RETRO CLASSICS
With the film version of 'Les Mis' (see review also on this blog) opening this week, I thought we should look back on other well executed movie adaptations of stage musicals...

• POP- 

"Don't Cry for me, Argentina" - Madonna

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical 'Evita' took years to make the big screen, with actors as diverse as Meryl Streep and even Barbra Streisand rumoured to play Eva Peron. In the end, Madonna played the role and finally showed she could in fact act! Having Antonio Banderas in the film didn't hurt one bit either!
 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA1QHtFkH48

"People" - Barbra Streisand

Streisand's film debut earned her an Oscar for Best Actress portraying Fanny Brice in 'Funny Girl": a remarkable performance. 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_g3kkGH8Mo

• R&B~

 "Ease on Down the Road" - Diana Ross & MIchael Jackson

While working on the film version of 'The Wiz', Quincy Jones met Michael Jackson and their careers were changed ever after. This film was far from great, despite Diana Ross, Richard Pryor and Michael Jackson starring.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGxBx8RzzrM

Smash or... Trash? 
"When All is Said and Done" - Peirce Brosnan
The film version of "Mamma Mia!" was great, especially Meryl Streep. But few defended Brosnan's vocals on this take of a later ABBA song in that film.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mylnjfivs7Y