Glenn Close gives a 'Sunset Boulevard' movie update — Page 3

CATSNYrevival said: "I hope it happens but she does basically say it's "all ready to go" except everything you need to be ready to shoot a movie including the financing."

Yep...and especially with the ultra-shaky Paramount as rightsholder and an unknown entity (Rob Ashford) directing, this ain't going anywhere.

Best case scenario for Glenn: IF on April 25 at the Oscars Glenn wins Supporting Actress, Chris Hampton wins Best Screenplay, and MANK wins a few awards (none of which is likely to happen), that could be enough for Netflix to buy the rights from Paramount, since they seem committed to musicals, movies about Hollywood, and masturbatory passion projects. But that's a pie-in-the-sky scenario.

Also, ALW's also no dummy. There are other women who could play this role who have more box office clout than Glenn Close and might be able to attract a real director. Even Nicole Kidman or Cate Blanchett would bring more box office/financing weight to it. Or in 20 years, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, JHud, Cynthia Erivo...etc.

THE VISIT only happened because Terrence McNally's husband, Tom Kirdahy, made it happen (and it was a colossal financial failure for everyone he persuaded to invest in it). SUNSET would need that equivalent, and its billionaire author obviously doesn't seem in a rush to step up. And I don't blame him!

Claudia Draper said: "BARBRA !!!"

Barba is almost 80. Norma is 50. Barbra physically won’t even be able to glide down those stairs without CGI help. Vocally her voice is shot but they can sweetened that with technology.

I hope in the movie version they cut about 70% of this boring and relentless score. I love "Surrender", "With One Look", "New Ways to Dream" and "It's As If We Never Said Goodbye", but happy to throw the rest in the bin. My pipe dream would also be that Liza Minelli played the role.

How about Catherine Zeta Jones in the role? I imagine that she can handle the score and she can be in a good movie musical, since Rock of Ages criminally wasted her talents.

CATSNYrevival said: "Should have just filmed the concert for one of the streaming platforms."

As an avid Sunset fan, who 28 years later still listen to the score regularly, I personally want to see a movie just to have another experience of what I think is one of ALW's best scores (and hoping that as a "new number" that perhaps they're going to re-write the finale which has always seemed to be the one thing that was lacking).

That being said, I've kind of lost the enthusiasm I had for this. The length of time for it to come together as a full movie-musical is reminiscent of Cats. As much as Close had this amazing presence even in the revival that helped her to overcome the shortcomings vocally, not sure that's going to translate well on film without a live audience, and not sure even as a story will be a draw as for many (most?) people have little understanding of the history of films let alone the "silent era."

I agree filming the live production in front of a live audience, perhaps with the original Napier sets -in front of a live audience (as they did so well with Love Never Dies) would seem the best bet.

chernjam said: "not sure even as a story will be a draw as for many (most?) people have little understanding of the history of films let alone the "silent era."

I'm not sure I understand your reasoning here. People make period films, TV shows, and stage plays all the time.

chernjam said: "I agree filming the live production in front of a live audience, perhaps with the original Napier sets -in front of a live audience (as they did so well with Love Never Dies) would seem the best bet."

That would indeed have been best.

chernjam said: "CATSNYrevival said: "Should have just filmed the concert for one of the streaming platforms."

As an avid Sunset fan, who 28 years later still listen to the score regularly, I personally want to see a movie just to have another experience of what I think is one of ALW's best scores (and hoping that as a "new number" that perhaps they're going to re-write the finale which has always seemed to be the one thing that was lacking).

That being said, I've kind of lost the enthusiasm I had for this. The length of time for it to come together as a full movie-musical is reminiscent of Cats. As much as Close had this amazing presence even in the revival that helped her to overcome the shortcomings vocally, not sure that's going to translate well on film without a live audience, and not sure even as a story will be a draw as for many (most?) people have little understanding of the history of films let alone the "silent era."

I agree filming the live production in front of a live audience, perhaps with the original Napier sets -in front of a live audience (as they did so well with Love Never Dies) would seem the best bet.

"

I could have written this myself. I, too, listen to the cast recording on a regular basis (Close, Carroll, Lupone, Buckley, Schneider...I have them from the 90s!). But I'm afraid this will end up on Netflix or Amazon if this does go forward with Close, who's now 74. (Streisand should have done it 20 years ago instead of 'Fockers', IMO).

As for the Minnelli / Collins duet, I think Collins sounded and looked better than Minnelli. Maybe Collins can star as Norma Desmond...maybe Linda Evans as Betty Schaffer, and throw in a fight in Norma's Lily Pond and we're all set. (Why not bring back Jeff James as 'Joe Gillis'?).

nealb1 said: "Barbra has said many times over the years that she was offered the film version of SB twice, and turned it down both times."

Do we know why she turned it down?