SUNSET BOULEVARD REMAKE NEWS
In 1994 I had the honor to see the play "Sunset Blvd" in Los Angeles. It was a great play. The play however would not of been created if it wasn't for the legendary "Billy Wilder" who co-wrote and directed the classic movie "Sunset Blvd." which this played is based on. The movie also marked Gloria Swanson "return" to the silver screen.
I must say I did loved the play. Glenn Close was good but she doesn't have a big singing rangein fact she would lose on American Idol.
I was very lucky that I had the Original London Cast CD of "SB". This CD has the Broadway Legend Patti Lupone as Norma Desmond. Patti Lupone is the star that made the original Broadway edition "EVITA" the event of the decade. Now if your a fan of the Glenn Close edition of "SB" do yourself a favor buy the OLC edition. Patti's cover of "With one Look" and "New Ways to Dream" is worth the price alone. Now a brief history of the play "SB"
Before the play hit Broadway in 1994 Patti Lupone was fired while performing the show in London. The show was still a work in progress however that didn't stop critics from attacking the show. The show was later revised before it opened in Los Angles. Patti Lupone was not able to perform the revised edition. She performed the original edition that was on London's West End. The show had mixed reviews but Patti's Reviews were Raves.
When the revised edition did open in the United States it did not star a Broadway Star it opened with movie star Glenn Close. The show was still in London with Patti Lupone. She still thought she was going to perform the role on Broadway. When the production opened in LA That production got rave reviews and Glenn Close was credited for "SAVING THE SHOW". However Patti was never given the chance to do the revised show anywhere. She was let go. Glenn Close was going to perform the show on Broadway. Patti Lupone was fired after being promised that she would have the role when the play came to Broadway.
The London edition of the show wasn't working in London Andrew needed somebody to blame so he blamed Patti. He should of looked in the mirror. ALW has always blamed Patti for the mixed reviews the production received in London. He is what I would call an asshole. He is the boss that blames his workers for his own problems.
When Glenn Close knew she was going to play Norma on Broadway she wanted out of the LA production. She wanted to "Rest her voice" before the show opened on Broadway. Faye Dunaway was then cast to replace Glenn Close in the LA production.
HERE WE GO AGAIN
Now sometime while in rehersals Andrew Lloyd Webber herd Faye Dunaway sing and then announced he was closeing down the Los Angles production of "Sunset Blvd". For some reason because the Los Angeles production got raves with Glenn Close, Andrew did not want to taint the upcoming Broadway run. The show had millions of dollars to recoup. If Faye Dunaway got bad reviews he feared the show would bomb on Broadway. So he cancelled the Los Angeles production. ALW has now fired an Academy Award Winning Actress. This made news nationwide. Another Actress was shown the door by Asshole Lloyd Webber.
What he had done to these ladies was just beyond words. The reason why he fired Ms Dunaway was that He said "Faye" could not sing the score. It was the opposite reason on why he fired Patti Lupone. However Patti could sing and act. So Here was another actress who suffered at the hands of Andrew LLoyd Webber. First Patti then Faye. The man had no shame. The upside for Andrew was that this created a must see buzz by the time the show came to Broadway but at the expense of Faye Dunaway and Patti Lupone.
When the Los Angles production was prematurely shut down this drove up the demand for the Broadway production. At one time ALW said he was going to have both productions going at the same time. Broadway would have Glenn Close LA would have Faye Dunaway. When the LA production closed its doors the pre-sale tickets for the Broadway became the hot item to have. In fact the pre-sale tickets set a Broadway record. The play would later go on to win TONY Awards for "Best Musical", "Best Actress", and "Best Supporting Actor". However this was not a huge year for Broadway Musicals and it only competed with one other musical. Here it is 2007 Andrew Lloyd Webber hasn't had a hit since. I think its called "karma". Also who would want to work with this asshole.
Glenn Close left the role in 1995. Betty Buckley who preformed it in London replaced her in New York. After Betty left the show in 1996 the play never recovered. Elaine Page replaced Betty but the show closed in the spring of 1997. The show needed a "Star" to pack in the audience. As talented as Elaine is she was not very well known outside Broadway circles. However Andrew Lloyd Webber did blame her for the low attendance because she was an unknown. Had Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber re-cast Patti Lupone in the role again this time allowing her to do the "revised" edition the show this would of generated lots of press and would of given the show new life.
Now because the show was a sell out when Glenn Close & Betty Buckley were the stars the show was on the way to making money. However after he mistreated them (and after he fired Patti & Faye) most well known actress were afraid to touch the role and who could blame them? The show is now known as a "HIT/FLOP". It lost money because the huge overhead. It need to sell out on Broadway for another year or so before it could break even. Had Glenn Close, Patti Lupone, or Betty Buckley stayed on I am sure the show would still be running today.
Now since the musical play has opened there have been rumors that a movie was to be made. The play itself however was only successful in the United States only when "Glenn Close" and "Betty Buckley" were in the production. When "Chicago" became a hit with critics and audiences it looked like we might be getting "SB" pretty soon. However ALW gave us "Phantom of the Opera" the movie and the movie was not even 1/2 as successful as "Chicago" but on the brighter side it revised interest in the Broadway show and that led to a production the is now in Las Vegas.
In 2005 The 2 more movie adaptions of the Broadway Musical were major disappointments. The movies only became successful when they were released on DVD. "The Producers" and "Rent" however were not very expensive to make. They will make money and will sell for years to come. In 2006 "Dreamgirls" the movie however did make money and a star out of Jennifer Hudson. However there are major things going against a movie adaption of SUNSET BLVD they are
1) Its a remake
2) Its a timepiece
3) It will be costly to make
4) It needs a star
5) The target audiences of this movie will be gay men and people over 50
6) The score isn't well known
7) Its a musical
If Andrew Lloyd Webber had any since he would cast Patti Lupone in the movie. Think of the press that would create. Patti Lupone has a huge following. The movies target audience would support this movie. In fact it would be a huge event for us. However I think Patti Lupone returning as Norma Desmond isn't too good. However I find it funny that ALW has not had a hit since Sunset Blvd. The only sucess he has had is revivals of "Evita" and "The Sound of Music".
So if were not going to get Patti Lupone in the movie who will we get? "Barbra Streisand", "Liza Minnelli", "Cher", or "Glenn Close". IMDB say Glenn Close but somehow I doubt it.
Also keep in mind this takes place in 1950. If they want this movie to make since to stupid people they writer of this adaption is going to have to write scenes about "talkies" taking over the movies and the how Hollywood rated the Broadway for actors who could act.
Now in 2005 it was announced that the movie was about to start shooting and that Glenn Close is set to star. However over a year has come and gone now and the movie is still not in production. Somewhere the ghost of Gloria Swanson must be saying "I'm waiting for my close up Mr Webber".
PICTURE ON THE UPPER RIGHT IS PATTI LUPONE. She is the greatest star of them all!
