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It's been a while since I posted a movie poll. Inspired by me seeing both Roger Waters and The Who live in the past few months.

Source material must be a rock/pop music album. So adaptations from musicals, operas, etc... don't count (Jesus Christ Superstar is a gray area because it was an album first, then a musical, then a movie). Neither do concert films (i.e. Stop Making Sense, The Last Waltz).

Many of the Beatles movies are not strictly adaptations of existing albums, since both film/album came out simultaneously, but heck, let's have them. They're The Beatles. The only valid choice is A Hard Day's Night, anyway.

Anyway, for me the top pick is Quadrophenia. One of the few on the list that would be genuinely good movies even without the music element. It feels a lot like a proper 1970s British gritty realist movie, except that The Who makes the soundtrack - which is awesome. True Stories is a close second, and if you like David Byrne/Talking Heads you owe it to yourself to watch it, since it's a rather obscure film.

Third picks goes to The Wall for having the best/trippier visuals.

Jesus Christ Superstar is an awesome movie, period.

Since we have the Beatles, Yellow Submarine.

What did you think of Waters? Jooz giving him lots of grief

Quote from: Josephus on June 21, 2023, 07:28:30 AMWhat did you think of Waters? Jooz giving him lots of grief

I enjoyed the show. The long rants/vagaries were even midly entertaining - and he had a few good stories, a touching one was him talking about himself and Barrett riding on the train after a concert and dreaming about having their own band. Anyway, the music is just too good.

I did not know that about Jesus Christ Superstar.  Counterintuitive.

Quadrophenia and Jesus Christ Superstar for the reasons mentioned.

And Tommy - what Ken Russell probably considered one of his more restrained efforts (it was, from what I understand, almost a warm up act to his film on Liszt :lol:). Extraordinarily lavish visuals, great music and an absolutely incredible cast: Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed, Elton John, Tina Turner, Jack Nicholson

I liked quadrophenia much more than Tommy.  I thought Tommy was a mess.

Under the Cherry Moon; I can watch that over an over and still find something new.

 ;)

I haven't seen all of the movies on this list.  I really like "Hard Day's Night," especially Wilfrid Brambell's take on Paul McCartney's rabble rousing grandfather (I bet you're a great swimmer).  Ringo and John do a commendable job throughout as well (though George was wise to stick with playing the guitar.)

Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 21, 2023, 03:02:30 PMI liked quadrophenia much more than Tommy.  I thought Tommy was a mess.

Tommy (the movie) is not great but it's fun and over the top. I mean, it's a Ken Russell film  :lol:

The plot of the album is very ridiculous, and it works in the album because it's very allegorical and you fill in the blanks. The movie adapts the story extremely literaly (with some changes) and it looks very silly on screen.

As Sheilbh points out, though, the cast is incredible. Ann Margret  :wub: And Reed is so cartoonishly sleazy, too.

Has Nicholson ever sang in a movie besides Tommy?

Who Nicholson?  I'm pretty foggy on details.

Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 22, 2023, 02:02:28 AMWho Nicholson?  I'm pretty foggy on details.

Jack Nicholson. He plays the doctor in Tommy.

Gotcha

Other: The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

It stands the test of time much better than JCS or Tommy, and the music and cast are absolutely excellent.

Of those listed, Quadrophenia.

L.

Quote from: Pedrito on June 22, 2023, 02:42:18 AMOther: The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

L.

Is it based on a music album?

I honestly don't think I've ever seen any of these.

Quote from: celedhring on June 22, 2023, 01:54:59 AMTommy (the movie) is not great but it's fun and over the top. I mean, it's a Ken Russell film  :lol:

Yes. I still want Warner to release the uncut/director's cut of The Devils (which they have <_<). Oddly at university I had a friend whose mum was mates with Ken Russell and one of the nuns :lol:

Speaking of Oliver Reed, I was in Malta recently and in Valletta there is a little bar that is a tourist attraction now because that's where Reed suffered a heart attack and died after getting into a drinking contest with British navy men during the filming of Gladiator.

Jesus Christ, Superstar (the movie) is based on the Broadway rock opera of the same name.  The album was just the lyrics  of that same play, though it was released first to get the backing needed to stage the play.

The movie was, by all accounts, the best version of the three.

This thread needs Kenny Rogers' The Gambler films.  :(

I once heard a rumor that the lead singer of Twisted Sister played Jesus in the stage version of JSC.

Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 23, 2023, 02:02:39 AMI once heard a rumor that the lead singer of Twisted Sister played Jesus in the stage version of JSC.

Wouldn't surprise me.

I saw the dude from Kiss in Phantom of the Opera

'Flash Gordon' is almost in the film influenced by a music album category, because I swear some of the campiness of the soundtrack bled into the film somehow, even though I assume the filming started well before Queen worked on the soundtrack?

Anyway, without that soundtrack/album, it would have been a much duller film.

Or maybe there should be a thrad/category for films made by the soundtrack music?

Good idea mongers. :)

Quote from: mongers on June 25, 2023, 06:33:35 PMOr maybe there should be a thrad/category for films made by the soundtrack music?

Velvet Goldmine would definitely be part of that list.

Quote from: Syt on June 26, 2023, 07:31:28 AM

Quote from: mongers on June 25, 2023, 06:33:35 PMOr maybe there should be a thrad/category for films made by the soundtrack music?

Velvet Goldmine would definitely be part of that list.

I think that film is actually hurt for not having been able to secure Bowie songs, though.

(the ones they came up with instead are great, but being a faux Bowie biopic, it needed Bowie songs).

I think the quintessential "nobody would remember this movie if it wasn't for the soundtrack" is probably The Bodyguard.

Another entry could be Singles? I have a soft spot for it because I was squarely in the target audience when it came out in the 1990s, but it's a forgettable movie without all the artist cameos and the soundtrack.

"Cat People" wouldn't be much remembered except for the soundtrack by Giorgio Moroder.

As for songs more famous than the movie they appeared in, few will top this novelty song for me, from "Sweden: Heaven and Hell" (1968).

(Video is SFW)


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden:_Heaven_and_Hell

Had no idea that song came from an Italian exploitation film  :lol:

Quote from: celedhring on June 26, 2023, 11:55:48 AMHad no idea that song came from an Italian exploitation film  :lol:

A particularly sensationalist mondo at that.  :D
Goes with the genre but it went above and beyond the call of duty.

Quote from: Syt on June 26, 2023, 11:40:43 AMAs for songs more famous than the movie they appeared in, few will top this novelty song for me, from "Sweden: Heaven and Hell" (1968).

I will never again look at a Benny Hill video the same.

For me it featured prominently on Sesame Street in the early 80s. -_-