Why was Betty Buckley the only OBC member of 1776 not included in the movie?

[biggs bunny]

Posted: 8/13/12 at 8:28pm

Attitude?

[Jon]

Posted: 8/13/12 at 8:43pm

Looks.

Also, John Cullum was not in the OBC.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/13/12 at 8:51pm

I thought you weren't going to post here anymore.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 8/13/12 at 8:58pm

And John Cullum, though not in the OBC, did take over the roll of Rutledge during the original Broadway run. He was excellent, particularly in MOLASSES TO RUM. I'm not surprised they cast him in the film.

***

Long before I knew she could sing, I thought Betty Buckley was beautiful in CARRIE and EIGHT IS ENOUGH. (In the latter, "pretty" was about all she had to do.)

How did this nonsense about her not being pretty enough for film get started? (Or do you actually have a source for your assertion, Jon?)

ETA and while I think Blythe Danner (who played Martha Washington in the film) is still a stunning woman, she's not exactly a conventional film beauty. She's more an example of inner beauty and charisma shining through a pleasant and interesting facade. And the all-time sexiest speaking voice.






Updated On: 8/13/12 at 08:58 PM

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 8/13/12 at 9:04pm

B/c she cray cray.

[biggs bunny]

Posted: 8/13/12 at 9:08pm

I wasn't Jordan.....but I like my new role as the anti Betty Buckley troll!!! I want my money back from that "concert!!!!"

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 8/13/12 at 9:08pm

This board is going cray cray over Betty Buckley this week!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/13/12 at 9:33pm

Men drool over Blythe,
not so much Betty.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 8/13/12 at 10:04pm

Betty had not yet made much of a splash outside of the theater like Danner or Jill Clayburgh.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/13/12 at 10:43pm

The courier who sang "Mama, Look Sharp," wasn't the original either.

Scott Jarvis, who was a friend and co-worker of mine in the mid-'80s (RIP), said they thought he was too old for the movie.

There were several other members of congress who weren't in the OBC. Many played the roles previously, and some after doing the film.

Donald Madden, who played the major role of Dickinson wasn't the original and never played the role on Broadway. He died far too young at 49 of lung cancer, and "1776" was the only theatrical film he ever made.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 8/14/12 at 12:46pm

I was on an 8 seater plane yesterday from Provincetown to Boston. The friend I was traveling with pointed another passenger out and asked me if she was "Pat Buckley." I said, "I don't think so. Pat Buckley is dead."

The woman had no makeup on and I didn't recognize her at all. At Logan, I asked her if I could help her with her bag going up some stairs. She graciously thanked me. I didn't realize she was Betty Buckley until I heard her voice. She couldn't have been nicer.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 8/14/12 at 12:51pm

Terrific story, henrik.

[AHTC]

Posted: 8/14/12 at 12:56pm

I have thought about this. I think what must have been a huge blast of fresh air onstage after an hour of deliberation and story songs would have seemed WAY too big on film, breaking the screen in half.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 8/14/12 at 1:02pm

The song is still in the movie, AHTC.

[bk]

Posted: 8/14/12 at 1:05pm

The film courier is Stephen Nathan, the original Jesus from Godspell, who went on to star in a rather well-known cult film and who then turned to writing and producing, something he's doing rather well at, currently on Bones.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/14/12 at 1:14pm

I read somewhere that the reason Betty Buckley wasn't cast in the film version was because she was difficult.

Blythe being cast was a blessing according to co-star Ken Howard. They formed a life long friendship and went on to co-star in the short lived sit-com "Adam's Rib" playing the Tracy/Hepburn roles and then Howard went on to star on "The White Shadow" created and produced by Blythe's husband, Bruce Paltrow.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 8/14/12 at 1:19pm

Don't feed the bunny

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 8/14/12 at 1:34pm

Thanks, Carlos. Casting Blythe Danner is always a blessing, as far as I'm concerned.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 7:50am

Gaveston, I take it you didn't see her as Phyllis Stone.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 1:24pm

Betty's "He Plays the Violin":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4agE0dkmWUht
Blythe's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T23elli1Vc

Updated On: 8/15/12 at 01:24 PM

[goldenboy]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 5:40pm

Like Blythe Danner but casting her in Follies
was definitely NOT a Blessing.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 6:53pm

Gaveston, I take it you didn't see her as Phyllis Stone.

No, I didn't, henrik. Please picture me with my fingers in my ears, humming loudly to avoid hearing what anyone may say on the subject. LOL.