Mr. Movie: Movies into Broadway musicals Part 2

Were a few movies later made into Broadway musicals? Why, yes. It’s a very limited category and in this article we’ll exhaust the possibilities. 

Usually, of course, it’s the other way around — dozens of Broadway musicals have been made into movies. The flip side not so much. This rounds up most of the rest of them.

Billie Elliott (2002) is a charming movie about an English lad who dreams of becoming a ballet dancer. He chances to see a ballet class and is smitten. His miner Dad and older brother are not exactly encouraging. But a teacher sees his talent and helps him to perform with the Royal Ballet. He appears as the swan in Swan Lake, wowing the audience and critics. By way of the West End Theater, Australia and finally Broadway musical in 2008, the play is a hit. Asked what he feels like while dancing, Billy says it “feels like electricity.”

Waitress (2007) is about women who work hard at their trade and some of the customers they wait on. Jenna (Kerri Russell) is a talented baker trapped in a loveless marriage. She is famous for her unique pies with unique names, like Bad Bay Pie. She longs to gather enough money to leave the dreadful Earl and hopes to win a pie contest to help that dream. Andy Griffith almost steals this movie as Joe, the curmugeon owner of the diner where Jenna works. There’s an extremely unlikely but happy ending. While there’s no music in the movie, Waitress was made into a very successful Broadway musical, running for more than four years.

Legally Blonde (2001) stars Reese Witherspoon as Elle, a Big Woman On Campus. When her boyfriend gets into Harvard Law School, she decides to follow. It turns out that this seemingly ditzy blonde is smart as hell, knocks the admissions people on their butts, and is obviously headed for an outstanding legal career. A Broadway musical followed as spring follows winter. Opening to mixed reviews in 2007, it nevertheless was nominated for seven Tonys, but didn’t win any.

Moulin Rouge (1952) and (2001) is about the famous Paris night spot and the denizens who go there.The main focus is on Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, a monumentally talented painter whose hobbles around on legs that just don’t work. He was injured in a fall as a child and never healed. He paints the characters in the night club, mainly the dancing girls. On his death bed, his father informs him that his paintings will be exhibited in the Louvre. No music here. This film was nominated for six Oscars, but won only for technical categories. Another version follows in 2001, with a completely different story and with lots of music. This one received eight Oscar nominations, again winning only on the technical side. There followed a Broadway musical based on the newer movie in 2019. This version won 10 Tonys, including Best Musical.

One final double: The Band’s Visit (2007), about an Egyptian band touring and getting lost in Israel. It was made into a very successful musical in 2017.

All of the movies in this article are available somewhere for a price. Only Billie is fine for kids.