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

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 10/16/25 at 8:53pm

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...)

 

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 10/16/25 at 10:13pm

Probably as I wasn’t just sitting and listening, I found Crivello’s Valentin hard to track. Stokes obviously stands out so wonderfully and his arc is a lot clearer.

[joevitus]

Posted: 10/16/25 at 10:35pm

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

[joevitus]

Posted: 10/17/25 at 12:31am

EricMontreal22 said: "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...)

"

Not only did Shepard leave it in, but he moved it around so that it interrupts more of the song than it did in the actual production. It works very effectively. One thing I disagree with is Shepard's claim about making Aurora a more evocative presence than the London recording did. I really don't agree with that at all. I think both recordings achieve the same effect. 

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 10/17/25 at 5:36pm

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.)

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 10/17/25 at 7:14pm

EricMontreal22 said: "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.)"

After listening to both albums a few times over the past few days I made a playlist. It’s formatted around the Vanessa recording but basically putting Chita and Brent’s big songs into it. We will see if I like it.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 1:55am

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]

Posted: 10/19/25 at 6:39am

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:

 

Updated On: 10/19/25 at 06:39 AM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 10/19/25 at 11:45pm

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) 

 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 12:52am

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.
 

I feel like anyone with reasonable vision could tell that was supposed to be played by Chita lol.

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

Updated On: 10/20/25 at 12:52 AM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 6:19am

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. 

[bryan2]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 6:52pm

I went to see this today, Having seen Chita 4x and Maria Conchita once ...I had very low expectations. 

Honestly  I really loved it. I loved the 2 leading men , they were incredible and when they went into the "Hollywood musical" scenes it felt like we were watching an old 30s/40s musical. (which was what they wanted I know) . JLO did a great job and was far better than what I was anticipated. She sang well (with or without assistance , I really dont know or care) and was being overdramatic like expected from that era musicals.. I really enjoyed it very much. I did miss Dressing them up but hearing the missing songs in the background music made me happy and I really loved the way they did Dear One as a folkish song in the prison yard.  We really enjoyed this very much, If you dont like JLO go to see the incredible acting of the two male leads ...they deserve recognition 

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 7:20pm

"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!

[John Adams]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 7:46pm

bryan2 said: "I really loved the way they did Dear One as a folkish song in the prison yard."

A couple of things I really enjoy about this song as used in the film vs the stage musical, but may be missed by those who don't speak Spanish:

     * In the stage version, the song references family members, both male and female (particularly a mother). In the film, at least one of the men in the yard (possibly both) is singing to his male lover.

     *The men are singing in Castellano (not to be confused with Castillian), the dialect of Argentina. ...although technically, the double "L" (elle) in the word, "Llegará" is pronounced like the <zh> phoneme in the word, "television".

Updated On: 10/20/25 at 07:46 PM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 8:07pm

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. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 9:27pm

TheatreFan4 said: "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."

Bill Condon has spoken about this song and it was never included in the script therefore never filmed. He chose to not include it though he understands everyone’s affinity for it. 

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 9:44pm

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]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 9:47pm

Someone in a Tree2 said: ""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 reallyparticipate full out in this discussion so now G0 FOR IT!"

A friend wants to go tomorrow (I told them there was no way it'd still be in theatres here by the weekend) so I'll try to ramble together more of my thoughts (good and bad) after that.  And awww--thanks for this lovely post.

 

Updated On: 10/20/25 at 09:47 PM

[joevitus]

Posted: 10/20/25 at 11:42pm

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]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 1:44am

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

[joevitus]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 1:56am

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.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 10/24/25 at 5:13pm

[BJR]

Posted: 10/24/25 at 8:57pm

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.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 10/28/25 at 9:39pm

Tonatiuh has just received a Gotham Independent Film Award nomination in the category of Breakthrough Performer for his performance as Molina.
https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2025-gotham-award-gotham-nominations/

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 10/28/25 at 9:44pm

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