Comments on: Sweeney Todd http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/ A daily webzine and forum for discussion of news that arises at the intersection of religion and culture Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:01:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: rdean http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-255060 rdean Tue, 25 Dec 2007 23:23:21 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-255060 #13: they’ve been poorly adapted from the stage. You are right there and for me, one of the reasons has been bad singing. Who is the best performer in Dreamgirls? Is it coincidence that it's also the "best singer"? The Broadway soundtrack of My Fair Lady has for outsold the movie soundtrack. Anyone comparing Julie Andrews to Marnie Nixon understands why. Rex Harrison didn't even try to sing and it served him well. He sold the part for all it was worth, but who want's to listen to him talking songs. They do that now, it's called "rapping". Sorry, to each is own. If I'm going to listen to music with people singing, I want them to be singing really good, otherwise, I'll pass. #13: they’ve been poorly adapted from the stage.

You are right there and for me, one of the reasons has been bad singing. Who is the best performer in Dreamgirls? Is it coincidence that it’s also the “best singer”?

The Broadway soundtrack of My Fair Lady has for outsold the movie soundtrack. Anyone comparing Julie Andrews to Marnie Nixon understands why. Rex Harrison didn’t even try to sing and it served him well. He sold the part for all it was worth, but who want’s to listen to him talking songs. They do that now, it’s called “rapping”.

Sorry, to each is own. If I’m going to listen to music with people singing, I want them to be singing really good, otherwise, I’ll pass.

]]> By: the_player http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-255015 the_player Tue, 25 Dec 2007 16:57:27 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-255015 Rdean, I would say that the real reason movie musicals aren't popular is not because of poor singing, but because (with the exception of <i>Chicago</i>) they've been poorly adapted from the stage. Burton's <i>Sweeney Todd</i> is remarkable in that it successfully and brilliantly narrowed the enormous scope of the stage production to fit the silver screen, which actually justifies the poor singing. I would be complaining from here to judgment day if Depp or Carter (BRILLIANT in this movie, btw) were ever cast in a stage version, but for Burton's gritty, nasty Sweeney Todd, their thin and raw voices were admirably suited to the material. Depp's "Epiphany," while not as blood-vessel bursting as George Hearn's on the DVD of the touring company, scared the begeezes outta me and Carter's "Not While I'm Around" was one of the highlights of the film. The thing about musicals is it's not so much about singing the songs as it is about ACTING them. Burton understands that. Listen to any old cast recording and you'll notice that they're voices aren't particularly good, but they won audiences over by SELLING IT. And Burton & Co. do a darned good job of selling it. Rdean, I would say that the real reason movie musicals aren’t popular is not because of poor singing, but because (with the exception of Chicago) they’ve been poorly adapted from the stage. Burton’s Sweeney Todd is remarkable in that it successfully and brilliantly narrowed the enormous scope of the stage production to fit the silver screen, which actually justifies the poor singing. I would be complaining from here to judgment day if Depp or Carter (BRILLIANT in this movie, btw) were ever cast in a stage version, but for Burton’s gritty, nasty Sweeney Todd, their thin and raw voices were admirably suited to the material. Depp’s “Epiphany,” while not as blood-vessel bursting as George Hearn’s on the DVD of the touring company, scared the begeezes outta me and Carter’s “Not While I’m Around” was one of the highlights of the film.

The thing about musicals is it’s not so much about singing the songs as it is about ACTING them. Burton understands that. Listen to any old cast recording and you’ll notice that they’re voices aren’t particularly good, but they won audiences over by SELLING IT. And Burton & Co. do a darned good job of selling it.

]]> By: rdean http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-254813 rdean Mon, 24 Dec 2007 08:13:41 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-254813 MGM made all of it's stars sing at one time or another. Who can forget Clark Gable singing "Puttin' on the Ritz"? MGM made all of it’s stars sing at one time or another. Who can forget Clark Gable singing “Puttin’ on the Ritz”?

]]> By: Sawgunner http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-254807 Sawgunner Mon, 24 Dec 2007 05:27:07 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-254807 Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne were initially touted and then advised not to bill themselves ever as... VOCALISTS! Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne were initially touted and then advised not to bill themselves ever as…
VOCALISTS!

]]> By: rdean http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-254773 rdean Sun, 23 Dec 2007 21:02:28 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-254773 And I am a BIG fan of Bruce Willis. Love the Die Hard movies. They are the best. Remember when he thought he could sing? Horrible. Being a fan of an entertainer is fine, but that doesn't mean they can do "everything". Big name actors are surrounded by people that constanly tell them they are SOOOO good. After a while, some begin to believe their own press. And I am a BIG fan of Bruce Willis. Love the Die Hard movies. They are the best. Remember when he thought he could sing? Horrible.
Being a fan of an entertainer is fine, but that doesn’t mean they can do “everything”. Big name actors are surrounded by people that constanly tell them they are SOOOO good. After a while, some begin to believe their own press.

]]> By: janie http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-254732 janie Sun, 23 Dec 2007 13:45:09 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-254732 Well, Rdean, There's singing and then there's <i>singing</i>, I agree. I'm an opera fan, really, so I've heard others sing Sondheim, but I'm not a snob and I am a Johnny Depp fan. Well, Rdean,

There’s singing and then there’s singing, I agree. I’m an opera fan, really, so I’ve heard others sing Sondheim, but I’m not a snob and I am a Johnny Depp fan.

]]> By: Random Name http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-254720 Random Name Sun, 23 Dec 2007 11:35:42 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-254720 RDEAN, you are on a roll, this Christmas. I cannot sing worth a lick. As I don't have a bit of acting ability, either, I am not tempted to inflict my singing ability on a captive audience, and I will shortly swear off inflicting my blogging on a captive audience at worldmagblog. I will bet you about 10,000 to 1 odds that none of those detractors who say <i>Random will be back</i> will ever say <i>By golly, he actually stayed away for six months. </i> RDEAN, you are on a roll, this Christmas.

I cannot sing worth a lick. As I don’t have a bit of acting ability, either, I am not tempted to inflict my singing ability on a captive audience, and I will shortly swear off inflicting my blogging on a captive audience at worldmagblog.

I will bet you about 10,000 to 1 odds that none of those detractors who say Random will be back will ever say By golly, he actually stayed away for six months.

]]> By: rdean http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-254713 rdean Sun, 23 Dec 2007 08:02:01 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-254713 Singing is more than carrying a tune. Anyone can sing. The single biggest reason people have lost interest in movie musicals is because big name stars are cast who can't sing. Some examples, Lucille Ball in Mame. Rosiland Russel in Gypsy. Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge. Only a few musicals have been made in the last 40 years. The good ones have good singers. Cabaret, Chicago, Victor Victoria, Dream Girls. It's hard enough making a movie people will want to watch, but putting crummy singers in musicals is a sure flop. Just from the comercials and the trailers on the internet, no way I will endure two hours of whispered singing. Singing is more than carrying a tune. Anyone can sing.
The single biggest reason people have lost interest in movie musicals is because big name stars are cast who can’t sing. Some examples, Lucille Ball in Mame. Rosiland Russel in Gypsy. Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge. Only a few musicals have been made in the last 40 years. The good ones have good singers. Cabaret, Chicago, Victor Victoria, Dream Girls.
It’s hard enough making a movie people will want to watch, but putting crummy singers in musicals is a sure flop.
Just from the comercials and the trailers on the internet, no way I will endure two hours of whispered singing.

]]> By: janie http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-254642 janie Sat, 22 Dec 2007 22:06:21 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-254642 I've even watched Depp when Burton wasn't filming him. I’ve even watched Depp when Burton wasn’t filming him.

]]> By: Stephen http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-254636 Stephen Sat, 22 Dec 2007 21:30:17 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2007/12/22/sweeney-todd/#comment-254636 I'd watch Depp chew bubblegum if Burton was filming it. I’d watch Depp chew bubblegum if Burton was filming it.

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