A FOLLIES flim being developed by Sam Mendes and Aaron Sorkin?- Page 6

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/16/07 at 8:00pm

Sally Field is WAY TOO OLD.

[jv92]

Posted: 12/16/07 at 9:10pm

Don't diss my favorite book, TheEnchantedHunter.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/16/07 at 10:06pm

I liked the book, but I think it's a terrible basis for a movie.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/16/07 at 10:35pm

I want this movie to have a strong focus on the romantic aspects of the story. I find FOLLIES to be such a romantic story in a f*cked-up kinda way.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 2:44pm

I could almost see Sally being a little older than Phyllis. Maybe Sally had been in the Follies a few years and perhaps that's how she wound up as Phyllis's roommate.

I just don't get the idea of all these sixty-plus year old women getting bounced around for Phyllis and Sally. Unless a Sally Field or a Glenn Close can pull off late 40s/Early 50s (and I don't think any of these older women mentioned can), does that mean that they were 30 year old chorus girls, dating 30 year old law students who were being shipped off to war?
Updated On: 12/17/07 at 02:44 PM

[tgrabon]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 2:54pm

Follies can be filmed in Chicago at the Uptown Theatre. It will need to happen before the theatre is restored.

From Wikipedia:
The Uptown Theatre is a massive, ornate movie palace in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago.

The largest in Chicago, it boasts 4,381 seats and its interior size (volume) is said to be larger than any other movie palace in the United States, including Radio City Music Hall in New York. It occupies over 46,000 square feet (4,300 m²) of land. The mammoth theater has an ornate five story entrance lobby with an eight story façade.

Rehabilitation efforts are needed to restore and reopen this historic landmark, which has been closed to regular audiences since 1981.






Other pictures of the theatre can be viewed at :
http://www.undercity.org/photos/Chicago_Uptown/index.htm

[madbrian]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 3:01pm

What about Vanessa Williams as Phyllis?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 4:35pm

I love that idea. I suggested it ages ago and people on this board FLIPPED OUT at the thought of black people playing the leads in Follies.

[LadyRosecoe]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 4:36pm

Ah yes....

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 7:09pm

Joan Allen would be a first rate Phyllis.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 7:44pm

I see her more as Sally, but I'm kind of indifferent to her as it is.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 9:49pm

i think they should just go back in time & film the original.
you could never know what it meant to be a Weissman Girl.

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 10:04pm

"I like Streep but some people believe she can play any and every role out there."

I pretty much do. Well...maybe not a 10 year old Asian little person, but you know what I mean. She is incredibly versatile.

[Brick]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 11:12pm

I came on here to say I'd love to see Vanessa Williams as Phylllis. And I was prepared to be stoned to death by everyone.

Glad to see someone else thought of it, too.

I'd think the role would be challenging for her vocally, but not for a film...

[jewishboy]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 11:22pm

I don't see how Phyllis could be more challenging, vocally, for Ms. Williams than the Spider Woman, Della Green, Rosie, or The Witch. I think she would have to stretch herself dramatically, but she seems pretty perfect for the role.
Updated On: 12/18/07 at 11:22 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 11:57pm

After what he did to Gypsy, I'm surprised Mendes is being allowed anywhere near a musical.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 12:09am

I wish Mike Nichols directed this, I usually love the way he casts his movies (and that will probably guarantee Meryl as one of the major girls) and I love how he works flashbacks/time transitions.
I have yet to see anything Mendes has done that would make him suitable for FOLLIES.
I suggested Vanessa Williams in my dream cast post too, she'd be fierce. I'm not sure she could play the vulnerable side of Phyllis, but I sure would love to see her have a go at it.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 12:15am

I just don't believe Phyllis has gone through menopause yet.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 12:24am

Well, if she had that would at least explain why Phyllis said it is too late to have kids You see?
I see your point, Phyllis. Like I said before, I'm biased because I would love to see my favorite actress in my favorite musical.
I don't see Megan Mullally working as film Sally though.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 12:27am

Of my dream cast, she's the one I'm least committed to. I liked the suggestion of Catherine O'Hara, but I'm not sure if she'd work against Michelle. And Phyllis has to be Michelle. I've started employing The Secret to make it happen.

[choitoy]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 7:18am

You all are going to laugh at my weirdo idea, but a few years ago, I was watching the movie version of Grease, and I wondered if any of those guys can fit into a Follies movie. I came up with:

Phyllis: Stockard Channing
Sally: Olivia Newton-John
Buddy: John Travolta
Ben: stuck on this one, I guess that's as far as I can go with the Grease thing.

If they were casting Carlotta a little older, I would have wanted Liza Minnelli (well, her from a few years ago). She tends to slur out her "S" in a funny way, where I can totally imagine her saying "I'm schtilll heeeerrrreeee!"

[jewishboy]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 8:57am

John Travolta might make a very good Buddy. And I could see Channing as Carlotta more than Phyllis.
Updated On: 12/19/07 at 08:57 AM

[madbrian]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 9:08am

Channing is too old for Phyllis, but she'd make a terrific Carlotta.

[Brick]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 11:35am

I can definitely see Shirley McClaine wanting to be a part of this if it comes to fruition. Carlotta maybe?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 11:50am

But can she PLEASE sing the real lyrics this time?
Shirley MacLaine's I'm Still Here