Old Movie Musicals/Gigi

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 3:26pm

I saw the musical "Gigi" on TV last night. They're selling it for free on cable Movies on Demand. I haven't seen this movie in a long time. It's such a beautiful and charming film. It made me remember how having a perfect voice in order to do musicals wasn't important until Andrew Lloyd Webber came along. I think someone should produce it for Broadway.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 3:37pm

The stage version of the musical Gigi was a major flop as a matter of fact running for 103 performances at the big Uris Theatre (now the Gershwin).
I also miss the days when one didn't need to have a perfect voice to be on Broadway. Performers like Chita Rivera, Elaine Stritch, Gwen Verdon (post-Sweet Charity), Carol Channing, all are considered brilliant stars (and they are) despite their lack of an American Idol-like voice. I don't think people would accept that on Broadway today but perhaps I'm wrong, hopefully that is.
Updated On: 1/29/06 at 03:37 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 3:41pm

They had "personalities" then.

(God, I sound like Gloria Swanson.)

*searches house for a turban and sun glasses*

[Kringas]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 3:49pm

I don't think that ALW is soley to blame for wanting perfect voices on Broadway, and for every Stritch and Channing, there was a Merman and a Cook.

[greenegirl87]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 4:09pm

best12bars is right too...every single star you mentioned had "it", so the fact that they didn't have perfect voices didn't matter. That charisma is very rare, and I think if someone today came along that possessed "it" but did not have a perfect voice they would still have a chance.

[Zyla]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:38pm

Back on the subject of "Gigi" - I want to credit that musical for single-handedly softening my cynical, angsty teenage little heart. From what little I knew about it, it sounded pointless and sappy - then I watched it with a friend, a fellow old-movie lover, and loved it. Pointless, maybe, but sweet, fun and, I would say, impossible not to smile at it!
And, yes, filled with real talent!
Updated On: 1/29/06 at 06:38 PM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 8:26pm

GIGI is actually quite filthy, and Arthur Freed ran into some opposition from the production code, mainly Grandmama and the Aunt are grooming Gigi to be Gaston's mistress. Of course, the French accepted and even encouraged this kind of behavior.

As for singing voices..what singers of the 30s/40s/50s had was style ane each one was unique. Sinatra, Crosby, Como - all different. Merman, Martin and Channing - all different. Today everyone wants to copy the same basic styles and the singers are interchangable. B.Peters is a star because her style is unique and once she is gone that will be it. Merman and Martin are gone. Channing (who by sheer coincidence is celebrating a birthday today!) is no longer performing.

I can blame ALW for a lot of things but not this. This problem was in development long before he was a blip on the Broadway radar.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 9:42pm

I was sorry to hear that Gigi had been a flop on Broadway. With that score, I know a new production could be possible and successful. I wish I knew how to be a producer ("Never put your own money in the show!") There was a host for this movie on TV the other night, and I found it interesting to learn that Audrey Hepburn starred in a non-musical Gigi in London very long ago, and she was coveting the movie role but Leslie Caron had actually come up with the idea of making the movie.