Musical Monday: Man Of La Manca - I, Don Quixote (#15).

[Every Monday, I'm going to be counting down my 52 favorite musical numbers from musical movies and TV shows. I might not like the full movie/show, but the number makes the list for various reasons: 1) I have to like the song, 2) the visual of how the number is performed is most likely unique or fun, 3) both song and visual mixes well to create an exciting or powerful number. So let's get to the next on the list.]

I really like this movie. Then again, I really like the Don Quixote story (and one day, I'll get around to reading the whole thing). This is one of the first songs of the film (it's been a while, but I actually think this is the first song). This version of the story gives us Cervantes (the writer of Don Quixote) arrested by the Spanish Inquisition, and he puts on the play for (and using) the other prisoners in the dungeon with him. This is the introduction of the Don Quixote story and character and the style of the film--going back and forth between the prison and the fantasy view. And... well... it's just a fun, catchy song! I hate that I couldn't find the film version with the entire lead-in, because it's the build-up that makes it really great. But here's just the song from the film.