Bye Bye Birdie comes back to the silver screen — Page 2

Maybe Shirley Q Liquor could play Mae!

Remember that genius Daily Show spoof of The Telephone Hour?

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/the_talking_heads/jon_stewart_is_not_on_the_fence_23723.asp

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I've seen the brilliant original Broadway version, the 1963 film version, the god-awful made-for-television version, the misguided Tommy Tune version, and countless community and high school theater versions, and, even with its flaws, nothing touches the 1963 theatrical film version. I have no reason to believe another remake will come close. Beside the fact that nobody today seems capable of adequately filming musical numbers, no one can match the tremendous orchestrations by Johnny Green; and, nobody today can equal Onna White's perfect choreography. N O B O D Y!

Compared to the stage play, the movie version of Hairspray was far from "brightly colored".

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As long as there are no turtles on speed, I'm all for a remake!

If they do a remake, they must include Mae singing "A Mother Doesn't Matter".

I wish that the tv version had played around more with that song.

I can see Albert taking a shower, and Mae pops her head into the shower and sings "Who picked your dirty socks up off the floor? You coughed and who was there?"

Then Albert's at a meeting and Mae comes in "With bunions on my feet, I trudged through snow and sleet, To bring your lic'rice from the corner store"

Then Albert's eating at a restaurant, the waitress comes up and it's Mae singing "Who fed you chicken soup, when you had the croup?"

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Thanks for the link to the Daily Show thing. I found this one as well, which shows a video of it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/18/the-emdaily-showem-sings_n_127434.html

Hilarity! "Only in reality the choreography was even gayer!"

I'm all for any movie musical being made, but unless this is is radically different from either of the other two versions, I see no reason for this...

If it were as faithful as the television movie, but brilliantly directed, choreographed and filmed (Honestly Sincere in the 1963 film is one of the greatest musical numbers ever captured on film), I would love it. But I think I'd rather see Bring Back Birdie than have the original updated to hip-hop. Bye Bye Birdie is one of the few musical comedies that is about as perfect as any musical could hope to achieve. If they were smart, they would get Cheyenne for Birdie.

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besty - I pretty much echo most of your thoughts on the film. I enjoy it for what it is, but I agree that some of the casting was a bit awkward and the direction is spotty. It felt like everyone was kept on a pretty short leash with the exceptions of Ann Margret and Paul Lynde. Ann Margret is hot, but from the get-go, she comes across as quite the sex-kitten which really leaves her nowhere to go. But overall, the musical numbers capture the spirit and energy of the show beautifully.

I prefer the TV version mostly for the book scenes. The musical numbers, while sounding fabulous, are visual duds. Ann Reinking should be ashamed for taking any credit for all that drivel referred to as "choreography".

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Well, here's what I had to say about that lousy TV thing, in 2000 on IMDB:

Hey, let's take the fun out of Bye Bye Birdie!, 10 October 2000
Author: johnm_001 from USA


This film should be filed in the why bother cabinet. Yes, you could say that it sticks closer to the Broadway version of the show, and you would be right. However, the Hollywood version of this Broadway show was always a lot more fun, with incredibly impressive musical numbers. This version, with alleged choreography by Ann Reinking, is just a big bore. The cast is generally not right for their roles, either. Jason Alexander is in fine voice, but he just isn't Albert, Chynna Phillips (looking more and more like Papa John, everyday), is too old. So was Ann-Margret in the 1963 version; but at least she had the energetic appeal of a 16 year old. Phillips comes off like she has iron poor blood. Tyne Daly, is too loud and annoying, to give Mae Peterson any real laughs or charm (see Maureen Stapleton's 1963 performance). The lone exception is Vanessa Williams, who is delightful as Rosie. She is the only reason to see this misguided remake. She's a true musical comedy talent! But she's not enough to save it. Watch the 1963 film version. It doesn't disappoint. This one, too often, does.