Movie Fun: Music in Non-Musicals
I finished watching 13 Going On 30 today during my torture treadmill session. Cute movie... serious lapses in plot (duh)... Jennifer Garner is a revelation. Anyway, my favorite scene in the movie was the "Thriller" dance at the magazine's party. I'm a sucker for the interjection of such scenes in movies that are not musicals, especially if they're unusual or unexpected.
That brought to mind similar scenes in other movies, and so I've decided to create a Top 10 list to see if you can think of any favorites I've missed. Again, the criteria are simple: the scene should involve song or dance, and it should take place in a movie genre other than a musical.
In no particular order, here's my list (the aforementioned "13...30" rounds it out to ten):
- Caveman, the eminently forgettable vehicle with Ringo Starr, Shelley Long and Dennis Quaid had a gem of a scene around a campfire in which music was invented.
- The best scene in My Best Friend's Wedding was during the pre-wedding meal when the group broke out into "Say A Little Prayer for You."
- About A Boy was a surprisingly good movie all the way around, but the finale where Hugh Grant tried to save a really pitiful song was classic.
- People stayed away from Tank Girl in droves, and in doing so, missed a wonderfully incongruous rendition of Cole Porter's classic, "Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)," complete with dominatrix.
- Some might say that Chevy Chase, John Candy and Dan Akroyd hit bottom with Nothing But Trouble, but I would point to the hip hop scene with Tupac Shakur, Fuze and Chopmaster J (among others) and ask for a recount.
- My Blue Heaven is an underrated movie starring Steve Martin and Rick Moranis and it features a great scene where Steve's character teaches Rick's how to dance. Rick is a quick learner.
- I debated about this one, but decided that no list of this kind would be complete without Peter Boyle's delicate rendering of "Puttin' On the Ritz" in Young Frankenstein.
- Before I swore off watching her movies, I thought Whoopi Goldberg was a riot in Sister Act, and the choir's rendition of "I Will Follow Him" is fraught with double-meaning. (Here's a bit of unrelated trivia, btw. The nun with the really amazing voice in Sister Act...you know, the cute blonde [can I say that about a nun?]...was Wendy Makkena. She's now starring as Jason Alexander's wife in the CBS sitcom, "Listen Up." Catch her while you can; I predict a short life for this series.)
- The Mask was one of Jim Carrey's best pure comedies, and Cameron Diaz (in her first movie role) was breathtaking during their big dance scene.
OK, your turn. What'd I miss (other than the 25 minutes it took me to write this)?
Rachel, I haven't seen that movie. May need to add it to our Netflix queue...
Posted by: Eric at October 19, 2004 04:28 PMDuring the movie "Houseguest" there is a kick a$$ musical moment during the wine tasting scene.
Posted by: Dimitrios Stathopoulos at October 19, 2004 09:29 PMThat's right...I had forgotten about Houseguest! (It was pretty forgettable, overall.) But definitely a good candidate for this list.
Posted by: Eric at October 19, 2004 09:33 PMI was going to mention Tank Girl, but you already have! The comics are something else, too!
Eric, you rock!!
Posted by: Mr. Freen at October 19, 2004 09:51 PMYou're just easily impressed! ;-)
Posted by: Eric at October 19, 2004 10:01 PMEric, the 'Knights of the Round Table' scene from the movie, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," still makes me laugh after all these years.
A much different tone, but very moving, is Paul Newman singing 'Plastic Jesus' in the movie, "Cool Hand Luke."
I guess I'm showing my age with these, but I'll offer one more ... Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort singing, 'If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out' in the movie, "Harold and Maude."
Posted by: Jeff at October 20, 2004 11:57 AMJeff, I guess I'm showing my age also, because I've seen all three of those movies...and I can't recall ANY of the songs!
I figured you'd mention the Soggy Bottom Boys singing "Man of Constant Sorrows" in "O Brother..."
Posted by: Eric at October 20, 2004 12:08 PMEric, you're absolutely right about , "Oh, Brother ..." Can't believe I forgot that just a day after my post on 'church music' !!!!!
While I'm in the 'comment' room, I would like to add one more to the list ... Wilhelmina Fernandez' performance of 'Ebbene? N'andrņ lontana,' in the movie, "Diva." More than just a musical interlude, it was also an important part of the film's plot.
Posted by: Jeff at October 20, 2004 01:42 PMWilhelmina Fernandez' performance of 'Ebbene? N'andrņ lontana,' in the movie, "Diva."
Sort of makes my choices of "Caveman," "Tank Girl" and "The Mask" looked, um, uncouth.
Posted by: Eric at October 20, 2004 01:50 PMLOL, Eric. "Uncouth?" Those of us who know you, know better.
The film is actually a thriller, beautifully set and shot, and featuring some great characters, genuine suspense and some great chase scenes. I saw it in the theater when it came out in 1981, in French with English subtitles.
I recommend it highly. Add it to your "Netflix" queue
Posted by: Jeff at October 20, 2004 02:13 PMJeff, I'll pass that along to The Keeper of the Queue, which, of course, is not me. Thanks for the tip.
Posted by: Eric at October 20, 2004 02:18 PMIn the Three Amigos - Chevy Chase and Steve Martin singing "Little Cowboys"
TopGun - "She's lost that lovin' feelin'" sung by Tom Cruise
Lee Marvin singing "Happy Birthday" in Cat Ballou
Sidney Poitier in Lillies of the Field teaching the sisters, "Amen", his goin' to meetin' song
Cary Grant's duet with his dog in "The Awful Truth" ( this movie is a riot, I love Irene Dunn)
Do you want more? *grin*
Posted by: Cowtown Pattie at October 20, 2004 04:14 PMGood stuff, CP...bring it on! I thought about including "Top Gun" but decided I liked the others on the list better.
Posted by: Eric at October 20, 2004 04:26 PMOkay - I'm racking my brain....
how about:
John Wayne in one of his earliest flicks "Riders of Destiny" where he sings to a blonde heroine - something about desert breezes?
(although I seriously doubt it was his voice)
I know it is a musical, but Brando blew me away in Guys and Dolls as Sky Masterson and his surprising ability to at least carry a tune, Luck be a Lady?
Ahhh, and how about Robert Mitchum in The Night of the Hunter, he is singing an eerie Bringing in the Sheaves to Lillian Gish.
You're an old-time movie kind of gal, aren't you? "Riders of Destiny"? That's pre-WWII vintage! And I don't believe you were born when "Night of the Hunter" was made...
Posted by: Eric at October 20, 2004 05:39 PMYes, tis all too true. I love the old stuff. Especially the campy old westerns. Never missed a Gene Autry flick. Few years back, I purchased a CD set of the Duke's early movies, he was soooo handsome! And thanks to Turner Classic Movies, anyone of any age can catch some of the best old Hollywood has to offer.
Posted by: Cowtown Pattie at October 21, 2004 04:45 PMAbout the publisher
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I don't know if you've seen stuck on you with Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear - I really like the musical version of Summertime that they do - it is awesome in my opinion.
Posted by: Rachel at October 19, 2004 04:22 PM