Rob Marshall to Bring FOLLIES to the Big Screen?- Page 9

[HorseTears]

Posted: 12/4/14 at 3:36pm

I feel like most people who make dream cast lists don't know this show at all.


Word.

[jv92]

Posted: 12/4/14 at 3:42pm

I feel like we should all stop dream casting a movie of FOLLIES and live in our memories like the show tells us to do.

[sanda]

Posted: 12/4/14 at 3:50pm

that will be a box flop.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/4/14 at 4:51pm

I think two of the LAST people in the world I would want to see dance to "Rain on the Roof" would be Betty Buckley and George Hearn.

Neither of them has a particularly soft shoe.

[Tony2600]

Posted: 12/4/14 at 4:59pm

Carleton Carpenter and Debbie Reynolds

[Musical Master]

Posted: 12/4/14 at 5:06pm

@jv92 Good grief, you're no fun.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/4/14 at 5:08pm

Carleton Carpenter and Debbie Reynolds

OMG! They would be ADORABLE!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/4/14 at 5:09pm

A FOLLIES film should happen soon just so Debbie Reynolds can be in it. She was basically born (or more accurately, stayed alive thank heavens) to be in FOLLIES. Has she ever done it on stage? Carrie Fisher would be a perfect Carlotta though she'd never be cast in a film, of course.
Speaking of Carlotta, I wonder who'd be right for the role. The two Carlottas I've seen, Christine Baranski and Elaine Paige, have left me cold--though Paige was more successful in the role.

[Tony2600]

Posted: 12/4/14 at 5:24pm

Carlotta - Ann-Margret

[Musical Master]

Posted: 12/5/14 at 3:44pm

Debbie Reynolds and Carleton Carpenter would be perfect as the Whitmans.

[binau]

Posted: 12/5/14 at 4:19pm

I'm glad for the couple/one person that has suggested Bernadette should reprise the role on film (coupled with Streep as Phyllis and it'd be a hit). She is a semi-name, and you're not going to find a stronger vocalist unless we start going to no-name Broadway vets (e.g., Vicki Clark). Wouldn't it to be nice to have a film musical with a lead who can sing for a change?

Bernadette without a doubt is the actor with the longest standing and closest relationship to Sondheim's work, and having missed out on the Sweeney movie (apparently) it would be great for her to finally get her chance.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 12/5/14 at 4:24pm

COUGH*jamesloydyoung*COUGH

[everythingISpossible]

Posted: 12/5/14 at 6:36pm

A few months ago, I wrote a little article for Stage Light Magazine on the Broadway musicals I'd like to see turned into movies. Follies was number 1 on the list.

http://www.stagelightmagazine.com/7-broadway-musicals-that-need-to-be-movies/

Here's what I wrote about Follies…

Speaking of die hard fans, there will certainly be some riots if Follies gets botched on the way to the big screen. I know this to be true because I will be the one leading the charge. This is another rumored and “in development” project that is long overdue. Here’s a fascinating article detailing an ‘almost-was’ film version from 1972 featuring a who’s who of former MGM legends:

http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2013/11/29/loveland/

In today’s world, I would happy to have Mike Nichols directing, with Bob Avian recreating and adapting the original Michael Bennett choreography. Who would be better than Annette Bening as the coldly sophisticated Phyllis Rogers Stone opposite Kevin Kline as the successful but lost Ben Stone? In the pivotal role of Sally Durant Plummer, Emma Thompson would be absolutely heart breaking. Rounding out the two main couples, let’s add Kevin Spacey as the loyal but neglected Buddy Plummer.

In the featured roles, I would kill to see Ann-Margret as Carlotta Campion, Barbara Harris as Hattie Walker, Carol Burnett as Stella Deems, Leslie Caron as Solange La Fitte, Teresa Stratas as Heidi Schiller, and Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore as Theodore and Emily Whitman. Well, one can dream…


Updated On: 12/5/14 at 06:36 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/5/14 at 7:19pm

When it comes to movies today, Bernadette Peters is so far from being a "semi-name," it's not even funny. I love her, love her so much, but no. Also, as much as I adore her (and think her performance in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE is one of the most brilliant things to happen to musical theatre ever), her Sally didn't come together. I thought she'd be a perfect match, but honestly, it didn't happen for me. Victoria Clark, whom I like a lot but don't adore the way I do Bernadette, was exquisite and much more fully realized in her weekend run at Encores! (which I was lucky enough to see twice, and boy was she good).
Emma Thompson, Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening and Kevin Kline would be inspired. I'm not sure why people keep casting octogenarians as Carlotta though, isn't she supposed to be contemporary with the four principals?

[binau]

Posted: 12/5/14 at 7:28pm

Emma Thompson would be a good choice.

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 12/5/14 at 7:52pm

After Sweeney Todd, I want Emma to have NOTHING to do with Sally. Sally needs to be a great actress (and yes, Emma could act it very well), but she needs to be able to SING. Honestly, after LES MISERABLES, NINE, and SWEENEY TODD, all I want is a musical film starring people who can ACTUALLY SING.

*And I'll say it again: Toni Collette (as Sally OR Phyllis).

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 12/5/14 at 7:55pm

Annette Benning is my favorite living actress and could honestly play either role brilliantly, but she would kill Phyllis. I'd love to see an American Beauty reunion with Kevin Spacey playing Ben. Spacey would honeslty work for either role as well. He can and has played sophisticated men and schlubby clowns.

I think there are many, many, many actresses who would knock all these parts out of the park. They can have Hattie be a more traditional "grandma" type with Angela Lansbury or Betty White, or they can make her a glamorpuss with Jane Fonda. Stella could be Bette Midler to Queen Latifa to Kathy Bates to Anne Margret. I do think Carlotta needs to be a contemporary to Sally/Phyllis and reek of glamour and be believable that the cater waiter boys would still be in awe of her.

[Showface]

Posted: 12/5/14 at 7:56pm

I haven't seen Follies in it's entriety, but I've seen some clips online and archival clips of the original production, and have read it's Wikipedia page and various articles on it, so I think I may be able to chime in.

I think that if a movie is made, they may need to age up the characters from 49 to say, 55.

I say this because, the gap from youth to 49 is a lot less significant nowadays. I think that a lot of the beauty of the mirror number, and of Follies in general is the comparisons of the younger versions of these people.

Also, this way we can open up the range on casting.




Now, I'm not a director, but I think that mimic/recapture the grand theatricality of the transformation of "Loveland" would be a mistake. Many have mentioned that the beauty of it in the original production was the transformation of the Winter Garden. Well, on film, the feeling of being in the Winter Garden of that time is lost. So, I think it may be best (and please comment) if the surrealness of it is captured subtlety. For example, in the transformation to the Loveland scene, maybe Sally, Ben, Phyllis, and Ben are arguing behind the stage (not on the stage). Then when it is transformation time, the characters just hear the music. They then could walk on stage (drawn to it and wondering what is happening) and see "Loveland", and perhaps audience applause from the theater (thoughts?). Then we see Loveland, the set is extravagant and definitely based on the original designs.


And for the "ghosts", I agree, they should be done with something other than CGI, and I think this could be accomplished. In the "mirror number" inspiration can be taken from the original Hal Prince staging (which there is luckily footage of) and have the ghosts appear from behind the retired showgirls (and at just the right moment). However, the ghosts are blurred figures as of this point. Then, the camera will move (zoom in) pass the women, and it will focus clearly on their younger selves doing the dance. And then, there could be a cut back and forth between the present women, and their younger selves.



I know, some of my ideas may not be the best, but I yet to see it in it's entirety, so I am trying imagine to what I already know about it. Maybe everything I wrote is really bad, and I accept constructive criticism or opposing thoughts.

Maybe Follies should stay on stage...

Updated On: 12/5/14 at 07:56 PM

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 12/5/14 at 9:10pm

I believe that very few musicals should stay on stage.
By turning a musical into a movie, it opens the material up to so many people who would never have bothered to look into it. Plus Follies is very cinematic anyway.
I think that the entire movie should have a slightly grey tone to match the color of the crumbling theatre and then when the "Loveland" sequence begins, the colors turn to dramatically bright pinks and purples.
I see the characters arguing and a curtain slowly lowers behind them. The music builds and the curtain falls, revealing the vibrant "Loveland." The camera then turns around the group revealing an applauding full house and flaring stage lights. The camera gazes up at the procesenium, which towers dramatically as the leads walk upstage in a trance among the singing Follies ensemble.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 12/6/14 at 3:36am

I really like Ray's idea of having two directors. And I definitely think Rob Marshall could and should do the choreography for the movie. However I think he should team up with a truly wonderful cinematic director. How about his collaborator for Cabaret, Sam Mendes?

I think the hardest role to cast is Sally. If someone wants to produce it with Bernadette Peters, go ahead. But, there is no female star of the right age who has the vocal chops for the role that I can think of. Amy Adams is only 8 years away.

As for Carlotta, I can not get the idea of Glenn Close out of my head right now...

[jewishboy]

Posted: 12/6/14 at 3:48am

More thoughts on Sally: Rene Zellweger is the right age, but she hasn't acted in a while and I don't know if her voice could get through "Too Many Mornings." If she can sing, Laura Linney could be very good. Also, I don't think Toni Collette is right for Sally, she is much more suited for Phyllis.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 12/7/14 at 5:24pm

I know the thread has moved on, but I need to know if madbrian actually meant Charlotte Rampling for Solange, not Charlotte Gainsbourg. It's like an itch I have to scratch.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 12/7/14 at 5:48pm

The only directors who could have done Follies are dead: Stanley Donen, Robert Wise and Chuck Walters.

Also, PalJoey - Stanley Donen is actually still alive (aged 90), so there may still be hope!

[SidebySidebyLogan]

Posted: 12/8/14 at 3:56am

Last year over Christmas break I cast a Follies movie and I remember not being totally in love with all of my choices but the one that I knew was perfection was Robin Williams as Buddy

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/8/14 at 10:08am

Stanley Donen is actually still alive (aged 90)

Sorry, Stanley



!