What did Michael Bennett think of the “A Chorus Line” film?- Page 2
What did Michael Bennett think of the “A Chorus Line” film?
JSquared2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/17
#25What did Michael Bennett think of the “A Chorus Line” film?
Posted: 7/30/25 at 3:38pm
BentleyB said: "I remember when it came out and having seen ACL so many times before it did. I after the opening I wanted to throw something at the screen. When they decided to make “What I Did for Love” a love song I stood up and said to friends who went with me, “I will be in the car, this is trash” and left.
Oh, Mary! This post is just begging for a Jesse Tyler Ferguson dramatic reading.
#26What did Michael Bennett think of the “A Chorus Line” film?
Posted: 7/30/25 at 4:06pm
ggersten said: "joevitus said: "Well, to be fair, "What I Did for Love" is clearly a song meant to sound like a love song. It was a push to get a hit (they got it), and it feels forced into its place onstage, so I'm not surprised they tried it as a love song in the move. Not to defend the movie (which is garbage) or criticize the stage show(which is genius), but that song is shoe-horned in,in a way none of the other numbers are."
Many years ago (like 1981 or so) I asked Hamlisch this exact question about the song feeling forced in. He said that he had to beg Bennett to leave "What I Did For Love" in the show for precisely thereason you stated. I recall he said that he told Bennett "You've got to let me have one hit". I may have the edited interview on a cassette tape somewhere.
"
I can believe it. Would love to hear that tape.
BorisTomashevsky
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/30/22
#27What did Michael Bennett think of the “A Chorus Line” film?
Posted: 7/30/25 at 4:51pm
To me the sentiment of What I Did is entirely right for the show, but yes it does have a feeling of “well we gotta get this sentiment in here no matter what.”
I wonder if anyone from the team came up with something more seamless years later but never got to try putting it in.
#28What did Michael Bennett think of the “A Chorus Line” film?
Posted: 7/30/25 at 4:58pm
It's the best Paul McCartney song that isn't.
#29What did Michael Bennett think of the “A Chorus Line” film?
Posted: 7/30/25 at 5:46pm
CarlosAlberto said: "Here is some background info from the AFI website on ‘A Chorus Line’s” journey to the silver screen:
A Chorus Line - American Film Institute"
Thank you for posting this. I never knew all of that history behind the film's development. A fascinating read.
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