Follies

[Mister Tee]

I haven't seen A Little Night Music, but have heard it is a disaster.

As Pauline Kael memorably put it, Hal Prince directed as if he'd never SEEN a movie. Everything that had seemed so effervescent onstage seemed clunky on-screen. You could almost confuse it with Song of Norway (exaggerating, but not by as much as you'd think).

[FilmFan720]

Sondheim has been translated to the screen three times (not including West Side Story or Gypsy). I haven't seen A Little Night Music, but have heard it is a disaster. ...Forum is a fun film, but bears little similarity to the glorious stage musical, and I think anyone here should know my feelings on Sweeney Todd. All that said, please excuse me if I am not overly excited about another Sondheim film!

[Okri]

Filmfan, I'm mixed. On the one hand, any material that's been highly praised in one medium will be difficult to translate to another, and indeed, a Mendes-Sorkin adaptation of Follies doesn't strike me as a good idea (if we needed a formalist, why not Todd Haynes or Alain Resnais? Well, I know why not the latter, but still, imagine the team of Resnais and Gauthier working on this film).

On the other hand, Harold Prince has mentioned several times about his intention to make the original staging of Follies as cinematic as possible, using the theatrical equivalent of things like jump cuts, dissolves, etc. So it's not as wild an idea as say, Pacific Overtures.

Anyway, like you, I'll be there opening day.

[cam]

I don't think that I would have any trouble imagining this onscreen. There have been wonderful casts submitted as ideal. I do believe that Glenn Close fits Sally, and I would like to see Christine Baranski as Carlotte, but all the submissions have been casts , and a show, that I would pay to see.

Sure it's theatrical. Why wouldn't that aspect "translate to the screen"?



Edited By cam on 1219539516

[FilmFan720]

To me, it is such a theatrical piece, that I really don't see how it can translate to the screen. Chicago worked within the same constraints, but I have such an attachment to the piece that I feel overly protective of it. I'll be first in line to see it, though.

[Okri]

Considering the idiocy of this idea, I say no one!

While I'm not sold on the team behind the production (no no no on Aaron Sorkin), I think it could make a pretty great movie. Why so down?

[Penelope]

Phyllis: Donna Pescow
Sally: Marie Osmond
Ben: Jon Voight
Buddy: Deney Terrio
Carlotta: Pamela Bellwood
Emily: Stephanie Zimbalist
Theodore: Gerald McRainey
Solange: Sally Struthers
Hattie: Tanya Tucker
Stella: Pamela Sue Martin
Heidi: Debbie Boone
Dimitri: Pat Harrington, Jr.
Roscoe: Robert Englund

I would DEFINITELY pay money to see that!

[Big Magilla]

Phyllis: Donna Pescow
Sally: Marie Osmond
Ben: Jon Voight
Buddy: Deney Terrio
Carlotta: Pamela Bellwood
Emily: Stephanie Zimbalist
Theodore: Gerald McRainey
Solange: Sally Struthers
Hattie: Tanya Tucker
Stella: Pamela Sue Martin
Heidi: Debbie Boone
Dimitri: Pat Harrington, Jr.
Roscoe: Robert Englund

It ain't supposed to be no damn Hallmark or Lifetime channel TV movie.

[Big Magilla]

But, he sings and dances in Hairspray....so, it's not out of the blue for him.

Forgot about that, but still it would be nice.

[FilmFan720]

Damien, that is quite the cast!

[Damien]

Phyllis: Donna Pescow
Sally: Marie Osmond
Ben: Jon Voight
Buddy: Deney Terrio
Carlotta: Pamela Bellwood
Emily: Stephanie Zimbalist
Theodore: Gerald McRainey
Solange: Sally Struthers
Hattie: Tanya Tucker
Stella: Pamela Sue Martin
Heidi: Debbie Boone
Dimitri: Pat Harrington, Jr.
Roscoe: Robert Englund



Edited By Damien on 1219442789

[OscarGuy]

But, he sings and dances in Hairspray....so, it's not out of the blue for him.

[Big Magilla]

Liza would be the ideal interpreter of "I'm Still Here", but since the character is supposed to be older than the leads it might not make sense.

I've been looking forward to a film version of Follies since the mid-70s when it was rumored to be in the works with Joan Crawford as Carlotta and Bette Davis as Hattie. Too bad Anne Bancroft (Phyllis) and Shirley MacLaine (Sally) didn't make this instead of The Turning Point.

I think Nanette Fabray needs to be part of it considering she was the original choice for Phyllis but was afraid she would jinx it having been in so many Broadway flops in the 50s and early 60s.

I also like my casting of Christopher Walken. It would be nice to see him singing and dancing again.



Edited By Big Magilla on 1219441236

[FilmFan720]

Yeah, I know, but it is wishful thinking. If she says no, move Debbie Reynolds down to Stella and put Shirley MacLaine in as Carlotta. Now, how can we get Liza in here?

[Big Magilla]

Pretty good except for Doris Day who has become the Garbo of her generation.