience of the live show.

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Broadway is home to some of the most extravagant and decadent stage musicals the world has ever seen. However, with travel costs to factor in and increasing ticket prices, not all musical theatre fans can afford to see their favorite shows live on the Great White Way. However, Hollywood has no shortage of film adaptations of these stage sensations, with some named the best movie musicals ever made and being added to the National Film Registry.

That being said, not every stage-to-screen adaptation of a Broadway musical can truly capture the experience of live theatre. While some film adaptations remain faithful, others completely altered the plot (and therefore the point) of the stage version.

Rock Of Ages (2012)

On paper, Rock of Ages should have been a fairly easy musical to adapt. It’s a jukebox musical surrounding rockstars, a grungy nightclub, and all the neon and spandex ’80s hair bands had to offer. While some viewers favor the film adaptation of Rock of Ages, those who’ve seen the original musical might disagree.

As reported by Rappler, there are some key differences between the stage production and the silver screen adaptation. The film focuses more on Stacee Jaxx – played by Tom Cruise – rather than the love story between Drew and Sherrie. The German villains of the stage show are replaced by religious zealots. There are new characters not present in the original, including Bryan Cranston’s Major Whitmore and his wife Patricia, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones. However, most notable of all is the way the film waters down the content to maintain its PG-13 rating. For fans of the original musical, the film is a sanitized version of rock and roll they know and love.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (2016)

2016’s remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show was the definition of hit and miss. While it was interesting to see elements from both the stage musical and the ’70s film brought together, there were a few creative choices that took far too much away from the experience hardcore fans know and love.

As outlined by IndieWire, while new cast members like Laverne Cox were able to put a new stamp on the classic characters, the made-for-TV adaptation often tried to soften the shock factor of the original content by editing and altering sections. Kenny Ortega’s adaptation shares more similarities with the 1975 film than the original stage production, which leads to a somewhat hazy interpretation of the musical.

Into The Woods (2014)

Like Rock of Ages, Into the Woods seemed like a good idea during the development process. Into the Woods features many likable characters portrayed by actors with previous musical experience including Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, and Johnny Depp, and it even won three Oscar nominations. Despite this, it was still a far cry from the stage version fans remember.

The film adaptation makes several alterations to the original stage production, including cutting the song “Ever After,” dropping the character of The Narrator/Mysterious Man, and rewriting the death of Rapunzel. Casual viewers will find something to enjoy, but those familiar with the show might not find the same magic in the movie.

Jersey Boys (2014)

Jersey Boys is a stellar movie, and fans may be surprised to know it was directed by Clint Eastwood. To say it’s exactly like the Broadway show wouldn’t be an accurate statement, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Where the show is presented more like a concert by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, the film takes more of a biographical approach, and it doesn’t shy away from the grittier moments in the band’s journey. While it lacks the stage presence and razzle-dazzle of the play, it does breathe new life into the production’s script.

Annie (2014)

2014’s Annie is another silver screen remake that greatly differs from the source material. There were already two film adaptations of the Broadway classic, but Will Gluck’s version gives viewers a modernized take on the beloved story.

However, if it weren’t for the same songs in the soundtrack, there would be little discernable way to connect this film to the Broadway musical. Every aspect of the story is bought up to date, with characters’ names and personalities changed. For example, Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks is rebranded as Staxx. These changes are clearly indeed to appeal to modern audiences and make the content more relatable, but it means that the film is a complete deviation from the beloved show.

The Phantom Of The Opera (2004)

As reported by Den Of Geek, Joel Schumacher was Andrew Lloyd Weber’s first pick to direct the film version of his timeless musical adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera. However, the 2004 film only moderately captures the magic that has entranced Phantom fans for over 30 years. While it does present the basic plot and framing of the original musical, certain casting and design choices completely miss the mark.

The show is a vibrant display of color and pageantry that absolutely overflows the stage, but the film’s design approach feels too bleached out, relying heavily on golds, whites, and other tints that meddle with the contrast. The film also puts Gerard Butler, who had no musical training until he was cast, in the lead role of the Phantom. This leads to a performance that is somewhat lukewarm when compared to the musical theatre giants, including Colm Wilkinson and Michael Crawford, who have played the leading man on stage.

Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

The film adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar is certainly a product of its time. Made in the 1970s when studios were experimenting with new ways of filming, the film offers viewers a unique variation on the rock opera re-imagining of a biblical epic. However, this leads to mixed results.

Some things from the stage adaptation transition well to the big screen, like the dance breaks in “Simon Zealotes” and the parade of praise during “Hosanna.” Meanwhile, elements like Herod’s boat party and the anti-war imagery were very much creative liberties. Fortunately for fans, these problems would be rectified with the 2000 remake, giving a much more theatrical performance that’s more akin to the stage show.

Cabaret (1972)

Cabaret, while a stunning film, is far from a true re-creation of the stage production. While the film won Best Picture at the Oscars, became one of Liza Minelli’s biggest hits, and introduced many viewers to the handiwork of Bob Fosse, anyone who has seen the original Kander and Ebb musical will know that there are several differences between the two.

Not only were the nationalities of Sally Bowles and Cliff Bradshaw reversed by making Sally the adventurous American and Cliff the nerdy British novelist, but several characters and songs were also completely omitted from the film – including Frauline Schnieder and Herr Schultz as well as songs like “I Don’t Care Much” and “The Pineapple Song.” This only leaves the scandalous love affair between the two leads that remains truthful to the source material.

Dear Evan Hansen (2021)

If there’s one musical in recent years that has been on everybody’s lips it’s Dear Evan Hansen. The film has generated buzz for its differences from the stage show. As reported by Den of Geek, Dear Evan Hansen went through somewhat of a transformation to transition to the big screen, including an altered ending. This lead to an underwhelming viewing experience for fans.

So much was changed from Dear Evan Hansen it can be jarring. Removing important songs like “Anybody Have A Map,” casting older actors in roles specifically written for teenagers, and rewriting the aforementioned ending were just a few of the transgressions that veered off course from the stage production. On stage, Dear Evan Hansen is an emotional coming-of-age tale full of self-reflection but the film often fails to capture this.

Cats (2020)

Labeled as perhaps one of the worst musical adaptations ever made, 2019’s Cats is another controversial stage-to-screen adaptation. With an all-star cast, including acting greats Sir Ian McKellan and Dame Judi Dench, and based on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved take on T.S Elliot’s classic work, it seemed like the perfect combination. However, the film changes key elements from Webber’s original stage production.

While there admittedly isn’t a lot of solid plot to work with here, the film does a good job of recreating it. However, the direction taken with costuming is the biggest difference between stage and film, and it’s hard to overlook. While original production is known for its theatrical costuming and make-up which transforms the stars into their feline form, the film relies on CGI and the results are somewhat surreal. While the songs and characters are all there, some viewers may find the portrayal jarring.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/musical-movies-different-from-stage-production/

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