Sunset Boulevard - The Film

Judi Dench was originally cast as Grizabella wasn't she? And was in Cabaret, so presumably approaching a triple threat.

Suffice it to say, I have mixed feelings about this... as anyone on here who's seen my posts, know this is one of if not the favorite musical of mine.  My hesitation would be - does a movie musical about something that's even more distant/removed from people's recollections (Silent film stars) make it too unrelatable?  I get the general themes the movie conveyed that are still very relevant, but that opening hook "a silent-screen movie star" when now movie theatres might become a dinosaur themselves, does that lose the audience right there?

But at the end of the day, just getting a professionally shot film and a new soundtrack of this favorite of mine, would most definitely be welcomed.  At this point, just re-build the Napier sets, get your all-star cast, the revised score see if you can throw that together in a few weeks (like they did Love Never Dies)

Why shouldn’t it be commercial? There are a lot of movies made that have limited commercial appeal, but a big west end musical shouldn’t be one of them.

The original Sunset movie is considered one of Hollywood’s greatest, so I’d argue there’s a lot of commercial appeal in terms of story. Granted, the musical might not be of much interest to the young adult audience (with it not being a newer musical), but I assume the budget will reflect that anyway.

The fact Glenn is co-producing gives me a lot of confidence actually. She’s lived and breathed Norma, carrying her around for decades. Not only does she know the part inside out, she knows what the movie needs to be. I honestly wouldn’t be against her directing it as I think I’d trust her more than someone new to the piece - and I actually think that a large problem with movie musicals is that the director doesn’t understand the original work well enough to know what it needs to be onscreen.

But I have faith. If they get the right Joe it could be electrifying.

I admire your optimism but I just don't think a sung through musical (much as I personally adore them) that is not really known out of MT circles screams Hollywood box office. Nothing would delight me more than to be proved wrong.

Worst case scenario
Norma: Barbra Streisand
Joe: Hugh Jackman
Max: James Corden

If they try 'Greatest Showman' this movie, I will go looting.

I agree. An older Norma totally works for me. Having someone washed-up and forgotten about and crazy in their 40s or 50s doesn't have the same weight. Actresses like Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman etc who are in that age bracket haven't been forgotten and are still considered relevant and popular, so why would the same not apply for Norma?

I think 60s at the youngest, which Glenn can pass for. And I know her voice is very divisive but her performance completely blew me away. I'd rather have a layered performance from a skilled actress with rougher vocals, than a two-dimensional performance from someone who can belt brashly but has no vulnerability at all.

I hesitate to wade in as everyone knows my views (not just older but ridiculously too old and her singing voice is not just weak it simply cannot cope with this score). But I adore Sunset so can't resist sorry!

With Glenn of course people's opinions are a matter of taste. But why is there a lack of ambition and expectation for this? I hear a lot of "she may not be the best singer but her acting is incredible so she is the one." Well, how about someone that can do both! There is literally the entire world of actresses. I refuse to believe that there isn't someone who can act the hell out of it AND sing the hell out of it and completely blow us away. This is what the aspiration should be! Not accepting someone as she's an amazing actress and a few people had a quasi religious experience at the ENO.

Sadly I am not a film buff so I have no idea who. Looking back at Nunn's Normas (and I am not in a million years suggesting any of these as they are ALL too old), EP kinda had the opposite problem, she nailed every note but the acting was a bit camp. Patti for me utterly sang and acted. I mean she is so bonkers anyway she just embodies this character. I do know she is another one that people have strong reactions to though. So take Betty Buckley - her voice was phenomenal and her acting of Norma was mind blowing. Someone like that would be so so good. And it bothers me that people just accept Glenn is good enough. Sunset is one of the most epic musicals of all time and we should be WOWED. The film should be epic. There should also be singles recordings of Norma's two main songs that you can listen to when not watching the film over and over again and be blown away; these are ALW's finest and the music is the star. That isn't Glenn.

One more thought - Norma IS meant to be young, That's the point. It is the new technology that cut short the careers of the silent stars, not their age, and part of the tragedy was that so many were so young. They became bonkers in early middle age.

Anyway, between the endless delays, coronavirus and how badly ALW was stung by Cats (I think he's realised he can never have the artistic control he wants with movies) I can't see this being made. If it does though, Glenn seems to have cemented herself to it so strongly (is she a co-producer) I am sure it will be her. Getting modern stage musicals to successful films is hard, especially for more or less sung through ones. Really for me it is only Evita so far that has worked. And there are so many complex issues with Sunset that it may be best if it remains just a stage musical.

I’m a huge Madonna fan, but no. She hasn’t acted in 20 years and wasn’t very good at it to begin with. She’s too busy working on her biopic anyway now, and has a botched bum lift to fix.