Musicals Rock

Chicago (2002)

Musicals

As not so many can agree with actually, musicals are awesome. This genre is very popular among females and among young kids, through animated films. I personally find the idea of singing and acting and dancing all together spectacular. There's nothing like watching a story told through the power of music, truly nothing like it.

A musical, just like any other film genre, uses various filmmaking techniques to advance the plot. What is added is the use of songs, sung by the characters, to advance the plot, theme, or characters. Dialogue and song work together to form the story. Unlike other songs in films, music in musicals is a diagetic sound as it is, in fact, part of the characters' lives, they can hear it, they live with it. Amazing, right?

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Annie (1982)

There are different types of musicals. Usually, the type they create depends on the sub-genre and storyline of the musical. I believe there are two big different categories in which musicals can be sorted. One is a dramatic musical. This musical is one that, in the crazy world of musicals, is the most realistic one. There are no big dance numbers because the plot is more dramatic- they might have dance numbers, but nothing major. They are very emotional. Colors are mostly neutral and enhance the character and situation, they don't distract from the action. Camera shots are as they would be in any film, lots of medium shots and close-ups to see the characters' emotions clearly. Examples of this include Little Shop of Horrors, Les Miserables, and Evita. Then there's the happy musical. I call them like this because they are the ones that make me jump out of my bed and start dancing. They are the typical feel-good musical. There's a beginning, a conflict, and a resolution and the ending is most-likely a happy one. There are big dance numbers, costumes and settings are usually very colorful. Some characters may be extravagant and exaggerated. In this type of musical, there's an abundance of long shots to show the dance numbers. Examples of this include Hello Dolly!, Hairspray, and West Side Story. Keep in mind though that this is my way of sorting musicals and there are musicals in between these two and some that are both; there's no actual rule. And, if you ask me, they are both equally amazing.

Sweeney Todd (2007)

                                        

Hello Dolly! (1969)

For example...

Les Miserables (2012)

 This musical is one of my personal favorites. It was adapted to film from the stage version by director Tom Hooper. It is a very dramatic piece set in the French Revolution. The plot surrounds a story where Javert (Russell Crowe), an officer, tries to capture Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), while his daughter falls in love with Marius (Eddie Redmayne), a fighter for the revolution. This musical is serious and dramatic. Colors in costumes and set design are neutral and there's a lot of French patriotic colors, in accordance with the time period. The set design changes correspondently to the revolution's advances. In this musical, music is everything. Songs are the form of dialogue. The songs are very powerful, vocally and instrumentally. Actors' performances were splendid in the means of using their voice to set the tone and emotion of the scene. There are certain notes that the audience hears and knows exactly what character is going to show up, it's like a musical trademark.



Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
This musical was adapted to the screen by director Jim Sharman. It is a strange piece that follows the story of Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon) as they spend an unforgettable night at Dr. Farnk N' Furter's (Tim Curry) castle. This musical contains some dance numbers. Characters are very exaggerated and unrealistic. All of them have very distinct personalities. Color plays a very important role in this production as it sets the tone of this extraordinary story and its weird characters. Soft pinks and white for Janet and blues for Brad; red and black for Frank. This musical has some dialogue and some songs. There is a variety of different types of music in the story. The pacing and tone of the songs change distinctively with the characters. For example, Frank, a crazy scientist, sings songs that have a rock and roll melodies while Janet, an innocent young lady, sings songs with more delicate tones. When the characters have a sudden change the music changes as well.

Recommended Viewings:
Funny Girl
The Sound of Music
The Phantom of the Opera
Moulin Rouge
Guys and Dolls
Grease
Cabaret