Am I the only one who thinks Angela Lansbury- Page 2

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 11:46pm

I'm watching Murder, She Wrote right now! I love that woman! You can just see those wheels turning in that head as she tracks down that killer...awesome!

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 11:49pm

Does everybody love Ethel Merman? No.
Does everybody love Patti LuPone? Obviously not.
Does everybody love Angela Lansbury? No.

I personally love all three performers, but I don't need to bash anybody who disagrees and call him/her immature.

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 11:55pm

yes, yes you are.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 11:56pm

Obviously you're judging Angela's performances solely from her recordings. You had to witness this great lady on stage to appreciate her work.

I saw her in MAME about a dozen times and in GYPSY ten times. She was a spellbinding presence and could keep the audience in the palm of her hand all evening. Her "I Don't Want to Know" from DEAR WORLD was priceless, as was "If He Walked Into My Life" from MAME. Although her "Rose's Turn" in GYPSY was far different than LuPone's version, it was equally effective.

It seems that all the truly great musical theater performers really had to be seen to be appreciated fully. Listening to some of Merman's work makes me cringe, but to witness this lady on stage was the Real McCoy. The same could be said about Mary Martin.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 11:59pm

The real McWho?

[My Oh My]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 12:02am

I love Angela. But I'm pretty sure the OP means he/she doesn't like the sound of her voice. She may not have the most appealing sounding voice, but the woman can certainly sing.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 12:09am

"It's not easy when you see GASLIGHT to believe that young Angela Lansbury had never appeared before in a film." George Cukor, "She is wonderfully corrupt. And she was only a teenager at the time."

Posted: 5/26/08 at 12:33am

Why, yes. Yes you are.

I personally am a big fan of Anastasia and Beauty and the Beast...

not only is she fantastic live, she brings a hell of a personality to a cartoon.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 12:34am

Go away

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 1:03am

I know this will be stupid but....

LANPWNED



I know the name doesn't fit but it is necessary

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 1:10am

Am I the only one who thinks Angela Lansbury is overrated?

HOPEFULLY!

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 1:15am

The thing is that to say she can't sing you have to be ... deaf?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mO9V7Va9XWQ

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 3:37am

I was going to reference into_the_woods2, but when I read all the comments, can you imagine I just posted ALL OF THEM here, in responce...?
There's a couple that brought an extra chuckle:

"Why, yes. Yes, you are."

"The thing is that to say she can't sing you have to be ... deaf?"

Hee, hee...

Sorry, Zeitoujo, but, "get real"...really... Angela is a legend, by now.


Updated On: 5/26/08 at 03:37 AM

[thatgirl712]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 3:50am

Angela is fabulous.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 7:14am

Keith Garebian, THE MAKING OF GYPSY:
"Lansbury insisted on special four-weel rehearsals with Styne prior to official production rehearsals. She wanted to know every note of the score before showing up in front of the full cast. When Styne began working with her, he knew within the first hour that he'd have a surprise for everyone. No one was certain about her singing. She was primarily an actress, and though she had sung in Sondheim's ANYONE CAN WHISTLE and had won a TONY for MAME and another for DEAR WORLD three years later, there were special vocal and rhythmic requirements for GYPSY. By the end of the day, Styne knew she'd be superb. 'I let her have her own way. She began to act the pants off the part. Not as forceful as Merman, vocally not as blatant, but doing it a different way, her way.' He called Holt (the producer), Sondheim, and Laurents who came over and were knocked over by her renditions of two songs- SOME PEOPLE and EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSES."

[musicalman2]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 7:16am

Yes, you are.

[gonepishing]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 7:18am

Anytime a question asks "Am I the only person who....?", the answer will always be no.

[bschneid76]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 7:37am

If the OP doesn't think she has a magnificent voice, he must have forgotten "Beauty and the Beast" truly a wonder.

And Wannabe, I will respectfully disagree that she gave a bad performance in Deuce, it was a bad show but she rose above the material (at least when I saw the show).

If you have doubts about Angela you only have to watch "Gaslight", "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "The Manchurian Candidate" to appreciate her acting ability. And her Rose's turn is by far my favorite over all the other talented women.

She is and will be the Queen of Broadway.

Posted: 5/26/08 at 9:06am

You can dislike her, but she is one of the very rare actors who have scored triumphs in all media; On stage, on the movie screen and on television.

[Hiram]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 9:21am

I love the lady. In additition to her previously mentioned triumphs, I got to see her play Anna in THE KING AND I when Constance Towers went on vacation in 1978. That was the revival that played the Uris (now the Gershwin). Yul Brynner was also on vacation. His understudy, Michael Kermoyan was subbing for him. Ms. Lansbury was superb. The perfect Anna - Elegant, strong and very moving in the role.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 9:50am

Oh, for crap's sake.

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 10:05am

Lansbury? Overrated?... oh dear.... Please go buy the DVD to Sweeney Todd with Ms. Lansbury so you can witness one of the greatest performances to grace a stage. While you're at it buy her cast recordings of Mame, Dear World, Sweeney Todd, and Gypsy; all roles in which she won Tony awards for. Yes- she has FOUR Tonys for Leading Actress!
Go watch Gaslight, The Manchurian Candidate, and the Picture of Dorian Gray; all movies she was Oscar Nominated for! She's also been nominated for 12 Emmys for her work in "Murder She Wrote!" Another show that you should perhaps watch.

Angela Lansbury is the quintessential broadway star. Everything this woman does is brilliant. I love Patti LuPone, but she is certainly no Angela Lansbury.
Updated On: 5/26/08 at 10:05 AM

[sally1112]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 10:34am

Honestly, the woman is underrated. She should be in the running for Ultimate Queen of the Known Universe.

Just the thought of her makes me happy.

[nealb1]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 10:37am

You are absolutely right, she is overrated. And, there's no such thing as global warming. There really were weapons of mass descruction. And, gas is $1 a gallon.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 5/26/08 at 10:38am

I loved Angela Lansbury in GYPSY except for her interpretation of "Rose's Turn". She played it so angrily, which I guess is one way to go, but personally I preferred Merman's and LuPone's take on that number, without the extended bowing after the applause is over. That continued bowing is overkill to me.

I agree with those who posted the thought that to hear her singing in MAME is an excellent way to appreciate her legit singing. If you have an older CD of MAME, get the newer re-mastered CD--the sound is absolutely wonderful and makes for an "in the theatre" sound.

In addition to the films with Lansbury that have already been mentioned, watch THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT where she plays an unsympathetic character in a mostly comic gem of a film. Lansbury's acting is superb here and almost "steals the show" away from the main star Peter Sellars.