NINE Film Casting Rumors from Page Six — Page 5

I don't think the songs I mentioned are necessarily dispensable, but sometimes there are certain moments that as pivotal as they are on stage, they will just not work on film. Marshall luckily understands this (though I'm not sure how much credit Bill Condon deserves for the cutting of some numbers in CHICAGO). "Getting Tall" is a very important number on stage but I don't see them giving such a slow number at the end of the movie to one of the non-star actors. Plus, I think conversation between Guido and Young Guido could be just as effective.
MB, you're insisting a bit much on "My Husband Makes Movies" being replaced
Oh, speaking of which, I assume Maury Yeston will be involved with the production, right? Specially if Athur Korpit was considered to write the script.

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This is kind of a random, probably too soon to answer question, but I was telling my ex about this film (he has only heard "A Call from the Vatican" before) and he just asked me where they are filming this movie and I went on and on about how the show takes place in Venice and how important the setting is to the film. His reply was: "So Toronto?"
He works in the film industry so I know he knows better, and Rob Marshall did do CHICAGO in Toronto; but do you think there's any way he will NOT be doing on location shooting in Venice?

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If "My Husband Makes Movies" is ditched, MB, I won't go see the picture. They might as well just ditch Luisa and the whole plot of Guido and his wife, then. They might as well not make this movie.


EDIT: Something to remember---The best movie musical adaptations of Broadway shows weren't MASSIVELY reconceived or overhauled. They made a FEW trims of songs, and some minor (but important) rearranging of song positioning in their plots. They didn't "reinvent" so much as tailor the material to fit the medium. I hope NINE does the same... Make a FEW key creative decisions and let this be NINE. I hope they don't go after it with a butcher's knife.

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Updated On: 4/17/07 at 09:29 AM

Marshall already did some changes with CHICAGO, mainly having Mary Sunshine played by a woman, cutting many songs, and switching some songs around. When it comes to this matter, I really trust him.
Plus, CABARET is one of the best movie musicals out there, IMO, and that couldn't be more different than the show itself. Marshall is no Fosse, but still.
I'd have a problem with him eliminating characters though. I can't think of any dispensable characters (save for Mama Maddelena), even Stephanie Necrophorus is an important character. I was wondering if "Be Italian" would be cut, but even then, Saraghina would have to stay in the film.

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Does anyone picture Ann-Margret in this?
I would love it if they got Leslie Caron for Lilliane.

The way of adapting a musical to the screen totally depends on the musical. Musicals like West Side Story and My Fair Lady were pretty much kept in tact, save a scene or two, in their adaptations because the shows could pretty much stand on their own. Cabaret, while a wonderful musical, suffered from two plotlines where one was infintel more intriguing than the other and quite a few dispensable songs. Themovie made the necessary changes to make it a great movie musical.

My favorite example, though, is the movie Oliver! The musical, when you read the script, is about 20% dialogue and 80% music. This results in SO many moments in the show that don't need music and rather slow down the pace. The movie made the necessary requirements to cut the following songs: I Shall Scream, That's Your Funeral, My Name, as well as 6 reprises. It also added quite a few scenes and switched around the order of musical numbers. One of the most brilliant decisions was to move "Oom Pah Pah" towards the end, completely changing its reason for being there and adding more character development for Nancy.

I don't care what Marshall does to make this a brilliant movie. All I care about is that Nine is well represented on that screen. If he does what Hal Prince did to A Little Night Music, there will be blood on his hands.

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Now that would be genius casting, MichaelBennett. I actually have a screening of 8 1/2 in 20 minutes for my film class, it's the last movie we're watching this semester. I haven't seen this film in a VERY long time, I'm sure I'll be back with a dozen more questions/thoughts regarding the NINE adaptation.

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Hey, Best12bars, I know this is going back a ways, but on page 1 of the thread, you said Liliane should not be French. May I ask why? Her name is Liliane La Fleur, she lives in Paris, and she's obsessed with Folies Bergeres. I should think that French is required.

Ohhhhhhhkay, now I gets ya.

I'm shocked that they're making a film of NINE.
I guess only big names will sell this - Midler for Saraqhina, Hawn for Carla, Woody Allen for Guido and Julia Roberts for Claudia - JUST KIDDING!

I loved the original and revival stagings of NINE.
Fingers crossed for the film.

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Isn't the producer a man in the movie?

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I agree: Queen Latifah would be a flavorless Saraghina. I also am not very fond of the idea of Kathy Bates, who I view as having zero sex appeal - though I suppose, given their history with Marshall, both will be strong contenders for the part.

I do think Zeta Jones could pull it off - though I'm not sure she's going to want to look so unappealing in a movie surrounded by stunning actresses.

Based exclusively on Eddra Gale's appearance, humour and what the character has to do in 8 1/2, the celebrity who most comes to mind for Saraghina (bizarrely enough) is..Kirstie Alley. I'm not sure she could handle "Be Italian" but I can certainly see her doing that dance on the beach...

At 4'11, she's awfully small for the part don't you think? Those would have to be some VERY small boys to dance with her barefoot on the beach...

It would be fun to see Hayak in the film somewhere though...