The document discusses various aspects of musical films including their transition from stage to film. It provides details on films like Mamma Mia, Les Miserables, and The Greatest Showman. It discusses how these films were adapted from popular stage musicals and their audience reception. The document also examines themes in these films like social inclusion, cultural influences, and political contexts. Examples are given of how these films portray and discuss important social and historical issues.
3. The definition of a musical is a
stage, television or film
production utilising popular-
style songs to either tell a story
or showcase the talents of
writers or performers (Kenrick,
2003).
Musicals that originally began
on stage have since moved to
television. For example, Les
Miserables started in the
theatre but has since been
adapted and reproduced into a
film first in 1998 and then in
2012. However, it continues to
be a hugely popular choice for
audiences to watch on stage
due to the story being
portrayed.
4. Mamma Mia (1999) was first shown as a West End musical,
however in October 2008 it became ‘the highest-grossing musical
of all time’ (Lloyd, 2008). This was following its release into
cinemas in 2008, instantly becoming a popular choice for all.
With this success it has allowed for a sequel film to be produced
in 2018. By moving from stage to film it allows for more films to
be created since they can be watched in the comfort of peoples
homes rather than having to spend lots of money travelling to the
West End to watch it on stage.
Mamma Mia has been watched by over 20 million people and
grossed $1.6bn (Jury, 2006). ‘Hollywood movies have always been
made for an international audience.’ (Maltby, 2003) This indicates
that it is a hugely popular show especially as it features ABBA’s
hit songs from Dancing Queen to Take a Chance On Me. By
moving from stage to film it allows for the same target audience to
be interested, being the same story yet without live actors and
actresses, but also not just being popular in one country but
many.
Within cinema certain films like Mamma Mia ‘have gained a cult
following and accordingly this has led to interactive screening
experiences where audiences are encouraged to dress up and sing
along’ (Etherington-Wright, 2011). This illustrates that due to the
uses and gratifications theory, audiences are entertained
(Sullivan, 2013) because they will continue to sing the familiar
songs once they have watched the film. They will then interact
with other audience members and talk about the film allowing for
opinions to be created.
5. Stage to Film
Les Misérables is based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo. It was premiered in
September 1980 at the Palais des Sports in Paris (Les Misérables, 2019). It was
then brought to England in October 1985. In 2012 the film was released. Due to
the popularity of the stage musical the film allowed for it to become more well-
known with the opening weekend reaching $28 million in USA alone.
With this popularity more audiences went to see the film in cinema. The stats
went from $25 million in 2012 to $150 million in 2013 (Les Misérables, 2013).
This indicates that due to the making of this film, more people became familiar
with the story so wanted to watch the film and the stage production.
Les Misérables has become a very popular film but has also remained popular
on stage. However, when transferring from stage to film the production has to
be adapted. Subsequently, songs are moved, new ones are added and extra
scenes are created (Chen, 2012). This stimulates mixed reviews from audiences.
Firstly, a negative is that many believe the film should mirror the stage
production but the director of the film changed it in the ways listed above.
However, a positive aspect is that some critics believe the film sheds a new light
on the stage production, thus enabling varying opinions to be considered on the
story.
6. Many stage musicals have been
recreated into films from ‘The Sound
of Music’ in 1965 to ‘Hairspray’ 2002
(Cohen, 2018). These adaptations
has enabled less affluent groups to
enjoy well-known musicals by
bringing the whole story more to life
with social interaction, enabling the
audience to identify with the
characters. (Sullivan, 2013).
Similarly, many musicals have been
recycled to try to get the film market
booming again after a quiet spell.
This transformation is due to films
not attracting audiences. In 2007
movie theatre attendance in the US
and Canada in 2017 fell to its lowest
point since 1992 (Plaugic, 2018).
This reduction indicates that when
films do not appeal to viewers, the
movie theatres struggle financially.
Therefore, one of the industries
tactics has been to recycle all-time
musical classics that will inspire
people to attend.
7. Recycled Musicals Continued
Stage to film has occurred due to ‘some saying it’s a sign of intellectual
bankruptcy in theatre’ (Screen-to-Stage Adaptation, No Date). Therefore
suggesting that theatre is not as popular as it used to be because it is an
expensive hobby. However, in recent years ‘the opposite is happening with
films being translated for the stage.’ (Screen-to-Stage Adaptation, No Date).
This is because even though theatre is not as popular, when a film is released
into theatre it becomes successful because the audiences who enjoy it
generate interest. For example when Dirty Dancing was released onto the
stage, interested fans were excited to learn of its adaptations on stage.
With audiences wanting to learn of these adaptations it allows for the
musicals to be reborn and become popular once more. With these recycled
musicals it allows for ’If you can’t come to Broadway, Broadway is going to
come to you.’ (Reuters, 2011).
8. Reception analysis makes the audience active or
passive because they watch (Passive) The Greatest
Showman or tell others about their experience (Active)
(Williams, 2003). This can range from just talking to
friends and family about the story of the film or the
songs.
In musicals the songs are the key parts as they are
what brings the production together. By including
music it allows for audiences to sing along therefore,
entertaining (Sullivan, 2013) the audience because
they can interact by singing along to the catchy
songs. ’In Musicals the narrative halts for the
production numbers where as characters break into
song and dance’ (Grant,2007).
The Greatest Showman has the Carnivalesque
(Bakhtin, 1929) feel to it because it is based on the
first circus. This then allows for more audiences
wanting to watch the film because they want to be
informed on how this happened.
’Box Office smash with the soundtrack having 11
consecutive weeks at number one and has not left the
top 10 since it’s release.’ (Cotton, 2018) The Greatest
Showman has proved to be popular and worth the
watch. The songs have made the film because they
are very popular and continue to be in the top ten
even though it was released in 2017.
9. Mamma Mia appealed to the audience in 2008 by
recreating the iconic stage production and using ABBA’s
famous songs. By having these songs within the film it
encourages the audience to interact (Sullivan, 2003) by
singing along and dancing.
It proves just how popular Mamma Mia is by it being 2nd
in the top 10 favourite movie musicals (Newsflash,
2018). This indicates that it has popular interests and
this can be due to the fact the songs are catchy tunes,
familiar and audiences personally identifying (Sullivan,
2003) with the characters.
Mamma Mia appeals more to the female side of the
target audience. Ladies enjoy singing along and dancing,
relating much more to the storyline than men. According
to Donaldson, ‘Every Christmas, my sister and I take
our mum and grandmothers to the capital see a
musical.’ This indicates that women are mainly the
audience for musicals but men do watch them as well.
10. Social inclusion
One of the biggest stories surrounding The Greatest Showman is how all walks of
society are included from race to sex to size. Inclusion is paramount. This is due
to the fact there was just one perfect figure-white ethnicity, slim, medium height
and heterosexual. According to Igun, ‘”But putting folks of all kinds on stage
with you, all colours, shapes, sizes, presenting them as equals,” he explained
later to Barnum.’ All others were considered outcasts and looked down on in
society. When P.T.Barnum set up his ‘circus’ all human curiosities were welcome.
According to Mansky ‘By the 1830s the display of grotesquely embodied human
forms was for some populist Carnivalesque entertainment and for others an
offense to genteel sensibilities.’ This demonstrates that having performers who
are not socially included serves to entertainment people. This show has
encouraged audiences to accept and even grow to love those who are born
different or indeed unique.
The Greatest Showman brings all these outcasts together to become part of a
large family where no one is included in society. ‘The film illustrates that ”human
curiosities” attracted audiences to the circus because they were not likely to
witness them elsewhere.’ (Igun, 2018) Even though this creates entertainment to
others it allows for these outcasts to feel part of group and not just on their own.
11. Les Misérables creates a setting whereby
the lower socio classes are banished from
normality. Homeless and fired from her job,
Fantine is forced to sell herself in a
desperate attempt to support her
illegitimate daughter, Cossette (Les
Misérables, 2012).
Similarly, Jean Valjean having been
imprisoned for theft is beaten and spends a
great proportion of his life escaping an
unforgiving society. According to Hahn, ‘a
rare voice for the unfortunate, the
impoverished, the wretched, the cast-out’.
However, the storyline is so powerful, that
audiences feel compelled to accept and
sympathise with the lives of these
characters. So much so, that many a tear
has been shed in the theatre when Fantine
sadly passes away from her life of poverty.
Allowing the audience to personally identify
(Sullivan, 2003) with the characters.
12. With Mamma Mia being set on a Greek
island, when the audience watch it they want
to visit this picturesque place due to the
stunning views and amazing weather. ‘Many
visitors to our island, request information
about the locations where the movie MAMMA
MIA was filmed.’ (Skopelosweb, no date).
When doing so they get the desired
information from where certain scenes are
filmed and where actress and actors have
been. By achieving this audiences get the
chance to explore the island and gain
historical knowledge of the island.
The church scene is filmed in ‘Agios loannis
in Castri’. This location is one of the iconic
and beautiful scenes in the film, motivating
many people to get married. Many have tried
to marry there, but unfortunately only a
handful are permitted each year, like Pierce
and Meryl in the film!
13. Les Misérables was originally written as a musical
based on the French Revolution. Beginning in 1779,
there was huge social and political unrest in France,
with the Revolution eventually overthrowing the
French Monarchy. Such historical change, however,
did not come without the lower classes suffering
extensively. The musical successfully portrays the
poor attempting to pursue an improved life. The odds
were stacked against them when employment is only
open to those whom are socially accepted. Politically,
the Revolution created waves across the world, which
in turn enabled millions in the future to watch and
learn about the changes that shaped their world as
they know it today. According to The Political
Parallels in Les Miserables, ‘The three main political
themes in Les Misérables: the need for social
progress, France and improvement in her treatment
of the poor, the abolishment of the death penalty and
the fight for prison reform.’
14. Conclusion
Overall, there are lots of films that are part of the musical genre like Mamma Mia
(2008, 2018), Les Misérables (2012) and The Greatest Showman (2017). The
musical genre has different stories to explain from tragedies, love, happiness and
popular culture. This variety allows for opinions to be created based on history,
stories in the news and music.
Mamma Mia (2008 and 2018) has various stories surrounding it from being a stage
production then moving to film, the audience reception and the cultural meanings.
It is fascinating how many various meanings there are for the 2 films. There is lots
of evidence to back up the arguments. Even though there are picturesque views it
is not all what it seems.
Les Misérables (2012) created a mix between political and audience reception, but
also moving from a huge stage production to film. The storyline helps the audience
understand the French Revolution and its needs.
The Greatest Showman (2017) has been a huge hit with the soundtrack being
number one for 11 weeks running. However, with certain members being excluded
from society due to appearance, sex and race. P T Barnum creates the ‘circus’ to
bring them all together to feel part of a group.
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20. The Greatest Showman. (2017) Directed by Michael Gracey. United States of
America, Twentieth Century Fox, Chernin Entertainment and TSG
Entertainment.
Les Miserables. (2012) Directed by Tom Hooper. United Kingdom, United
States of America and France, Universal Pictures, Working Title Films and
Cameron Mackintosh Ltd.
Mamma Mia. (2008) Directed by Phyllida Lloyd. United States of America,
United Kingdom and Germany, Universal Pictures, Relativity Media and
Littlestar.
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again. (2018) Directed by Ol Parker. United
Kingdom and United States of America, Universal Pictures, Legendary
Entertainment and Perfect World Pictures.
