A Little Night Music deserves a film remake

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 1/10/15 at 7:30pm

The film that they made in the 70s does such little justice to the show and it really could be a beautiful and funny and sexy film and really showcase the beauty of Sweden. The story lends itself to the film medium so well because of its Ingmar Bergmann origins and the straight forwardness of the story too. It could have fantastical elements as well and you could still have the greek chorus dancing in and out of situations.

Thoughts?

Updated On: 1/10/15 at 07:30 PM

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/10/15 at 7:37pm

Ann-Margaret as Madame Armfeldt.

[garyl]

Posted: 1/10/15 at 7:44pm

yes yes yes. I have been thinking about this. It's one of the best musicals ever and it deserves a great movie version

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 1/10/15 at 11:36pm

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.

[Jay94]

Posted: 1/10/15 at 11:46pm

Yes. With all the talk of Sunday, Follies and Company, I've been thinking that Night Music would lend itself most to a new film adaptation. Get big stars in the leading roles and you could have a hit.

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 1/10/15 at 11:51pm

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

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/11/15 at 12:09am

Also been thinking Night Music would be the more obvious choice, as opposed to Company, Follies, and Sunday. It's definitely deserving of a GOOD film adaption.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 1/11/15 at 12:25am

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.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/11/15 at 12:28am

Exactly, and the roles would be very easy to star cast.

[BwayFan23768]

Posted: 1/11/15 at 12:33am

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

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

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/11/15 at 12:37am

Pine would be absolute perfection as Count Malcolm. I'd imagine that Kate Winslet would be a top contender as Desiree. Emily Blunt would be a good Charlotte, if it were cast younger like the revival.

Now I want this to happen, lol.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 1/11/15 at 1:04am

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.

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 1/11/15 at 2:26am

I agree, and they could just go straight to the last revival cast and have Catherine zeta Jones and Angela lansbury recreate their roles on screen

[Fantod]

Posted: 1/11/15 at 3:15am

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

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/11/15 at 6:39am

I would love to hear Emily Blunt sing "Every Day a Little Death," maybe with McKenzie Mauzy as Anne.

Love the idea of Chris Pine as Carl Magnus.

You could add one more Into the Woods cast member. I think Lilla Crawford would make a great Fredrika.

As for the leads, I love the idea of Kate Winslet as Desiree, but I think she is still a little too young for the part. She would act and sing it beautifully and has the right screen presence for it, though.

I like the idea of Cate Blanchett but think she might be a little to harsh or hard for the light comedy.

Maybe Hugh Jackman for Fredrik. My first choice is another who is a bit too young for it: Robert Downey, Jr. He and Kate W. would be terrific in another 5 to 7 years.

... and by that time, Our Lady Streep would make a delicious Madame Armfeldt.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 1/11/15 at 8:21am

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.

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/11/15 at 8:33am

Would love to see Sting as Fredrik. Scarlett Johansson as Petra.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 1/11/15 at 10:04am

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.

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

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 1/11/15 at 11:03am

Anna Kendrick as Petra.

[Nikeca]

Posted: 1/11/15 at 2:16pm

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

[Enjolras15]

Posted: 1/11/15 at 11:04pm

I quite like the original film, though a remake would be amazing. I would say "Leslie Caron" as Mdme Armfeldt, "Anna Kendrick" as Anne Egerman, "Hugh Jackman" as Frederik Egerman, "Billy Magnussen" as Henrik Egerman, Australia's "Marina Prior" as Desiree Armfeldt, "Emily Blunt and Chris Pine" as Count Magnus and Charlotte Malcolm, "Lilla Crawford" and Frederika Armfeldt and "Lea Michelle" as Petra. Plus a selection of Broadway stars as the chorus.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 1/12/15 at 2:52am

"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.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 1/12/15 at 9:11am

I wonder if Ang Lee could be tempted to direct? He'd certainly be an interesting choice, able to negotiate the shifting loyalties and characters in the story, and it'd be a refreshing change for him, making a movie about actual human beings after that LIFE OF PI thing.

Does Chris Pine have the voice for Malcolm? Not that that really matters any more.

I don't really see this happening, though, or any of the others, at least not in any big budget production. INTO THE WOODS, it seems to me, is profiting from the teenage girl market that made FROZEN such a success -- I can't see a film of COMPANY or SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE or FOLLIES having the box office potential needed to get them going. Maybe as indies, but, well. We'll see how that LAST FIVE YEARS thing turns out.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/12/15 at 4:00pm

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

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/12/15 at 4:08pm

^^My only problem with that cast would be Patinkin.