Sunset Boulevard: The Movie

I've been saying this for a while, also. Liza was in talks to do it but now that she made a bumpy on her heady she might not be able to anymore.

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BARBRA without an A, not LIZA with a Z!

JACKMAN would be a fine JOE. and TONY HOPKINS would be brilliant as MAX! (i'm ashamed i didn't think of that myself.) but from the clips i've seen, i do NOT like GLENN CLOSE in this role!

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Updated On: 1/4/05 at 09:10 PM

This was what I posted a few weeks ago on the West End board, from an item in a London newspaper --

Copyright 2004 Associated Newspapers Ltd.
Mail on Sunday (London)

December 12, 2004
SECTION: FB; Pg. 20
LENGTH: 1505 words
HEADLINE: William: It's over for good, Kate
BYLINE: KATIE NICHOLL

"... NEVER one to miss a trick, I hear Andrew Lloyd Webber is already planning his next musical movie following the success of Phantom Of The Opera.

The musical maestro has signed actors Anthony Hopkins and Hugh
Jackman for Sunset Boulevard and is trying to convince Glenn Close, who played fictional screen legend Norma Desmond in the Broadway hit, to reprise the role.

'Andrew is trying to persuade Glenn to play the part again.
He's also in talks with Meryl Streep. My bet is he'll go with Glenn if he can convince her to do
it,' said a source..."


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I personally would like to see Barbra in the role. She was the first one to have recorded WITH ONE LOOK and AS IF WE NEVER SAID GOODBYE, even ahead of Patti Lupone. Perhaps, after the success of MEET THE FOCKERS at the box office, she may want to revive talks with ALW to do the film project ( wasn't this rumoured before?). Also, there seemed to be no reports of any on-the-set demands/tantrums for MEET THE FOCKERS.

I have recently read that Anthony Hopkins is also musically gifted and plays a musical instrument well. It was said that he was planning to spend some time on his music in the near future. I haven't heard about his singing ability, though - but he is a very fine actor and could probably tackle the singing requirements equally well.

And, of course, I am all for Hugh Jackman in the Joe Gillis role! He has the right look for the role and he is a fine actor. I have seen him singing some of the songs from documentaries on and TV appearances for SUNSET BOULEVARD - and he did a wonderful job with the songs. He could even hum SURRENDER in its entirety. And even the recitatives sounded great

Why don't people realize something - there already is a film version of SUNSET BOULEVARD. It's considered a classic.

What's next - a movie version of APPLAUSE?

Hey - while were making movie versions of crappy stage adaptations of Bily Wilder classics, why not do SUGAR? Or PROMISES, PROMISES? I'm sure someone like Matthew Broderick can be better than Jack Lemmon was!

No no no no no no....
Diana Ross and Macauley Culkin!
(And Jon, they'll get Matthew Broderick for Max)

I don't really have a problem with Barbara being Norma, nor with Glenn, but PLEASE not Liza! On my short list of other actress who should be Norma include Betty Buckley, Elaine Paige, Petula Clark (even though it took a while for me to get used to her voice)and Faith Brown (who was in the UK Tour - I bought the CD single and she is awesome!) If the rumors that Hugh Jackman and Anthony Hopkins is true, then I think casting any of the women on my short list can be possible (Hugh Jackman being the bankable name a movie musical needs)

just my thoughts

Jen

The rumors that I heard is that Babs was offered the part but demanded 100% creative control over the role and the film and rightfully so ALW wouldn't give it to her. I heard his list for Normas was Babs, Liza and Bette. And as much as I love Bette, i fear she would make it too campy. I would love to see Liza do it, it would be so insane. I would have to do copius drugs to see it and I would, several times.

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As Barbra claims every time she is offered an age-appropriate part "She's far too young to play THAT role..."

As for Liza, gosh, that makes me go all goosebumpy...Does anyone really think Bette could do this? She hasn't done a decent straight dramatic role since the Rose.

I think Liza is an inspired choice-- but could she survive? Could she even get insurance in this day & age?

As long as I'm entertaining wild ideas, let's get Tim Conway, Harvey Korman and Carol Burnette before it's too late.....

I would love to see a remake of the film. I do not look forward to hearing 'miss close' sing, but by the sounds of things she can ACT the role.

yeah, i really don't think Barbra is the one--i really lost a great deal of respect for her after i saw her on Inside The Actor's Studio...she's about as spontaneous as a GWBush Press COnference...and unless Phantom makes ALOT more money, i think the prospects of a film of SB are slim...though Meryl or Glenn would be great!

thanks for all your posts! they've been fun to read. the best suggested cast so far is BURNETT, KORMAN, and CONWAY

NORA cries: max! max! where are you max?!

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if LIZA plays NORMA, they'll have to change some of the lines. for example:

NORMA: this woman has done wonders with the line of my throat.
JOE: good.
NORMA: and i've lost 20 pounds since tuesday.

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