The Big Lebowski (1998)
The film: When perennial slacker ‘Dude’ Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) is mistaken for his millionaire namesake, two thugs urinate on his favourite rug to coerce payment on a debt he knows nothing about.
With The Dude out for compensation, Millionaire Lebowski offers him a one-off job with a high payout, and The Dude drafts in gun-nut best-buddy Walter (John Goodman) to help.
Why It ought to be a musical: With a cast of original and idiosyncratic characters, dream sequences and a cowboy narrator known only as ‘Stranger’, The Big Lebowski was made for the eccentric world of musical theatre.
The bowling sequences alone would be a gripping stage spectacle.
Music & lyrics by... Composer and Coens collaborator Carter Burwell, with words by the Coens themselves.
Or, go populist and splash out on music rights and use the pop songs featured on the film’s soundtrack: Dylan, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Stones, Captain Beefheart...
Hit songs... 'Shut The Fuck Up, Donny!', 'All I Need Are White Russians And Weed', 'Fuck Sympathy!', 'Who Pissed On My Rug?', 'Nobody Fucks With The Jesus!'.
Also, a touching love ballad performed by little rich-girl Bonnie Lebowski - 'I'll Suck Your Cock For A Thousand Dollars.'
Producer’s notes: White Russians should be served at the concessions, and the smoking of illegal substances encouraged during performances.
Next: Army Of Darkness
Comments
jollieoldtime
May 20th 2009, 20:30
They totally made Evil Dead a musical off-Broadway. They basically spent the entire time throwing blood on the audience. It was awesome.
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mic2803
May 20th 2009, 22:49
definately 300 the musical starring john barrowman as Leonidas. giant elephants with the same technique as the west-end lion king. music and lyrics by muse perhaps?
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ebrown2112
May 22nd 2009, 9:35
Kevin Smith's ok, but New Jersey's finest? You're forgetting John Sayles.
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Kelisha888
May 22nd 2009, 12:11
Well, at least you mentioned Sondheim - who at least knows how to write a musical. I can't help but thinking Andrew Lloyd Weber should write the music to Blade Runner.
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jws1272
May 22nd 2009, 20:01
There's a production of Evil Dead:The Musical playing here in Cleveland, Ohio, USA right now. I've got tix for May 29! Not in the Splatter Zone (yes, they do spray blood at the audience), but tix nonetheless. Can't wait to see it. I've seen some footage from the Toronto production, & they DO reference the Boomstick speech from AOD.
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Phoenixtorn
May 22nd 2009, 22:28
I saw the Evil Dead musical twice when it was here in Toronto (and saw the cast perform some of the songs at a convention). It was great and so much fun! An army of Darkness Sequel would be pretty spectacular. lol
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dgoodswen
May 23rd 2009, 1:40
It has become an unrelenting priority to get tix to the Evil Dead musical... in the splatter zone!
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MovieDearest
May 23rd 2009, 7:07
I'm pretty sure I just read recently that "Heathers" is being turned into a musical ... so one down, 10 more to go! And don't forget the odd rumor that "Fight Club" may be turned into a musical, as well as "Wet Hot American Summer".
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shovel
May 23rd 2009, 23:12
Heathers! the Musical. awesome. but it can't happen without "cornnuts," either a rock ballad or dancy number for heather's last words. ooh. perhaps the old jingle "bust a nut" can be used.
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magic8387
May 24th 2009, 23:37
"The Jerk". It's already got a couple of musical pieces in it, and room for so many more. Open with his black family singing on the porch, the big dance number where he finds his rythym, along with "I'm somebody now!", "He hates these cans", "I slit the sheet, the sheet I slit", A musical pitch of the Opti-grab, "I AM A n****r!" and of course "All I need is..." It'd be perfect.
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gwobblewopkins
Dec 10th 2009, 5:22
Get to the Chopper's already a song... Anyone else heard of Austrian Death Machine? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdZYvPZhT1c
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vicdoe
Dec 30th 2010, 12:16
I don't know about you, but I don't think that movies with a certain success should be turned to musicals. Usually, when things like that happend the success rate is very low. look at books written after movies. usually, those books, are awfull! imagine how would it be if No Ordinary Family would be a musical. it's true that this is a TV show, but it is a great success and someone could try something with it... either a musical or a book. i really think that musicals should be thought as musicals from the begining and books as books. never mix up.
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