Best Musical Numbers in Film?

[transmogrifier]

Not best films per se, but favorite actual song/dance numbers within a film that just make you all warm and fuzzy inside.

Wise Up (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5PDlfig2U8) - Magnolia
We Go Together (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CGuvgv9h10) - Grease
The Origin of Love (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YO9FpWX57E) - Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Thriller (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhbYxXg7p-A) - 13 Going on 30
Bye Bye Life (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNcl0L7eJUY) - All That Jazz
I'm Thru With Love (Woody and Goldie on the river bank) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5Ni9IglBEM) - Everyone Says I Love You
Llorando (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLhbf-K10IM) - Mulholland Dr.
Every Sperm is Sacred (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0kJHQpvgB8) - The Meaning of Life
It Don't Worry Me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BYyDusJYJo&feature=related) - Nashville
Say it to Me Now (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsDiGCcndF4) - Once
Rockerfeller Skank (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqiYAp4hxAU&feature=related) - She's All That
Soul Bossa Nova (Opening Credits) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmsi-QnDesw) - Austin Powers

What are some of yours?

[soitgoes...]

The first that comes to mind is Björk and Thom Yorke's voice channelled through Peter Stormare's body - "I've Seen It All" from Dancer in the Dark

[Winston*]

The first that comes to mind is Björk and Thom Yorke's voice channelled through Peter Stormare's body - "I've Seen It All" from Dancer in the Dark
It's Peter Stormare's voice in the film.

[soitgoes...]

It's Peter Stormare's voice in the film.
Well still... I guess I've heard the soundtrack version many more times then I've seen the film. Anyways my post stands minus the Thom Yorke part. Thank you for pointing out my stupidity. I feel better about myself now.

[Yxklyx]

Isn't It Romantic - Love Me Tonight
Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend - Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Somewhere Over the Rainbow - The Wizard of Oz
Prehistoric Man - On the Town
Remember My Forgotten Man - Gold Diggers of 1933

[Pop Trash]

I like it when Anna Karina dances the Madison in Band of Outsiders.

[Russ]

Not best films per se, but favorite actual song/dance numbers within a film that just make you all warm and fuzzy inside.

"The ABC Song" - Forbidden Zone
"Little Black Dress" - Shock Treatment
"Nobody Jesus But You" - The Sunshine Family Singers, Palindromes
"I Love You" - The Happiness of the Katakuris
"It's Madison Time" - Hairspray (1988)
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" - Vincent Price, Dr. Phibes Rises Again!

[Spinal]

First thing to come to mind:

"Make 'Em Laugh" - Singin' in the Rain

[Spinal]

Wise Up - Magnolia
The Origin of Love - Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Bye Bye Life - All That Jazz
Llorando - Mulholland Dr.
Every Sperm is Sacred - The Meaning of Life
Say it to Me Now - Once


All awesome.

[Sycophant]

"Shine on Your Shoes" from The Band Wagon
"Dancing in the Dark" from The Band Wagon (no singing, but music and dance)
"I Like Myself" from It's Always Fair Weather (even though I'm lukewarm on the actual movie)

More as I think of them.

[Watashi]

Uh... Country Roads, bitches.

[Robby P]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2OHR0F5GIo

[bac0n]

"Your Song" from Baz Luhrman's Moulin Rouge.

[Fezzik]

Does dancing have to be involved? Because I love the Tiny Dancer sing along from Almost Famous.

As for actual "musical numbers"...

"Step in Time" from Mary Poppins
"Make em Laugh" from Singin' in the Rain (props whoever called that one)
"With a Little Bit of Luck" from My Fair Lady

and my all time favorite

"Never Gonna Dance" from Swing Time

[transmogrifier]

No, just singing is all good.

[Benny Profane]

"Fat Guy in a Little Coat" -- Tommy Boy.


This is all I can think of.

[Fezzik]

No, just singing is all good.

By the way, massive rep for Say it To Me Now. Hansard knocks that song out of the park.

[Bosco B Thug]

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend - Gentlemen Prefer Blondes I was shown just this scene recently in a class and they really don't make them like they used to. Someone needs to make a modern movie musical, that's good, that isn't directed by a musical choreography snob (i.e. Tim Burton), that can acquire the simple but sexy directing style Hawks brings to this number.


"I Love You" - The Happiness of the Katakuris Yes. That's the right one from this movie.

But really, while the film overall may be uneven, thinking about it, every single musical number in that film is a winner.

[monolith94]

Doctor Doolittle — Beautiful Things

Gold Diggers of 1933 has a couple, actually.


Hold on a sec — no one has mentioned An American in Paris? Really?

Summerstock had some nice work done too.

[dreamdead]

I was shown just this scene recently in a class and they really don't make them like they used to. Someone needs to make a modern movie musical, that's good, that isn't directed by a musical choreography snob (i.e. Tim Burton), that can acquire the simple but sexy directing style Hawks brings to this number.


Really? I watched Gentlemen Prefer Blondes thinking that none of the dance directions felt like they had intentionality in their movements but were instead blasé, disinterested choreography. Granted, the "Diamonds" number comes off a bit better than the rest of the song sequences, but the whole production of the dance numbers felt limp and not quite simple but rather lifeless.

This thread is further affirming that Gold Diggers of '33 is necessary viewing.

[Bosco B Thug]

Really? I watched Gentlemen Prefer Blondes thinking that none of the dance directions felt like they had intentionality in their movements but were instead blasé, disinterested choreography. Granted, the "Diamonds" number comes off a bit better than the rest of the song sequences, but the whole production of the dance numbers felt limp and not quite simple but rather lifeless.

This thread is further affirming that Gold Diggers of '33 is necessary viewing.
Oh, well, I guess not really then... Only saw that one scene.

My going all gaga over the 'Gentleman Prefer Blondes' scene is probably an unschooled (to the movie musical) reaction - the "feel" I was praising probably extends to most memorable classic-era movie musicals.

And I think I figured it out, that "feel." It's the sort of primitive mechanical-ness to the camera of olde and the lack of cuts. Brings a more ogle-adept physicality to the camera work. Lets the performers just do their thing and exhude their charisma. Modern musicals try too hard to cover up the stagey exhibitionism of the genre.

[Biff Justice]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVZUVeMtYXc

[transmogrifier]

What's the movie and song with Jane Russell in the gym with a bunch of athletes?

[Kurosawa Fan]

South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut - "It's Easy, M'kay"

[Mara]

What's the movie and song with Jane Russell in the gym with a bunch of athletes?

That would be "Is there Anyone Here for Love?" Russel knocks it out of the park, but her back-up dancers are pretty laughable. They mess up repeatedly.




Yes, I watch musicals. I'm not ashamed.

[Raiders]

That would be "Is there Anyone Here for Love?" Russel knocks it out of the park, but her back-up dancers are pretty laughable. They mess up repeatedly.

That's "Ain't There Anyone Here For Love?," actually.

I, too, watch musicals.

EDIT: And here (http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/aint-there-anyone-here-for-love-jane-russell/11699622/) you go.

[Derek]

What's the movie and song with Jane Russell in the gym with a bunch of athletes?

To answer the other half of your question, the film is Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

[transmogrifier]

Cheers, I ask because I remember liking that sequence, though I've only seen it once.

And Mara, I'm a musical fan myself, though I'm more of a sucker for well-done dance set-pieces.

I don't like movies where all lines are sung however - at all. Probably my least favorite cinematic conceit ever.

[Spinal]

After watching it again last night, I must submit:

"Thank You Very Much" - Scrooge! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiNMz_745vQ)

[Spinal]

I don't like movies where all lines are sung however - at all. Probably my least favorite cinematic conceit ever.

That's really weird.

[Derek]

"No Strings (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3efj8pulaEI)" from Top Hat, where Fred Astaire wakes up/pisses off Ginger Rogers.

The opening (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slUsjzGZ-BU) of Love Me Tonight. Sounds of the city of the city become music. I assume this was a major inspiration for the factory song in Dancer in the Dark.

[transmogrifier]

That's really weird.

I don't know why - the thought of having to sit through Evita or The Umbrellas of Cherbourg again sends chills down my spine.

[Russ]

I almost forgot all about this great number: Hey Boy, Hey Boy (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AOJ8NmGyGbk&feature=related) from the no-budget sci-fi cult classic, The American Astronaut.

Check it out! Yeah, I'm all about these weird "flying-under-the-radar" musical numbers. But, Hey! somebody's got to do it.

[transmogrifier]

Oh yeah

Skid Row (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0kSBiu1IGk) - Little Shop of Horrors

Dentist Song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOtMizMQ6oM&feature=related) - Little Shop of Horrors

[Mara]

I don't know about "best," but an all-time favorite is the barn dance sequence from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. You can catch the action here. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCdiWxzw0RU)

Watch it all the way through... it escalates.

[Mara]

Dentist Song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOtMizMQ6oM&feature=related) - Little Shop of Horrors

Little Shop of Horrors is fantastic. I would have to add Suddenly Seymour (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jTw0vzG5lQ) and Somewhere That's Green (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouLiQ7KhmYU) as can't miss.

Ellen Green = :cool:

[Sycophant]

I don't know about "best," but an all-time favorite is the barn dance sequence from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. You can catch the action here. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCdiWxzw0RU)

Watch it all the way through... it escalates.

Oh, I should've mentioned this one! It's awesome.

Also, Russ, good call on "I Love You." While most any sequence from Katakuris deserves a place here in my book, that's probably the one I'd put forward.

[Mara]

Oh, I should've mentioned this one! It's awesome.

I knew you'd know this one. You can't escape your past, Sycophant, it will always catch up with you. ;)

[Mara]

Another great is Mein Herr (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX-24Zm0bjk) from Cabaret.

[Bosco B Thug]

Oh yeah

Skid Row (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0kSBiu1IGk) - Little Shop of Horrors That's a really good scene.

Robert Wise does a hell of a lot with his musical numbers in West Side Story, if memory serves me right. I remember being particularly taken with his camera maneuvering in the "I Feel Pretty" scene.

[Raiders]

Oh yeah, Little Shop of Horrors.

Suddenly Seymour (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DD7VIKZnGA)

EDIT: I see Mara already has this covered. Oh well, worth mentioning twice.

[Adam]

I have a soft spot for Danny Boyle's A Life Less Ordinary, even if it is kind of a mess with an awful lot of horribly miscast Cameron Diaz packed in. The highlight of the whole thing might be the completely out of left field Beyond the Sea duet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_6gtAJ8ffA) Diaz and Ewan McGregor perform somewhere in the middle of the film. Not as nice out-of-context, but still pretty darn sweet

[Spaceman Spiff]

"On the Street Where You Live" - My Fair Lady

[Mysterious Dude]

I don't like movies where all lines are sung however - at all. Probably my least favorite cinematic conceit ever.
I think I've only seen one movie where this is the case, and it is awesome (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUfIW6T5ryA).

[Yxklyx]

I think I've only seen one movie where this is the case, and it is awesome (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUfIW6T5ryA).

That's a good one, should try to watch it again this Christmas - you haven't seen The Umbrellas of Cherbourg?

[balmakboor]

The first that comes to mind is Björk and Thom Yorke's voice channelled through Peter Stormare's body - "I've Seen It All" from Dancer in the Dark

With all of the great musicals I've seen, I don't know why the first film I thought of was Dancer in the Dark. I especially like the number set in the factory.

[BuffaloWilder]

The last ten minutes of Happy Feet - the whole "tap vs. chant" sequence, the "communication" sequence, and so on. The "Boogie Wonderland" sequence deserves some mention, as well.

Also --

While the film itself is pretty subpar, 1989's Tap is really an excuse to get every one of the Elders of Tap together in one room, along with Gregory Hines - and, it is glorious. You've got your Jimmy Slyde, your Sandman Sims, your Bunny Coles, your Sammy Davis, your Fayard Nicholas, and one of the Condos Brothers, to boot. And, even a young Savion Glover, here and there.

Speaking of Hines, that scene with him and Barishnakov in White Nights comes to mind.