Movies Based on Songs
 

Got to thinking about this tonight: has anyone ever made a decent film based on a single song?

Heaven knows in the late 70's/early 80's there were a glut of really bad country song adaptations such as

Take This Job and Shove It
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia
Ode to Billy Joe
Harper Valley PTA
Convoy


But I'm not sure if anyone ever made a good song to film adaptation.

And, no, I don't think Coal Miner's Daughter or any music bio named after a song (Great Balls of Fire, Walk the Line, Sweet Dreams, etc.) really count.

Is there a diamond in the rough I am missing?

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun --with Sarah Jessica Parker?

Blue Velvet.

With one of the best villians to date.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Yellow Submarine
Hard Day's Night

FYI, the Song The Mighty Quinn ia about the movie Savage Innocents.

Wasn't Valley Girl inspired by the song?

(but was not in the movie)

Evrey which way but loose? Or did they right the song for the movie, not the movie for the song?

My Own Private Idaho (song by The B-52's, movie by Keanu Reeves, River Phoenix and Gus Van Sant)

http://Wasn't Valley Girl inspired b... in the movie)



I think you are refering to the Frank Zappa song, funny song and a good movie

I think you are refering to the Frank Zappa song, funny song and a good movie

(sorry bout the previous post, i used the wrong code and it wont let me erase or edit it)

TheAllPurposeNothing is asking for films (actually, "decent films") of a VERY specific type:

The narrative of the movie must be based on the story told in a song.

The song had to come first.
The song had to tell a story.
And the movie has to (at least, loosely) tell that same story

None of the movies suggested, so far, fit that description..

How about Jailhouse Rock?

While that is what I was looking for, one film mentioned does fit the description pretty well:

Yellow Submarine

Beating myself over the head for missing that one as it is one of my favorite films. So kudos, Joe Molotov.

However, to be honest, I am inclined to take away the kudo for your inclusion of Sgt. Pepper's. Eeeshhhh! :)

Yes I was referring to the Frank/Moon Unit Zappa song. I believe a docu extra has the director saying the song made her think of writing the movie. IIRC.

<a href = "http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102116/"><b>The Indian Runner</b></a>, directed by Sean Penn and based on the Springsteen song "Highway Patrolman".

The Gambler

Footloose?

The ultimate 60's hippie movie "Alice's Restaurant" based on Arlo Guthries rambling song about getting busted for littering and dealing with the draft board has its moments.

Footloose, the song, was written for the the movie soundtrack. It wasn't a song first.

Sk8R Boi

HAHAHA....but that never happened

American Pie?

Can't Buy Me Love - One of the greatest movies ever made. :)

Thankfully, nobody has mentioned "The Hurricane." The movie featured a strong performance by Denzel, but the performances from every other cast member was laughable, at best. Great Song, horrible movie.

I once read a treatment for a vampire flick based on The Eagle's Hotel California. Wasn't bad, but could have been better.