Movies based on musicals

"On the Town"

New York, New York was a wonderful town for Frank Sinatra, left, Betty Garrett, Jules Munshin, Ann Miller, Gene Kelly and Vera-Ellen in "On the Town" (1949).

"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"

Diamonds weren't really Marilyn Monroe's best friend in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1953): Jane Russell, right, was her bosom buddy both on and off screen.

"Guys and Dolls"

Marlon Brando, left, starred as Sky Masterson, Jean Simmons was Sarah Brown, Frank Sinatra played Nathan Detroit and Vivian Blaine reprised her stage role as Adelaide in the 1955 movie "Guys and Dolls."

"Carousel"

Following their success in "Oklahoma!" (1955), another stage to screen musical, Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones were reteamed for "Carousel" the next year.

"West Side Story"

Rita Moreno won a supporting actress Oscar for her fiery performance as Anita in the 1961 screen version of "West Side Story."

"My Fair Lady"

Audrey Hepburn starred as Eliza Doolittle, the role created by Julie Andrews on Broadway, in the 1964 film "My Fair Lady." Rex Harrison reprised his part as Henry Higgins and won a best actor Oscar.

"The Sound of Music"

In "The Sound of Music" (1965), Julie Andrews taught everyone to sing "Do-Re-Mi." The movie also raked in lots of "dough"-re-mi: $158.6 million to date ($1.194 billion adjusted for inflation).

"Cabaret"

Liza Minnelli came to the "Cabaret" and won an Oscar for her performance as Sally Bowles in the 1972 musical.

"Grease"

"Grease" was the word in the summer of 1978. The box-office smash starred Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta and spawned several hit songs.

"Evita"

Madonna portrayed Eva Peron, the role Patti LuPone originated on Broadway, in the 1996 film adaptation of "Evita."

"The Phantom of the Opera"

Emmy Rossum and Gerard Butler brought the roles of Christine and The Phantom to the big screen in the 2004 film adaptation of the classic Broadway musical "The Phantom of the Opera."

"Rent"

Many of the actors from the original Broadway production of "Rent" including Taye Diggs, Adam Pascal, Jesse Martin, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Anthony Rapp and Idina Menzel returned for the 2005 film adaptation along with Tracie Thoms and Rosario Dawson.

"Dreamgirls"

The supreme trio of, from left, Anika Noni Rose, Beyoncé Knowles and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson starred in "Dreamgirls" (2006).

"Hairspray"

Great Neck's Nikki Blonsky had all the right moves as Tracy Turnblad in the 2007 musical "Hairspray," a movie that was first a movie (from director John Waters), then adapted for stage, then came back to film with John Travolta.

"Mamma Mia!"

Meryl Streep brought plenty of bounce to "Mamma Mia!" (2008), which also featured Julie Walters, left, and Christine Baranski, right.

"Les Miserables"

Hugh Jackman and Oscar winner Anne Hathaway bring the classic musical "Les Miserables" to the big screen in 2012.

"Jersey Boys"

"Jersey Boys," Clint Eastwood's adaptation of the hit Broadway musical about singer Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, hits theaters June 20, 2014. The story has been "deepened," not wildly re-imagined, for the big screen, says Marshall Brickman, who wrote the screenplay (and the book to the stage musical).