Regarding flashbacks with LB I was spoiled by similar scenes in Barton Fink with a great Michael Lerner portraying the studio head. No comparison. I was also very disappointed in those flashbacks because at first it looked like they were going to show the sets for The Wizard Of Oz being constructed - with CGI you can do anything and it could have been magnificent. But the idea was not even partially exploited.
Saw the film in a neighborhood theatre (Not from here). Sparsely filled, mostly elderly, several walked out after 30 minutes. I sympathized but stayed to the end. Mostly dour and unpleasant, but one witty line (deliberate) which was kind of lost in the bleakness. Spoiler? Someone looking out for Judy's best interests asked if she could do anything besides singing?
I know it doesn't matter but how good will the music/score be? Will there be any hits songs that people will be humming years to come? If not, I'll wait for the musical about Diana Rigg.
My choice from that period would be Butterflies Are Free. No contrivances or comedic deceptions to speak of as I can best recall from the script. I think it would play in today's world. Of course the key would be in the casting with a sparkling newcomer needed for Jill (right name?)
100 percent off topic, but someone said E-Cigarettes were not deadly if not misused. False. While they drastically reduce health risks for regular smokers they also are responsible for turning millions of kids into lifelong nicotine addicts and at some point those kids will simplify things by switching to regular cigarettes.
It's a worthwhile idea and may very well become widespread. Although the easiest way to get around it - and I'm sure it's being done now - is to simply have two phones (everyone has an old one) and hand that one over to be locked. There's also unknown problems that may crop up in the future. For example who ever thought electronic cigarettes would turn deadly?
I never liked the fact that the show changed the story concept from a nationwide live soap opera to a theatrical production. So when Dorothy did her big reveal at the end it was just to a few hundred people. So my question to anyone who saw it on stage is this: In the film when the producer asks the cameraman "How far can you pull back to make her look good?" and the cameraman replied "How about Philadelphia?" how was it translated on stage or was it thrown out completely?
I assume it was flash because the scene was darkly lit. There is no way to monetize such a photo because any publication that used it would be doubly sued. Just someone's sadistic pleasure is all I can think.
I'd never have seen this in any case. Now The West Side Waltz with other characters on stage - that is, an actual play - might have been very interesting.
I'm fairly certain that in a few years time Spielberg's redo of West Side Story will be thought of in the same way as Glenn Close in South Pacific and Mathew Broderick in The Music Man.
The music and lyrics seem excellent (from small sample here) If it needs a new book might be worthwhile. Legs Diamond was a 30's gangster who was famous for continuously getting shot but never dying. (True) And Hugh Jackman would seem to be a perfect fit for him.
