Sunset Blvd. to be on TV June 23rd
Sunset Blvd. to be on TV June 23rd
#0Sunset Blvd. to be on TV June 23rd
Posted: 6/16/06 at 1:51pm
For anyone interested, the cable station Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will be airing the ORIGINAL 1950 black-and-white movie starring Gloria Swanson and William Holden on Friday, June 23rd, at 7:00 AM.
You can see more info on their site here: http://tcmdb.com/title/title.jsp?stid=4254
The movie is not--I repeat NOT--a musical, but it is the original and worth seeing, especially because Gloria Swanson connects with Norma on so many parallels and brings an extra level of depth to the character.
Updated On: 6/16/06 at 01:51 PM
#1re: Sunset Blvd. to be on TV June 23rd
Posted: 6/16/06 at 2:16pm
Baine,
Your post was such a buzzkill. I immediately though the musical was going to air. Sunset Boulevard is on TV all the time-not sure exactly why you posted this. Thanks for the posting though. You got my heart racing.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
#2re: Sunset Blvd. to be on TV June 23rd
Posted: 6/16/06 at 2:40pm
The movie is a deserved classic. Perfect cast, outstanding cinematography and aided by that stark b&w look.
It should have made a fantastic musical.
Instead we got that hideously bad ALW flop that lost millions yet won a Tony by virtue of being the ONLY new musical that year. I know there are some on BWW who love the show but in most cases once they see ythe original film they realize how far short of the potential the musical is. (Kind of like comparing ALL ABOUT EVE and APPLAUSE...except APPLAUSE was fun and had an electrifying star performance from Bacall.)
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#3re: Sunset Blvd. to be on TV June 23rd
Posted: 6/16/06 at 2:54pm
I am one of the folks who love Sunset the Musical. I also love the film. I think musicals often have a hard time translating complex psyschology of a film or novel. I think Sunset the musical works with the right star because it can combine pathos, camp, and some very real themes of loss, loneliness, regret, desperation, and aging in a youth obsessed culture.
I love the film and had seen it prior to the musical. I think both have their merits. Yes, the film is far superior to the musical, but it's like comparing apples and oranges.
Again casting is key. Had Glenn stayed with the show it would have re-couped because she was a fascinating Norma who audiences loved. You need a big name with some serious acting chops to keep the crowds coming. It won Tonys because Glenn carried the show on her back, gave it a great opening and a great performance. Once she left, the wind left the sails.
All in all, it is one of my favorites and I stand by it.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
#4re: Sunset Blvd. to be on TV June 23rd
Posted: 6/16/06 at 4:35pm
Bleh! What is with that thread title? It got my hopes all set.
I agree with Glenn's ability to breathe life into the Norma Desmond character. I saw her in LA and was amazed how she commanded the stage.
Anyway, why can't they air that on TV???
:)
WickedRentEder
Stand-by Joined: 12/16/05
#5re: Sunset Blvd. to be on TV June 23rd
Posted: 6/16/06 at 4:38pm
I did not see this show but Glenn Close WAS Norma Desmond! Every time I hear "With One Look" I get chills! I love that darn song!
#6re: Sunset Blvd. to be on TV June 23rd
Posted: 6/16/06 at 4:40pmDiahann Carroll was divine as well. I was so happy to have seen her several times in Toronto. Absolute perfection.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
#7re: Sunset Blvd. to be on TV June 23rd
Posted: 6/16/06 at 10:12pm
The day I saw Diahann Carroll she was walking trough the performance without pputting an ounce of energy into it. As if to compensate Rax Smith was overplaying every line. I can write off bad performances sometimes if the material is good but I don't think this is good material at all.
The score is all over the place (mainly because Webber chose to recycle a number of trunk songs instead of writing an original score); the lyrics are terrible and rarely dip beneath the surface of the characters. The recitative is tuneless yet when the big numbers come ("With one Look" for example) they merely re-state what has already been covered, so the songs stop the action cold.
Whatever strengths the musical has are drawn from Billy Wilder's screenplay.
The performance I saw of SUNSET BLVD may be the worst professional production I have ever seen. (I am sure Glen Close was great, but I was never curious to see her!)
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#8re: Sunset Blvd. to be on TV June 23rd
Posted: 6/19/06 at 1:05pm
BettyBoy--
I didn't realize that it was on TV all of the time. While I was at university, I never had the time to watch TV and if I did, my dorm room only got, like, five cable stations. Now that I'm at home for the summer, the house has satellite dish and I can watch more.
I just wanted to let others out there know that the film exists--not everyone does. The movie is so much better than the musical and is something that should be seen by anyone who enjoys the show.
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