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.

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.

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.

Absolutely agreed.

UPDATE: I don't think it's been posted here yet

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4671777.stm

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).

Am I still up to date with a release date Dec 2006 ??

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

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.

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?

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.

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.