Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical- Page 4

[Someday]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 10:01am

How 'bout Dick and Chita for the Whitmans (Rain on the Roof)?

And instead of Julie Andrews as Emily Whitman, how 'bout using her as the elder Heidi Schiller (One More Kiss)? What kind of shape is Julie's voice in these days? Could she sing well enough to record that song for the soundtrack?

Put me down for Liza as Carlotta. That would be unbeatable, sensational casting.

Victor Garber was wonderful as Ben. But I don't suppose he's starry enough, huh?

I vote Stritch for Hattie, recreating her 80s concert magic. I know she's not a film star, but, again, too perfect....

I'd love to see Kathy Bates fit into this project somewhere, maybe as Stella Deems (Who's That Woman, aka Mirror Number).

For Solange – does Catherine Deneuve sing...?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 10:39am

Personally, I don't see Strich as Hattie at all. I'm not a big fan of her one-trick pony shtick as it is, and in the context of an actual production her inevitable ironic take on the song just wouldn't work.

And, to the best of my knowledge, there is no way Julie Andrews could sing Heidi's role these days.

[madbrian]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 12:35pm

OK, using some of my own thoughts and stealing shamelessly from others, here is my cast:

Emily & Theodore Whitman - Dick Van Dyke & Julie Andrews
Solange LaFitte - Chita Rivera
Hattie Walker - Shirley MacLaine
Sally Durant Plummer - Laura Linney
Stella Deems - Kathy Bates
Carlotta Campion - Liza Minnelli
Ben Stone - Victor Garber
Phyllis Rogers Stone - Vanessa Williams
Buddy Plummer - Kevin Kline

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 1:10pm

OH MY GOD! I loooooove the idea of Kathy Bates as Stella Deems. LOVE IT, I tell you! How perfect is that? She would be beyond ideal.
I feel Chita Rivera can't play French (completely dislike her in NINE), but I think she'd be fantastic as Emily Whitman. Remember the Whitmans are dancers, in the show they have that beautiful moment where they dance the Bolero and it's one of the most FOLLIES-esque moments in FOLLIES. If they were to include the Bolero (which they won't, but as PRS says, as long as we're dreaming), how beautiful would it be to see Chita dancing with a Dick Van Dyke or a Harvey Evans (to make the connection back to the original production! ) and then having the ghosts dancing next to them... priceless.
Julie Andrews couldn't sing "One More Kiss" anymore. My idea for the song is that it should be in the background somehow, but I think it would stop the movie cold if it were to be an actual number.
I have been convinced that Carlotta needs to be the same age of the main characters. She was a chorus girl too, deliciously sexy Benjamin Stone was/is attracted to her, and she has a boytoy. I just don't see Liza in the role. There is more to it than "the song."
How about ideas for the Young ones? Guess it all depends on who plays the main guys.

[madbrian]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 1:14pm

I think the young ones should be relative unknowns, at least from a movie perspective. Might be a chance to use some Broadway folks as the young ones.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 1:16pm

If Streep were to play anyone I would perfer it be Phyllis than Sally. Sally has all the lyrical songs and really need to be sung by someone who can sing them well.
While any good actress with half a voice can handle Phllyis's songs.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 1:21pm

Sorry, but name a Hollywood actress who can actually sing Sally in the original keys?
Streep's singing voice is fantastic, and she possesses the ACTING necessary to make Sally work. The film, much to everybody's complaint I'm sure, will focus on acting and names over singing. I think most people think Streep is better-suited for Phyllis because lately she has been playing tough-as-nails roles, but if you go back to her earlier work few people have been as vulnerable on the screen as she has. Her Sally would be out of the world.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 1:41pm

That's a tough one! I'll have to get back to you on that :)
Maybe Toni Collette?
I guess you could possibly consider Kriten Chenoweth and Audra McDonald Hollywood Actresses. Although they are too young for the part. However, if people are throwing around names like Nicole Kidman, then they aren't too old!

I guess, I'm really thinking about a "Mama Mia!" clip I heard and Streep was basically screaming her way through "Winner Takes it All".
Updated On: 5/8/08 at 01:41 PM

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 2:02pm

However about Barbra Streisand for something?

Or what about Glenn Close?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 2:16pm

No Glenn Close. NO! NO! NO! NO! Except maybe as Hattie. Or Christine.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 2:32pm

LOL! I was just kidding because I know how much everyone on here detests her!

BTW, who is Christine? That's not the "One more Kiss" woman is it?......Just answered my own question......that is Heidi......back to my original.
Who is Christine?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 2:33pm

She's one of the reunion women who don't do much except perform in "Who's That Woman?" When it's over, she compliments Phyllis on her moves and Phyllis reminds her that they never liked each other.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 3:16pm

LOL!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 7:52pm

Yeah, just the thought of Glenn Close coming anywhere NEAR this makes me cringe.

At first I was against people's suggestions of Victor Garber as Ben, because I was really underwhelmed by him at City Center. Prior to that, though, I did think he'd be a good choice, so perhaps with better direction he might actually work.

[LadyRosecoe]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 8:00pm

I was thoroughly underwhelmed as well. It was one of those things that seemed great on paper, reading "Victor Garber as Ben." He has the look and the voice, but damn what a letdown when it came down to his singing. It didn't matter though, the fact that it was Follies and the cast was pretty much flawless for the most part, even his vocals didn't matter. I think if his voice could be touched up in a studio, he'd be great on film because he acted it wonderfully.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 8:02pm

I doubt they'd cast Garber as Ben. The guys are the roles that they can REALLY cast with name stars because neither Ben nor Buddy do much singing, dancing, etc. As much as I loved Victor Garber in FOLLIES (and I insist we had a "moment" at the stagedoor), I would love to see actors that are popular with crowds today tackle the role, if only to give this film SOME chance to be a financial success.
At this point I am really curious to see what is their age range for the main four roles. I wonder if they are going the way of say Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline, and Danny Glover. Or more like Michelle Pfeiffer, Patricia Clarkson, Julianne Moore, etc.
And I just really really wanna know who the star is. I wonder if it's Streep since she is very good friends with Sondheim, but I very much doubt it.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 8:19pm

I just wonder where they put the show if they are in their 60s. Would the reunion be a 40 year reunion, set in 1981?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/9/08 at 10:37pm

Wouldn't a film version be the perfect excuse to revive it with the original staging?

[LadyRosecoe]

Posted: 5/9/08 at 11:14pm

Especially with a massive budget If they could pull such fabulous broadway sets together with the money they had at their disposal, there would be no excuse for the film to look anything less than mindblowingly jaw-dropping. I would very much love to see the visuals a creative team could come up with for a big screen Follies. It's the cuts that scare me!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 11:18pm

So... if we're all settled on Vanessa Williams as Phyllis, and I the more I think about it, the more right she seems, and if they really wanted to, they could insert a brief plot point about the troubles of an inter-racial relationship in the 40s should Ben be cast as white...

Anyway, since I just can't let her go, what about La Pfeiffer as Sally? I do think she could act the hell out of it, I have no problems with them fixing her voice in a studio, and I think she'd be able to play the mix of sweetness and malice that Sally possesses.
Updated On: 5/13/08 at 11:18 PM

[LadyRosecoe]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 1:00am

She has that inherent quality of creepiness and a fresh, endearing look. However, I think she is too glam for Sally and that could be a slight issue to consider.

[jackson992]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 1:17am

Dang been waiting for a new movie musical and it has to be one based on a horrible Sondheim show. Guess I will just have to hope they still do a movie to Sunset Boulevard.

[thatgirl712]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 1:26am

It would be great.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 3:55am

I don't really see Michelle Pfeiffer as Sally, she is indeed a bit too glam, too sophisticated, too strong for the role, IMO.
I think Linney is someone we've seen dressed down and completely un-glam in her two Oscar-nominated roles, and she can be vulnerable like few can. She might also be too young for the role though.
I have a feeling that the casting choices are so interesting and wide for these four roles that even if someone from my list gets cast, I'll still be disappointed.
For example, an aged-up Toni Collette would be ideal for the role, but if she's cast it'd mean there'll be a plethora of actresses that I love who would NOT be playing Sally. I just love this show so much, they should really make a new FOLLIES movie with a different cast every year. If I ever become a billionaire I know how I'm spending my money.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 10:59am

Another thing I was thinking about last night was how many locales within the Weismann theatre they could have - dressing rooms, fly space, a balcony, etc, unlike the show, which all essentially takes place on the stage.

Sigh. It really depresses me that I won't be involved with this. I have the entire damn movie in my head!