Footage of Gloria Swanson's SUNSET BLVD. musical!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 11:45pm

Holy smokes!

Here's the one and only -- the original Norma Desmond herself: Gloria Swanson, performing a number from her self-penned musical adaptation of SUNSET BLVD. titled BOULEVARD on The Steve Allen Show.

Chilling to see how John Napier literally got the idea for Norma's staircase for the Andrew Lloyd Webber adaptation from this footage. This is her "With One Look" number, basically. There's no Joe Gillis in this scene -- its just her and an unseen Max. Also, the staging is reminiscent of Michael Bennett's original FOLLIES staging... with the former-self ghosts in the background.

"... those wonderful people -- out there in the daaaaaaark!"



http://youtube.com/watch?v=m8fpyM97QKM





Updated On: 4/28/08 at 11:45 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 1:17am

I LOVE that clip!

Except for the fact that Max sounds like Dracula...

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 1:31am

Goodness, I love Sunset Boulevard.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 3:18am

She was calling it "Boulevard". You have to give her credit for trying. I seem to remember she did a few plays....

Updated On: 4/28/08 at 03:18 AM

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 8:30am

Um. I don't know what to say. Having read so much about Ms. Swanson's efforts to mount this production, I have been curious for years about what it actually "looked like." So, thank you. (I think! )

The choreography makes me think of the "Mandy" number from White Christmas!

And I agree with Diva: Max IS very BelaLugosilike. But not in a good way.

[tgrabon]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 10:01am

Bizarre. Thanks for posting the link.