tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post3542261427762523379..comments2024-03-10T10:56:38.185-04:00Comments on the passionate moviegoer: not a major motion picture!joe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-61190210873614504192017-08-29T09:12:10.238-04:002017-08-29T09:12:10.238-04:00Great selection, Howard. I remember seeing that sh...Great selection, Howard. I remember seeing that show during its tryout at the Shubert Theater in Philadelphia. It was Gower Champion's second Broadway musical, following "Bye, Bye Birdie." Anna Maria Alberghetti was the star, playing Lili, and aside from Orbach, Kaye Ballard and James Mitchell also co-starred.<br /><br />I'm surprised that MGM didn't snap up its film rights, given its history with "Lili," but by that time, MGM was going through the first of its weird periods, and wasn't into making movie musicals anymore. I'm also surprised that the studio didn't give the Broadway producers permission to use the song, "Hi Lili, Hi Lo." But the composers, Bob Merrill and Michael Stewart came up with a good replacement, "Love Makes the World Go 'Round." <br /><br />"Lili" was a childhood favorite of mine, inspiring my obsession with puppets. It is definitely an odd, one-song musical, with a couple dream dances tossed in. I guess that it's not a musical at all but a charming little drama with music.joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-46979720875325696382017-08-28T20:40:44.836-04:002017-08-28T20:40:44.836-04:00Just want to make another filming recommendation f...Just want to make another filming recommendation for an non-filmed musical: The show Carnival from the 60's. Just saw Lili on TCM last night, and the plot cries out for a bunch of songs, besides Hi Lili, Hi Lo. Carnival, adapted from the film, had a great original score, terrific performers (including the late Jerry Orbach), and was a whole lot of fun. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03684016994927993944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-43802189481145868862017-08-27T02:43:55.816-04:002017-08-27T02:43:55.816-04:00I think MOOSE MURDERS could be fine with a major o...I think MOOSE MURDERS could be fine with a major overhaul by a great script doctor.mike schlesingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824197221204862706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-14190431473417735582017-08-25T17:29:30.367-04:002017-08-25T17:29:30.367-04:00Gary- You're right! I forgot the title of the ...Gary- You're right! I forgot the title of the Robert Marasco play. It's "Child's Play," as you say, and it's been fixed.joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-27883833726506309042017-08-25T17:23:04.488-04:002017-08-25T17:23:04.488-04:00I assume you were referring to Marasco's CHILD...I assume you were referring to Marasco's CHILD'S PLAY directed by Sidney Lumet but it got left out of your text.<br /><br />RENT and THE PRODUCERS (musical) flopped because they were flat and lifeless, like A CHORUS LINE. Mayne some shows just need an audience to interact with the actors. I have seen the same show and cast be very different on separate performances.<br /><br />Recent plays to film? How about FENCES, INTO THE WOODS, JERSEY BOYS, THE NORMAL HEART (TV) and those "live musicals" on TV?<br /><br />Rumor is SUNSET BOULEVARD with Glenn Close will come to the screen---I hope not. The musical was bad enough. And no doubt HELLO DOLLY with Bette will be proposed. On this list of projects in the works http://www.playbill.com/article/schedule-of-upcoming-movie-musical-adaptations-com-216487 are another GYPSY with Streisand and Spielberg directing a Tony Kushner script for WEST SIDE STORY. I will happily take the original filmed versions.<br /><br />The theatre to cinema screens are getting very good. I saw FALSETTOS last night. Beautifully directed for their screen but with the live audience. This is becoming a great way to experience some shows. Friends rave about ANGELS IN AMERICA currently coming from National Theater in London to cinemas. And the lovely SHE LOVES ME which I saw on Broadway and on BroadwayHD will be on PBS October 20 with FALSETTOS to follow.<br /><br />The reverse of movies into stage plays is to accomplish to accomplish. Saw the pre-Broadway ROMAN HOLIDAY wit Cole Porter songs. Disaster. We liked the Berkeley Rep production (with a few reservations) of an original musical of AMELIE but by the time it got to Broadway with casting changes it could not survive. Recently saw their original production of Mira Nair's MONSOON WEDDING stage musical also headed for Broadway. It needs some work but audiences loved it and the show might succeed.<br /><br />We often speculate on what would be the most unimaginable musical adaptations. Fun parlor game. How about the complete Quentin Tarantino canon? Or Jerry Lewis' unseen THE DAY THE CLOWN DIED now that he can't stop it.<br /><br />And please---no MOOSE MURDERS on film.<br />Gary Meyernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-51687382188840200122017-08-21T08:22:53.997-04:002017-08-21T08:22:53.997-04:00As a resident of Europe and a watcher of the Briti...As a resident of Europe and a watcher of the British TCM, I suppose I can be somewhat thankful that there is no "commentary" interstitials.On the other hand, there are commercial breaks. Watching Exodus takes longer than the original "book" took to be published.Paul Marguliesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-36105781324883727592017-08-18T16:25:25.225-04:002017-08-18T16:25:25.225-04:00Mike- A couple decades ago, I went to a preview in...Mike- A couple decades ago, I went to a preview in San Francisco of Allen's "Everyone Says I Love You" and even that audience behaved as if the movie musical was an alien form. I know that it's easy to hold lack of audience interest responsible for the demise of the musical, but I blame the studios, which gave up on the form. Modern filmmakers have no interest in doing musicals and the studios fell in line, conditioning moviegoers, in turn, to not want them. Anyway, that's my take.joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-81793054248958394602017-08-18T14:58:38.964-04:002017-08-18T14:58:38.964-04:00BroadwayHD has been recording and presenting popul...BroadwayHD has been recording and presenting popular Broadway shows of late. It's probably the best we can hope for at this point, as "the kids" won't go to musicals unless they're animated, and old people's money ain't wanted anymore.mike schlesingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824197221204862706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-90264404097839209592017-05-20T07:46:01.157-04:002017-05-20T07:46:01.157-04:00Would love to see Kander and Ebb's "Kiss ...Would love to see Kander and Ebb's "Kiss of the Spider Woman", but who could replace Chita Rivera.Viennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06907591161822012949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-52321563549978171022017-05-05T20:09:52.292-04:002017-05-05T20:09:52.292-04:00I've always found it odd that shows that are a...I've always found it odd that shows that are a success on stage often fizzle on screen, in spite of their fidelity to the original piece. Maybe that's because the camera simply magnifies flaws that were always there but unseen or undetected on stage.andy s.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-40793502998557024902017-05-05T20:00:13.508-04:002017-05-05T20:00:13.508-04:00David- I've been amused that the words "...David- I've been amused that the words "classic" and "iconic" have been intoned by TCM in its recent promotions of "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." It's a fairly awful movie that was dismissed in its day (by both critics and the public) and it hasn't improved by a long shot. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-35948318259353285782017-05-05T19:56:51.691-04:002017-05-05T19:56:51.691-04:00Dumbing down idea is not new, and (unfortunately) ...Dumbing down idea is not new, and (unfortunately) there's always the evidence that the public really wants the lowest common denominator. THE SOUND OF MUSIC's sugar-coating, for example, proved to be so popular that it spawned the hideous "family entertainments" that helped to bankrupt the studio system (cf. DOCTOR DOLITTLE, WILLIE WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY). David Scott Chadwicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-80038684292134664372017-05-05T19:42:50.516-04:002017-05-05T19:42:50.516-04:00Yes, there are many wonderful musicals that have b...Yes, there are many wonderful musicals that have been forgotten. FIORELLO is an example, so is THE MOST HAPPY FELLA. LUTE SONG hasn't been done, and then there are those musicals which were destroyed in the movie versions because songs were removed (which you had to do when the movie stars someone like Ava Gardner, who couldn't sing): I'm thinking of ONE TOUCH OF VENUS. Another is LADY IN THE DARK. You might want to revamp the books - the dated Freudianism of LADY IN THE DARK is rather painful - but, damn, those Kurt Weill songs are good! Mitchell Melfordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-92130686866901783982017-05-05T19:37:13.612-04:002017-05-05T19:37:13.612-04:00You write good stuff, Baltakesky.You write good stuff, Baltakesky.v.h.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-25373539809633373762017-05-05T18:11:02.143-04:002017-05-05T18:11:02.143-04:00Kiki! I love your Trump analogy in reference to (A...Kiki! I love your Trump analogy in reference to (American) people instinctively gravitating to the familiar. Having reviewed movies for three decades, I witnessed how audiences went from having opened minds and a desire to experience the new (in the 1970s) to only wanting/seeing a movie that's so familiar, repetitious and redundant that it's as if they've already see it (the current state). (American) audiences don't really like or appreciate surprises. It scares them. And, yes, this neurotic quality expressed itself first-hand in the past election. They've seen Trump do "his thing" for the past 20 or so years - its a known quality no surprises!) - and this somehow comforted them. I hope they're all happy at last. -J joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-73643037156474358232017-05-05T18:00:16.852-04:002017-05-05T18:00:16.852-04:00This is a great column, Joe, and it brought back a...This is a great column, Joe, and it brought back a lot of memories. I have the Mabel Mercer recording of "(I'm) Staying Young" which I play whenever I want a good cry. <br />The franchise movies have eclipsed so much creativity. Or maybe the audience has gotten so stupid they don't mind seeing the same thing again and again or like it because it's "familiar." That's how Trump got in - people were already used to him. Kikinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-62940085605443247702017-05-05T17:44:31.523-04:002017-05-05T17:44:31.523-04:00The posters of movies like ' Mr Roberts ' ...The posters of movies like ' Mr Roberts ' were so much more creative to look at.... <br /><br />Waltnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-55048721954523871582017-05-05T15:15:58.988-04:002017-05-05T15:15:58.988-04:00I would go see "The Most Happy Fella" ba...I would go see "The Most Happy Fella" based on its title alone. It's only too bad that studios believe people will only go see that which they have seen before (and it's only too bad that, too often, they're right). Andreanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-42166236370657073622017-05-05T15:05:42.124-04:002017-05-05T15:05:42.124-04:00That's right, Alex. I also remember Curtis ste...That's right, Alex. I also remember Curtis stepping in, -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-13815794594641214482017-05-05T14:58:01.847-04:002017-05-05T14:58:01.847-04:00Joe- I remember reading about the possible teaming...Joe- I remember reading about the possible teaming of Lemmon and Sinatra for "La Cage aux Folles." I recall that Frank finally decided to call it quits in regard to films after making "The First Deadly Sin." Then, Tony Curtis was mentioned as a possible co-star with Jack.Alexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-1672758748619067672017-05-05T13:26:03.127-04:002017-05-05T13:26:03.127-04:00Great stuff...as usual, JoeGreat stuff...as usual, Joedick d.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-45651529534568607702017-05-05T13:23:09.373-04:002017-05-05T13:23:09.373-04:00I can hear the studio head now when "Promises...I can hear the studio head now when "Promises, Promises" is pitched: "Do you think this story could work without the songs?" Brian Lucasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-2652994423900884232017-05-05T13:00:56.410-04:002017-05-05T13:00:56.410-04:00How about another film attempt for "Promises,...How about another film attempt for "Promises, Promises"? Perhaps starring Steve Carrel and Zooey Deschanel? That would be great. Beckynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-9566159571939205342017-05-05T12:40:18.303-04:002017-05-05T12:40:18.303-04:00I agree with Sheila about the O'Hara novel of ...I agree with Sheila about the O'Hara novel of Pal Joey. It would make a good film in its own right (even without those brilliant Rodgers & Hart songs.Kenneth Warnenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-28733398550732976962017-05-05T12:36:01.736-04:002017-05-05T12:36:01.736-04:00Kevin- Thanks for referencing a title that I forg...Kevin- Thanks for referencing a title that I forgot. Many, many years ago (decades!), Jack Lemmon told me that both he and Frank Sinatra had been approached by Allan Carr to star in a film version of "La Cage Aux Folles," with Jack as Albin and Frank as Renato. This was back in the '80s, long before "The Birdcage." -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.com