Marni Nixon- Page 3

[Glebb]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:31am

I wanted this record because the cover had a wonderful picture of Mary, Jane and Michael(from the movie) stepping off of Big Ben. (I hope my memory is serving correctly.)
This could have been when I learned of Marni Nixon and her plight, from my mother.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:50am

Since we're talking about dubbing, I'd like to bring up SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952).

For those of you who may not know, this Gene Kelly film was a satiric look at Hollywood in the late 1920s when the awkward transition from silent movies to "talkies" was taking place.

Jean Hagen played Lina Lamont, a silent screen siren who had a high, whiney, "screetchy" voice totally unsuitable for her screen persona.

Therefore, the Movie Moguls hire Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds) to dub Lina's acting AND singing in her first talkie.

There is a scene in film which shows Kathy dubbing Lina's vocals for song "Would You?"

However, management felt that Reynolds' voice wasn't strong enough for that number and hired ANOTHER singer, Betty Royce, to dub HER!

So, we have Betty Royce dubbing Debbie Reynolds who was dubbing Jean Hagen!


P.S. Look for scene in the movie. IT'S OUTSTANDING!

Updated On: 10/19/04 at 06:50 AM

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 8:15am

Mary_Ethel, according to the liner notes in my "Singin' In The Rain" DVD booklet it reads: "Incidentally, despite her screechy vocalizations as Lina, (Jean) Hagen had a first-rate singing voice. How good was it? When Reynolds is supposedly dubbing Lina's on-screen singing voice, it's really Hagen's voice we hear. She dubbed herself!" Updated On: 10/19/04 at 08:15 AM

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 8:21am

Marquise,

I've heard that as well! :)

I think the reason they had Reynolds dubbed is because she has kind of a "midwestern, flat" accent which didn't fit in well with the "King's English" all artists in early talkies were trained to speak.

Hagen was a classicly trained actress and could pull off the "Formal English" bit without a flaw. Therefore, Hagen's voice was used to dub Reynolds dubbing Lina.

MARVELOUS film, isn't it? :)

[mominator]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 8:25am

Just adore "Singing in the Rain" The whole
"khant"
"can't" scene leaves my sides so sore!

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 8:29am

i love that movie and yes i remember the "kaynt", "cahnt" scene.
"And I kaaaaaaaaaynt stand 'im"!!

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 8:32am

My favorite quote from SINGIN' IN THE RAIN is also from Lina:

"And I Make More Money Than Calvin Coolidge... PUT TOGETHER!" :)

[mominator]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 8:35am

Too funny.

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 8:55am

or when she yells at the director:

"well how can i make love to a bush!!!"

or when she whines:

"well why is everyone picking on me!!"

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 9:01am

Don [Gene Kelley]: Lina, I DON'T love you! All this lovemaking between us is for the screen ONLY!

Lina: Yeah? Well, no one could kiss me like you do and not mean it a TEENY little bit.

Don: Lina, are you kidding? I'd rather kiss a tarantula!!!

Lina: I don't believe you!

Don: Joe, get me a tarantula!!!

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 9:17am

Anyone when here see the STAGE version of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN.

I saw the original Broadway Production.

IMO, except for Faye Grant as Lina, not a whole lot to reccomend.

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 5:24pm

I ran into Faye Grant on the "N" train when she was in that production. it played the Gershwin. i think it was still the Uris back then. she was with her husband Stephen Collins. i was in high school back then. God I'm getting old

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:16pm

Poor Marquise,

You're feeling old today? I'm so sorry!

Please allow me to cheer you up:

I had just finished GRADUATE SCHOOL when I saw Grant in SINGIN' IN THE RAIN!


Feel Better Now, Buddy? :)


P.S. Age is a state of mind! Just don't let yours anywhere NEAR New Jersey! :)

[Plum]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:18pm

Oh, come on. Can't we pick on Texas or something instead? Or better yet, Wyoming. Not as many people to insult.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:20pm

EXCUSE ME, Plum, I LIVE IN TEXAS. :)

[Plum]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 6:21pm

And I used to live in New Jersey. See? That's why Wyoming is the best choice. Pure probability. :)

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 7:17pm

Apparantly, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN was closer to the truth then we may have thought.

In 1929, THE IRON MASK--an early talkie swashbucker starring Douglas Fairbanks was released.

William Bakewell dubbed Fairbanks' voice during dueling scenes so Fairbanks could concentrate on his swordmanship.