Jennifer Lopez to Star in KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN Film — Page 30

joevitus said: "
Famed record producer Goddard Lieberson never liked dialogue on his cast albums. I mostly agree, but I think it's rather nifty how Shepard gave us an encapsulation of the play on his Spider Woman. And, of course, I think the difference between the days when people owned albums with a synopsis included, vs. today when people mostly download music with nothing else to go by than the numbers makes a difference in how the material should bepresented (to be clear, he recorded Spidar Woman in the CD era,before downloads existed much of anywhere besides Napster)."

Have you read Shepard's book?  (I know way back in this thread I already quoted much of what he said about making the replacement cast Spider Woman recording.)  It's interesting that Lieberson was his mentor in how to make cast albums, but he discusses their different views about dialogue--Shepard suggests had Lieberson made the Company original cast album he probably would have left out all the dialogue between verses in The Little Things You Do Together (which IMHO would have been a great loss, although Shepard did have them slightly re-write the dialogue.)  Of course then in the 80s, having the luxury of CDs with more time than a single vinyl disc would give you helped with this too.  (I do have a friend who played the Spider Woman original cast album some months back for the first time, and she said she got no sense of the story.  Of course she easily could have followed along with Wiki, but...)

 

Mine is similar to Jeffery. It's mostly the Chita recording, but I added Lucky Molina from Vanessa (though, of course, neither she nor any of the leads sings on it). I'm actually going to go back and swap out Chita's "Gimme Love" for Vanessa's. Love the bird/exotic sounds as the scene is being set. 

Updated On: 10/16/25 at 10:35 PM

I agree on that point, though at least some of that is I think Chita just had that part so perfectly realized (not just physically, but vocally.)

Well the movie finally opened here in Canada and I saw it tonight,. I have thoughts (which I'm sure I'll get into later if people aren't already tired of discussion of this movie) but overall I... liked it.  Even knowing a lot about the changes it often felt oddly like the musical and not at all like the musical.

Me and my friend (who loved it--he has no history with the musical though knows the 1985 movie) were the only two people in the showing, and the other two showings today (a matinee and a late one) look to be completely un-sold.  No small feat, this has only happened to me once before when I've gone to a movie.  I still think it's due not so much to bad word of mouth, or even audience indifference, but that people don't seem to even know it exists.  Talking to a number of movie loving friends of mine about seeing it, their reaction was "What's that?"

BrodyFosse123 said: "López was on Howard Stern’s show this week and mentioned that Chita Rivera had been cast to play the older woman describing the Spider Woman in the film but passed away before she was to meet her at the start of rehearsals. Rivera was aware of the entire development of the film and supportive of Jennifer’s casting, etc.

Here’s a short snippet from the almost 2 hour interview"

I have a FB "friend" who refuses to believe that somehow that wasn't Chita in that role (it was Graciela Daniele) 

 

Plus, Graciela directed and choreographed Chita'a 2005 Broadway Show so it fits.

They both had a long history together. Graciela originated the role of Hunyak in the original 1975 Broadway production of CHICAGO (she was also the dance captain), plus she choreographed 3 of Chita’s Broadway shows: THE RINK, the aforementioned A DANCER’S LIFE (as well as directed), and Chita’s final Broadway show THE VISIT. 

"I have thoughts (which I'm sure I'll get into later if people aren't already tired of discussion of this movie)"

Of COURSE we want to hear your thoughts, Eric! You've been waiting so long to really participate full out in this discussion so now G0 FOR IT!

For completionist sake, it's hard to remember a year ago, but I'm pretty sure Dressing Them Up was in it so they did film it. I could see it landing as a deleted scene. 

Right, and lines from Dressing Them Up have become dialogue.  I don't remember anyone on here claiming it was in early screenings.

In a WhatsOnStage podcast a week or so ago where they interviewed Condon he said there was a fourth song from Purchase (and not the Broadway version) that they filmed set in a drag bar but that was cut, and that they also did film The Day After That as a song for the revolutionary members to sing in the movie within the movie mixed with Molina imagining something from a line Valentin said but that was cut, too.  So those could show up somewhere (DVD or whatever...)

EricMontreal22 said: "Right, and lines from Dressing Them Up have become dialogue. I don't remember anyone on here claiming it was in early screenings.

In a WhatsOnStage podcast a week or so ago where they interviewed Condon he said there was a fourth song from Purchase (and not the Broadway version) that they filmed set in a drag bar but that was cut, and that they also did film The Day After That as a song for the revolutionary members to sing in the movie within the movie mixed with Molina imagining something from a line Valentin said but that was cut, too. So those could show up somewhere (DVD or whatever...)"

The drag bar number is on the soundtrack, though The Day After That is not, which makes me think at least the former could should up as a delted scene or maybe even a extended cut.

Updated On: 10/20/25 at 11:42 PM

EricMontreal22 said: "Is that Come Out? (I guess I should actually listen to the soundtrack now...)"

Yes. It's a silly song, and I really enjoyed it.

Oh wow - how interesting Condon shares how when he first chatted with J Lo years ago, she was trying to remake SWEET CHARITY.

She could've been quite cute in that. But if everything, she never quite had the naivite that role requires. Otherwise, the dancing, singing and the charm, all would've worked.

Opens tomorrow in the major chains across Australia. Most having two screenings only. Will see it on Monday.