Sunset Boulevard Lyric Changes

[macbeth]

Posted: 12/27/24 at 10:24am

Listening to the new cast recording, I've noticed a few changes - including "Blind Windows" as Joe's script being changed to "Dark Windows". Does anyone know why the little updates? 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 12/27/24 at 10:38am

Dark Windows was the original name of the screenplay in the movie, I think I saw that they changed it to Blind Windows so it could better accommodate the meet cute scenarios they were brainstorming. Let's Do Lunch was also the original title of the song but they decided it was too much of a modern phrase and no one in 1949 would've said that. I think some of the other lyrics changes in Girl Meets Boy are also to more easily accommodate Jamie Lloyd's vision for the show and he's mentioned working with the original lyricists on it 

[Marway44]

Posted: 12/27/24 at 2:50pm

I understand taking out the comedy relief scenes to keep with the theme of the show but I don’t know they quieted down the end of Too much in love to care. It used to be a big booming ending garnering thunderous applause. 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 12/27/24 at 3:48pm

Marway44 said: "I understand taking out the comedy relief scenes to keep with the theme of the show but I don’t know they quieted down the end of Too much in love to care. It used to be a big booming ending garnering thunderous applause."

That (or at least a similar) quiet ending of the song was first used in the 2nd US National tour. I think it must have been incorporated into other productions since then, and maybe even in the Glenn close 2016 London/2017 Broadway revival. Someone else may know for sure. 

[chernjam]

Posted: 12/27/24 at 4:03pm

The quieter ending/harmonization was the version in the Second Sydmonton Workshop (with Patti LuPone and Kevin Anderson) - that changed to the louder/dramatic one at the World Premiere and was in pretty much every production other than the 2nd US Tour that Boris mentioned.

To be honest, "Too Much in Love to Care" had been the one song I didn't really care for/listen to on any of the recordings, and it's interesting that in the "Sunset orchestral suite" that came out in 2021 (? I think?) that was one of the tunes not used.  In any event, I much prefer this revision with the orchestral interlude and softer ending.  The original almost makes the scene a bit too unbelievable where Joe and Betty are going on and on and on yet 3 minutes later Joe's breaking up with her.  This version kind of draws on the glances and unspoken things you've seen and heard throughout the show and feels more authentic to me.

[Marway44]

Posted: 12/27/24 at 7:26pm

Interesting take on it. I miss the big booming ending though. It was always a show stopper in the Broadway version. I think the revival with Close had the same version as now come to think of it as others have said. 

[chernjam]

Posted: 12/27/24 at 8:36pm

Marway44 said: "Interesting take on it. I miss the big booming ending though. It was always a show stopper in the Broadway version. I think the revival with Close had the same version as now come to think of it as others have said."

No you were right - up until last year when Jamie Lloyd starting working on this revival, the traditional ending of Too Much in Love to Care was there (including 2017 - I saw that revival 4 times, so I'm pretty certain :) ) 

There was an interview somewhere where Tom Francis, current Joe describes that Andrew Lloyd Webber, was with the cast and creative team when they re-worked this song together.  Which really is awesome and what has sometimes been what has been missing from ALW's shows, being a bit more collaborative with the entire cast and creatives where they can re-work things in the rehearsal space/ during previews.  I think I even remember reading that  they had tried staging "The Lady's Paying" and then decided it worked better taking it out, which I also think vastly improves the flow of the show and I didn't miss it at all...

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 12/27/24 at 9:46pm

Why did they change "they shot my screenplay / isn't that great? / no, they shot the thing dead" to "they shot my screenplay / how did it go? / well, I wish I was dead".  It was a setup and punchline and now it's just a throwaway lyric. 

[chernjam]

Posted: 12/27/24 at 9:55pm

Rentaholic2 said: "Why did they change"they shot my screenplay / isn't that great? / no, they shot the thing dead" to "they shot my screenplay / how did it go? / well, I wish I was dead". It was a setup and punchline and now it's just a throwaway lyric."

From the article I read about it the creatives felt that critics always rolled their eyes at that line, like it was too cutesy /too obvious trying to make a joke.  Instead they were trying to emphasize the despair people who were at the "pre-Norma" phase where they were desperate to be noticed, wanting attention...