FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was- Page 3
FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
#50FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 8:05amFOLLIES as a film isn't happening. There will be no professionals casting it.
logan2
Leading Actor Joined: 6/15/04
#51FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 8:29amThat's what they said about Chicago, Sweeney Todd, and Les Miserables. Mark my words, one day it will happen.
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#52FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 9:03am
I think the idea of a Follies movie has lost its luster.
Back in the early 1970s, they still had people that were known as "musical" stars. Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Fred Astaire, Deanna Durbin, etc.
Today they would have to cast the movie with either people who are singers that can cross over and act or actors who can carry a tune. The idea of a musical star is lost on today's generation.
logan2
Leading Actor Joined: 6/15/04
#53FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 9:35am
Musical stars may be a thing of the past, but as recently as 2010 Sondheim gave interviews talking about a Follies film happening with Aaron Sorkin writing the script. And it's still listed on IMDB as in development. It's not like musical stars ceased to exist, and a new generation appeared three years ago.
It may be later than sooner, but mark my words again, it will happen someday.
EDIT: And in the original production Alexis Smith and Yvonne DeCarlo weren't even good singers necessarily.
Updated On: 12/4/13 at 09:35 AM
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#54FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 9:43am
"It's not like musical stars ceased to exist, and a new generation appeared three years ago."
Musical stars have ceased to exist. There are no movie stars these days like a Debbie Reynolds or Liza Minnelli. Even The Sound Of Music has to borrow from Broadway actors because none of them are high profile enough to sell a Hollywood movie.
I think the movie loses a layer when they don't have that musical star connection. It can still be a great movie, but there's a piece missing. I equate it to when Chita Rivera was in the Chicago movie and Loretta Devine was in Dreamgirls movie. It's just an extra fun layer that connects the movie to something else.
logan2
Leading Actor Joined: 6/15/04
#55FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 9:48am
I totally agree with your assessment. My point is Sondheim and others still want to make a movie of it. So I think it will happen someday.
You say it won't happen, I say it will...and the world keeps on turning.
EDIT: I meant that musical stars ceased to exist decades ago, but Sondheim still wants to make a movie of it as recently as three years ago.
Updated On: 12/4/13 at 09:48 AM
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#56FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 10:10am
Perhaps if Into The Woods is a success, Hollywood will turn their attention more towards the work of Sondheim. But if Meryl Streep is anywhere near a Follies movie, forget it. I'm getting tired of seeing her in everything.
And speaking of Sondheim, I wish he would turn his attention to a production of Evening Primrose. While he's still living, if he would fill out the score just a bit more, it would make a wonderful production. Maybe two or three more songs. "I Remember" and "Take Me To The World" are great songs. If he could write another song or two for Charles and one or two for Mrs. Monday, then Evening Primrose could take it's rightful place among the Sondheim shows.
Wouldn't you like a production of Evening Primrose with Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Monday? Maybe Laura Benanti as Ella? Christian Borle as Charles?
logan2
Leading Actor Joined: 6/15/04
#57FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 10:24am
That's what I'm hoping - Into the Woods makes the Follies film possible. And I totally agree with you that I want Meryl to have no part in it. I love her dramas, but not thrilled with her in musicals.
Your Evening Primrose is a great idea. I just recently watched the old TV production of it and thought it should be redone. Lansbury, Benanti, and Borle would be divine!
#58FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 10:32am
In that one musicals?
#59FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 10:33am
So now everyone is casting Benanti and Borle in musicals together because of the obvious.
Don't get me wrong. I like FOLLIES. I didn't get the show at first. I was younger and I just thought it too depressing and self-pitying. It wasn't my cup of tea. When I got older I gave it another try and then I "got it" and appreciated it, so much so that I own at least 5 different recordings.
Like I've said before in another post on this thread, the show is a hard sell. If someone (Sondheim, Sorkin?) can come up with a viable way to translate the piece for modern cinema and make it work, then that would be a great thing.
I don't think modern movie audiences outside of theater fans are going to get it or even understand it or for that matter be drawn to it or it's subject matter, and when a film, especially a musical is finally green-lighted all those things are considered.
I still think it would have much more success as a top drawer television event with the original Bennett staging via PBS' Great Performances series.
But that's just my opinion.
Carry on folks...
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#60FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 12:11pm
"So now everyone is casting Benanti and Borle in musicals together because of the obvious."
It's a way to sell a lesser known musical like Evening Primrose to Ida's Bridge Club in Des Moines. If they can say "Oh, remember those two were in tv Sound Of Music together" then it makes it easier to get them to watch something less known.
#61FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 12:20pm
I'm flying into Des Moines tonight so I can watch The Sound of Music: Live! with Ida's Bridge Club. She's making her secret recipe potato salad for the occasion. We're making a night of it. 
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#62FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 12:23pmTell Ida that her bridge club should write Sondheim and urge him to write a few more tunes for Evening Primrose.
#63FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 12:51pm
Interesting that EVENING PRIMROSE was brought up in this thread. I also recently watched it and I do like the score a lot. I forgot where I read it, but I do recall Sondheim being quoted as saying he felt that PRIMROSE would not work for the stage. I don't know if his feelings have changed and if they have if he is willing to revisit it and write new material for it.
If by chance it is ever seriously considered and they do wind up doing it I would hope they would cast Charmian Carr as Mrs. Monday.
Updated On: 12/4/13 at 12:51 PM
#64FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 1:35pmI too would love a FOLLIES movie...here's hoping INTO THE WOODS is everything we all seem to hope for...and more!...and it does lead to FOLLIES THE MOVIE:)
#65FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 2:18pm"Follies" has been a pet project of Bill Condon's for a decade now. Not sure if it's dead in the water or if he let go of it for Sideshow.
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#66FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 2:23pm
"I do recall Sondheim being quoted as saying he felt that PRIMROSE would not work for the stage."
I thought the same thing about Follies, Company and Assassins. The only thing that doesn't work at the moment is that he needs to write some more songs and the story needs to be expanded slightly. But I think the theme of trying to hide away from society and create your own environment is very intriguing.
Can't you just see Angela Lansbury doing a reprise of "Take Me To The World" in the same style as she did the reprise of "Nothing's Gonna Harm You?
Take her to the world
And she'll regret me
Take her to the world
And she'll forget me
And while I'm sure Charmian Carr would do an excellent job as Mrs. Monday, I don't want to believe that little Liesl is old enough to play an old woman.
#67FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 3:47pm
I don't think Streep is right for Phyllis. Sally, maybe, but not Phyllis.
I can think of about a million possibilities for Phyllis, but very few for Sally. Diane Keaton might have been good a few years ago.
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#68FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 3:51pmBy the time Follies gets on film, Carrie Underwood will be ready to play Sally.
#69FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 3:59pmIf there ever is a film version, it would need an actual singer/actress to play Sally. Sally is the heart and soul of the show: the themes of love, desperation, and obsession are all in her. Phyllis has the easy (comparably) part because the audience instantly likes her because of her sarcastic banter. Sally is the character that couldn't give up the past, and that echoes in a lot of people, to the extent that they don't like her. They don't want to think of someone who's "folly" is there own. But when they let her in, she grows because she is the most realized character in the show. Without a fantastic Sally, FOLLIES withers and dies.
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#70FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 4:10pm
"Without a fantastic Sally, FOLLIES withers and dies."
Which was one of the problems of the 2001 revival. While Judity Ivey is a fantastic actress, she didn't quite have the ethereal quality of Sally and her "Losing My Mind" while nice, never hit the mark.
logan2
Leading Actor Joined: 6/15/04
#71FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/4/13 at 8:46pmI think Toni Collette would make a great Sally. She's a bit young for it now at 42 but it might take a few years to get made. If it's sooner than later, she could play older. Plus, maybe Sally aged really well.
#72FOLLIES: The 1972 Film That Never Was
Posted: 12/5/13 at 12:26am
If the film did happen, Gene Kelly dancing to The Right Girl with Michael Bennett's brilliant choreography could've been a dance to end them all for movie audiences in the 70's.
Eartha Kitt as Stella Deems would've been very interesting to watch.
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