Songs That Will be Cut from the Sweeney Movie?- Page 2

[jewishboy]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 10:20pm

Even though "By The Sea" would stop the action, I think that is why it is such a great number. Even though the message of the song could be done in dialogue it is one of my favorite songs because of its musical comedy traits, yet after it all the killing starts. It is really brilliantly placed.

[LoringsGuy]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 10:24pm

I'll be disappointed if "Kiss Me" is cut, as that's one of my favorites. It is really the only time in the show where Anthony and Johanna are allowed to be funny instead of just lovestruck youngsters. And a lot happens in that number---with all the rapid-fire lyrics and cross-cutting between characters, it could really be an amazing sequence if it was shot and edited well.

[BillFinn]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 10:46pm

"My Friends" and "Poor Thing" could potentially be cut. They could just have Lovett telling Todd he can stay with her and Poor Thing would be a montage, since it's pure exposition.

[RockabyeHamlet]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 11:03pm

I really hope they don't cut "My Friends" or "Poor Thing."

My concern with the song cuts is that even with other movie musicals (such as Hairspray) that cut songs, they also added songs. Here they just keep deleting them. I understand that Sweeney is almost an opera, with the lack of spoken dialouge, but then treat it as such. It almost seems like they are trying to make it less operatic to appeal to more mainstream audiences. I feel that does a disservice to the show itself.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 11:06pm

"Poor Thing" isn't cut. This is the one thing I know about the Sweeney movie.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 11:10pm

Also, Sweeney is an operetta. Meaning it just happens to contain A LOT of music. The entire piece is nearly 3 hours. No audience would be willing to sit in a movie theatre that long. If they cut it down to a 2 hour 15 minute movie (and that might even be stretching how long it's going to be) then there's still PLENTY of music left. What they're trying to do here is make a good movie. Not make sure that the entire musical is preserved on film. Remember that.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 11:12pm

wickedfan - that's a very astute comment most people seem to forget when it comes to movie musicals. This isn't to preserve the stage play (we've got that already, fortunately).

This is a piece made to be an artist's interpretation of the material for film.

But the Lovett/Sweeney picture is my desktop. Let's hope the movie lives up to that.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 11:14pm

Am I the only one that is not really a fan of "Green Finch." That song tends to grate on my nerves.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 11:17pm

spider - I was afraid to say anything. My least favorite song in the show. I flash to the scene from I think SOUTH PARK with Jared (of Subway weight-loss fame) beating the dead horse.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 11:19pm

BSo- I know. And it really gets on my nerves. I know people love Sweeney. I do, too. But I'd rather see a great film version of it that isn't entirely faithful than a 100% faithful adaptation that makes The Wiz look like The Godfather.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 11:24pm

Don't mention THE WIZ movie. That wasn't very faithful to the musical. And it was terrible!

I'm quite confident that the SWEENEY movie will be great. I don't know what it is, but I think it will be great. Maybe because I have a crush on Helena Bonham Carter. (No one Avada Kedavras like she!)

[evadiva]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 11:31pm

"They cut 'Green Finch' and 'Johanna'"

Oh God - the thought of either of those going makes me want to boycott

"Also, Sweeney is an operetta. Meaning it just happens to contain A LOT of music. The entire piece is nearly 3 hours. No audience would be willing to sit in a movie theatre that long."

Oh God forbid. More dumbing down to please the masses.

"This is a piece made to be an artist's interpretation of the material for film."

I really hope that is the case. Most of the time it all comes down to stupid film execs and the almighty dollar.

"What they're trying to do here is make a good movie. Not make sure that the entire musical is preserved on film. Remember that."

I'm sorry there's no way I can't roll my eyes at a statement like that.

I resent Hollywood remakes. My philosophy - if it ain't broke don't fix it. If ANYTHING can make an operetta or musical interesting to the masses (which I also resent having to do) its a well-made FILM. Tons of visual possibilities.

Sweeney Todd is a MASTERPIECE. And Johnny Depp and Mr. Tim Burton had better pull this off. My hope is that 6 months from now, this entire post of mine is quoted by someone with the response - "See, I told you so" when a brilliant movie is made.

I'll remain very skeptical until then.


Updated On: 8/14/07 at 11:31 PM

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 11:36pm

SWEENEY TODD is a masterpiece on stage.

Unless the cast can somehow appear in thousands of theatres across the country - world, even - at the same time and perform this piece live, we will be getting a movie.

Note: I believe Alan Rickman is the only person capable of such a feat.

[evadiva]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 11:51pm

"Unless the cast can somehow appear in thousands of theatres across the country - world, even - at the same time and perform this piece live, we will be getting a movie."

Oh.....oops.......my bad! Silly me.

Updated On: 8/13/07 at 11:51 PM

[RockabyeHamlet]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:03am

BSO and WickedFan, you both make excellent points, and I do feel a bit better. Even if I completely hate it, as least we are lucky enough to have 2 official releases of this show :)

[wickedfan]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:09am

Evadiva- Why are you so frigging bitter? You do realize this is a business? The movie has to be appealing to the masses as well as good. And in case you haven't noticed, quality doesn't always attract audiences. Usually the un-commercial, brilliant pieces of cinema and theatre are left to die while the I.Q. dropping pieces thrive. This movie isn't going to be successful financially if it's going to be a 3 hour long operetta. Whether it's brilliant or not. And yes, it only matters to the people who make these films if it makes money.

So come off of your high horse, come to terms with the fact that 99.99% of America is un-cultured and won't take a chance on a 3-hour long operetta movie about people living in the Industrial Revolution in London unless alterations are made. If the movie's terrible than so be it. You acting smug exclaiming "I told you so" won't make you seem any more credible to us. Now, should I hand you a Midol or do I have to wait until the full moon goes down?

[evadiva]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:17am

Wickedfan:

Take a deep breath and read the post AGAIN before you misquote.

Then settle down and realize this is a MESSAGE BOARD. Not everyone is going to agree with you so you'd better grow a thicker skin.

And hey, maybe I do need a Midol. But you need a sedative.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 12:29am

Not to mention it's actually a new moon right now, not a full one (but maybe it's the meteor showers).

Generally speaking, I dislike movies made from stage shows. I know people loved Chicago, and I'm sure I might have as well if I hadn't seen the wonderfully staged version, but there's no comparison. It was apples and oranges.

And don't get me started on A Chorus Line.

I do hold out hope for Sweeney, though. Love Depp, have a modicum of respect for Burton.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 1:05am

"And don't get me started on A Chorus Line."

A like to think of it as an April Fool's joke gone wrong.

And I am not talking about it being a business at all. I just mean that what works on stage doesn't always work on film and vice versa. Sondheim wrote this wonderful piece for the stage. And he - and they - are now revising it for the screen.

I'm usually quite a pessimistic person. And you would think that with Burton's name attached I would be even more pessimistic about this movie. Yet, for some reason, I am quite hopeful. Maybe music will bring some much needed life and energy to a Burton film.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 1:29am

If "Kiss Me" is cut, I will be so very sad.

Aww, I love "Green Finch." Maybe it's because I'm a light soprano. But I think that the song is brilliant.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 5:29am

Looks like The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street is having a clip job. It sort of reminds me of the hatchet job they did on Funny Thing.

With all the songs being cut, the question is why bother making it at all ? It will be a castrated Sweeney

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 8:48am

I absolutely loved the song "Green Finch and Linet Bird"... until Betsy Joslyn totally ruined it for me.

You have to hear it sung by a decent singer before you can appreciate it. Sarah Rice does a nice job on the OBCR, and Judy Collins recorded a haunting version of it.

So, I still think it's a beautiful song, and I'm sorry to hear that it's gone... but that's show biz, I guess.

I won't mind the cuts, as long as the movie still WORKS, but if they screw up or lessen the impact of the story or characters, then I'll be mad that they removed so much of the material.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 2:21pm

I agree. I am as big a fan of the show as anyone (bigger than most, probably), and even I feel that it needs to be edited and reimagined for it to work on film. We have the original Broadway touring production on DVD. We don't need another recording of the theatrical play. We need a movie version of it...hopefully a good one.

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 2:56pm

The movie is for wide release...It's to appeal to the movie going public. Sweeney is by far my favorite musical,but I can honestly say outside of theater enthusiasts,the public would be bored out of their minds to sit through what they would call an opera in a movie theater. This will end up being a dramatic slasher film with watered down vocals,as most movie musicals end up with. The majority of movie goers in America don't want to listen to a legit baritone singing epiphany on a Saturday night w/a number 2 combo in a movie theater. The tale of Sweeney is interesting,compelling ,and in the days Dahmer,Hannibal Lechter,etc...:topical. This will not be the stage play.The stage play on film would be less successful then The Producers or Rent were. Only my opinion but, I don't want this to be the stage play, thats what the Hearn/Lansbury video is for.

[lotiloti]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 3:03pm

Relax, You wont be disappointed