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I first saw the film version of "Hello, Dolly" in TODD-AO at the Warner in Washington. I believe it was one of the last "event" films held at the theatre, before it declined (it is now a restored, legitimate house). I was blown away, as a 9 year old boy! I caught the 70mm revival at AFI in Silver Spring and the damn thing plays so much better on the big screen. It was as if I was watching a different film than the one I have owned on VHS, laser & DVD (many releases - anyone else recall Magnetic Video?). The soundtrack CD is horrible, and I was once told it would NOT be remastered with added music due to rights issues. At least that is what I have been told. Too bad. As others here have remarked, the overture alone is fantastic!
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The mammoth street set is one of the greatest production design acccomplishments in motion picture history. I was fortunate to see it "in person" back in the '70s. Probably not a big deal to those of you who live in L.A. but it was an awe inspiring sight to me.
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Howard, when was the last time you actually watched Funny Girl? I challenge you to sit through it, again, and tell me you feel the same way about it and Miss look at my nails, ain't they GORGEOUS's performance in it. Her awful performance aside, after about 20 minutes or so, it just settles into a painful tedium. The stage version was somewhat the same, except at least it had characters and numbers that took you away from the boredom of Fanny and Nicky. These were all eliminated from the screenplay.
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Love the play and the film. Saw the film 7 times in 1970. Streisand is too young, but I love her in it. Discovered the Carol Channing cast album in 1968. I caught up with the stage show in 1977 and 1994, in the Channing revivals. I also love the Pearl Bailey/Cab Calloway cast album. I finally found the Mary Martin recording last and was disappointed. After Channing, Bailey and Streisand, Mary is just bland.
In a fantasy world of good will and right thinking, Fox would have made the film with Channing and cast Julie Andrews as Irene for box office insurance (and just not make Star! at all). Channing, Matthau, Crawford and Andrews would been a classic cast.
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Posted: |
May 16, 2008 - 10:21 AM
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By: |
Ron Pulliam
(Member)
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Howard, when was the last time you actually watched Funny Girl? I challenge you to sit through it, again, and tell me you feel the same way about it and Miss look at my nails, ain't they GORGEOUS's performance in it. Her awful performance aside, after about 20 minutes or so, it just settles into a painful tedium. The stage version was somewhat the same, except at least it had characters and numbers that took you away from the boredom of Fanny and Nicky. These were all eliminated from the screenplay.
I, for one, "get it", John. You hate Barbra Streisand. You hate "Funny Girl", the film. And no matter how many people step up and express their admiration for the film and their love of Streisand's performance in it, I will know in my heart of hearts that you hate "her" and "it", in that order.
Consider me as someone who fully gets that the "Maher-hates-Streisand" bandwagon is fully armed and ready to go at any time someone says anything positive about her.
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I've always loathed the film, I'm sorry to say. Yes, it looked swell in 70mm, but that doesn't make it a great film. It's poorly directed, IMO, and Michael Kidd's choreography, while very busy, is not a patch on the butt cheeks of Gower Champion's original stage choreography. I just don't see the charms of it as others do - I love Streisand in other things, but not this. Matthau is not at the top of his game, Crawford is completely annoying, as is E.J. Peaker (someone I normally like) and Marianne McAndrew has no screen magic whatsoever. I don't think Channing would have worked on film, so I'm not sure who at the time could have done it, but just about everything in the film falls flat for me.
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Posted: |
May 16, 2008 - 8:31 PM
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By: |
SoundScope
(Member)
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It's funny, you know, that when folks see an original, it's always very difficult for anything -- much less a film with a different cast -- to measure up to the pleasures one got in the theater.
For instance, I think the revival of "A Chorus Line" the most perfect theatrical event I've ever experienced. Folks who saw the original, however, have pooh-poohed it time and again, criticizing it for not capturing this, that or the other of the original...none of which can EVER be recaptured, of course, because we're no longer in the 1970s, we're no longer the age we were "then" and our pleasant memories of original performances simply cannot be satisfied with newcomers no matter how brilliant they are. If the star of the movie grates on one's nerves in general, one cannot really be objective about her, can one?
I've never found any merit in comparing a stage performance to a film performance. When someone tries to repeat a stage performance on film it usually becomes a stale imitation of same. By its very nature, the stage performance is broad and nowhere near as nuanced as a film performance must be. I never said Streisand was perfect, but she's better in the role than any I've heard.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
I've said this many times on this board. You've said it best. We are all affected by our first thrilling exposure to a piece because of that thrill.
I grew up with movies and not much live stage work. I will always favor the lush production values, incredible sound, amazing orchestras, musical arrangements and earthy sometimes puzzling cast choices of the movies.
I prefer Audrey over Julie in MY FAIR LADY.
I LOVE Redgrave and can't imagine Julie in CAMELOT.
Albeit a little young, Streisand in Dolly in the perfect "yenta" and down right hysterical!
But, to each his own.
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Except you didn't answer my question, Howard.
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Dare I ask . . . any fans here of "Funny Lady"?
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Dare I ask . . . any fans here of "Funny Lady"?....... i was invited to the premiere of FUNNY LADY in WASHINGTON DC, and the whole affair was , well, really odd,,,, first BARBRA STEISAND came out and sang four songs from the film for 20 mins only , that was all the time she was allowed for this live tv event , the stage manager yelled thats it BARBRA , she seemed a little stunned, because for once she seemed to enjoy the shouting ovations she recieved after the four songs,, she even said : i thought u would be stuffy and all,,,,of course she meant the republicans , since FORD was PRESIDENT at the time, and she came back and sat on the piano and sang PEOPLE for the audience, then a break, soon we were told to go to the lobby and say hello to PRESIDENT FORD who had just entered the theater ,,,but , at the same time , they were saying the film was starting, so everyone went inside and left the president out there with his body guards , so i went and said hello, i dont think he quite understood the ICON standing of streisand at that time,,,,,well the lights went out, the film started , and there was one empty seat 1 away from mine, and sure enough the police brought barbra to that seat,,,,, it was amazing to see a star of her magnitude shrink down in the seat and go lower and lower , it was as if she couldnt bare to see her self on screen,,,,,, after each of her solo numbers, there was wild applause, i kept looking over,and she seemed surprised at that recpetion, but i could tell she was uncomfortable with what she saw on the screen, and then it was over , she went up stairs and brought PRESIDENT FORD down , posed for pics with him,,,,,,, and thanked the audience,,,,to be honest , i had to see the film again, because i was so busy watching her , i had no idea what went on up on the screen, and then there was a reception dinner, in which she seemed even more insecure , , but in the end it was rather sad to see her , who held the audience in her hand , so , i dont know well, i guess, so human with her emotions,, , well the movie , the star , that night ,,,, but that voice,,,,ahhhhhh.
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I thought Chicago was really poorly directed, especially the musical numbers. Odd, since the director is a choreographer.
The High School Musical things are horrendous, and for two-year olds.
Hairspray was done fairly well, but even with that one, I had an issue with the final number. The director (another choreographer) chose to break the number for unnecessary business, and it never quite recovers from that. It's fine for what it is, but it completely lacks the wit of the original John Waters film. The musical isn't funny, at all.
I hated the show Sweeney Todd on stage, so I didn't even bother with the film.
Haven't seen Enchanted
I hated even single second of Dreamgirls and The Producers.
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