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re: When the movie hurts the play....

Posted by: TeriG 06:43 pm EDT 05/07/15
In reply to: re: When the movie hurts the play.... - Richard Connema 06:08 pm EDT 05/07/15

Oh yeah, GREASE was totally reworked to enhance the charisma of John Travola.
The play is better.
And let's not forget that debacle starring Lucille Ball...MAME.
Joke, it was!


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re: When the movie hurts the play....

Posted by: TheaterGoer 01:58 pm EDT 05/08/15
In reply to: re: When the movie hurts the play.... - TeriG 06:43 pm EDT 05/07/15

Grease would never had been the staple it is now without the movie. The book to the stage musical is somewhat incoherent. That show gets more licensing from the love of the movie (that said, the movie hurt the play because it is so much better and invites disappointment in how many of the big the movie songs are not in the stage show).

Chicago made $306,000,000 world-wide, and as title was definitely boosted by the film; sales spiked after it won the Oscar.

Sweeney made $153,000,000 world-wide and I've no doubt enhanced further licensing in countries that didn't necessarily go after it.


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re: When the movie hurts the play....

Posted by: Richard Connema 08:50 pm EDT 05/07/15
In reply to: re: When the movie hurts the play.... - TeriG 06:43 pm EDT 05/07/15

Yes let's forget Lucille Ball in "Mame"

It think it was 1973 when we at the Burbank studio heard that Lucille Ball has bought the rights to "Mame" Oh did we moan and groan when we found out Warners was going to produce and film it on lot. Needless to say several of us had seen Roz Russell do it on stage and we had hope she would repeat it on film. She was box office even at the time. Nope it would be Lucy. I had hoped I was not be part of the crew.

However about one or two weeks into the shooting I was told by my boss that I would be joining the Philip H Lathrop cinematography crew. My job was to shoot with a camera still photos of sets and costumes and publicity photos of Lucille also to help with the actual camera work.

I remember that Lucy was always giving everyone orders on how to film her scenes. I had to take photos of her with a my camera and I always remember she kept saying "Hurry up, I can't be here forever".

The only good thing I remember on working on the film was meeting and becoming friends with Jane Connell who played Agnes Grooch.


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Richard, where did they film the title number?.

Posted by: jimvar1 01:24 pm EDT 05/09/15
In reply to: re: When the movie hurts the play.... - Richard Connema 08:50 pm EDT 05/07/15

Was it at the Warners ranch out in Santa Clarita?

And did they build that mansion just for the "MAme" number?

How about the "Macy's" Department Store scenes?


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re: Richard, where did they film the title number?.

Posted by: Richard Connema 05:55 am EDT 05/10/15
In reply to: Richard, where did they film the title number?. - jimvar1 01:24 pm EDT 05/09/15

Are you referring to the ranch out on Hollywood Way in Burbank??? Warner and Columbia shared this ranch.

I worked only three weeks with the Mame crew and my job was taking publicity photos and costumes and set photos.

If memory serves the mansion was rented and frankly I don't remember much about the film (I try to blank out the memory :-) ) Frankly I cannot even remember the Macy Store scenes.

I worked on at least 50 films during that 40 year period.


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re: When the movie hurts the play....

Posted by: Glamourboy 02:08 am EDT 05/08/15
In reply to: re: When the movie hurts the play.... - Richard Connema 08:50 pm EDT 05/07/15

I would love to hear more stories about being on the set for the movie, Mame. Were you around during the time that Madeline Kahn was fired? More stories please!


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