What if Wicked had been made during the Golden Age of Movie Musicals?

Cafe Society
1

My husband and I just saw Wicked and thought it was great. Today it occurred to me that Judy Garland (when she was older than Dorothy-age, obviously) would have been a terrific Elphaba. Can you imagine her singing “Defying Gravity”?

My husband says Robert Preston would have been a good Wizard in this show, with maybe Vera Ellen or Shirley Jones as Glinda. (Ethel Merman for Madame Morrible?)

Thoughts?

2

I feel like the music and characters are just wildly out of place for those actors, and the style of acting that was popular back then.

I guess I’m saying I like it just the way it is.

3

I agree with drew that it doesn’t seem to fit the MGM classic style very well. But just for kicks . . .

To the best of my knowledge, Vera Ellen didn’t sing at all; she was always dubbed. Maybe Deanna Durbin as Glinda?

4

Robert Preston would indeed have been ideal as the Wizard. Don’t think I agree about Judy Garland, though – Elphaba, despite being green, has to knock your eye out, and Judy, for all her pipes, just wasn’t that.

5

And Mickey Rooney for Boq!

6

I didn’t know that Vera Ellen didn’t sing. That’s a shame. She has such a great look for Glinda.

7

Actually no, I can’t. She’d be totally wrong for that role.

8

Thinking back on all the musicals I’ve seen, I can’t really think of anyone who regularly sang in the belting style that sort of defines Elphaba’s role. Judy Garland is probably the closest, but still not right. Looks-wise, Cyd Charisse or Ann Miller might be closer than Garland, but Miller’s voice isn’t right either, and Charisse didn’t sing.

I do agree that Robert Preston would have been a great Wizard.

9

Wouldn’t a casting director normally handle this by casting Jean Hagen but dubbing all the singing with Debbie Reynolds? Or the other way around?

10

Ethel Merman as Elphaba!

11

In-universe, you cast Jean Hagen with Debbie Reynolds singing behind the scenes (and behind a curtain at one point), but in real life, you cast Jean Hagen and Debbie Reynolds, with Jean singing for Debbie, who is pretending to sing for Jean.

<goes off muttering “Moses supposes” to himself>