Liza Minnelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Liza Minnelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
bwayboy22
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/12
#1Liza Minnelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/23/13 at 4:44pm
BWW posted an article debunking the rumor that Liza was in talks to play Norma in the film adaptation. First of all I never heard this rumor (recently) and secondly thank god because I dont think she could play it. But since it has come up who do yall think would be a good Norma in a film adaptation?
Updated On: 9/25/13 at 04:44 PM
Noel&Cole
Leading Actor Joined: 11/10/07
#2Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/23/13 at 4:46pm
I think Catherine Zeta Jones could do it beautifully.
Norma doesn't need to be 60+
bwayboy22
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/12
#3Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/23/13 at 4:48pmI completely agree, Norma is supposed to be in her late 40s early 50s
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#4Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/23/13 at 5:08pmJudging from her last performance on Smash, I doubt Liza still has the voice to sing the role. It would never happen, but in some weird way, I'd like to see Sarah Brightman do it.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#5Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/23/13 at 5:29pmI think Cher should play Norma Desmond if Sunset Boulevard gets made into a film, I think she would sing the hell out those songs lol
#6Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/23/13 at 6:44pmGod I hope not but Sarah Brightman-who comes across as mad as a meat axe,could be perfect.Agree with Cher and she would certainly get the backers.
#7Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/23/13 at 6:50pmI don't see why people are getting their knickers in a twist about Liza. I love Liza. Many of you out there love Liza. But Liza is not the Liza of 10-20 years ago. She does not have the voice for such a demanding role as Norma Desmond. Catherine Zeta Jones is an inspired choice. How about Liz Callaway? She has played the role and has a phenomenal voice. It will not happen, but she'd be an excellent choice. P.S. I don't think Cher or Sarah Brightman. I'll be very honest here....both have overdone faces.
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
#8Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/23/13 at 7:08pmMaybe Liza's Headband could fill in. Lord knows she's all kinds of crazy.
So Lauren Bacall me, anything goes! *wink*
#9Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/23/13 at 7:38pmTo me it's either Sarah Brightman, Catherine Zeta Jones or Cher to play Norma.
#10Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/23/13 at 8:09pmCZJ would be a long shoot. I have it on good authority that her songs for CHICAGO were practically recorded a note at a time. (The truth is probably a line at a time, but she really is not a singer.)
#11Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/23/13 at 8:14pmI think it's funny that anyone thinks Liza could play anyone but herself at this point. And she doesn't even do a very good job of that anymore. Same goes for Cher.
bwayboy22
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/12
#12Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/23/13 at 8:17pmWhat about the rumored choice of the past 10+ years Barbra Streisand. Or Nicole Kidman, she doesnt have a bad voice? I also heard ALW wanted Madonna.
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#13Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/23/13 at 8:45pm
"What about the rumored choice of the past 10+ years Barbra Streisand."
There is no way that Streisand would be considered a silent movie star. "With One Look" would be a joke. Streisand as "the girl next door or the love that you hungered for?" Never.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
bwayboy22
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/12
#14Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/23/13 at 8:54pmI thought she was quite attractive in her day. Not a typical beauty but still a beauty.
#15Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/24/13 at 8:48pm
People have to look at Norma Desmond and think, "Has-been." I think that CZ-J is too young. Even if Norma Desmond is supposed to be in her late 40's or early 50's, people looked older then - they may really have aged faster. I like the idea of Meryl Streep or Glenn Close - didn't one of them play the role on stage? Sarah Brightman is probably too young, too. What about Madonna? I'll bet she could pull it off.
I don't know how old the narrator is supposed to be, but I just don't think a young guy would get sufficiently grossed out by a bombshell such as C-ZJ, and that's important to the story.
You alone can make my song take flight.
#16Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/24/13 at 8:57pmthe only Norma i think is BABS!...and lord knows she can sing the score frontwards and backwards better than anyone...but most likely i see MERYL STREEP...especially after INTO THE WOODS...
Matt Rogers
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/04
#17Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/24/13 at 9:02pmDoes anyone know how old Gloria Swanson was when she played it in the film?
#18Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/24/13 at 9:09pm
Gloria Swanson was 50 or 51 when the movie was made, so CZJ is actually much closer in age to Swanson was then someone like Babs.
Matt Rogers
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/04
#19Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/24/13 at 9:20pmThanks for the info! Well, I have no opinion on the casting here, but it does seem that Liza is too old, not to mention that she has a problem getting insured, from what I hear.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#20Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/24/13 at 9:36pmIf Hollywood knew what they were doing, they'd cast the glorious Loretta Swit as Norma. Think of that the score would sound like with La Swit singing the tunes!
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
Matt Rogers
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/04
#22Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/24/13 at 9:39pm
I personally see Norma Desmond just as a vague older character, not one of a specific age. She obviously needs to be older then Joe and Betty, but what makes her character so unique isn't the age of the actress. It's her being extravagant and larger then life, like how Christine Ebersole played Little Edie in Grey Gardens,
If this film ever comes to fruition, the actress just needs to be in the age bracket where it's believable that she's getting past her prime...I think that could be from late 40s or up, depending on the actress.
#23Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/24/13 at 9:53pm
I would think that Glen Close would be the person to film it...considering her rank in Hollywood and her experience in the role.
I actually have never thought of Cher in the role, but I think it would be a great chance for her to do a serious role on film again. She would need some make-up to age her more (sounds weird when talking about a woman who is 65+) but her "over done" face may be something useful when trying to show Norma's attempt to regain her youth.
I, of course, think that they should try to get LuPone to do it but that won't happen--too many burnt bridges on ALW and LuPone's parts. However, it would be a fabulous publicity stunt, she could really pull the singing/acting off, and it would give LuPone her first real role in a big-time movie. I know it is basically out of the question--but with her reviving "With One Look" in concerts recently, a boy can wish.
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#24Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/25/13 at 12:14am
"I personally see Norma Desmond just as a vague older character, not one of a specific age."
Max sings that she was "barely sixteen" when they met and she started acting in his early films, and it is implied that she was at the height of her stardom when the talkies came in, not already old and washed up. So she's been out of the public eye for only about 20 years by the time the events of the musical came out. Chronologically a 70 year old Norma just doesn't make sense.
#25Liza Minelli as Norma Desmond? Nope.
Posted: 9/25/13 at 11:02am
ABZ-J
Anyone but Zeta-Jones.
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