11 Movies That Should Be Musicals
Films that need to shift from screen to stage...
BY May 19th 2009 12:12PMFILED UNDER: Features
User Comments (10)
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
Print Comments (10)
1: jollieoldtime says
They totally made Evil Dead a musical off-Broadway.
They basically spent the entire time throwing blood on the audience. It was awesome.
Posted: May 20th 2009 // 8:30PMAlert a moderator
2: mic2803 says
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?
Posted: May 20th 2009 // 10:49PMAlert a moderator
3: ebrown2112 says
Kevin Smith's ok, but New Jersey's finest? You're forgetting John Sayles.
Posted: May 22nd 2009 // 9:35AMAlert a moderator
4: Kelisha888 says
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.
Posted: May 22nd 2009 // 12:11PMAlert a moderator
5: jws1272 says
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.
Posted: May 22nd 2009 // 8:01PMAlert a moderator
6: Phoenixtorn says
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
Posted: May 22nd 2009 // 10:28PMAlert a moderator
7: dgoodswen says
It has become an unrelenting priority to get tix to the Evil Dead musical... in the splatter zone!
Posted: May 23rd 2009 // 1:40AMAlert a moderator
8: MovieDearest says
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".
Posted: May 23rd 2009 // 7:07AMAlert a moderator
9: shovel says
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.
Posted: May 23rd 2009 // 11:12PMAlert a moderator
10: magic8387 says
"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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