Why Arent' Actors Dubbed In Movie Musicals Anymore?

There are probably a lot of smaller reasons that are complicated (such as the modern complexity of royalty issues), but I would think three of the major reasons are:

1) Modern audiences are more sophisticated in terms of presentation (though not necessarily content) and would have a harder time with in than in times past.

2) Actors are less likely to allow it after that first actor in a movie musical sang their own part. Now, not to do so looks like a deficiency.

3) The advent of technologies like Auto-Tune have helped make actor's singing voices "passable." I say passable, because I agree that it's still not good enough. Mediocre singing worked for Renee Zellweger in 'Chicago' because it fit the character, but I really don't like their vocal limitations in 'Nine.'

---

Let's think back to Flashdance for a moment. Jennifer Beals had her dancing "dubbed" and the actual dancer got no credit. She created a real stink about it and everyone ended up looking pretty bad. I have to think that the producers would like to avoid something like that. Yes, it could be argued that they singers could be credited but I think the producers also want to avoid people seeing "Vocals performed by".

---

If they got somebody to dub Renee Zellwegger for "Chicago," they must have gotten the exact same singer they had for her song in "Empire Records." I'm pretty sure it's her voice in both.

And in "Down With Love"

---

I think besides the fact of ego (its definitely considered something of a dig for an actor to be dubbed) popular music today is a lot different than it was in the 40s-60s. Audiences today aren't exactly reared on Judy Garland, and Jeanette McDonald -- the expectation for what is considered acceptible to today's ear has been influenced by today's popular music, in which having a great musical instrument hardly seems relevent.

Actually, genre, as I understand it that myth is false. Supposedly Molasky has said that she was brought in to sweeten the combined vocal sound of Zeta Jones and Zelwegger on Nowadays and I Move On, but she has said she didn't do any solo dubbing for Zelwegger.

And truth be told that does sound like Zelwegger singing that brief clip, not Molasky.

Updated On: 12/3/09 at 01:05 PM

Carlotta was dubbed in PotO, and that was the only vocal performance that really satisfied me in the movie.

Honestly, I wish they'd either dub or cast people who can actually sing.

---

Furthermore, Renee would have never been dubbed for Empire Records, because she wasn't famous at all then. They could have just found some other cute blonde girl if Renee couldn't sing her little verse. She wasn't RENEE ZELLWEGER then. She was just some young, attractive girl. Hollywood's full of those.

I could see that thing about the one "jazz" being possible though. If I remember right, that note is pretty high, and I don't know that she actually sings that high at any other point in the movie.

I thought Margaret Preece dubbed for Minnie Driver?

Edit: Apparently I've been spelling it wrong all these years. Embarassing.

---

Updated On: 12/3/09 at 01:15 PM

I believe that there was some fuss over Zac needing to be dubbed in High School Musical over him doing his own singing in Hairspray. Citing that the reason why he was doing his own singing in Hairspray and not in High School Musical was because the score of High School Musical was too high for him. When, in actuality that was a bogus claim considering the fact due to the fact that some of the songs that Link sings are higher then some of the ones that he sings in High School Musical.

---

I'm pretty sure that Zac Efron's vocals were actually mixed with another singer's in the first HSM because supposedly the part was written for a tenor before he was brought on. He does his own singing in the other two HSM films though.

How about casting actors who can actually sing/dance the role? In theatre you don't have the option of being dubbed. You go out and you do your thing. I know film is an entirely different medium but still. Personally even if the singing isn't that great I like knowing that at least the actor gave it a shot. Sometimes it works, others it doesn't (I agree that Pierce Brosnan should never be allowed to sing again). As a director I believe if the actor can't handle the role they should not have been cast in the first place. Just my 2-cents.

I really don't want to see actors dubbed. I know it was common in years past, but personally when I see an actor I want to experience his performance fully--and that includes his singing, good, mediocre, or bad. I would rather hear a bad singer than feel like I'm watching Milli Vanilli. Ideally, of course, actors would be hired as much for their singing as their looks, acting, or level of fame.

Theatredorkny, that would of course necessistate the casting of movie stars who can sing and dance and who are right for the roles. (Sorry, Broadway actors don't sell tickets to 100 million dollar movies).

That has always been a challange except for a few years when MGM actually was grooming musical movie stars.