Sometimes there is nothing better than watching something with a teenager because they have the most acute vision of any age group. I find teenagers see it and tell it like it is, and this is a Good Thing when applied to a match, a film, a TV programme or even an advert (but perhaps not so great when applied to parents). SoI find it highly entertaining and instructive to watch something with one of mine (what they think of watching with mother remains more of mystery).
I watch sport with Tom, I watch scary films with Alice, and I watch musicals with Phoebe. Last night we couldn't bear yet another miserable murder series on TV so she dug out the DVD of Hard Day's Night. What a great choice; funny, frantic, full of energy and songs to which we know all the words. Really, though, this is a visually brilliant film with all sorts of unusual camera angles and beautifully choreographed scenes. Phoebe fell about laughing at the Fab Four's daft quips and their deadpan delivery. And I was asking myself why I'd always thought Paul was the fabbest when in fact it was clearly John.
It made me realise that even though she's quite young, she and I have already built up a good list of favourite musicals that are just the thing to watch when there are simply too many detectives and dead bodies on television. So here is our top ten:
Hard Day's Night (1964): Obviously.
The Pajama Game (1957) : probably our top favourite for reasons completely unfathomable to the rest of the family. I love the colours and the costumes and the Bob Fosse choreography. Phoebe adores the numbers with John Raitt and Doris Day.
Calamity Jane (1953): rip-roaring songs and Doris Day challenging gender boundaries (as if).
Easter Parade (1948): fantastic costumes and Anne Miller with dogs to match her outfits.
Meet Me in St Louis (1944): a little over-long so we usually watch it in several bursts, but always with the 'Trolley Song' which then filters through the house for days afterwards.
Hairspray (2007 and 1988): either version as it hasn't dated, but we do like John Travolta's dresses in the recent remake.
Oklahoma! (1955): mostly for the music as the rest isn't quite as good in the film as it is on stage.
Singin' in the Rain (1952): the almost perfect muscial, according the Phoebe.
West Side Story (1961): over-the-top and stagey, but brilliant .
Some Like It Hot (1959): not technically a musical, but with plenty of music and utterly watchable every time.
So there we are. Which musicals would/do you watch with your mother?
My boy (6) and I love a good musical, his favourite is Oliver!I would probably go with the last two on your list.
Posted by: lucy | October 06, 2009 at 14:05
Ahhh a subject close to my heart! A Hard Day's Night because she is a huge Beatles fan. A lot of the classics, Meet me in St Louis, The King and I, Sound of Music etc
And of late the film versions of Evita and Phantom. In the main because we wanted to see them at the theatre and didn't, not together at any rate. Although next time she comes to visit Phantom tickets are high on the priority list!
Posted by: Gemma | October 06, 2009 at 14:06
Even at 34 & 36 respectively, my sister and I would both say White Christmas and Hello Dolly without batting an eyelid. They were, and if I am honest are, the go-to watch with Mother musicals, time of year dependent obviously. After that, anything with Doris Day or any member of the Rat Pack was a must. The other classic that was a watch with Mother was Breakfast at Tiffany's, no matter how depressing I find it.
Posted by: Nic | October 06, 2009 at 14:10
I just watched the 1967 version of Camelot (with a dreamy Richard Harris)with my daughters, both of which are near the same age I was when I first watched it with my Mom. My favorite musical to watch with my mother is Help!
Go to de window...
Posted by: Sara | October 06, 2009 at 14:13
My kids and I love to watch White Christmas. I really like Singin' in the Rain as well, well almost any musical really. That's great that you and your kids enjoy watching different styles, thanks for sharing these with us.
Posted by: Jennifer | October 06, 2009 at 14:29
My mom and I used to watch Singing in the Rain, which we would agree was one of the most perfect musicals ever, save for Gene Kelly's modern dance number (the one at the casino), which we always used as an opportunity to refill our popcorn bowl. It just didn't do it for us. Beautiful, granted, but just didn't do it.
Posted by: Nicholas | October 06, 2009 at 14:56
High Society ... best ever.
Sound of Music. MARY POPPINS. JUNGLE BOOK. And if we're allowed one without music, then it's got to be Legally Blonde, which has all the attributes of a musical without the musical.
Joanna
Posted by: Joanna | October 06, 2009 at 15:22
Oh, Some Like It Hot for us everytime, though daughter is a great Doris Day fan so her (Doris's) musicals are also on our list - and Call Me Madam for the wonderful George Sanders not, for once, in villan mode! Have to agree about last night's TV: incredibly grim.
Posted by: Jane | October 06, 2009 at 15:24
Goodness, I feel so out of it. Music Man here :)
Posted by: Rebecca | October 06, 2009 at 15:29
Don't forget My Fair Lady and Annie Get your Gun!
Posted by: Julie | October 06, 2009 at 15:33
ooo A Hard Days Night - I've never seen or heard of - must check out! Thanks for the tip! xxx
Posted by: catofcuriosity | October 06, 2009 at 16:08
Funny Face, An American in Paris, and Grease!
Posted by: Cathy | October 06, 2009 at 16:23
All but the first two on your list, plus Sound of Music, Camelot, Fiddler on the Roof, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Damn Yankees, My Fair Lady, Gigi, An American in Paris... well, I guess just about everything old and very few new (written and produced as a new production, such as Rent, as opposed to remakes)
Posted by: Kathleen C | October 06, 2009 at 16:26
Well...movie-wise I'd go for An American in Paris and Moulin Rouge! (the latter I actually did watch with my mother who was totally awe-struck afterwards).
As for recorded *staged* musicals, "Into the Woods" and "Sunday in the Park with George" - both have the most wonderful words and music by Sondheim, Bernadette Peters stars in both of them and one of the most underrated great actresses can be seen in a supporting role - Barbara Bryne.
Posted by: Viv | October 06, 2009 at 16:31
I'm a Gene Kelly (first) fan then a Fred Astaire fan (second) So Singing in the Rain and Top Hat would be on my list!
Posted by: Julie | October 06, 2009 at 16:45
Oh Jane, so many memories. The first time I saw a musical of any kind I was 5 years old and it was West Side Story. It is still my favorite movie today. Singin' in the Rain, Calamity Jane and the new Hairspray are some of my favorites also.
On a different note, I just received The Gentle Arts of Domesticity in the mail yesterday. I'm already devouring it. I forsee it brightening my days.
Posted by: Elena | October 06, 2009 at 16:46
Oh dear, love the title as I can remember the original Watch with Mother from the 60's! My sons and I are watching re-runs of Lost and are enjoying it so much. It is a different show through the eyes of a teenager.
Posted by: Carol | October 06, 2009 at 16:49
Excellent list. Personally, I love, love, love Guys and Dolls. Then anything with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (doing everything backwards in heels). I also have a bit of a weakness for Carmen Miranda - rum and coca-cola, anyone?
Posted by: Sarah | October 06, 2009 at 17:31
Great reminder! I must get hold of A Hard Days Night - I loved it! ON musicals to watch with my mum, I'm sure anything with Doris Day would go down a treat, but once we have actually enjoyed together are Annie Get Your Gun, My Fair Lady and The King and I. We both love Grease, but for different reasons - it was released when I was a teenager so it has all that sweet nostalgia thing going on for me, and it is set in the era when my mum was in her teens, so she loves it for the clothes and cars and all that. I remember enjoying Absolute Beginners although that didn't become such a hit, and recently there was Across the Universe featuring all those lovely Beatles songs. And I mustn't forget Woody Allen's Everyone Says I Love You where he pokes a bit of fun of the whole genre. Hm, what have you started here? I feel I must have an internet shopping spree ;-)
Posted by: mathea | October 06, 2009 at 17:31
This post is close to my heart, I'm 22 and I've been watching musicals and old films with my mum for as long as I can remember. We love Calamity Jane, Some Like it Hot, Singing in the Rain, and a whole host of old films including Casablanca, Gentlemen Prefer Blonds, and Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Posted by: Stephanie | October 06, 2009 at 17:52
Using this post and comments, I'm making a master list of movies to watch with my daughter!
I'll add Bye Bye Birdie to this list if only because it introduced my daughter (now 12) to musicals and she loves them.
And I am a sucker for Finian's Rainbow.
Posted by: Kim | October 06, 2009 at 17:58
I remember watching Hairspray (1988) with my mum nearly every day over the Winter the year it came out on video. Not a musical, but Breakfast at Tiffany's was always a big favourite too, I used to watch this with my Granny every time she visited. A x
Posted by: aoife - little pink room | October 06, 2009 at 18:25
Breakfast at Tiffany's, Gigi, Bedknobs and Broomsticks.Watched with my (much )younger twin sisters, and eldest neice.
Posted by: Lindragon | October 06, 2009 at 18:33
The Sound of Music and A Nightmare Before Christmas, but not necessarily with my Mum or with my daughter. Yet. But I'm working on it! I also love Jesus Christ Superstar and all Elvis movies.
Posted by: Sharon | October 06, 2009 at 18:49
My daughter (9) adores all these films! As I type we are watching "Thoroughly Modern Millie"! Must introduce her to "A Hard Days Night" as she is a bit of a Beatles fan!
Posted by: Catherine | October 06, 2009 at 18:50
First movie I watched with my now-close-to 17-yr old daughter:
- White Christmas, Breakfast at Tiffany, Gigi, My Fair Lady and would you consider The Kids (Chaplin) a musical (well, there's just songs in there ha! ha!)
- Grease (we even had the soundtrack)
- A Nightmare before Xmas
- Moulin Rouge
And she got me to watch all those movies with Lindsay Lohan (Mean Girls, etc.) well the whole Disney's act. Ouf!
Posted by: SamLaTricoteuse | October 06, 2009 at 19:39
Any musical with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire is on our fave list. An American In Paris is lovely.
I have always loved Meet Me In St. Louis.
Athough he wasn't a star in muscials, Jimmy Stewart wins my vote for favorite actor. Have you watched Harvey?
Posted by: willow | October 06, 2009 at 19:40
I love a good musical, and my Mum and I used to watch them together too! You've already listed lots of my favourites like Meet me in St Louis and Calamity Jane, and I love OK-lahoma too (though I'm maybe not such a fan of the arty-ballet dream scenes). And of course Singing in the Rain is wonderful. I saw Camelot many times when it came out (that dates me) and still can't resist it even if they were a bit heavy-handed with the men's make-up. Never could see why Guinevere thought Lancelot was better than Richard Harris as Arthur.
Recently I've enjoyed Mamma Mia too but although it is great fun and Meryl Streep is incredible the film doesn't have the class of the old musicals. Sadly, they really don't make them like that any more.
Posted by: Sally | October 06, 2009 at 20:38
"The Sound of Music" is Mom's fav. Or "Mary Poppins". Or "Jungle Book". Wizard of Oz. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. (Hmmm, my mother never did go for skimpy costumes.)
I love "Singing in the Rain". Oh dear. I feel a movie night coming on ... Thanks!
Posted by: Bullwinkle | October 06, 2009 at 20:41
Just realised that I saw both The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins with my Grandmother first time around! Maybe it's a genetic thing and it follows the female line...
Posted by: Sally | October 06, 2009 at 20:44
My 11 year old daughter enjoys some mother-daughter musical time, too! But "My Fair Lady," "The Sound of Music," and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" would HAVE to be on our lists. My older daughter's tastes lean towards darker subject material: "Chicago" and "Sweeney Todd." (also good stuff)
Posted by: Bee | October 06, 2009 at 21:06
I have to agree with Phoebe - Singing in the Rain is tops in my book. Others mentioned already are too: Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady (how can one ignore how well Rex Harrison speaks in time to the music rather than sing), Gigi. Another favorite - mainly for the lyrics of the songs and for the performance of the man who plays Ben Franklin is 1776. Very funny - and probably a more realistic version of what the Continental Congress was really like.
As for animated, there's the Jungle Book, and Beauty and the Beast (which came out just as my niece was the right age for it - I think I've got most of the songs memorized).
Posted by: Stash Haus | October 06, 2009 at 21:07
I'm book-marking this comment section - I love this idea! Unfortunately I grew up w/o a mother so I have nothing to add but I did watch many an Elvis-movie-musical with my dad!
Posted by: Heather | October 06, 2009 at 21:41
My first thought was Hello Dolly! with Barbra Streisand & Mama Mia. After reading the comments, I have to add Fiddler on the Roof & Phantom of the Opera.
Posted by: Cathy | October 06, 2009 at 22:31
Hairspray is the musical for me and my mum!
But my favourite musical has to be Umbrellas of Cherbourg. The colours!
Posted by: justine | October 06, 2009 at 22:51
George. Definitely.
Posted by: +marzipan+ | October 06, 2009 at 23:49
All of those listed and more! Showboat (Howard Keel)
ANYTHING with Gene Kelly!
Music Man
Chicago
South Pacific
ANYTHING with Judy Garland!
Old Fox musicals with Betty Grable and Alice Faye
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
ANYTHING with Doris Day!
as well as many dancing movies
Posted by: Boo | October 07, 2009 at 00:50
I remember my mother getting me out of bed one night when I was eight to watch Seven Brides for Seven Brothers with her. She made popcorn, and it was just the two of us. It was wonderul! Dad was working late, and my elder brother was fast asleep. Thanks for bringing this back to mind for me.
I won a bar bet in college once by being able to sing a song from any musical my group of friends could name.
She grew up in the golden age of MGM musicals and introduced me to all of them. Her favorite dancer was Gene Kelly; my favorite musical is Singing in the Rain.
I love your blog. Just so you know--all your hard work ain't been in vain for nuthin!
Posted by: Susan | October 07, 2009 at 00:54
With my mom, who's from Kansas, and had a number of relatives who worked for the Santa Fe railroad, there were two essential musicals: the Wizard of Oz (she totally identifies with Dorothy -- Mom had a little dog [a Scottie named Scrapper] and an Aunt Emily, and even an Uncle Henry), and The Harvey Girls, famous for the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe production number.
Posted by: Pat | October 07, 2009 at 02:34
Camelot. Bittersweet in so many ways. I got my mom's video after she passed away.
Posted by: LaurieG | October 07, 2009 at 03:01
Any Fred Astaire movie, especially The Gay Divorcee, Swingtime, Follow the Fleet, Roberta, Top Hat, Funny Face. And Jimmy Cagney's Yankee Doodle Dandy.
Posted by: Anne | October 07, 2009 at 04:03
Ohh so exciting to have all these musical suggestions i have never watched! thank you :)
Posted by: clarabelle blue | October 07, 2009 at 05:36
I've got no mother, but I do watch musicals with my boys sometimes.
We love The King and I, My Fair Lady, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, Les Mis, Mary Poppins, 1776, Fiddler ON The Roof, Sound of Music, The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Their dad like 7 Brides For 7 Brohters, but I don't recall if they liked that one...
Posted by: Ruth | October 07, 2009 at 06:48
All the very early Judy films where she was at her pluckiest. I especially love ‘Everybody Sing’ with its cast of eccentric vaudevillians, and this scene from ‘Presenting Lily Mars’, which I used to perform in drag as an 8 year old for my family on special occasions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dchvR90-VGc. I was fortunate enough to play ‘Oliver’ on stage with Victor Spinetti taking the role of Fagin (who also appeared in ‘A Hard Day’s Night’!), so that musical has a special place in my heart. Keep enjoying!
Posted by: Gary King | October 07, 2009 at 08:57
I can't say I'm a HUGE musical fan, and I do enjoy watching a bit of murder mystery (esp British ones). I have tried to get the kids to watch Oliver and My Fair Lady with me (which I suspect they secretly enjoyed a little) but I've never seen a Beatles movie. I really enjoy Mamma Mia- I can watch it over and over again and will be sitting down to watch it with MY mother this week. And that's one the kids enjoy too.
Posted by: Georgia | October 07, 2009 at 11:55
Don't think anyone has mentioned it yet - but for me, it has to be Finnian's Rainbow....Fred Astaire, Petula Clark and Tommy Steele.
Posted by: Elaine | October 07, 2009 at 12:46
My siblings and cousins and I (most of them are still teenagers) were raised watching "Singin' in the Rain" and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" at our grandmother's house. I remember watching SITR before I understood the plot or even realized that it had a plot. And we all LOVE 'Seven Brides..', even my super athletic, wrestling-watching brother, who comes for the fight scenes but stays for the dance numbers.
Posted by: Betsy | October 07, 2009 at 15:42
We love Singin' in the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Summer Stock.
Posted by: Lennette Daniels | October 07, 2009 at 16:22
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers! Holiday Inn! And of course, White Christmas. My mom also loves the Albert Finney musical version of Scrooge.
Posted by: Ro | October 07, 2009 at 16:41
My Fair Lady, even if I would have preferred to see Julie Andrews in the part. My mom doesn't really seek out movies--but I know she likes that one!
Posted by: Jennifer | October 07, 2009 at 18:54