There are some topics I don't mix words about, and one of them is my opinion of musicals.
In short: I absolutely, absolutely, absolutely loathe them.
I know, I know, I know: but it is what it is.
I've warned readers and friends that I probably can name the few musicals I'll tolerate on a single hand. The general desire to break out in song and dance just gets into territory I can't stomach, so I'm known for being respectably unkind to them. I'll sit through them from time-to-time, but I do that mostly to make certain that my perspective on them hasn't changed. Thus far, it remains the same ... except for those sacred few.
Now, one of them that I've always enjoyed is 1971's Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory; and that's largely because I don't see the flick as falling into the usual storytelling conventions that most musicals do. Its singing bits tie in much more strongly with its characterization, not really pushing the plot or narrative forward so much as they are individual expressions of these kinda/sorta odd ducks, if you will. Plus, the film is loaded with so much magic and charm that I'll easily forgive the occasional schtick because I'm otherwise engaged psychologically. It's rare, yes, but it does happen.
Just the other night, incidentally, the wifey and I watched a very touching documentary on Wonka's central talent, the late Gene Wilder. I've always been a fan of his work -- there was just this incredible effortlessness to everything the man did on screen, be it drama, farce, and comedy -- and I don't believe I've ever respected any actor or actress more for such an ability. I've always argued that his work in Young Frankenstein (1974) is one the highwater marks for a big screen comedic performance, and I stand by that assessment to this day. No one did comedy like Gene. No one.
I bring the Netflix documentary up only because I learned (for the first time) that the original Wonka wasn't a box office success. Back in the days of my youth, the flick was a holiday staple, an ongoing trend that made my young mind believe it was this huge, huge, huge hit. Alas, that wasn't the case -- the picture barely eeked out a profit, a fact I'll never understand -- and I'm glad that the passage of time has given its goodness the legacy it deserves.
So ... in that spirit, let me say Happy Birthday to you, Willy Wonka. Nothing ever tastes as sweet as your gooey sugar ... and likely nothing ever will.
-- EZ
In short: I absolutely, absolutely, absolutely loathe them.
I know, I know, I know: but it is what it is.
I've warned readers and friends that I probably can name the few musicals I'll tolerate on a single hand. The general desire to break out in song and dance just gets into territory I can't stomach, so I'm known for being respectably unkind to them. I'll sit through them from time-to-time, but I do that mostly to make certain that my perspective on them hasn't changed. Thus far, it remains the same ... except for those sacred few.
Now, one of them that I've always enjoyed is 1971's Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory; and that's largely because I don't see the flick as falling into the usual storytelling conventions that most musicals do. Its singing bits tie in much more strongly with its characterization, not really pushing the plot or narrative forward so much as they are individual expressions of these kinda/sorta odd ducks, if you will. Plus, the film is loaded with so much magic and charm that I'll easily forgive the occasional schtick because I'm otherwise engaged psychologically. It's rare, yes, but it does happen.
Just the other night, incidentally, the wifey and I watched a very touching documentary on Wonka's central talent, the late Gene Wilder. I've always been a fan of his work -- there was just this incredible effortlessness to everything the man did on screen, be it drama, farce, and comedy -- and I don't believe I've ever respected any actor or actress more for such an ability. I've always argued that his work in Young Frankenstein (1974) is one the highwater marks for a big screen comedic performance, and I stand by that assessment to this day. No one did comedy like Gene. No one.
I bring the Netflix documentary up only because I learned (for the first time) that the original Wonka wasn't a box office success. Back in the days of my youth, the flick was a holiday staple, an ongoing trend that made my young mind believe it was this huge, huge, huge hit. Alas, that wasn't the case -- the picture barely eeked out a profit, a fact I'll never understand -- and I'm glad that the passage of time has given its goodness the legacy it deserves.
So ... in that spirit, let me say Happy Birthday to you, Willy Wonka. Nothing ever tastes as sweet as your gooey sugar ... and likely nothing ever will.
-- EZ
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