Broadway has lengthy offered a wholesome supply of inspiration for Hollywood motion pictures, with numerous administrators seeking to New York’s premiere theater district for potential cinematic variations.
Luckily, many of those subsequent movies have effortlessly lived as much as the hype of the unique theatrical productions they’re based mostly upon, paving the way in which to universally well-received musicals able to withstanding the check of time.
With Depraved not too long ago arriving in theaters, we thought we’d have a look again at a few of our favourite motion pictures based mostly on beloved Broadway musicals over time, every of which we’d heartily suggest testing.
The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
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The 2004 adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera just isn’t with out its issues, deviating considerably from its supply materials and taking pointless liberties with its underlying script. Despite this, director Joel Schumacher adequately captures the Gothic ambiance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s unique stage manufacturing, proper all the way down to its macabre musical numbers and dreamlike tone. Add in some uncharacteristically robust vocals from Gerard Butler, and you’ve got the makings of a singularly terrific romantic horror movie.
Les Misérables (2012)
Miscast Russell Crowe apart, Les Misérables is a fittingly epic tackle Victor Hugo’s celebrated French novel. Transporting viewers to the social and political upheaval of the French Revolution and past, Les Misérables highlights the super hardships confronted by folks within the early nineteenth century, punctuated by hunger, monetary hardships, and unjust political regimes in energy. That includes spellbinding performances from Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, and Eddie Redmayne, it’s an astounding interval musical that brings Hugo’s portrait of post-Napoleonic France to the large display.
Chicago (2002)
Homicide, jazz, steamy romantic love triangles, and Richard Gere? Oh, my! Tailored from the Bob Fosse musical of the identical title, Chicago mixes biting humor with loads of infectious musical performances, making a spectacle out of a Prohibition-era homicide trial. With all three performers exceptionally well-cast of their lead roles, Chicago succeeds as a rip-roaring, perversely comedian Broadway musical, leaving viewers tapping their toes to the musical beat all through.
Tick, Tick… Growth! (2021)
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s contributions to the world of Broadway speaks for itself, as evidenced by his momentous productions of Within the Heights and, to a bigger extent, the historic hip hop musical, Hamilton. But even then, it’s price being attentive to Miranda’s more moderen mainstream successes, like his stellar directorial work on 2021’s Tick, Tick… Growth! A gut-wrenching biopic centered round Lease creator Jonathan Larson, Tick, Tick… Growth! focuses on the turbulent years of Larson’s early profession, characterised by skilled frustrations, relationship points, existential dread over getting old, and fixed insecurity over his chosen profession path.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Road (2007)
Unsurprisingly, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Road would possibly very properly be essentially the most miserable Broadway adaptation to reach in theaters but. Faithfully based mostly on Stephen Sondheim’s celebrated musical, Sweeney Todd additionally finds director Tim Burton at his darkest and liveliest, constantly tapping into the downbeat spirit of its eponymous character. With Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter giving it their all as a pair of vengeful Victorian serial killers, as soon as seen, Sweeney Todd isn’t simply forgotten, residing on within the furthest reaches of our most twisted imaginations.
Within the Heights (2021)
Earlier than Hamilton launched him to mainstream recognition the world over, Lin-Manuel Miranda arrived on the scene along with his endearing love letter to New York Metropolis, Within the Heights. Almost twenty years later, Miranda’s breakthrough work offered the inspiration for 2021’s Within the Heights, absolutely solidifying Miranda’s place as the fashionable era’s successor to Stephen Sondheim or Andrew Lloyd Webber. Propelled ahead by Miranda’s telltale mix of latest hip hop, salsa, and soul, it’s a splendidly upbeat musical drama specializing in the ability of desires and the private sacrifices it takes to see them by means of to actuality (even when it means bidding farewell to the folks and locations you’ve come to know and love).
West Facet Story (2021)
We’ve talked about Sondheim a couple of instances already, however you merely can’t point out the grasp’s title with out citing his 1957 traditional, West Facet Story. Offering the inspiration for not one, however two beloved movies over time, every model of West Facet Story stays price seeing for one cause or one other. Nonetheless, there’s one thing constructive to be stated in regards to the 2021 iteration of the musical, brilliantly delivered to life by the legendary Steven Spielberg. With Sondheim’s lyrics leaping off the display with the grace and fantastic thing about Ariana DeBose’s dance numbers, each second of West Facet Story is pure Broadway artistry at its most unforgettable.
