A Little Night Music deserves a film remake

Ann-Margaret as Madame Armfeldt.

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The show definitely deserves a good movie (though I actually have quite a fondness for the awful original).

Like you said it could be really good and if they trusted it and just let it be what it is. Chorus and Miller's Son and all.

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I've always felt like the album cover imagery would be interesting as a surreal moment in a film version, maybe during "The Miller's Son" you see everybody in the trees completely naked and intertwined. That song ties the whole show together for me. And in a similar way that ITW did "On the Steps of the Palace" on screen doing a similar idea with "Remember?" by freezing time. After seeing Emily Blunt as the Baker's Wife she could also play a hilarious and deadpan Countess Charlotte. Dare I say even Daniel Radcliffe could be Henrik? Matthew Morrison as Carl Magnus cause we know he can definitely sing it.

Updated On: 1/10/15 at 11:51 PM

Yes it has the most potential because the other three are very abstract and stagey to the point where it would take a truly visionary idea to make them into compelling films, whereas NIGHT MUSIC is primarily plot driven with just some surreal moments.

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I can picture Chris Pine as Count Malcolm, and maybe Julianne Moore as Desiree?

Updated On: 1/11/15 at 12:33 AM

The roles in it present the perfect opportunities for big star turns as well as some Broadway people, maybe as Henrik, Petra or Anne? Or maybe the Quintet could all be Broadway veterans with stars in all the other roles.

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Yes Angela, no No NO to Zeta-Jones.

I'd like to see it. It's my favorite Sondheim show, and there's something about it that is very cinematic. Stephen Daldry sounds like a better choice to direct this than Wicked. Maybe Joe Wright could also do well with it.

Updated On: 1/11/15 at 03:15 AM

Thanks, madbrian. Because of your suggestion now I can't stop thinking what kind of Desiree we could have had from Ann Margret say 25 or 30 years ago. I think she would be wonderful now as Madame Armfeldt.

Or, to go back to the revival we missed out on, have Vanessa Redgrave as Madame Armfeldt.

The original is one of my guilty pleasures, as awful as much of it is (particularly the direction and photography. I'm reminded of Pauline Kael, "It appears that Hal Prince has never even SEEN a movie...") The parts that work, most of "Glamorous Life" are kind of wonderful, and has Taylor's best work in a strange way (and most beautiful shot, the peach dress on the train), show us what might've been. But then, it sinks horribly in the second half, and the outdoor sequences are in near-darkness* and just dreadfully shot. The film has some of the worst cinematography ever done in a major project, with interiors garishly and inconsistently lighted. When Taylor looks bad -- the "You Must Meet My Wife" sequence her nadir, thanks to the cameraman and Prince -- you feel for her. I always thought she was just about ideal for the role. Maybe Vincent Minnelli, in his prime, could've done something wonderful with the material.

But is it really a movie? When you look at how much the music slows down the action? A lot of it, other than "Weekend," really is ruminative, not active enough to invite what the camera brings. I'd rather see a brillliant production get photographed like the original "Woods."

*By the way, much of the second half of "Into the Woods" looks much darker on the screeners than in the theater. "Last Midnight" seems in near darkness. I found it troubling, because I loved the dark look in the theater. It's somewhat of a different experience on DVD.

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Updated On: 1/11/15 at 10:04 AM

I remember watching it as a kid with my mother It would be nice to remake it :)

"A lot of it, other than "Weekend," really is ruminative, not active enough to invite what the camera brings."

And that's one of the parts where the movie actually comes to life. I have a huge soft spot for themovie, but I can't disagree with your criticisms.

In regard to Woods, Auggie, someone mentioned how dark the DVD screener was on the BluRay forum. OThers pointed out that often they are rushed, and it hopefully will not be reflective of the actual DVD and BluRay commercial releases.

Judi Dench as Madame Armfeldt
Emma Thompson as Desiree
Mandy Patinkin as Frederick
Taylor Swift as Anne (to pull in the young crowd)
Nick Jonas as Henrik (to pull in the young crowd)
Lilla Crawford as Frederika

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