Continuing Film & TVÔÇÖs exploration into narrative film genres; this instalment tackles the spectacle that is the Musical.

Dating back to when our parents were growing up, musical movies inspired images in our minds of nuns running through the mountains or a boy and his grandpa singing about their impending trip to a chocolate factory. These classics of the genre have stayed strong with children and adults alike for years and since the early noughties, musical movies have been making their ways back onto our screens. People enjoyed the practically perfect in every way storyline of Mary Poppins, which converted its star, Julie Andrews, into a national treasure. Adored in her career that has not only spanned almost 7 decades, but also starred in some of the most famous musical movies in the world. Victor Victoria and Thoroughly Modern Millie, to name a few, saw Andrews starring as the lead in these motion picture adaptations. Nowadays, modern day adaptations of shows made famous on the stage keep providing us with films that will not fail to put a smile on the audienceÔÇÖs faces, no matter how much you try to avoid them.

At the beginning of this century, over the top cheesiness and slightly unrealistic storylines weren’t drawing in the crowds on the big screen that they did on Broadway and the West End; and it was only the big names like Catherine Zeta Jones & Richard Gere (Chicago) or Nicole Kidman & Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rouge) that made certain films hits, while others flopped. Directors began to twig that to create a smash hit movie musical you needed familiar faces to entice potential movie-goers. With that in mind movie musicals hit its stride, with what seems to be a new blockbuster every year, shattering the box office. People have gotten over the campness and complete lack of realism of the world of theatre and submerged themselves into the singing and dancing made popular in, and by, this genre. A welcome distraction from the seriousness of day-to-day life, we enjoy nothing better than coming home and listening to people sing passionately about their feelings and vent their frustration through a highly energetic tap dance.

More tickets to West End productions were purchased in 2013 than ever have been before, something directors must have noticed, as adaptations of stage musicals have become incredibly frequent as of late. Musicals such as Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages and Sweeney Todd all converted their on-stage aesthetics into a motion picture marvels and triumphed amongst audiences worldwide. An odd fact about these three musical movies is that each production team featured Tim Burton, Tom Cruise or Clint Eastwood; three very famous men in the Hollywood industry who arenÔÇÖt notable for their musical exploits. Films like Hairspray and Mamma Mia boasted large ensemble casts of critically acclaimed actors; once again with actors like Michelle Pfeiffer and Colin Firth, serious actors whose talents you would usually find in a thriller or drama. ItÔÇÖs no surprise that these films are so popular when they consist of exactly what we want from the stage production, but with our favourite actors and at a fraction of the price. ┬á

ItÔÇÖs becoming clear that singing is getting almost as popular as plain ole speaking on screen. Les Mis├®rables held the top of the box office for 6 weeks in January and February of 2013 and Frozen became the highest grossing film of 2013. This is just another accolade for Disney, whose films could be said to have started off this trend with animated classics such as Snow White and Cinderella in post-war America. Fast forward to 2014 and over twenty five musical movies later, Disney not only created the mould for all animations to this day, but also vitally impacted this endearing and addictive genre.

This trend also seems to have no intention of slowing down anytime soon either, with two major productions due this Christmas; a modernisation of Annie starring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz, and Broadway classic Into The Woods boasting the cast of Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick and Johnny Depp. These two festive delights are expected to top the box office this December, while Pitch Perfect 2 is due out spring of next year and another stage adaptation, Pippin, is currently in development. This genre is creating hit after hit not only in the cinemas, but also in sales of soundtracks, with the majority of films having an accompanying soundtrack of the filmÔÇÖs featured songs. ┬á

Popularity in genres fluctuates hugely, and right now musicals have to compete against other juxtaposing forces that seek to gain higher box office sales and reviews, such as the highly popular superhero franchise. Who knows how much longer this genre will continue to keep going strong for, but itÔÇÖs certain that right now anyway, itÔÇÖs what the audience wants. ┬áWe feel the joy and nostalgia of a Disney film, the sorrow of poverty in Les Mis, we see the past of racial inequality in Hairspray and the unquestionable force of true love in Moulin Rouge. Musicals have gone far further than they ever would have if they had stayed onstage, and the attractiveness to such a vast age group ranging from children to adults, not to mention the sheer variety of subgenres within this specific category, makes it hard to imagine that musical movies will be going anywhere soon.

We know that musicals are popular and we know that we love them, but what is the criterion that creates a hit musical-movie? Here our QuenchÔÇÖs top 5 must-haves when making a movie musical:

1. Costumes and scenery.
   A very important aspect of the genre.  Usually, as the plot is so unbelievable (very few students burst into song in the middle of a school lunch a la Grease, High School Musical, Glee, Pitch Perfect, etc), so the costumes and scenery that make up the setting have to be completely authentic to create a time people can recognise.

2. A love interest.
   There is always a relationship people are dying to root for. ┬áWhether itÔÇÖs Ren and Ariel from Footloose or Anna and Kristoff from Frozen, we want that happy ending and we want them to sing about it. ┬áAnd to reprise it at the end of the film. ┬áAnd possibly to hear it again over the credits, covered by a current pop singer. ┬á(We normally get what we want)

3. A Festive release date.
   Christmas is traditional for being a family time, trips to the cinema or a family afternoon watching a DVD. ┬áSo itÔÇÖs not a coincidence that the majority of movie musicals are released in theatres or on DVD in the lead up to the festive season. ┬áAs a way to kill the long cold winterÔÇÖs afternoon or a gift for a loved one, musicals link hand in hand to Christmas even if the storyline isnÔÇÖt set in that time of year.

4. A great score.
   Most movie musical are adaptations of their stage counterparts, so creating a score isnÔÇÖt an issue, perhaps just readjusting it to suit a different format or mixing up the set list is the only work they need to do. ┬áBut some musicals are created purely for box office release, so they need to work extra hard to create a soundtrack that the people will love.

5. Surprisingly, a good singing voice isnÔÇÖt essential.
   In the case of Russell Crowe in Les Mis├®rables or Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia, it wasnÔÇÖt a necessity that they had to ability to sing. ┬áA celebrityÔÇÖs name brings in more revenue than their vocal range, so itÔÇÖs better to have a celeb with limited ability playing a character than an unknown with the voice of an angel.