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| re: Two not that often discussed (in recent years) wonderful Oscar-winning performances whose films were later made into musicals | |
| Last Edit: PlayWiz 04:56 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
| Posted by: PlayWiz 04:52 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Two not that often discussed (in recent years) wonderful Oscar-winning performances whose films were later made into musicals - BruceinIthaca 04:36 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| I don't know if you've seen this -- which I never knew existed prior to about this year. It's Shirley Booth singing (with Andy Williams) songs from her two big musicals, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" (with some cleaned-up lyrics for tv at the time) and "By the Beautiful Sea". She's wonderful, of course, and I was thrilled to see her performing these, as I've always loved those OCRs and her performances on them in particular. Mr. Donat has me in tears every time I watch his Mr. Chips, and Dunn's optimism and love for Francie and the rest of his family in his film is equally moving. I finally read "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" a few years ago and thought it was a great read, too, justifiably famous. |
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| Link | Shirley Booth singing from her musicals |
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| Shirley Booth | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 12:32 am EDT 03/23/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Two not that often discussed (in recent years) wonderful Oscar-winning performances whose films were later made into musicals - PlayWiz 04:52 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| I love the OBC recording of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, especially Booth's performance. Her comic timing is a match for that of Lucille Ball. I think Shirley is even better on the OBC album of Juno, Marc Blitzstein's most accessible score. | |
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| re: Two not that often discussed (in recent years) wonderful Oscar-winning performances whose films were later made into musicals | |
| Last Edit: PlayWiz 05:33 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
| Posted by: PlayWiz 05:32 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Two not that often discussed (in recent years) wonderful Oscar-winning performances whose films were later made into musicals - PlayWiz 04:52 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| I agree with your assessment of the other performances in those films as well, Bruce. Joan Blondell was especially always enjoyable to watch. | |
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| Joan Blondell | |
| Posted by: TheOtherOne 05:53 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Two not that often discussed (in recent years) wonderful Oscar-winning performances whose films were later made into musicals - PlayWiz 05:32 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| Of course, one of the films she is best remembered for was remade this past year, though Nightmare Alley is as likely to become a musical as Fraulein Maria is to become a nun. I am both a big fan of the 1947 film and the 2021 remake, but I missed Joan Blondell greatly in the newer film. She was a terrific and underrated actress, one who should be better remembered. She did great work right up to the end if Opening Night is any indication. The bulk of her stage work occurred before 1930, when she hit Hollywood. I wish she'd done more in later years. |
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| re: Joan Blondell | |
| Posted by: mermaniac 08:58 pm EDT 03/23/22 | |
| In reply to: Joan Blondell - TheOtherOne 05:53 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| Joan did the "Tree" musical outside of NYC. | |
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| re: Joan Blondell | |
| Posted by: Charlie_Baker 12:35 pm EDT 03/23/22 | |
| In reply to: Joan Blondell - TheOtherOne 05:53 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| Agreed. She should have had something akin to Shelley Winters' career at least. | |
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| re: Joan Blondell | |
| Last Edit: PlayWiz 02:13 pm EDT 03/23/22 | |
| Posted by: PlayWiz 02:07 pm EDT 03/23/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Joan Blondell - Charlie_Baker 12:35 pm EDT 03/23/22 | |
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| Blondell was actually a bigger star and played leads in films in her heyday, I would say more so than Winters. Joan Blondell was an especially wonderful leading lady for James Cagney, full of vigor and crackling energy to match his. She's marvelous in some incredible pre-code films, like the has-to-be-seen-to-be-believed "Night Nurse" alongside Barbara Stanwyck and a memorably rare villainous Clark Gable. Winters played a lot of victims in her films with some exceptions and forays into leading ladydom, but then again she came along after the '30s heyday of Blondell where speakeasys, bootleggers, and such film settings presented opportunities for Blondell to shine. If Blondell is she is known to younger audiences, it is as the lunch lady in "Grease", practically a cameo role. She seems to have fallen off Hollywood's map after a role in a tv series called "Here Come The Brides" in the late 60s, and she really could have been cast in more roles as she got more mature. | |
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| re: Joan Blondell | |
| Posted by: dbdbdb 10:28 am EDT 03/23/22 | |
| In reply to: Joan Blondell - TheOtherOne 05:53 pm EDT 03/22/22 | |
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| Nightmare Alley did become a musical. It was seen at the Geffen Playhouse some years ago with a cast that included James Barbour and Mary Gordon Murray. As far as I can tell, it hasn't gone anywhere since. | |
| Link | https://www.geffenplayhouse.org/shows/nightmare-alley/ |
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