A FOLLIES flim being developed by Sam Mendes and Aaron Sorkin? — Page 3

As far as a film version of Follies... the Gloria Swanson photo in the wreckage of the Roxy that inspired the show in the first place is so wonderfully atmospheric... it sure makes me think you could make Follies about old world Hollywood and not lose anything. Lord knows, there are all of those abandoned movie palaces in downtown L.A. that would be perfect for filming...

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It would need a visionary director for sure. Its definitely not a Joel Schumacher kind of thing...

If Schumacher did it, Bobby would probably be characterized by his uncomfortable sexual fetishes...

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I think Ewan McGregor has a lot of the right qualities. I don't see Hugh Jackman doing it (I also think he's too old). I think Bobby would have to be a lot more inherantly likeable than say what Raul Esparza did on Broadway. A movie audience wouldn't go along with that kind of interpretation.

They are too brooding. Bobby's not brooding. He's charming. Bobby is George Clooney at 35

James Franco would definitely be my choice. Dub him. I wouldn't mind.

He's the new Marlon Brando in my book.

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Marlon Brando wouldn't ever have been right for Bobby, though...

Actually in a few years, I could see Jake Gyllenhaal doing it. Thats the sort of screen presence I think would work for the character on film.

No idea about Company, but I actually think a Follies movie could work ('could' being the key word). I actually think that Aaron Sorkin could do an interesting adaptation, but Sam Mendes doesn't seem to be the right choice to me. Also (and I know this is exactly what everyone wants to hear) wasn't Barbra Streisand interested in doing a Follies film at one point? Then again, Barbra has kinda been interested in EVERY film at some point...

I disagree that Chapin's book is a better way to go for a Follies movie. I can't fathom why anyone would think that a movie about a show they think no one wants to see would be any more interesting.

I don't see why the ghost characters would be harder to differentiate on film. Shoot them as black and white, maybe with a little transparency. In the early shots, perhaps have them reflected in a mirror. I always pictured Sally's "Ta-da" and the first time she sings the intro to "Don't Look at Me" she's looking in a mirror, Phyllis comes up behind her and says "Sally?" and then the camera pans up in the mirror to reflect the Young Phyllis and Young Sally Flashback.

I also don't think that it's about a theatre should be a problem. On stage all the action seems to take place on the theatre's stage. Why not have scenes take place all over the theatre, saving the big stuff for the actual stage, such as "Beautiful Girls" and "Who's That Woman?" Perhaps as the movie progresses, the secondary characters are found more and more outside the theatre, so that by "Could I Leave You?" it's just Phyllis and Ben in the theatre, and then they are joined by Sally and Buddy and their younger counterparts, all on the stage as the show descends into "Loveland."

Making it about a film studio confounds me. Would it be about the people who were in the Ziegield Follies movies? They should use Goldman's original book as a template, not the any of the revised versions. The original is far less rancorous and hopeless than the current script.

Eh, I've always thought Follies would work perfectly on film. I'll echo Mateo and say that I'll be happy to work on the screenplay if needed. :)

Updated On: 12/15/07 at 05:24 PM

I think a lot of musicals could be made into great movies. The problem is trying to market them to a mass audience.

I wish some independent film directors who love musicals would take on the challenge. When you go the independent way you can do whatever you want for the most part in terms of vision. Look at Hedwig - one of the best movie musicals to come out, and why? Because they went the independent road and did whatever they wanted.

I know movie musicals are very expensive which can be very problematic. But I think there are many musicals that would make great small independent movies. Company being one of them.

And we all know there are more than enough New York actors/singers who would be more than happy be in these films if they were given a chance.

Instead we get to see Depp sing a Sondheim score for 2 1/2 hours. Lucky us.

"And we all know there are more than enough New York actors/singers who would be more than happy be in these films if they were given a chance. "

- And how would you expect these movies to make money if they cast all unknown New York actors/singers. Depp sells, plain and simple.

Updated On: 12/15/07 at 05:34 PM

Until PRS gets a job at Paramount or WB, I don't know if I could support cheapening a fantastic story for the sake of monetary profit.

Note to Mendes and Sondheim-
I've found your Sally: Catherine O'Hara.

the actors would have to be willing to let their faces show their true age.