B-movie Musicals

[dean]

As part of my ongoing campaign to integrate more B-movies into my University course [I study Cinema Studies as part of it] I am on a campaign to find B-Movie musicals which I can talk about in my essays for the musicals subject that I have.

Cannibal the Musical is one of my favourite B-musicals, and I have heard of a 50's one called Forbidden Zone [?] which is reviewed here, but is impossible to find.

Any recommendations of any good musicals that can be talked about [I'm thinking B-movie here, since there are heaps out there, but if any mainstream in particular take your fancy, give out a shout, I'm always looking for movies to expand my stockpile]

Cheers!

[kakihara]

Rocky Horror Picture Show

[peter johnson]

There was a George C. Scott/Red Buttons film called "Movie Movie" that had a musical parody in it -- it's really 3 films in one -- that's pretty B & pretty good.
Numerous teen beach films with Frankie Avalon & Annette Funicellon qualify.
Many many many 30's musical films were B pictures & should be easy to find.
Forbidden Zone was a '70's film, not a '50's, and is still out there on DVD and VHS -- I love it!
peter johnson/denny crane

[mr. henry]

Cannibal the Musical...released by troma...by trey parker and matt stone...(BTW)...i've got a review for it at my site...

l8r,
mr. henry
www.310am.com

[The Burgomaster]

How about a "z-movie" musical?

* XANADU

Or, THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE CREATURES WHO STOPPED LIVING AND BECAME MIXED UP ZOMBIES.  That movie has some TERRIBLE song and dance sequences.

[I luv dolma]

I know there is a Evil Dead Musical as well as a DRACULA MUSICAL

[Chris]

1) "The Apple" has just been released on DVD in widescreen. So bad it's good.
2) "Grease 2" simply painful.
3) "Xanadu"

[peter johnson]

Matt & Trey & Jason McHugh used me in "The Still Within" & originally hired me to be the guy who builds the snowman in "Cannibal".  "Creative Differences" drove us apart.
Ah, showbiz . . .
peter johnson/denny crane

[Yaddo 42]

"Phantom of the Paradise" - A 1970s glam rock opera retelling of "Phantom of the Opera". Fresh on my mind from finding it cheap at Wal-Mart.

The Monkees' career killer of a film, "Head" might count. The music is probably one of the best parts of the film, which makes little if any sense on purpose. There was a plan with the film, the group trying to destroy their teenie bop idol status and reinvent themselves as rock contemporaries. So the main theme is mocking themselves and their "manufactured band" status.

Both were backed by mainstream studios, failed upon release, but found new life in cult and b-movie circles.

"200 Motels" - Frank Zappa's cheap (shot on video in a few days and transfered to film, looks like an old kinoscope sometimes,) absurd, cut-rate surrealist tale of life for his touring band. Features Ringo Starr as "Larry the Dwarf", a Zappa stand-in/spy for Zappa to gather info on his band to use and manipulate them with. Jokes about groupies, kinky musicians, deals with the devil, rednecks, drugs, rock n roll cliches, etc. One of the band members, Jeff Simmons, who had a large part in the film quit right before filming started and was played by Ringo's chauffeur, the film even mentions the real Jeff quiting. Worth a look just for the songs "Lonesome Cowboy Burt" and "Mystery Roach".

Toomorrow - Another Olivia Newton-John flick, a 1970 scifi/musical about a ficticous band kidnapped by aliens. Only seen clips, looks quite "groovy" so it might fit your needs.

Would Ken Russell's "Tommy" be too mainstream for your B-Movie requirements? How about "Streets of Fire"?