Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical — Page 4

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.

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.

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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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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