Fenris’ thread on “Random Musings during South Pacific” got me to thinking: Which musicals need to be remade, and who should star in them? I’m thinking specifically of those that were butchered when they were put on film.
In my opinion (and from the previously mentioned thread) “Guys and Dolls” is definitely one that MUST be re-done. (I mean, c’mon! Marlon Brando singing?!?!? Especially when Gene Kelly was up for that role?)
Another is “The Unsinkable Molly Brown”. Here’s a musical written by Meredith Willson (who also wrote “The Music Man”) and it just lays there like a lead balloon. The stage version had TONS more music (and better songs) that were left out of the film and should be heard.
Also “Finian’s Rainbow”. Another case of a better stage version than film version (too many sub-plots added to the film, and Fred Astaire as an irishman? Sorry, my WSOD [willing suspension of disbelief] wouldn’t kick in.)
At least they’re talking about a new version of the musical “Mame”. Lucille Ball was terrible!! and anyone taking the role would HAVE to be better than she was. (A couple names being bandied about are Barbra Streisand and Cher – neither my top choice, but I can see Barbra doing well.) The only thing about the film that was any good was Robert Preston (aka “Peerless Preston”) and as usual, he outshone his material. I doubt they’d be able to find a leading man who could compare with him as Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside.
I loved Bette Midler’s version of “Gypsy” on CBS a few years back. Despite the good ratings, though, CBS nixed her idea of doing “Hello, Dolly,” “Mame” and/or “Call Me Madam.” A real shame, they would’ve been great . . .
Of course, as an Anna Held fan, I’d like to see revivals of “Miss Innocence,” “The Parisian Model” or “Papa’s Wife.”
I’d like to see a remake of Cabaret, intact. I nearly gagged when I saw it (shortly after doing a stage production) and found out they’d made Sally an American (is Liza Minelli that bad an actress?) and had cut out some of the best songs (and/or replaced them with inferior product).
I’m drawing a blank on casting, though. Joel Grey was the perfect Emcee, and I’m not sure I’d have the heart to replace him. Although, despite what I said earlier about faithfulness, I’d like to see a female Emcee…maybe Bebe Neuwirth.
Suo Na – I’d be able to cast a new Cabaret in a second. (The staging should be the same as in the revival, not the original.) The MC should be Alan Cummings, and Sally Bowes should be played by Kate Shindle. “Kate Shindle?” you ask. She’s a former Miss America who has played the role brilliantly. I saw her a few months ago and her rendition of the title song absolutely blew me away. Minelli was good, Lea Thompson (on the Today Show a few months ago) was great, but Shindle brought out things in that song I’ve never seen before.
Fenris I think Bernadette Peters would be a lovely Mame. Oh, I wish they would do this! Mame is my second favorite musical (after Guys and Dolls, which they really need to do, too!).
I dunno…remakes are not always an improvement. I just rented the new version of Jesus Christ Superstar on DVD, and it is a big disappointment. It’s basically a film of the new West End stage production of JCS, so all of the action takes place on two sets. The guy who plays Judas, Jerome Pradon, is a good singer, but he doesn’t have the fire of Carl Douglas in the 1973 movie. The actor who plays Pilate overacts atrociously and his operatic bass is all wrong for the role.
On the other hand, the actress who plays Mary Magdalene is
quite good and an improvement over Yvonne Elliman (and a lot better looking, to boot). The two high points of the show are the actor who plays Simon the Zealot and Rik Mayall singing “King Herod’s Song.”
If I were to remake musicals, one that comes to mind is “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” The 1968 film with Zero Mostel is terible. Three of the songs from the stage play were cut and Mostel mugs shamelessly through the movie. A farce is supposed to be light and fluffy and quick-paced; the 1968 “Forum” is as fluffy as a lead omelette.
I’d remake it with Nathan Lane playing Pseudolus, Justin Timberlake as Hero, and Brtiney spears as the ingenue (after all, the character is supposed to be a brainless, but beautiful courtesan)