What Crack Was Webber Smoking? — Page 2

Glenn won the Tony award. Her singing was very decent and she was acting with every word she sang. Patti is a great singer...but on the recording she seemed cold...not too much emotion...besides the fact that Glenn's recording had a full orchestra and Patti's didn't. I think Glenn is top notch. But what the hell...it's just an opinion. What is not an opinion is that Glenn is way more known than Lupone and brings attention to any show she is in. Lupone(I think she is brilliant, eventho i hate her show on Bway now) is mainly just known among Broadway lovers.

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and by the way ...Judy Kuhn is amazing in the Broadway recording...she hits all the notes. Awesome singer.

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No offense. But everytime I hear her sing I can't help but yell out: "POCAHONTAS!"

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I don't know of any time that Linzi played that role, but she would have been great in it.
No, I was referring to Linzi as Eponine in Les Mis. Sorry for the confusion.

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Crawford and Braun in Phantom. I'd pay any price in the world to see this

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Rock, Anthony Callea's THE PRAYER was awesome, but I hope his horrible CARWASH put you in tears of agony, not any other emotion...

Anywho, I still think Barbra should have done it...And she should do any film they do of this very mediocre show...

Hey, let's give Diahann Carroll and the Canadian cast some love, too! Kidding. Seriously, I have no idea how she was. Did anyone see Carroll (and Rex Smith)?

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I think that we may be forgetting that this is a movie? Film producers want to rake in the most returns possible and that's all. They aren't there to please the Broadway theatre fans, they want to attract as wide an audience as possible.

Think about it: if you didn't know anything about Broadway and went to the movies and looked at the poster of Sunset Boulevard, what would be more attractive? Glenn Close, a seasoned and known actress in movies, or Patti LuWHO???

Close acted the scenes better, LuPone sang the songs better than Close. Buckley was the vocally strongest Norma to me.

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In response to Chris' question concerning Diahann Carroll....having seen the show four times, she was my least favorite Norma. However her charisma free portrayl put a whole new spin on the show for me which I really enjoyed. For the first time Joe Gillis' character as performed by Rex Smith became the most interesting role. Smith was wonderful in the part and the audience definitely seemed more interested in him which is pretty amazing since the Norma role is so overpowering. The reason I've always liked this show is that it allows an actress to give her personal take on the Norma character. Buckely was very subdued and almost seemed like a wounded animal. She was less a diva than any of the others yet her vocals were incredible. Clarke played the role completely different. She was more like a Mame Dennis gone astray. Ditzy and comical she really didn't come to life until the second act. Paige was a Swanson clone. Back to Carroll though...although she did nothing for me it was obvious she saved ALL her energy for the final staircase scene. Listen to the Canadian cast recording and you'll think she's great in the role. As far as the movie goes I still would like the part to go to Streisand more out of curiosity than anything else. My only reservations are that other than "Funny Girl" I've never really cared much for Babs as an actress yet it would make a great musical swan song for a Broadway/film legend.

Thank you, Bobby. I agree completely. I saw them both and Close was a HUGE disappointment to me -- not only vocally but in the over the top performance. She played Norma as if she were 80 years old. Norma is 50. This is not a matter of interpretation. She has to be 50 to have been a silent film star. PATTI rules!

Another vote for Close here...

Patti sang it amazingly well, yes, but a strong voiced diva is NOT who Norma Desmond is.

Back when all the sh*t hit the fan, the story was that ALW liked Glenn's scene work and song work better than Patti's. Patti never sued ALW, she was paid out of her contract and first right of refusal on the role. So yes ALW bought her swimming pool, but it's not as if they were in court discussing artistic decisions.

Glenn's performance while not note perfect, was flawless. She brought such humanity to the role, something I've not seen Patti do until Sweeney...and she been around for a while.

I have to agree that Elaine Paige's performance in Sunset was quite extraordinary, and that one performance has stuck with me ever since. She had such power to her voice, and her acting was heart-wrenching - she truly was Norma Desmond. Glenn Close should never have touched that score. I never saw Patti's performance, but love her renditions of the songs on the London cast recording. Petula Clarke-there are no words... just dreadful!

Mary P x