Posted: 1/7/19 at 2:56pm
I agree Jake Gyllenhaal would be perfect for Joe. He can act AND sing and he's about 38 now so the age range is good. Still, I've never cared for SB as a musical and won't expect much if the movie gets made.
Posted: 1/7/19 at 4:10pm
Even though it's one of the more famous lines from the original movie they could just cut it or rephrase it so Joe doesn't specifically call her out for being fifty. Then she can be whatever age we imagine. She's just "older." The actual number doesn't really matter, does it?
Posted: 1/7/19 at 4:28pm
CATSNYrevival said: "Even though it's one of the more famous lines from the original movie they could just cut itor rephrase it so Joe doesn't specifically call her out for being fifty. Then she can be whatever age we imagine. She's just "older." The actual number doesn't really matter, does it?"
Yes, I think it matters, because time is important here. Norma was supposed to be a young, successful actress during the 1920's. When Norma references the last time she saw Mr. DeMille, he responds that Lindberg had just landed. That was 1927. Talkies came in 1931, and by that time, she would have been considered old by Hollywood standards. The film opened in 1950, and I don't think we have any reason to assume that it doesn't take place in 1950. Joe references Norma as being 50. If you consider that Norma was born in 1900, everything falls in place and makes sense. So, they have two options, they can either just pretend Glenn Close is 50 or they can update the time period to the early 1970's. Considering the usual production design and style of music, I think the former choice is the one that makes the most sense.
Posted: 1/7/19 at 7:21pm
I think Glenn Close can not act through song, so I hope they can make the artform on film look a bit natural in this movie. She acts in spite of song. Which separates the singing from the acting, which results in insincere acting. Hugh Jackman does this too. Constant switching which makes it look and sound like a parody. They do not understand the nuances of natural singing, acting through notes and the fact that notes are actors too and that 3 different colors in 1 note evoke an emotion and that there is no need to over-emote/act out every not on top of the singing. This is the difference between the arform being natural on film or not.
This is an example of a perfectly acted "With one look". Every little detail makes sense. Her first "all you need to know" is so gentle, hopeful, yet delusional, it is the epitome of acting trough song. Glenn Close does not understand any of this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJsb8HNsjp8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r8XMH-tPa8
As for the role of Joe, I think there are 2 suitable men out there, Michael Xavier or Patrick Wilson.
Updated On: 1/7/19 at 07:21 PM
Posted: 1/7/19 at 9:42pm
I've made peace with the fact that if, indeed, a film version of ALW's SUNSET BLVD. finally does make it to the big screen it will star Glenn Close. I've never been a fan of her portrayal but they didn't ask for my my help with their casting decisions. I saw the original London production with Patti Lupone and then on a return visit the following year was lucky enough to see Elaine Paige in the role and for me she perfectly embodied the role and even looked eerily a bit like Gloria Swanson. Check it out for yourself ....
Elaine Paige - As If We Never Said Goodbye - Official Music Video (from ALW's 'Sunset Boulevard'
Elaine Paige - Sunset Blvd - Pro Shot/Live - With One Look 1995
And here's a little bonus I found extremely interesting ... it's a 1996 TV documentary of the creation of the Original Australian Production of Sunset Boulevard and the re-opening of the Regent Theatre in Melbourne ... and starring as Joe Gillis ... a very young ... Hugh Jackman.
Sunset Boulevard and the Palace of Dreams
Updated On: 1/7/19 at 09:42 PM
Posted: 1/7/19 at 10:38pm
I saw the show in London in its original staging. One was with Betty Buckley and the other was with Elaine Paige, with John Barrowman playing Joe. in both productions.
Thanks for resurrecting that old documentary on the Australian production and the theatre in which it played. Debra Byrne seemed like a perfect Norma. And ( very) young Hugh Jackman seemed so excited to have been offered the role. In fact, it was this introduction to Trevor Nunn ( who had such kind words about his talent) which led to his casting in OKLAHOMA! with the Royal National Theatre in London ( which eventually led to his Hollywood career). There is another clip showing him and Debra dancing and singing to The Perfect Year ( I'll see if I can find it). And there was also an unofficial audio somewhere being passed around of the entire production.
Posted: 1/7/19 at 10:43pm
Found the clip of THE PERFECT YEAR. This was not from the production itself but obviously part of the promotion on Australian TV of the stage musical.
Posted: 1/8/19 at 8:54am
For me, Elaine Paige's performance lacks the pain and bitterness that Glenn Close projects, which makes the character less tragic and sympathetic. Particularly in the clip of "As If We Never Said Goodbye", Ms. Paige feels too consistently warm and happy to me.
I like Debra Byrne's take on Norma, but I don't care for Hugh Jackman as Joe at all. His phrasing of the vocals in the title song are downright irritating to me.
Updated On: 1/8/19 at 08:54 AM
Posted: 1/8/19 at 10:33am
Posted: 1/8/19 at 10:44am
My biggest concern is the cutting of songs that always seems to happen with these movies to make them a better movie 'length' and some of the music from Sunset I love the most is the incidental music, so I am dreading what songs will be cut and what sung dialogue will be converted to just plain speaking.
Do you all think they will shoot it in black & white?
Posted: 1/8/19 at 10:54am
Justin D said: "My biggest concern is the cutting of songs that always seems to happen with these movies to make them a better movie 'length' and some of the music from Sunset I love the most is the incidental music, so I am dreading what songs will be cut and what sung dialogue will be converted to just plain speaking.
Do you all think they will shoot it in black & white?"
I HATE when they convert song lyrics to spoken dialogue!
Posted: 1/8/19 at 12:07pm
Theatre Fan3 said: "I've made peace with the fact that if, indeed, a film version of ALW's SUNSET BLVD. finally does make it to the big screen it will star Glenn Close. I've never been a fan of her portrayal but they didn't ask for my my help with their casting decisions. I saw the original London production with Patti Lupone and then on a return visit the following year was lucky enough to see Elaine Paige in the role and for me she perfectly embodied the role and even looked eerily a bit like Gloria Swanson. Check it out for yourself ....
Elaine Paige - As If We Never Said Goodbye - Official Music Video (from ALW's 'Sunset Boulevard'
Elaine Paige - Sunset Blvd - Pro Shot/Live - With One Look 1995
Personally, I couldn't stand Elaine Paige as Norma. I found her physical performance (hand gestures, facial expressions) to be very off-putting. Even the way she walks across the stage looks wrong to me, as if she's not comfortable in her shoes, which I'm assuming were high platforms.
Posted: 1/8/19 at 12:10pm
Justin D said: "Do you all think they will shoot it in black & white?"
No.
Posted: 1/8/19 at 12:22pm
I doubt a studio would back the film in black and white, but they may stick to muted colors. Personally, I think they should have just filmed the original with Glenn or the revival concert. I'm not sure a movie remake of Sunset Boulevard, even to preserve a version of the musical, is something I'd personally want to see. I'd rather the musical exist separately from the film medium.
Posted: 1/8/19 at 1:13pm
Just ran across another docu I'd never seen before ...
The Making of Sunset Boulevard (Glenn Close)
" A look behind the scenes of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical version of the classic movie 'Sunset Boulevard' starring Glenn Close. Includes Footage from the Los Angeles Production featuring Glenn Close, Alan Campbell, Judy Kuhn, George Hearn at The Shubert Theatre. Among those interviewed are Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black, Christopher Hampton, Trevor Nunn and Nancy Olson. "
Posted: 1/8/19 at 2:03pm
Posted: 1/8/19 at 2:05pm
pmensky said: "CATSNYrevival said: "Even though it's one of the more famous lines from the original movie they could just cut itor rephrase it so Joe doesn't specifically call her out for being fifty. Then she can be whatever age we imagine. She's just "older." The actual number doesn't really matter, does it?"
Yes, I think it matters, because time is important here. Norma was supposed to be a young, successful actress during the 1920's. When Norma referencesthe last time she saw Mr. DeMille, he responds that Lindberg had just landed. That was 1927. Talkies came in 1931, and by that time, she would have been considered old by Hollywood standards. The film opened in 1950, and I don't think we have any reason to assume that it doesn't take place in 1950.
When Norma returns to the studio to discuss Salome with DeMille, he is shooting Samson and Delilah. So Sunset Boulevard takes place either in 1948 or early 1949.
Joe references Norma as being 50. If you consider that Norma was born in 1900, everything falls in place and makes sense. So, they have two options, they can either just pretend Glenn Close is 50 or they can update the time period to the early 1970's. Considering the usual production design and style of music, I think the former choice is the one that makes the most sense."
Other than the line referenced by CATSNYrevival, I can't recall any other line that references her age, so she could conceivable be a bit older. That said, Swanson's "youthful appearance" was a result of a healthy lifestyle, so with some lighting and makeup effects, Close can probably pull off 50.
Posted: 1/8/19 at 2:24pm
One of the great lines from Sunset Blvd. goes something like this: "Norma, you're a woman of 50. There's nothing tragic about being 50. Unless you try to act 25.".
Posted: 1/8/19 at 2:30pm
Tom5 said: "One of the great lines from Sunset Blvd. goes something like this: "Norma, you're a woman of 50. There's nothing tragic about being 50. Unless you try to act 25."."
So the line can just as easily be "Norma, you're a woman of 60. There's nothing tragic about being 60. Unless you try to act 30.".
Posted: 1/8/19 at 2:31pm
Theatre Fan3 said: "Just ran across another docu I'd never seen before ...
The Making of Sunset Boulevard (Glenn Close)"
Thanks for sharing!
Posted: 1/8/19 at 4:06pm
Having seen Glenn Close in the original Broadway production, I LOVE the original film, it my all-time favorite film. I also love Glenn Close, she is an amazing actress. That being said I was bored out of my mind with this musical! All that it was to me was her coming down the stairs of her mansion over and over again with different costumes, I couldn't wait for it to be over! With the new film, which I am sure will get made now with her recent Globe win. They would need to shoot the film probably with a sepia-toned film stock to age the film and make it seem antiqued. I don't really know who would be the appropriate co-stars, but she would need very strong people who act against her, maybe Colin Farrell as Joe...I'm just glad that it's not being filmed with Madonna...
Updated On: 1/8/19 at 04:06 PM
Posted: 1/8/19 at 4:21pm
I think Glenn looks very young and robust. Nowhere near 70. I do wonder if she was speaking too soon about the film though. When I saw the Sunset Revival on Broadway someone asked Xavier if a new cast recording was in the works. He quickly said no, and Glenn who was signing next to him said, "it's happening. We're talking to the producers. We want it to happen." Her response surprised and as we know there was no recording. I wonder if this is something she is doing to keep the momentum going.
I think Jackman would make good international box office, which is what investors will want. I also wouldn't be surprised if Gaga shows us as Betty as her and Glenn's mother are best friends.
They are going to pepper the cast with box office draws as Glenn is no longer selling tickets to the cinema.
Posted: 1/8/19 at 4:23pm
For the past ten or so years, I've heard every Broadway (Lupone) fan's critique of Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard. Reading them makes so much sense and I find myself seeing their point and even agreeing with it. But then I re-listen to Close's renditions of the songs that people have critiqued and I watch her clips on YouTube (especially from 1994-1995) and I just buy into her Norma fully. I can't help it. I just think she's absolutely wonderful. I never saw her in the full show, but I hear the show itself is pretty dull. Maybe it'll work better on film since it's a medium made for intimacy and those close-ups Norma talks/sings about. Glenn really did study silent film mannerisms for that role and I believe really got it. I know Patti in her autibiography said she had no interest in doing that and playing her over-the-top and instead wanted her Norma to be more real and grounded. That actually sounds like a great idea, as it sounds less like a cartoon (or kabuki as one critic who loved Glenn's Norma characterize her Norma as) but when I see a clip of Patti in it (granted it was probably early in her run and she was taking time to gel into the role) it just wasn't the right fit. Norma has to be bigger than life. Sure Close's voice may not do that for a lot of people and I'm sure many here are actual trained singers who can correct me about why Close's singing technique is all wrong and weak, etc. But like I said, I can't help it. When I see her interpretation and hear her singing, I just buy it.
Updated On: 1/8/19 at 04:23 PM
Posted: 1/8/19 at 4:28pm
Bettyboy72 I think Jackman would make good international box office, which is what investors will want. I also wouldn't be surprised if Gaga shows us as Betty as her and Glenn's mother are best friends.
Glenn Close's mother died in 2015 --- I seriously doubt that she and Lady Gaga are "best friends".
https://people.com/celebrity/glenn-closes-mother-bettine-moore-close-has-died/
Posted: 1/8/19 at 4:33pm
Part of what made Gloria Swanson's performance in the film so amazing was that she had performed in silent films and that made it all the more effective. Studying the artform and actually having done it are two completely different things. Lupone choosing not to even consider it makes everything more about just herself. She didn't study the history of burlesque, but acquited herself just fine in "Gypsy"...
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