Sunset Blvd - Movie musical

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 12:25pm

Just saw the article on BroadwayWorld regarding the Movie version of ALW's Sunset Blvd! ...with Glenn Close!? God, that would be great. It seems no contracts have been signed but I hope they pursue Anthony Hopkins as Max. I didn't not even know he could sing. This show deserves to be back on screen with this new musical adapation.
The original movie always struck me as 'operatic' in style. Updated On: 2/16/05 at 12:25 PM

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 12:38pm

...and who'd would you like to see direct?

[Fan2]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 12:44pm

Along with the Glenn, Hugh and Hopkins rumor, there was also a rumor that Martin Scorsese wanted to direct.

[timote316]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 12:44pm

Sorry to sound rude, but why didnt you post this in the movie thread?

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 12:51pm

Sorry, I did not notice there was another thread?

I believe Joel was the wrong director for Phantom, but Sunset could have been more suited to his flare for design. Updated On: 2/16/05 at 12:51 PM

[Matt_G]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 12:56pm

I for one would love to see what Alan Parker would do with this film. Even if you don't like Madonna, you have to admit EVITA was beautifully filmed.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 1:01pm

Why oh why does Glenn Close continue to get cast in musicals?? Am I living in the Twilight Zone?? SHE CAN'T SING!!!!

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 1:04pm

Yes, Alan Parker did a "beautiful" film. Literally, it was pretty to watch. I wonder if Alfonzo Cauron would have something to add to a project like this? He is not afraid of the grittyness of life.
Sunset Blvd with all its beauty and glamour is only on the surface. Sunset is really about compromise, darkness and narcissism. I think Alfonzo would do great. Updated On: 2/16/05 at 01:04 PM

Posted: 2/16/05 at 2:09pm

NO to Glenn Close. No No No! *throws a temper fit and runs away*

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 2:24pm

Terrible idea. The original is brilliant as it is, no movie musical is necessary.

[Plum]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 2:38pm

Well, I like this score better than that of The Phantom of the Opera, but it has way, way too much repetition. Cut about half of that out and you might have something good.

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 2:41pm

I saw the original New York production and thought that George Hearn's performance was stunning.

Glenn Close certainly acted well, but her singing is awful..Her only exciting singing moment was, of course, AS IF WE'D NEVER SAID GOODBYE(did I get the title right?).....but then, wouldn't virtually any, even reasonably competent singer be able to do a bravura performance of AS IF WE'D NEVER SAID GOODBYE? It is an exciting, riveting number. And she certainly delivered it well.

I simply wish they would do the film with a great singer and actress, ideally Liza Minnelli.

George Hearn's Tony award for SUNSET BOULEVARD was richly deserved. I thought he was just awesome.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 2:43pm

"AS IF WE'D NEVER SAID GOODBYE(did I get the title right?).....but then, wouldn't virtually any, even reasonably competent singer be able to do a bravura performance of AS IF WE'D NEVER SAID GOODBYE? It is an exciting, riveting number."

Yes and yes.

I saw Close's Tony performance and of course it was awful, but bearing that in mind, I was working for Buckley when she took over here in NY, and I was at the session where she recorded the mini-CD. It took me half the song to realize it was the same song Close had sung.

Updated On: 2/16/05 at 02:43 PM

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 2:43pm

Matt_G, Alan Parker did a magnificent job directing EVITA. He also magnificently directed another musical film, FAME. And of course he directed the classic MIDNIGHT EXPRESS.

I think he would be great things bringing almost any musical to the screen. I was most impressed with what he did with EVITA.

[jackson992]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 2:44pm

Glenn's was the best version of this show. The repetition is what makes the show so good. I love hearing melodies repeated in a show. A good songwriter uses that device:)

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 2:48pm

Jackson992, Jerry Herman (composer of Mame, Hello Dolly, La Cage, Make and Mabel) wrote in his book SHOWTUNES that reprises are actually WHAT MAKE A MUSICAL.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 2:49pm

Alan would be a fine choice. But Alfonso would be great too.

The worst thing for this project would be putting someone as silly as Liza in it! She is too hard on the eyes, I would not be able to watch the screen ~ she is such a mess - but then again, that may be what the Norma character needs?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 2:51pm

Could be Liza's big comeback! Liza's current situation would be akin to where Gloria Swanson was in her life/career when she did the original, no?

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 2:54pm

maybe she'll wear green fingernail polish too. (cabaret) Updated On: 2/16/05 at 02:54 PM

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 2:57pm

Raithnait62, I wrote about that on another thread. Absolutely. Liza playing Norma Desmond now would be a direct reflection of Gloria Swanson starring in the film upon which the musical was based.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 2:58pm

*jumps up and down* Li-ZA Li-ZA Li-ZA!!!!!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:15pm

Well, except for the stints in rehab and propensity to marry gay men, Gloria was in a very similar place at the same point in her career. Gloria was also desperate for a comeback, er, "Return" before Sunset came along, having been virtually forgotten by the film industry for nearly two decades (about the same amount of time since Liza's last successful film -- Arthur, wasn't it?).

There aren't a lot of great film roles out there for Liza, but the crazy, over-the-top, larger-than-life Norma would be right up her alley. I think she could easily capture Norma's delusional mindset, haughty yet vulnerable demeanor and, even in her present vocal state, could sing the score at least as well as Glenn Close. There's also something very "old Hollywood" about her (in part, because of her parents and in part because of her own career which has always been very "old school") that few other actresses today could convey. I doubt that any studio would cast her, but in many ways she'd be ideal for the part.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:16pm

Well she'd certainly be better than Close - for all the reasons we've stated here. I would LOVE to see it.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:19pm

I would cut off certain parts of my anatomy to see Patti do the movie, but I know that it's a pipe dream.

[Plum]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:23pm

Look, I'm not against reprises or any kind of repetition on principle- discovering that the Jets theme was the same as "Maria" was the highlight of that month for me. But you have to use repetition well, and using it well doesn't mean using it all the time. the time the time the time.