Why was Promises, Promises never made into a film?

[ooblogway]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 8:40pm

I know it started as The Apartment, but Promises, Promises had a rather long, successful run on Broadway - why was it never made into a film?

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 8:41pm

Because it would have been compared to "The Apartment."

[DMsquared2]

Posted: 3/3/10 at 11:40pm

It also would been confused with the 1963 film Promises! Promises! starring Jayne Mansfield.

[12]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 12:40am

if memory serves me right, someone on the boards mentioned that there was a film version in the works in 1970. there was even an original song written for it with lyrics by Neil Simon. the song was intitled "second" and sung by Gladys knight and the pips From the "i feel a Song" lp. The back of the album actually reads "from the musical :Promises,Promises"

[allofmylife]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 12:23pm

Musicals suddenly went out-of-fashion after a string of very expensive flops in the late 60s and early 70s and the studios dumped all the tuners they had on their development slates.

And the Hollywood musical languished for years.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 12:34pm

When "The Apartment" was made, that subject matter was largely taboo in movies. It was 1960 (basically, still a 1950s mentality). And the only reason Billy Wilder got away with it was because it was largely a comedy, and he was Billy Wilder. The idea of illicit affairs, and an opportunistic lead who lends his apartment out for extramarital affairs ... that was unheard of in 1960.

By 1970, hell by 1968, it was heard of. A lot. The sexual revolution was in high gear. (1966's "Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf?" with Taylor and Burton changed mainstream movie censorship for good.)

The story of "The Apartment" was already a period piece when "Promises, Promises" debuted. Certainly not shocking or compelling. Not much more than a well-written "Love, American Style" episode. A lot of people watch the movie today and can't figure out why was such a huge hit and won Best Picture. It was new, current, and topical. By 1970, it was none of those things.

The musical version worked on Broadway, where musicals were still thriving, but as allofmylife pointed out, the early '70s were the end of the Golden Age for film musicals. Sweet Charity bombed, Hello Dolly! bombed. The last big musicals to do well at the box office were Fiddler on the Roof (1971) and Cabaret (1972). Then ... nothing.

And in 1973 Bacharach and David worked on a colossal film musical bomb called "Lost Horizon." Not only did Columbia Pictures almost shut down over it, Bacharach and David split up as a songwriting duo for good. It was the end of their era, as well.

EDIT: The reason I think that "The Apartment" still works as a film is because human nature HASN'T changed. Even if the subject matter isn't sensational or taboo today, people still behave like this. They still get involved in damaging situations and romantic relationships that they shouldn't. The acting is so good in the film from MacLaine, Lemmon, and McMurray. The reason to watch it now isn't for the shocking story, it's for the quality of the film.

I don't think "Promises, Promises" would hold up today as a movie. It would feel like Mad Men the Musical or (as I said before) a good episode of Love, American Style. I suppose if the production and performances were all first-rate, then it could work. But I wouldn't want to be compared to the original Wilder film at all, and they most definitely would be, by every film critic out there.

Updated On: 3/4/10 at 12:34 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 12:47pm

Lol! I knew you would find a way to mention Lost Horizon, besty!

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 12:55pm

Oh, man, I can mention that one for no reason at all, Taz.

And often do.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 1:05pm

Now I can only think of Sally Kellerman's floppy dancing...thanks besty!

[devonian.t]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 1:20pm

Best that was a terrific post. (And I love the Lost Horizon score)

[noradesmond]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 1:26pm

I had forgotten about "Lost Horizon"

Remember what Rex Reed called it in his review? "Brigadoon with chopsticks." In retrospect that's pretty kind to "Lost Horizon" and pretty damning to "Brigadoon."


Updated On: 3/4/10 at 01:26 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 1:46pm

The sdtk to Lost Horizon is actually available on amazon. Who knew?

Also besty, once Columbia gets on board with the manufacture-on-demand program (as Universal, MGM, and Paramount have) I'm sure your wish for a proper dvd release will be fulfilled.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 2:35pm

With the right cast, I think Promises could have made a good movie. The music was more contemporary and would have drawn in a younger crowd. Possibly Joel Grey as Chuck, Bernadette Peters as Fran, Frank Sinatra as Sheldrake.

Posted: 3/4/10 at 4:08pm

"I had forgotten about "Lost Horizon""

Bite your tongue. We must never forget.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 4:11pm

taz, there have been rumors of Columbia (aka Sony now) working on the restored version of Lost Horizon, to be released as a DVD set with a restored version of the 1937 Lost Horizon (non-musical version by Frank Capra).

I'm not so sure how much money any studio is willing to put into restoration of catalogue titles now, unless they're biggies like Wizard of Oz or Lawrence of Arabia.

All the studios are in transition now, and the Home Entertainment industry is in trouble. Two of my former Sony DVD clients (and good friends) were laid off this past "black Monday." Things are not good right now. At any studio.

I imagine once the jobs all shift around, and the on-demand, streaming, and digital departments all get up to speed (and that will take about 5-10 more years before technology and bandwidth limitations catch up), then you'll see it happen.

In the meantime, we might get a barebones, non-restored version released on-demand, as you say, ala Warner Archives.

But I'm still hoping one day I'll see that colossal turkey that is "Lost Horizon" the musical, fully restored and lovingly presented with "extras!"

[allofmylife]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 11:25pm

The thing is, musicals still don't work as far as Hollywood is concerned. They bomb, big time. And right now, getting a studio to commit 100 million dollars to a musical is about as realistic as hoping to spend the holidays with Scarlett Johannson if your last name isn't Renolds.

Why? One word. Nine.

Hollywood has no institutional memory. They don't remember "Hairspray" or "Dreamgirls", they just remember "Nine."

Musicals are the kiss of death. I know that sounds simplistic, but that's the way the film industry thinks.

The funny thing is, they are right for the wrong reason.

Musicals don't work anymore. CERTAIN musicals do, but as a genre they don't; just like CERTAIN westerns (like "Unforgiven") work and the rest would not. I really believe that audiences were ready to see "Hairspray" because it was fun and hopeful in a depressing, Bush-era hellhole. They were ready to see "Dreamgirls" for Beyonce and Jamie Foxx and even "High School Musical" fits in there but for every one of these hits, there are films like "Nine" and "Bandslam" and "The Producers" which flop bigtime and blow out the flame every time it re-ignites.

So don't hold your breath for "Promises Promises the Movie." "Jersey Boys" has a much better shot.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 12:26am

Besty, I completely agree about your take on THE APARTMENT as an incredibly well-done film. I was not around when the film was originally released nor do I have a great understanding of sexual politics in 1960; still, I saw the film for the first time about three months ago or so and thought it was simply wonderful. I think it has a fantastic screenplay (not surprisingly given the author) and I agree, the performances are so fascinating to watch. Lemmon and McLaine have chemistry through the roof, my boyfriend showed it to me during one of our first dates and I thought it was a very romantic story in its own unique way. It also probably has one of my favorite (and most romantic) final scene/line of any movie I can remember. It really holds up and I can certainly see how it's a Best Picture winner, in fact, it's just a really good film. It's funny to compare that with some of the doozies that have won Best Picture recently, I mean, CRASH wasn't even relevant or good when it came out and it's already dated.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 11:55am

The script for "The Apartment" is also a joy to read. The character of CC Baxter uses the suffix "wise" all the time (dialogue-wise) and the script ends with the phrase "And that's about it. Story-wise."

Love it love it love it.

[ThePieHole]

Posted: 3/9/10 at 10:51pm

Hey everyone,

I'm glad to have found your little community here and was hoping you could help out a musical theater novice who tries hard b/c of the women in his life who he loves. I recently sent this question to the contact e-mail at the new B-way production of Promises Promises but have yet to have heard back. You all seem to be so familiar with the show (although I understand you may not be privy to any changes in the 2010 incarnation), that maybe I could find my answer from one of you.

Here is the email I sent to the official contact. If you can answer the basic questions about the plot/dialogue/lyrics/stage actions best you know it would mean a lot to me. I apologize for posting the other email verbatim, but I am constantly trying to hide the attempts at research from my wife so as to keep her gift a surprise. Thanks in advance for any help or a link to a site that will provide those answers. EMAIL BELOW :

Hello. I was hoping to get some further clarification on the content
of your show. I understand you have this question and answer posted
on your "about" page: "Is PROMISES, PROMISES appropriate for children?
Yes. Kids 12 and older will have the best experience, but children 5
and up are welcome. "

I have a 5 year old stepdaughter who loves musicals, and a wife who
loves musicals and particularly Kristen. My stepdaughter is rather
savvy for her age, and we do occasionally let her watch more grown-up
programs but may mute portions or use the dvr creatively to skip
segments we have already viewed that we might not consider
appropriate. That said, we would probably be fine with her watching
things that many might consider to be okay for say 8 or 9 year olds to
watch. My main concerns would be sexual themes (beyond kissing or even
extended kissing/making out, which would be okay) and major violent
concerns (a stage fight would be fine). Having read some parent
websites about the film "the apartment", I understand the movie's
adult themes, while slightly veiled, are still somewhat heavy in
sexual content and with a potential suicide plotline (please note, I
have not seen the film myself).

I understand your show is a comedy and certain appears that it may be
a good deal more lighthearted than the film, but can you comment on
the sexual content and suicide plotline (or other major violent
moments?). This is to be a birthday present for my wife, so I'd
really like to keep it as a surprise, but I need to know that it
really will be okay to bring my stepdaughter. I realize you cannot
make that decision for me, but any info you can provide will help me
make the best decision possible. Thanks for the help and I really
(hopefully) look forward to seeing the show in the next couple of
months.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/10/10 at 5:12pm

I wouldn't want to explain suicide to a 5 year old. And I don't think 5 year olds can grasp the concept. "And then, she's so sad, she tries to kill herself." As a parent myself, I wouldn't have done it. 8,9, 10, fine.

But then, I think the suicide attempt is one of the things that makes the musical problemmatic anyway. (And I loved the original production and score.)

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/10/10 at 6:17pm

There's no question that the themes presented in "The Apartment" and "Promises, Promises," are adult in nature. The reason they got through the censors back in 1960 had to do with the way they were presented. The tone is largely that of a romantic comedy. Light and breezy overall.

SPOILERS **************






First of all, the suicide in question is only attempted. Still it's treated seriously and makes a big impact on the characters. Fran is discovered unconscious in the apartment, having overdosed on sleeping pills. And she leaves a suicide note.

As far as the illicit affairs going on in the apartment, they are mostly referred to. You don't see wild orgies happening in front of your eyes.

I would do yourself a favor. Rent the movie "The Apartment," and see if you think your five-year-old would enjoy it. I'm not sure she would be freaked out by anything she sees. But i also think she might raise a lot of questions about the behavior of the main characters. "Why is that lady sleeping and she can't wake up?" "Why is she crying?" "Why does everybody want to get into his apartment?" "Why do they keep passing around the key secretly?"

If she's engaged enough in the story, she might ask these questions. Or she might let the questions go and just sit back and enjoy the musical numbers on stage.

But if the questions start coming, are you prepared to answer them (at least to some degree)?

Updated On: 3/10/10 at 06:17 PM

[raker]

Posted: 3/10/10 at 8:37pm

I have the song "Seconds" sung by Gladys Knight on the CD "The Reel Burt Bacharach," and it does say it's from the planned movie version of Promises, Promises that never came to be. It's not such a hot song, but it's got possibilities.

As for the suicide attempt in a musical, even Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical comedies take us from a murderous stalker in Oklahoma through Austrian Nazis(!), so darker plot points aren't so unusual.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/10/10 at 9:38pm

Good point, raker.

I also think that we can overprotect kids, and it can actually cause more harm than good.

R&H introduced audiences (young and old) to many mature themes, situations, character studies, etc. And I would say that both The Apartment and Promises, Promises do the same.

There's nothing exploitative or "sensational" about their approach to these subjects. Even if it's a comedy. I don't think a five-year-old would cringe or have nightmares watching it. But I do think it might get them asking questions.

Is that such a bad thing?