Unlikely Vocalists

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/25/13 at 11:07am

So I was thinking of ways to drive home last nights Oscar theme and it dawned on me: Why didn't they do an "Unlikely Vocalists" montage? Talk about how everyone sang in les Mis- even people like Russell Crowe. Talk about how there was a time when everyone sang in the movies and then roll a montage of people singing who weren't thought of as singers:

Lee Marvin
Clint Eastwood (Paint Your Wagon)

James Cagney (Yankee Doodle Dandy)

Woody Allen
Goldie Hawn (Everyone Says I love You)

Jimmy Stewart (Born to Dance)

There has to be a million more- got any ideas?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/25/13 at 11:17am

Lucille Ball (Mame)

Christopher Plummer (Sound of Music)

[Wynbish]

Posted: 2/25/13 at 11:18am

Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge?

Tom Cruise in Rock of Ages?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/25/13 at 11:28am

Exactly.

Marlon Brando Guys and Dolls

Ray Walston South Pacific

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 2/25/13 at 11:35am

Elizabeth Taylor, A Little Night Music

[newintown]

Posted: 2/25/13 at 11:52am

Some of those singers are so unlikely, they didn't really sing.

Taylor was dubbed by Elaine Tomkinson in Night Music.
Plummer was dubbed by Bill Lee in SOM.
Walston was dubbed by Rad Robinson in Pacific.

Here's a good site for reference.
Movie dubbers

[Wynbish]

Posted: 2/25/13 at 11:56am

Richard Gere and Renee Zellwegger, Chicago

Rosario Dawson, Rent (apart from the autotune)

[followspot]

Posted: 2/25/13 at 12:01pm

Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

James Caan in Funny Lady.

Burt Reynolds in Lucky Lady and At Long Last Love.

Updated On: 2/25/13 at 12:01 PM

[newintown]

Posted: 2/25/13 at 12:19pm

In Lost Horizon, Diana Lee dubbed for Liv Ullman, Jerry Whitman for Peter Finch, and Andra Willis for Olivia Hussey.

Sally Kellerman had already done the musical version of Breakfast at Tiffany's, as well as her cabaret act for years, and Bobby Van was, of course, Bobby Van.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/25/13 at 12:31pm

I had no idea Plummer and Walston were dubbed! I guess that would make the case it's not always obtrusive.

Then I'll replace them with Walter Matthau in Dolly.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 2/25/13 at 2:01pm

If we can include musically-inclined roles in non-musicals, then we have Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line) and Gwyneth Paltrow (Duets).

Amy Adams, kinda, for Enchanted.

[winston89]

Posted: 2/25/13 at 2:51pm

Here's a random one, Jack Nicholson in the film version of Tommy.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/25/13 at 2:58pm

I don't remember being surprised by Will Ferrell. He had done quite a good amount of singing during his days on SNL.

[followspot]

Posted: 2/25/13 at 4:30pm

Clark Gable in Idiot's Delight

Bette Davis in Thank Your Lucky Stars.

Updated On: 2/25/13 at 04:30 PM

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 2/25/13 at 7:27pm

A lot of the SNL folks are pretty good singers. Is there any kind of vocal audition for the show in addition to the comedy routine?

[theatergeek3]

Posted: 2/25/13 at 7:33pm

@SondheimFan5-I doubt there is but I know what you mean. I've noticed that particularly with Jason Sudeikis & Taran Kilam.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 2/25/13 at 7:37pm

I dont like counting film vocalists because their voices get sweetened in the studio.

As fair as on stage unlikely vocalists I was very impressed with Martha Plimpton in Pal Joey and Mary Stuart Masterson in Nine.

[trentsketch]

Posted: 2/25/13 at 7:48pm

Not a musical, but Mel Brooks acted the crap out of the theme song to High Anxiety.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 2/26/13 at 12:06am

Robert Klein in They're Playing Our Song.

[newintown]

Posted: 2/26/13 at 8:36am

Robert Klein had already been singing on Broadway back in New Faces of 1968, with several big numbers, including a Mozartian operetta with Madeline Kahn.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 2/26/13 at 11:09am

Well, that I did not know! I only knew him from his stand-up. Always good to know there's more I haven't heard to go listen to for the first time.