Discuss The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
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Musicals that are ALL singing (no dialogue)
posted by rooprectSTAFFMOD on May 21, 2023 at 2:52 PM
My 2nd attempt watching this was a fail. It's just really hard for me to get into musicals where it's entirely singing from start to finish. Is this the only movie that does that?
My gripe isn't the music, it's the fact that every line of dialogue, even mundane stuff (like "is it quitting time yet?" "yeah it's quitting time") is set to some bouncy melody, and that just makes it sound forced and silly.
The idea is ambitious and the movie deserves props for that. It was hugely successful so it obviously worked for a lot of people. Maybe it's a suspension of disbelief thing and I just need to get in the right musical mindset. I'm totally cool with the classic Hollywood musicals, Gene Kelly etc, so I have no fundamental problem with people randomly breaking out into song and kissing lampposts. But every. line. of. dialogue. for 2 hours?
To quote F Murray Abraham in Amadeus: "You make too many demands on the royal ear"
Reply by Philippe LeMarchand
on May 22, 2023 at 11:04 AM
Not by a long way. Was going to list some, but remembered the correct term for it, which is "sung through" - so I could cheat: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sung-through
Not all of those will have been filmed, though.
You're not the only person who struggles with the form; I remember lots of mutterings in the cinema when I saw "Evita". I'd recommend giving https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/82695-les-mis-rables a go, though. Hugh Jackman's range doesn't really match the material, but it's well worth a watch if you're into musicals.
Reply by rooprect
on May 23, 2023 at 12:31 PM
That's a lot more than I thought! The thing is, a lot of those are stage musicals, or films directly adapted from stage musicals, and I think that's very different from an original film screenplay that's all singing. With stage musicals, they are by definition "theatrical" so the audience accepts it just like opera. Likewise a film adaptation of a stage musical gets a free pass because we're familiar with the stage version, like Cats or Les Miserables, etc.
From that list one original film jumps out at me, Pink Floyd The Wall, which is really effective as a film. But it sorta blurs the line between dialogue and "sung through" because there are many spoken elements in the music. The headmaster doesn't sing "You can't have any pudding if you don't eat your meat" - that would've sounded stupid. He shouts it in a normal speaking voice. There are lots of other examples of spoken lines in that movie so its inclusion in that list is questionable. Umbrellas of Cherbourg is entirely sung, every word is melodic, rhythmic and set to music. And that's where it's hard to swallow as a dramatic film. I think, like The Wall, it's best to have some breaks from music if your medium is serious dramatic film.
Reply by Philippe LeMarchand
on May 23, 2023 at 3:35 PM
I see the differentiation you're making. I did think "Repo! The Genetic Opera" was an original film, but that was on stage first, too - must get around to watching it. Also notice "Quadrophenia" on the list. Not seen it (don't like that sort of music), but I didn't know it had no dialogue.
Still, I find the non-stop singing in films more palatable than in opera.
I think...
What do you think?
I think...
What do you think?
That every
Yes every
Yes every single opera
Every single opera?
Yes
Every single opera!
Would be
So much shorter
Yes shorter
So much shorter
If they didn't keep singing
The same thing
So many times
So many times
So many TIMES!
That was broken up much better, but the line breaks haven't been honoured!
Edit: Hopefully sorted the line breaks (not quite the way I'd like) and all the typos now.
Reply by rooprect
on May 23, 2023 at 4:31 PM
Haha you & me both, for the life of me I can't stomach opera. But I think that also has to do with the (deliberately) exaggerated & shrill voices. I guess 300 years ago they had to screech loud enough for the peasants in the way back 😅
Quadrophenia shocked me too... til I realized the list must be referring to the The Who's actual concerts where they played it in its entirety. The 1979 movie/adaptation has tons of dialogue... and it's actually a good film I recommend, even if you hate The Who.
But now that you reminded me, I guess The Who's 1st movie Tommy (1975) would fit the bill. As far as I know that was an original movie screenplay and I'm pretty sure it's 100% sung-through. From what I remember, it's a decent movie. It's very satirical so it can get away with a sing-songy presentation all the way through.
PS I just watched a scene from Repo the Genetic Opera and loved it! Definitely on my watch list, whether or not it's a stage adaptation it looks enjoyable so thanks for the tip!
Reply by Philippe LeMarchand
on May 24, 2023 at 6:56 AM
Yeah, I clicked on "Quadrophenia" and learned it subsequently was performed on stage. I think you're right about "Tommy", but it's been an age since I saw it.
I'd better check my recording of "Repo!" is still available. I've just learned that "my" recordings on the DVR that is provided as part of my TV package cannot be played if the channel is no longer available/no longer available through the supplier. Even though they're taking up drive space, they can't be played back. Grrrr.
P.S. If you are interested in musicals, have you watched "Schmigadoon!" or "Galavant"?