Archive for Musicals.Net Musicals.Net |
| EFXF |
SB MovieSaw this at Dark Horizons...Sunset Boulevard: There's always no shortage of rumours about Andrew Lloyd Weber musicals becoming films...and here's a bunch more with thanks to 'Adam': "After Bombay Dreams opens in the West End later this year, Webber wants to really concentrate on getting movies made. Now that both "Cats" and "StarlightExpress" have closed in London he could do with the money. Encouraged by the success of the UK tour he wants to fast tracked "Sunset Boulevard" for production. They have outlined who they want for the picture and are on the verge of starting to approach them. Either Joel Schumacher or Skekar Kapur is wanted for director, whilst Glenn Close, Bette Midler and Liza Minnelli are the favorites for Norma Desmond. Edward Norton, Robert Downey, Jr and Hugh Jackman are wanted for the male lead, Joe Gillis. Kate Winslet, Faith Hill and Martine McCutcheon are in line for Betty, with Patrick Stewart as Max and Albert Finney as Cecil B. De Mille. Julie Taymor, director of The Lion King on Broadway is wanted for a re-make of "Jesus Christ Superstar" http://www.darkhorizons.com/news.htm |
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| Dustin |
Althogh Bette Midler is a great personality, can you imagine. "Ah, Max, my favorite butler/husband/director. I'll never forget the first time I ran into him, peddling papayas on 42nd Street. . . . Mr. Demille, I'm ready for my close-up, Nipples to the Wind!!"
I can just imagine. Hmmm. . .wonder what happened to Streisand, she was in the running a few years ago?? Dustin |
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| Paul W. |
They shouldn't film it. The musical was a good interpretation of the great masterpiece of a film....to do it on screen would just be counterproductive to the Wilder film and the stage show. | ||||||||
| Dustin |
Hmmm. . .interesting perspective, but I think a little ridiculous. As we all know, Lloyd Webber's name will be plastered all over it, so it won't even be mixed up with the wonderful original, nor compared (unless you're completely clueless). It hasn't been decided as to how it will be filmed, a stage version, as Joseph, or a megamovie, as Evita.
In all reality, Close has the movie deal, always has, a one picture deal. But we know how Andrew feels about contracts. Dustin |
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| mostel |
If Glenn Close did the film, it sounds like she would win her overdue Oscar. BUT... I can SEE Minnelli in the role, don't even have to close my eyes to see it. It seems like a very natural choice for the role of a very unnatural person. That might have been a wisecrack but I doubt it.
Stewart as Max... sounds good. Jackman was Gillis in the Australian production, so that works. What about Gwyneth Paltrow as Betty? She at least looks the type, and she's a decent singer. Schumacher or Kapur... I really don't see either as a good choice. How about a newcomer? I actually haven't seen or heard the musical. Saw the original film. Wonder if the musical would score bigger at the Oscars. Dave |
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| Dustin |
Well, Streisand may actually be doing the movie, although I would take Close anyday. No official press release to date, so everything is being kept secret.
A new Sunset Tour is scheduled from RUG Oz, in addition to a Tokyo run and South Africa. D- |
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| JoeGil38 |
I definetly think Glen Close would be the ideal Norma. After all (and I mean this in the highest respect), she makes a wonderful psycho. Just think of "101 Dalmations", and of course, "Fatal Attraction".
What about Peter Gallagher as Joe? We know he can sing (he did Guys and Dolls on Broadway), and I think he is a teriffic actor. He seems to be able to play the sarcastic, sometimes cynical leading man with style. I wouldn't be too disappointed if Patrick Stewart played Max. Although, I think I would rather see Albery Finney play the part. And of course, who ever didn't get Max would be Cecil B. Demille. Betty is definetly a hard one. I know I'm jumping on a very common band wagon (I say this because a lot of people seem to want them to play the femal lead in every movie-musical that may be coming along), but what about Rene Zelweiger or Cathryn Zeta-Jones (sorry about the spelling) as Betty? Another favorite which I'm also going to agree with for this project is Nicole Kidman. I'm sure there are actresses who are better suited (no offense to these three women) for the role, but they are the three people who spring to mind. Maybe the answer is to choose an actress who is strictly known for "straight" (non-musical) movies, but has a theatre background. |
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| GlamorousGriz |
Judy Kuhn! Judy Kuhn! Judy Kuhn!!!
She would be a good choice for Betty... she did wonders with the role. ~E |
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| Valentin |
Minelli would do a fine job of acting the role. Unfortunately, her voice is shot to sh!t. Streisand . . . indifferent. She could either be divine or crap. Midler I'm a big fan of. Like Streisand though, she could go either way. Or a bit of both - like in Gypsy, some people adore her, some hate her. Glenn Close, on the other hand, would be amazing. I love her voice and her acting and she's done it before. There's not a better pick. |
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| Phantomb |
But the original is so old. I'm not saying that all films have to be remade but considering that ALW's version was a stage adaptation then what's to stop it being a success once more on the big screen? Norma Desmond is a fantastic role and would be amazing on screen. Glenn Close is a fine actress and if Hugh Jackman did Joe Gillis then we would be in for a big name Oscar feast. You might point to the relative failure of Evita but I would then point to the dull story and at times, uninspiring music. Sunset would be great. |
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| jcstar |
Sio what? It's brilliant. I really want to see this movie made. I think it'd be a great film. The music is awesome, and the parts (especially Gillis) are masterfully written. Barbra as Norma? Yes, I can see it. I like Hugh Jacman in the role of Joe as well. Patrick Stewart as Max? Can "Captain Picard" sing? 
Andy. |
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| GlamorousGriz |
Glenn Close can't sing well...... she's a very strong actress and I respect her for that, but she shouldn't raise her voice in song..... she's abominable on the cast recording of "Sunset", and she butchered "South Pacific".
Ok, here's my example. I've used it before. During "Salome" on the CD, she shows that she has the ability to belt, but then she allows herself to switch registers without proper breath support, and it sounds horrible. Same goes for "With One Look", but it's most noticeable in "Salome".... if she's got the ability to belt, which clearly she does, then why doesn't the use it for God's sake instead of switching registers like that? And if she's going to switch registers, she shold do it properly.... any trained professional should know that it's all about the breath.... stop moving the breath and it's going to sound abominable.... but keep the breath moving and support it, and she won't have that break in her voice..... Then again, as much as I love Andrew Lloyd Webber, he isn't exactly known for casting his female leads properly.... |
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| TR_Wolf |
He might not cast people who can sing the songs 100% crystal, but he casts people who can portray that particular character, who can bring them alive and become that character. And I personally think that comes JUST before vocal ability. |
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| The Duchess of Mint |
What?Dear Sunset Boulevard Fans,"Nipples to the wind?" Did Norma Desmond actually SAY that in the stage musical, or did that remark referr to Midler? 
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| GlamorousGriz |
Well yes, in this show particularly, the most important aspect of Norma is her acting ability, but it would make it easier on the audience to have a Norma who doesn't sing flat..... |
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| Dustin |
Re: What?
It was merely a reference to Midler's stage act. |
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| Rainy_Crystal |
i'd really love it if there were a movie of SB! | ||||||||
| Dvarg |
But if Norma were a well trained singer with a good voice, why should the coming of talkies threaten her career in the first place? |
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| GlamorousGriz |
No no, not Norma.... the actress playing her..... after all, it's a musical..... |
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| Dvarg |
Huh? The actress is supposed to portray a character with a supposedly weak voice (it's actually a very important part of the character) - how does it make any difference whether the actress has a weak voice herself or use a weakened character voice? |
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| Dustin |
There is nothing in the script to suggest a weak voice in Norma, merely a faded beauty. | ||||||||
| GlamorousGriz |
Here's the bottom line: whe you go see a musical, you expect the star to be able to sing well. I don't care what show you're seeing, the star is supposed to be able to sing well. (well, everybody, not just the star...) |
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| Dvarg |
As I have understood it, her beauty wasn't faded yet when her acting career ended many years previous to the events in the show. Therefore that couldn't have been the reason for the end of her acting career either. If she had a gorgeous voice, why wouldn't sound pictures benefit her career instead of destroying it? Her own explanation is that they "didn't need words, they had faces", which to me suggest that she didn't have a voice that suitet the sound pictures.
Not really. It depends on which musical it is. If it is Candide, absolutely. If it is Cabaret, not necessarily. In musicals in general, acting skill is more important than trained voice. And I do in particular not see why SB should be an exception from the rule? |
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| Dustin |
I would disagree with your theory. Her beauty wasn't faded when her career dwindled, however by the time the action picks up in the plot of the musical, she is a faded beauty. I think Norma didn't benefit from sound pictures because she wasn't willing to change with the times. She has no desire to change with the current state of movies with her Salome script, ie she doesn't want dialogue, I doubt she would have wanted to take dialogue when she was acting. Acting for her was in the mere expression of emotions, not in the endless words. The actress, her emotions, and her beauty were more important than the words, as she says ". . .we didn't need words, we had faces. . . .They threw away the gold of silence, when all they needed was this face of mine." Which is then exemplified by the song With One Look. Adding to your discussion about the importance of voice and acting in a show, I must say that musical theatre it is necessary to have both, and the most ideal is to have an actor that can portray emotion through voice. In an art form that calls for the characters to break into song to express emotion, the voice is important. However, Broadway is commercialism, so if a name sells tickets, it doesn't really matter if he/she can sing as long as the character is plausible within the realms of suspended disbelief. |
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| Dvarg |
Okay. I still mean that if Norma had a great voice in her "glory days" her ego would only grow if she could show that off, too, in addition to her beauty.
Anyway, Norma might not have a ugly voice, but would she bother training and polishing it if she did not want to use it in movies in any circumstances?
Of course. But that doesn't mean that it must be pretty to listen to, or well trained, but rather that it must suit the character. |
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| Dustin |
Yes, I do agree. I think Glynnis Johns in A Little Night Music is a prime example of a voice that isn't trained, but suiting the character to the maximum. | ||||||||
| Norma Desmond |
I think so too. It was said that Marlene Dietrich wasn't a great singer, but she wore her songs like skins and acted them so wonderfully that it was more than ample compensation. | ||||||||
| Dvarg |
Absolutely agreed. |
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| Moci |
UPDATE: I don't think it's been posted here yet
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4671777.stm |
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| JIJane |
I really want Streisand to do this...but she won't. She could be a great Norma (agree it could go either way but knowing her stealy determination she would really work for this), I don't know who else can do it. Minelli's voice is a mess...and Close is wonderful but I really did not like her voice, she cannot sing (especially belt) those songs. She simply doesn't have the range or type of voice it was written for.
By the way...Billy Wilder hated the musical when he saw it in London, he was appalled at the way they had "treated my work". I personally really like the show (think it's Lloyd Webber's best work). |
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| London01 |
Am I still up to date with a release date Dec 2006 ?? | ||||||||
| RainbowJude |
Norma's Voice
I must say that I agree with Dustin on this one. Dvarg, you're abslutely right that musicals, like plays, should be creating a consistent internal world of reality. But I don't think there is anything in the text of Sunset Boulevard to suggest that Norma's voice was the reason she did not make the crossover into talkies. As Dustin says, the book of the show implies that she rejects the possibilties that sound offers for the film industry. I think that she may be intimidated of using her voice on film - the way that many people feel when they hear recordings of them themselves played back - but I don't think that necessarily means that her vocal quality is bad. I think that, most of all, Norma is desperate to revive what she felt was the greatest age in movie-making - the silent era, when she was "the greatest star of all" - and that's what drives her to make a comeback with Salome, which, if it had dialogue, I think would be a fairly typical film of the period.
Well, according to the webmaster on the official Really Useful Group website, the press articles that once again started up the Sunset Boulevard rumour mill are 'unofficial' and any speculation regarding the project is 'based on unconfirmed information'. So who knows? Later days David |
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| jcstar |
I was thinking about this the other day. My choices for casting would be...
Norma Desmond: BARBRA STRIESAND Joe Gillis: EWEN McGREGOR or HUGH JACKMAN Max Von Merling: BARRY DENNEN I just thought that, knowing Barry discovered Barbra, the whole "husband" angle would be interesting to watch (though, Barry and Barbra were only lovers). The "discovery" of Norma (Striesand) by Max (Dennen) fits perfectly... to me, anyway. It's a thought. Andy. |
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| Sweeney Hyde |
Personally, I would LOVE to see Patti LuPone and Lord Webber to make up and have LuPone be Norma for the film. What about George Hearn as Max? Why couldn't he do it...I think that hollywood has really gotten away from using the actors and actress that were in the original productions...for the worse. For instance can you imagine how much better MAN OF LAMANCHA would have been on film if they had used Richard Kiley? | ||||||||
| Salome |
O'Toole was a brilliant Don Quixote. he didnt have thwe voice of Kiley..but O'Tooole was great. it was Sophia Loren and James Coco who ruined the film of La Mancha.
plus Patti LuPone was DREADFUL as Norma. she was "patti" not norma..he voice was grating,her acting was weak and she didnt understand the role. No one but Glenn Close should play the role. I'd love to see Albert Finney or Anthony Hopkins as Max. |
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| Sweeney Hyde |
Oooo! Yes! What about George Hearn or Christopher Lee? Not sure if Lee can sing but I think he would be soooo creepy as Max. |
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| Salome |
Lee is a trained singer..although his voice isnt what it was.
he is too old for Max now though. I saw Hearn as Max on broadway...what a performance! |
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| Sweeney Hyde |
They could make Lee look younger...so why not use Hearn as Max? |
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| santtu |
Have you heard her performance of "With One Look" in ALW's 50th Birthday Gala? She did fantastic job with it! Truly an amazing performance, she sings it a lot better than on the SUNSET recording! And after watching her perform that number I can't imagine anyone better to play the part of Norma. Well, except Meryl Streep - who 'lost' the role to Patti LuPone in the original London production... |
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| KristinT |
As far as Betty Schaefer is concerned, I think Anne Hathaway would be ideal. She can sing and act competently and has the right look for the period, and isn't quite so young that it would be too icky if someone Hugh Jackman's age was playing Joe Gillis, especially if they deliberately cast someone close to her age as Artie Shaw. Or, although I'm gagging a little at the thought, Scarlett Johannssen (I'm sorry, I'm not sure how to spell her name) is eager to prove that she can sing as well as act. |