Rob Marshall to Bring FOLLIES to the Big Screen?- Page 7

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 2:24pm

Nobody wants a movie version this more than I, but unless the original script is used as the basis for the screenplay and someone who understands that material (and I have no idea who that would be) helms it, I really don't want any part of this.

[Kad]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 2:27pm

But, Phyllis Rogers Stone, how could a Follies movie be made without you?

[tazber]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 2:44pm

Why is it that if an audience is bored by a show it is their fault as opposed to the fault of the material?

I don't see where you got that. No one said it was your fault you didn't enjoy the revival. In fact no one even disputed your opinion that it was "sleepy". Rather, some agreed that the revival was not the best version they had seen.

If you're referring to lovebway's post, she didn't specify it was a response to you.

I thought she was responding to AE.

Updated On: 12/3/14 at 02:44 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 2:46pm

Kad, I know! If I had it all to do over again, I'd go back thirty years and set young me on a path that would culminate with me directing this movie in 2015.

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 2:57pm

i for one have always thought FOLLIES would make a very cinematic movie, and i would also be very ok with ROB MARSHALL directing it...he seems to want to do it and i am sure he understands the book problems that exist...STREEP and KEVIN KLINE immediately cone to mind for PHYLLIS and BEN...bringing them full circle from SOPHIE'S CHOICE...

[After Eight]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 2:59pm

"I just don't see how anyone who like theater could be bored by the Follies revival. "

Have you tried to see?

Are you willing to see?

Are you capable of seeing?

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 3:04pm

I ask the same questions of you every day.

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 3:07pm

I hope there is a movie, but I hope more that it is good. Follies would work very well on film with the right cast and director. But it would be very easy to mess up. If we do get a movie, please let it be a masterpiece.

Updated On: 12/3/14 at 03:07 PM

[Fantod]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 3:07pm

Tazber, I'm not sure who lovebwy was referring to, but he/she/they said that he/she/they couldn't see how anybody could not like the Follies revival, and that people who didn't like Follies had the attention span of 5-year-olds. This may not have specifically been directed at me, but it applied to me, and I don't think I have the attention span of a 5-year old, so I thought I should defend myself.

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 3:38pm

PJ, loved that Paris Review article. However, having witnessed the debacle that was Hal Prince's movie of A Little Night Music, maybe it's just as well that his movie of Follies never happened. I still remember Pauline Kael's quote that it was as though Prince had "never even seen" a movie before.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 3:45pm

I have zero doubt that the original was a once-in-a-lifetime night in the theater. Lightning in a bottle that can never be recaptured. Those lucky enough to see it should cherish the memory, and I feel lucky to be able to hear first hand accounts of it from members of this board.

That said, to me the revival was an incredible experience. Huge, lush orchestra, all-star cast, and Roz Ellias singing "One Last Kiss". I got goosebumps just typing that.

Didn't mean to insult anyone, I just can't fathom not loving it (unless you'd seen the original).

Updated On: 12/3/14 at 03:45 PM

[Musical Master]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 8:46pm

@StageStruckLad Oh yeah......that.

Seeing the great MGM stars on screen would've been a blast but with the atrocious, dull, and amateurish A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC that Prince did direct, maybe we ARE better off without that original idea.

I still support the idea that Rob Marshall directs it and gets a stellar cast who are not only talented but understands the roles to a "T". Plus John Myhre and Colleen Atwood would be the perfect team to do the sets and costumes respectively.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 9:01pm

I'd love to see real broadway stars as the leads instead of movie stars.
Bernadette Peters as Sally, Donna Murphy as Phyllis, Mandy Patinkin as Buddy, and Victor Garber as Ben.

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 9:14pm

Mandy was terrible as Buddy in the concert cast. I LOVED Danny Burnstein's take on the role.

I would love Barbra Harris as Hatti - and can Barbara Cook play older Heidi?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 9:30pm

I'd love to see real broadway stars as the leads instead of movie stars.
Bernadette Peters as Sally, Donna Murphy as Phyllis, Mandy Patinkin as Buddy, and Victor Garber as Ben.

That would NEVER happen.

Bernadette Peters = Not a box office draw

Donna Murphy = Outside of Broadway = Donna Who?

Mandy Patinkin = Eh. Made some movies. Kinda well known...but a long shot.

Victor Garber = Ooooh...it's the captain from TITANIC! Ummm, no.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 10:22pm

Here's my casting choices:
Benjamin Stone: Kelsey Grammer
Buddy Plummer: Ewan McGregor
Phyllis Rogers Stone: Bebe Neuwirth
Sally Durant Plummer: Catherine Zeta-Jones
Roscoe: Mark Jacoby
Emily Whitman: Lea Thompson
Theodore Whitman: Christopher Walken
Carlotta Champion: Victoria Clark
Solange La Fitte: Marion Cotilard
Hattie Walker: Angela Lansbury
Stella Deems: Patti LuPone

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 10:25pm

I thought Catherine Zeta-Jones was banned from Sondheim musicals after her "performance" on the Tonys.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 10:28pm

She mentioned in her acceptance speech that she wasn't feeling very well.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 10:33pm

I thought Catherine Zeta-Jones was banned from Sondheim musicals after her "performance" on the Tonys.

Um, considering that Sondheim had personally offered her the role, I highly doubt she'd be banned because of a lousy three minute performance towards the end of her run. Plus she made that production and Sondheim A LOT of money.

Updated On: 12/3/14 at 10:33 PM

[Jarethan]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 11:03pm

I agree with Pal Joey in an earlier post. The original Follies remains to this day the most exciting musical I have ever seen. I saw the original production 5 times and loved it every single one. One of the problems that any production will ever have is trying to live up to the legendary original. On their own merits, some pretty criticized productions would be viewed more favorably if everyone was not always hoping for the alchemy of the original...it ain't ever going to happen again on stage.

I do think it could make a great movie and actually have always believed that much of the current day dialogue scenes and Ben / Sally songs would work better in a movie, where close-ups and editing could serve the non-story well.

Re directors, when he was alive, I would have loved to see Robert Altman direct it, with a strong choreographer or stage director at his side. The book scenes are already so Altmanesque that he would have been perfect. So maybe, Anderson would be a good choice...he is as close a successor to Altman as anyone I can think of. However, I really would loved to see the musical scenes done by Baz, but only if he promised not to edit as annoyingly as he did in Moulin Rouge. Although I like the movie a lot now, I HATED it the first couple of times I saw it, because of the constant editing. That would hurt the movie irreparably; but, if he promised not to edit, he has such a great visual style.

It could be a great movie.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 11:46pm

She mentioned in her acceptance speech that she wasn't feeling very well.

She made me ill. I guess it was contagious.



I highly doubt she'd be banned because of a lousy three minute performance towards the end of her run.

I know. "Banning" isn't good enough. Running her out of town on a rail was my first thought...

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 12/3/14 at 11:51pm

Is Meryl too old for Sally?
Catherine Zeta-Jones would be awful as Sally. I don't want to see someone bob their head and spew hot air all over the camera during "Losing my Mind."
Also, I didn't say that they would cast broadway stars. I thought it would be fun for the fans.

Updated On: 12/3/14 at 11:51 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/4/14 at 12:03am

Yes, Meryl is too old for Sally. And Phyllis.

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 12/4/14 at 12:23am

Sondheim's choices in actors have been fallible in the past: the entire cast of the Roundabout Follies were basically hand-picked by him, and we know how that turned out...

Updated On: 12/4/14 at 12:23 AM

[Musical Master]

Posted: 12/4/14 at 12:54am

Here's my dream cast under Rob Marshall's direction:

Sally: Amy Adams (a few years down the line)
Phyllis: Kate Winslet
Ben: Kelsey Grammer
Buddy: Nathan Fillion
Carlotta: Nicole Kidman
Stella: Kathy Bates
Hattie: Jayne Houdyshell or Vicki Lawrence
Salonge: Marion Cotillard
Heidi: Shirley Jones
Emily and Theodore: Julie Andrews and Christopher Walker
Dimitri: Christopher Plummer
Roscoe: Paulo Szot

Updated On: 12/4/14 at 12:54 AM