One of TV's most popular shows, "Glee," is hitting the silver screen. "Glee: The 3D Concert Movie" features performances from the show's North American tour, along with behind-the-scenes footage. The "Glee" cast is the latest musical phenomenon to launch from the small screen onto the concert stage and the big screen.
The Monkees, "Head" (USA, 1968)
The Monkees came together after being cast for the television show of the same name, but they fiercely defended their musical credentials. In fact, three of the original four continued to tour for decades after the show ended and still occasionally make public appearances together. In their foray into movies, they played with narrative structure and created a trippy film in keeping with the late 1960s. While a bit more studiously "artsy" than their light-hearted TV fare, it remains a fan favorite.
Hannah Montana, "Hannah Montana: The Movie" (USA, 2009)
Before "Glee" came along, "Hannah Montana" was the most recent example of a TV musician thriving on the charts. In the series, Miley Cyrus plays Miley Stewart, the girl next door who also happens to be a mega pop star under the name Hannah Montana. This film shows Miley/Hannah retreating to her small Tennessee hometown in order to get some perspective on her life. As expected, it's filled with toe-tapping pop songs.
The Partridge Family, "David Cassidy, Live in Concert" (UK, 2003)
America's favorite singing TV family, the Partridge Family, also sold records with such songs as "Summer Days." This was largely thanks to lead singer David Cassidy, whose face adorned posters in many teen girls' bedrooms. While the Partridge Family never made an official film, other than several documentaries made about the cast, Cassidy continues to tour. A 2003 film chronicled his concert in Glasgow, where he performed several hits from the show, including the sunny tune "Daydreamer."
Josie and the Pussycats, "Josie and the Pussycats" (USA, 2001)
Not only were Josie and the Pussycats an artificial TV group, they were also animated, based on the Archie Comics title by the same name. The series followed the adventures of lead singer Josie, sweet-but-dumb drummer Melody, and geeky Pepper, who wore cat suits and ears when they performed. The musicians who played their music, including a young Cheryl Ladd, who was then known as Cherie Moor, cut six singles and an album. The live-action movie starred Rachael Leigh Cook as Josie, Tara Reid as Melody, and Rosario Dawson as Valerie. While it lacked the exuberance of the animated series, it included some familiar songs.
For more articles by Alyce Wilson, check out:
'Life in a Day' Filmmakers Share Diverse Lives with Worldwide Audience
Films Give Hope to Awkward Teens
Heading to the movies? Get an instant mobile coupon to use at select theaters for free popcorn!
Revisiting Classic Wizardry Films
There are no comments yet