Musical Dubbing Through the Decades, Part 2
Musical Dubbing Through the Decades, Part 2
#1Musical Dubbing Through the Decades, Part 2
Posted: 8/31/16 at 11:57pm
After weeks of work, I've finally finished my second dubbing compilation. It's a lot of fun to watch. Would love to read your reactions - lots of surprises in here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg_Ke_jjRMs
Mark
#2Musical Dubbing Through the Decades, Part 2
Posted: 9/1/16 at 2:47am
It's like disturbing and reality bending seeing Angela Lansbury in that clip from The Hoodlum Saint.
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The Other One
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/08
#3Musical Dubbing Through the Decades, Part 2
Posted: 9/1/16 at 6:56am
What fun! Great clips, and the fact that a few well-known musical performers occasionally were dubbed (Ray Walston, Tony Martin, Dennis Morgan, Rita Moreno, Angela Lansbury) or did the dubbing (Mary Martin, Muriel Smith, Allan Jones) never fails to surprise.
You probably know this, but Marni Nixon is never actually heard in the film of Carousel. For some reason, that one line was dubbed over by her strictly for release on the soundtrack album. Marni said as much in her autobiography, or in interviews she gave at the time of its release. (I think the same is true regarding Rita Moreno in The King and I. More of Tuptim's songs appear on the album than in the film and that might be where the "vocal assist" comes in.)
#4Musical Dubbing Through the Decades, Part 2
Posted: 9/1/16 at 10:09am
it really is mind boggling that Angela Lansbury was dubbed, I've always thought her voice was terrific.
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."
#5Musical Dubbing Through the Decades, Part 2
Posted: 9/1/16 at 11:12am
Thanks for the compliment.
Karine, who did research for this compilation, interviewed Marni and played this clip for her - Marni confirmed that it is her voice for that one line. The Fox recording logs also confirm this.
As to Rita, the film's music director stated that she was dubbed for a few notes in "Shadows" on the soundtrack of the film. I can't hear it, though.
Updated On: 9/1/16 at 11:12 AM
#6Musical Dubbing Through the Decades, Part 2
Posted: 9/1/16 at 11:59pm
One of the most riveting moments of WEST SIDE STORY for me was when Natalie Wood as Maria at the end of the movie screams, "Don’t you touch him!" It always sent chills up my spine and for her delivery of that line alone I felt she at least deserved an Academy Award nomination that year.
Then my bubble was burst when I was on the official WEST SIDE STORY site and was shocked to read, "In fact, Nixon even dubbed Wood’s speaking voice at the very end: "Don’t you touch him!" Te adoro, Anton."......BUMMER!....lol. Was something wrong with Wood's voice that day or did she just have a problem screaming (yet she was able to in GYPSY during the last scene). I was quite disappointed to say the least.
Here's the page. It appears towards the very bottom of the page in the third paragraph under the title; THE DUBBERS:
http://www.westsidestory.com/archives_factsheet.php
#7Musical Dubbing Through the Decades, Part 2
Posted: 9/2/16 at 12:58am
That bit about Nixon dubbing wood's speaking voice is bizarre. And why would it be more difficult to dub her in close-ups? Aren't all the music tracks fully dubbed over whatever was recorded on set?? The way its written is very confusing.
If you watch the clip when she says "Don't touch him!" it actually does sounds like two people are saying it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGtD5QAaAGY
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
#8Musical Dubbing Through the Decades, Part 2
Posted: 9/2/16 at 1:42am
Yes, I've always heard that Marni "augmented" Natalie's one line, "Don't you touch him!" and it does sound like two people saying it.
The Other One
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/08
#9Musical Dubbing Through the Decades, Part 2
Posted: 9/2/16 at 6:08am
Regarding the spoken line (and it does sound like two people saying it), there was probably a sound issue. The film had wrapped production in March of 1961. According to Suzanne Finstad's biography of her, Natalie had a tonsillectomy that spring and it is likely that the line was touched up during this time period. Since Marni was dubbing her songs anyway, they just had her dub the line over as well.
As for dubbing being harder during close-ups, in most films the songs are pre-recorded and the actor then sings along to a never-changing track. It helps for continuity, because the song is going to be filmed from several angles and then edited. In the case of West Side Story, Natalie had recorded her own versions of the songs and sang along to their playback. Apparently her lip-syncing was not great, which gave Marni a hard time when she dubbed over the songs. It was more obvious in close-ups, so she had to time herself very carefully.
#10Musical Dubbing Through the Decades, Part 2
Posted: 9/2/16 at 3:01pm
Thanks "The Other One". Your explanation finally makes sense after all these years....:)
#11Musical Dubbing Through the Decades, Part 2
Posted: 9/2/16 at 9:13pm
Oh I understand too!
In most cases the actors on set would be singing along to the tracks that would be dubbed over in post, but because Wood was deceived she sang to entirely different tracks.
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
#12Musical Dubbing Through the Decades, Part 2
Posted: 9/3/16 at 2:18pm
Love all this discussion. Any comments on the dubbing examples included in Parts 1 and 2?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg_Ke_jjRMs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q1W7x6UfeM
Updated On: 9/3/16 at 02:18 PM
