She was also a fabulous teacher. I studied with her for a few years when I came back to NY and the experience was one of vocal transformation and great joy. She was not a piano player (accompaniest), nor did she ever sing during lessons so I learned something about teaching as well, but the vocal technique exercises are still some of my favorites because of their effectiveness with sound production.
She deserves a posthumous "Titanium" Oscar for her contribution to Hollywood. Tinsel Town crapped on her for decades and all those big studios owe her. How about someone having the cajones to write and produce a film of her life. Would certainly have a fantastic soundtrack!
Brad Thompson I totally agree with you on that a voice of a angel 😇. We have listened to her singing for many years . Alexa got them all now if ask her . At this time make you feel so bright
She was fantastic singer , listened to her for many years , it’s the untold story of this beautiful singer that could never say , she was the voice behind , all those Hollywood greats
I agree with Brad (SEE: below); she should have been given an honorary Oscar for her extraordinary contributions to films. By the way, although it wasn't mentioned here (though it is in other Marni Nixon interviews), it was originally Deborah Kerr herself who spilled the beans about the dubbing in an interview with columnist Earl Wilson. (Kerr, bless her, felt it was unfair for Nixon not to receive any credit for her work.)
Yes, she was pretty enough to star in a musical AND she had a great voice. When Opera lovers go to a performance, they want to hear a great voice even if the diva is not a beauty. Who cares as long as she is bewitches the audience with her beautiful voice! In this clip, we can really hear the difference between Hepburn’s super average singing and right after Marni’s wonderful voice. That says it all. I would’ve loved to hear Natalie Wood’s voice in WSS. Just to hear the difference and see why she was so (understandably) crushed when she found out her voice had not been used in the movie. But I am sure that deep inside, she must’ve been lucid enough to realize that her voice couldn’t compare to Marni’s when it came to singing.
She and Deborah Kerr were good friends and Kerr spoke very highly of her in her interviews, certainly on UK television. The image hollywood wanted to project of its stars would be supposedly tarnished if the general public found out that their stars couldn't really sing. Kerr wasn't a bad singer and did the intro lines in King and I as she'd not had much time before the film started to practise properly, she heaped lots of praise on Marni for doing the songs.
According to an interview that Marni gave, she said that it was actually Deborah Kerr that outed her. Marni was too afraid to "violate" her contract or anger the studios, but Kerr reportedly said something along the lines of "well, I don't know what your contract said, so I'm going to let people know that you did my singing" or words to that effect. Marni was forever thankful.
Such a talent, she did have at least one on screen performance as a nun in The Sound of Music (Julie Andrews required NO dubbing!🙂) She had a son Andrew Gold of “Lonely Boy” fame, and one of the best band members of Linda Ronstadt among others.
Deborah Kerr spilled the beans about being dubbed in interviews, going so far as to reveal Marni Nixon did her singing. When MN confronted her in a panic, saying that violated her contract, Kerr simply replied "Marni, how would I know what was in your contract"? Still, this was a generous attempt to give credit where it was due. Nixon also dubbed Kerr's singing in "An Affair to Remember".
What a cutie, & a v gifted one, Marni Nixon was. And, yes, she should have got several awards, maybe a lifetime award as s.o. else suggested on here, or, more fairly, one for every picture she dubbed. How rotten could Hollywood be to threaten her w the loss of her career if she said what she did! Sounds like Bill Clinton w poor Monica Lewinsky for goodness’s sake! And yet dared hire her repeatedly. The worst was perhaps to die of breast cancer at 86. She didn’t deserve that either. And how did that happen? Didn’t she get Mammos on a regular basis? So v sad. I hate it that she had to suffer that final indignity at such a ripe old age. R.I.P. sweet Marni. 😢👏🙏🏼🌹😘
Yes she was good, somtimes I think those dubbed could have done more themselves, but was there any need for the reporter to insult Audrey by saying, " then they brought in the real talent"?
Whoa, not so fast. I did not smoke but chemotherapy stained my teeth for what will be the rest of my life. They did say she died of cancer. So a big lawdy back to 'ya.
I have known Marni Nixons name for years as the voice talent for the King and I and My Fair Lady. I didn't realize she also did Westside Story. She was such a great talent! I don't know why they just didn't let her play the parts! She was pretty enough and obviously talented enough! They should have waited for Julie Andrews to play in My Fair Lady. She originated the part on Broadway . Disney waited to do Mary Poppins. Oh,, well she got the Oscar anyway! Julie was pregnant when they wanted to make both movies. Can't see why Audrey Hepburn was mad they had Marni Nixon sing instead of her. She should never tried to sing it in the first place. Oh, well!!
