The Perfect Norma Desmond

[knows_too_much]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 7:17am

She could sing it AT LEAST as well as Glen
She could act it better the Patti

She could be a disaster, but I bet she'd be briliant...
Cher as Norma Desmond.

[Dulcinea]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 7:23am

Okay here's my opinion of various Normas:

1) I did not much thrill over Glenn - I thought she was rather dull and all she really did was copy Gloria Swanson

2) I thought Patti was amazing when I saw her in London

3) I actually agree about Cher- she'd be pretty good. Though, unfortunatley all the work she's had done would make her look ridiculous in a period piece

4) some people may think I'm crazy but I think Streisand would be incredible - I love her recordings of "With One Look" and "As If We Never Said Goodbye" and she could act the hell out of it. Though her voice seems to be less powerful then it once was.

[knows_too_much]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 7:37am

Absolutly agree about Streisand! Would love to see her in the role. I think it's below her at this point, but perfect for Cher to prove herself yet again.

[landryjames]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 11:11am

For a movie musical version, I have always thought Barbra Streisand should play Norma. As mentioned, her recordings of the Sunset songs are phenomenal. I think that if she was given the right director, it would be her big serious acting comeback as well (she really could act the hell out of it).

My second choice for a movie version would be Shirley MacLaine (although perhaps a bit too old for the part now).


Updated On: 3/15/06 at 11:11 AM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 11:30am

Well, more and more Babs *is* Norma Desmond in real life, but she's way too egocentric to give herself over completely to a director, which she would need to do to give a great performance. Plus, she really is too Jewish.

The ideal choice for a film, IMO, is Meryl Streep. But I truly don't see this film happening anytime soon. Maybe if DREAMGIRLS and HAIRSPRAY are enormous smash hits.

[jo]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 11:45am

Barbra Streisand has always been my choice for Norma, should they ever do a film version of the musical.

[Flahooley]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 2:46pm

If you are talking a revival of the show, my vote would be Barbara Harris. Much like Gloria Swanson returning to screen after so many year away... Barbara Harris returning to stage would give it an emotional truth that the stage version is missing.

[Sing a Song With Me]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 2:48pm

For the shear pleasure of its extrme miscasting and all the attendant missteps that would ensue, I'm dying for this film to be made starring Liza Minelli.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 2:54pm

Liza would be my choice, i liked Barbra's version of the songs on her "Back to Broadway" cd. But can she act the part?

[Sing a Song With Me]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 2:55pm

Are you asking if Barbra could or if Liza could? Personally, I feel they can both act, I just feel Liza would be so out of water with this role that it would be thrilling in a 20-car pileup on the 405 kind of way.

[Sant]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 2:59pm

I would love to see Meryl Streep in the role, too! She can sing, she can act... She'd be perfect!!

[children&art]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 3:00pm

Jessica Lange.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 3:07pm

Jessica Lange would be great, i don't know if she can sing. Meryl can sing and would be probably great as Norma. Liza could definitly act, i just don't know about Barbra, at least in "The mirror has 2 faces" she seemed to be playing herself, the same about "The prince of tides" and "Meet the Fockers", in my opinion.
Glenn Close is probably my # 1 pick for the film though.

Updated On: 3/15/06 at 03:07 PM

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 3:10pm

The idea of Cher as Norma Desmond sounds great but like someone said before, she's had too much surgery to look like dethroned queen, she looks better than some 25 year olds.
Liza would act the part but I don't think I'd like to see her belting those songs, it doesn't look like the type of songs Liza would sing.
I'd love if they cast an equivalent of Gloria Swanson for the movie musical. Someone who's in a similar situation as Ms.Desmond.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 3:20pm

The only person I can think of who is truly a modern day film equivilent of Norma Desmond and who could actually sing the material is Doris Day. But she's way too old for the role now.

[children&art]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 3:28pm

Liz Taylor?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 3:33pm

Well, I don't think poor Liz can even walk anymore - but yes, she's definitely a real life Norma!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 3:42pm

I've always said Liza is the ideal candidate for a film version of the musical. Watching her in Arrested Development reaffirmed it for me.

Does Cher really have the range for the score? That was one of the problems I had with Close. Her head voice was way too thin and the leaps from head to chest are just unbearable. I haven't listened to Cher in ages because her songs all started sounding the same to me, so I'm not sure.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 4:00pm

I actually am pretty certain that Cher was approached and actually entered into some talks very early in the game about opening SUNSET BOULEVARD in Toronto. This was before her last "come back" and everyone involved seemed to think it was a good idea. But Cher was dealing with chronic fatigue syndrome at the time and it became clear that realistically she couldn't do the show 8 times a week.

But yeah, sure she could sing it - at least well enough for a movie. Her face is really scary these days though.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 4:04pm

let's just hope Cher doesn't do that thing she does with her tongue while singing "With one look"

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 4:06pm

Well she apparently already has the "mad scene" costume in her wardrobe...

[Calvin]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 4:06pm

Connie Francis.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 4:08pm

oh yeah! Connie would be great, oh wait, who is she? LOL

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 4:12pm

And I think part of the problem with Liza (besides no insurance company would back her ass) is that she is an inherently "happy," "likeable" personality. I think it would be pretty hard to buy her as a cold, bitchy Norma Desmond.

Plus, again, like Streisand, would you ever buy her as somebody who would have been a silent screen beauty? Maybe for Mack Sennett's Key Stone Cops, but that's hardly what Billy Wilder was going for...

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/15/06 at 4:14pm

i think Liza could do it, because she is a good actress.