My thoughts on NINE..... — Page 2

I believe Rob Marshall said somewhere that a male director would not have had a female producer in the 1960's.

I saw the film again tonight and Rob Marshall was on hand for a talk back this time. He actually talked a lot about how the idea was always to tailor the film for the specific actors, and so some of the aspects of the characters for the film were created hand in hand as the actors were being cast and the script written concurrently.

He talked specifically about how Lilliane came to be Guido's costume designer and raised some interesting points about actually adapting the musical NINE to a 1960s locale - because the original production on stage in 1982 was written to be modern day.

Some interesting tidbits - Marshall talked a lot about the casting process and how basically ever actress in Hollywood came in to test (he wasn't naming names).

Marion Cotillard originally came in to audition for Dench's role. Cruz originally auditioned for Claudia, then Luisa, and finally sent in a filmed scene as Carla and was given that part.

Anthony Mingella created the version of Claudia in the script to fit Kidman who was his own personal muse. The aspect of her being swedish is a tribute to the relationship between Roberto Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman.

To just address a couple of points raised in this thread. Unless they are not fluent in the language, Swedes don't really sing with an accent. Marquise, you as a child of the 70s reared on ABBA should at least know that much!

The stage musical NINE attempted to connect the title with Guido's age, as well as adding an extra 1/2 to Fellini's 8 1/2, There of course was no justification within watching 8 1/2 for a script reason the film was called such.

To just address a couple of points raised in this thread. Unless they are not fluent in the language, Swedes don't really sing with an accent. Marquise, you as a child of the 70s reared on ABBA should at least know that much!

Well to be completely honest with you Michael Bennett I had no idea that Claudia was changed to Swedish. I also didn't have the benefit of having Rob Marshall at my screening to point these things out to me. .

Now that these things are explained they make a lot more sense. I see how they fit in to the adaptation of the overall piece...and that's fine. I'm not a hard up purist by any means. I'm all for opening up the material and adapting it to the medium it is being made for.
Without adaptation we wouldn't have had the glorious film version of THE SOUND OF MUSIC or even the skillful and innovative ones Fosse gave us with CABARET and Marshall with CHICAGO.

I just hope that Marshall's next film musical (if there is one) doesn't resort to the tactics he utilized for both CHICAGO and NINE. But then again he himself has said he isn't a fan of musicals where the characters sing to one another a la Oklahoma or The Sound of Music because of, as he puts it, their artificiality.

Anyway, with all that aside some of the choices made in adapting NINE to the screen are clearer to me now.

I will be seeing it again in another couple of weeks with "fresh eyes" and a better understanding.

It's not a bad film really, not by a long shot. It's light years ahead of the RENT movie fiasco.

I do hope the film is a resounding success if only to get more musicals green lit and into the theaters.

Saw the Miami screening last night. Often I have read posts where writers wish that some Broadway performances were available on film to enjoy over and over again. THe musical numbers in Nine, once on DVD, will be a great addition to someone's collection.
Although the storyline may not appeal to masses of filmgoers, the choreography and orchestrations will appeal to many theatre fans. The style of the film is reminiscent of "chicago-the movie." But, it works.
Daniel Day-Lewis and Marion Cotillard really deliver in their final songs. Goldie Hawn in go-go boots is transformed into daughter Kate Hudson in a rousing "Cinema Italino." (The budget for hair extensions must have been huge). Sophia Loren continues to stun even now.
It's quite entertaining and everyone looks like they were having a great time making this adaptation.