The Ultimate Movie Musicals Bracket - Round One, Day Nine
There's no Mekhi Phifer...
Can you believe that as of today, we’re halfway through the first round of the Ultimate Movie Musicals bracket? Yes, it’s true, my good friend Bob Iger, we’ve made it to this milestone, and don’t you tell me it’s meaningless.
But halfway there isn’t all the way there, which is why we need to dive into today’s matchups…right now. Let’s go!
(1) The Wizard of Oz vs. (64) Cats: So, here’s the thing. I have seen part of the 2019 Cats. And I am enough of a showtunes nerd to remind you that you should not be considering the 1998 filmed version of the stage show Cats, which featured Sir John Mills as Gus the Theatre Cat. (I am enough of a showtunes nerd that I did not need to Google-search any of the previous sentence.) I’ve listened to the original cast recording of Cats. I’ve seen that filmed version. I’ve seen a touring production in person. I knew what I was getting from the Tom Hooper film.
Except, of course, even after watching the hideous trailer, I didn’t really. There is no world where I would ever vote for Cats over literally any other film in a matchup in this bracket. 20 minutes of watching it once it arrived on HBO Max (back when it was actually called HBO Max), and after that time had elapsed, I was so physically uncomfortable at the experience that I could bear no more. There is a way to make a movie version of Cats. This ain’t it. (Even the best version wouldn’t be good enough to win this matchup, of course.)
Anyway…c’mon, it’s Judy Garland. It’s the Wizard of Oz. Come on. Do what you gotta do.
The Wizard of Oz
Cats
(32) Sweeney Todd vs. (33) 8 Mile: I note above that I am a showtunes nerd, and I am about to have that designation revoked by all of you. Because I…like the Tim Burton version of Sweeney Todd. And I would certainly vote for it over 8 Mile. (Fun fact: I reviewed 8 Mile for my college newspaper as a freshman, and that led to my first experience with hate mail online! People love Eminem! I am not one of those people!)
I bet 8 Mile will win this. But I would vote for Sweeney. Even now, considering how Johnny Depp’s career has turned out, let’s say. How about you?
Sweeney Todd
8 Mile
(16) The Rocky Horror Picture Show vs. (49) Show Boat: On one hand, I think William Warfield’s performance of “Ol’ Man River” in the 1951 version of Show Boat is haunting and beautiful. On the other hand…well, come on, it’s Tim Curry. It’s Rocky Horror. We all know it’s winning here.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Show Boat
(17) Beauty and the Beast (1991) vs. (48) Carmen Jones: Just as there are no films that could overtake The Wizard of Oz in the first match of the day, I would argue the same is true here. Beauty and the Beast is not the first Disney musical, but it feels like the first proper Disney musical. It doesn’t just have the “I Want”-style number, but it gives you an almost Sondheim-esque introductory song that is, in and of itself, one of the finest pieces of filmmaking from Disney. I apologize to all who may be dismayed at my stacking the deck against Carmen Jones. But it’s gotta be Beauty.
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Carmen Jones
I gave Carmen Jones a pity vote as it is gorgeously made and the late Harry Belafonte deserves being remembered, but it’s not surprising to see the results thus far.
Show Boat literally created this genre of theater and film, is full of glorious music, dealt with racism in a way that, while now outdated, was very bold at the time, was the first racially integrated musical, was the first broadway depiction of interracial marriage and is losing to......Rocky Horror. Lol blech, gonna go cry into my Show Boat DVD.