A Little Night Music---the movie

#1

A Little Night Music---the movie

Posted: 4/23/05 at 10:47pm

Tonight, I watched the film version of "A Little Night Music" for the first time in ages. I bought it for a quarter years ago at a rummage sale. It truly is one of those "so-bad-it's good" movies. Elizabeth Taylor was horrendous as Desiree. Plus, they cut four of the best songs---"Liaisons", "The Miller's Son", "Remember?", and "In Praise of Women". Well, I guess you could say that "Liaisons" is still in, albeit in a very truncated version. And, "The Glamorous Life" was completely rewritten.

Still, it's a great guilty pleasure. Any thoughts?

#2

re: A Little Night Music---the movie

Posted: 4/23/05 at 10:51pm

I really want to see it, but I love the show so much I am afraid of the horror that is Liz Taylor as Desiree.

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I stand corrected, you are as vapid as they say.

#3

re: A Little Night Music---the movie

Posted: 4/23/05 at 10:53pm

I think the new Glamorous Life is fantastic. I would love to see the movie someday, so hopefully I can track it down.

#4

re: A Little Night Music---the movie

Posted: 4/23/05 at 10:55pm

Not sure I've ever seen the whole thing. I remember it being quite difficult to take and I much prefer my homemade video of the NYCO version.
I also remember reading a Liz Taylor interview - she felt very insecure making the film and referred to herself as "dumbbell."

Isn't Betsy Joslyn in the film?

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" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."

#5

re: A Little Night Music---the movie

Posted: 4/23/05 at 10:58pm

The film version of "The Glamorous Life" is easily one of my favorite showtunes. My hometown's library used to have the film. Pretty bad, from what I can remember...

#6

re: A Little Night Music---the movie

Posted: 4/23/05 at 11:02pm

The film version of "The Glamorous Life" is lovely---Fredrika sings it in voice-over as a montage Desiree's acting and touring life plays.

The film has been out-of-print for years. Copies pop up on Ebay from time to time, and there are used ones for sale on Amazon. Most video stores with older selections carry it.

#7

re: A Little Night Music---the movie

Posted: 4/23/05 at 11:26pm

I got this movie(near mint) for like $5.00 plus shipping

Here are my thoughts, yes it bad that the cut songs and parts(the quintet).

However, it gives you a glimpse into seeing Len , Lawerence(was that his Name?) and Mrs. Gringold at their tony-nominated performances.

Diana Rigg was great as Charlotte!!!!!!

Elizabeth Taylor was great as Desiree, yes, that's right!, I said it.
SHe was
Acting was great, "You must meet my wife" was great

And her "send in the clowns" wasn't that bad......singing wise Glynis Johns didn't set the bar too high, you know, really I didn't think it was as bad as I had got the impression that it would be.

#8

re: A Little Night Music---the movie

Posted: 4/23/05 at 11:27pm

I have it on laserdisc.

Pauline Kael's famous (or infamous) review of Hal Prince's direction of the movie: "Mr. Prince directed A Little Night Music as if he never even seen a movie before."

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#9

re: A Little Night Music---the movie

Posted: 4/25/05 at 12:05am

...singing wise Glynis Johns didn't set the bar too high, you know...

MTVMANN, that made my day, 'cause it's SO TRUE!

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"Do you know ChrisLovesShows?" "Yes. Why, yes he does!"

#10

re: A Little Night Music---the movie

Posted: 4/25/05 at 12:09am

Sadly, I have never seen the movie. But I too adore the film version of "The Glamerous Life".

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"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL

#11

re: A Little Night Music---the movie

Posted: 4/25/05 at 6:05am

I adore Glynis Johns.

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" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."

#12

re: A Little Night Music---the movie

Posted: 4/25/05 at 6:46am

I had a huge crush on Glynis Johns in my younger days.

#13

re: A Little Night Music---the movie

Posted: 4/25/05 at 6:54am

Votes for Women!

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" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."

#14

re: A Little Night Music---the movie

Posted: 4/25/05 at 5:12pm

i am totally in LOVE with the movie version of the glam life (as sung at Wall to Wall)

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"Picture "The View," with the wisecracking, sympathetic sweethearts of that ABC television show replaced by a panel of embittered, suffering or enraged Arab women" -the Times review of Black Eyed

#15

re: A Little Night Music---the movie

Posted: 4/25/05 at 10:30pm

Betsy Joslyn isn't in the film to my knowledge. Interesting bit of triv: all three leading ladies were dubbed by the same singer. Elaine Tomkinson sings the roles of Anne, Fredrika and the ensemble sections for Desiree.

#16

re: A Little Night Music---the movie

Posted: 4/25/05 at 11:17pm

One thing I didn't really like the first(and only time) I saw it was the start. They had all the actors on stage and then they just segged into the story......I think I'm going to watch this again......also, the quality of my tape(and I would assume all tapes, laserdisc, ect.)isn't very good......

#17

re: A Little Night Music---the movie

Posted: 4/25/05 at 11:38pm

Speaking of Dame Taylor...

I just finished watching "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" for the first time. Not only is it (officially) one of my all-time favorites, but Taylor's performance is one of the best I've ever seen onscreen. It ranks with Burstyn's Sara Goldfarb, Streep's Sophie, and Davis's Judith Traherne.