Clint Eastwood’s “Jersey Boys” is just the latest in a long line of Broadway musicals that Hollywood turned into movies. Some of them were mighty fine, others . . . not so much. Here’s our scoreboard.
The Best
The winner does take it all
“Mamma Mia!” (2008) is the rare musical where the movie version is tons better than the stage one, which is more amazing considering Phyllida Lloyd directed both.
Inspired casting — yes, even Pierce Brosnan! — and gorgeous cinematography really classed up the joint.
This ‘Birdie’ can fly
George Sydney’s snazzy, upbeat, clever adaptation of “Bye Bye Birdie” (1963) holds up surprisingly well. Add a dynamite Ann-Margret and you’re in business.
The ‘Inch’ that went the mile
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” had played only off-Broadway when it was made into a movie in 2001, with the original co-creator and star, John Cameron Mitchell, in the title role. Neil Patrick Harris doesn’t even come close to this lived-in rage.
‘West Side’ in all its glory
The stage version of “West Side Story” remains a cult classic — a perfect storm of talent collaborating on a timeless musical. The 1961 movie has its share of problems, but it still explodes with feverish energy. And that dancing!
Come to this ‘Cabaret’
Bob Fosse’s adaptation of “Cabaret” (1972) deviates from the stage version in many ways — some songs were dropped, others added — but he clearly understood the essence of the show.
Joel Grey’s return as the Emcee helped ensure the continuity between stage and screen, while Liza Minnelli makes an amazing Sally Bowles.
The Worst
Schlock of ages
The original stage production of “Rock of Ages” is dumb fun. The Hollywood version is just dumb. Tom Cruise is even more miscast here than as Jack Reacher, and the rest of the movie pretty much consists of stars singing karaoke while making faces at the camera.
Let’s reach for the gun
“Chicago” (2002) may have won an Oscar, but it’s hardly the bee’s knees — you never see the dancers’ knees. Director Rob Marshall had no clue how to film dancers, and the mindless editing sucked the oomph out of the numbers.
Negative ‘Nine’
Rob Marshall — who’s doing “Into the Woods” next! — demolished yet another musical with 2009’s “Nine.” Casting Daniel Day-Lewis as a suave Italian seducer was a bad idea, and it all went downhill from there.
Music of the nigh
Hollywood has been trying to force-feed us Gerard Butler for years. His turn as Phantom was among the most egregious attempts.
Oh what a circus . . .
A lot of Hollywood adaptations go south because of casting. Case in point: Madonna as Eva Perón in the movie version of “Evita.” She looked the part, but the role’s vocal demands were beyond Madge’s abilities.
The original Spam . . . a lot
Those fabulous song-and-dance specialists Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave brought pizzazz to 1967’s “Camelot” and . . . wait, they didn’t? Color us not surprised at all.
Beyond good and evil
More is more
So what if “Les Misérables” is bombastic? So is the show! Anne Hathaway shamelessly goes for the tear ducts in a way that thrilled some, appalled others.