Lol..lol..lol.. that's exactly what I said to a friend of mine after the last oscar, they are waiting for Sunset Boulevard to be made so they can FINALLY give Glen (GODDESS) Close her more then deserved OSCAR!
My thoughts exactly. I'm Just waiting for the filming to start (project is ready to go, they have cast, director and Glenn Close is producing and starring)
I don't understand all these people who're criticising Glen Close & saying she's a lacklustre singer, to me her singing voice sounded lovely & soothing yet powerful at the same time. And she acted the hell out of the role, no offence to Patti Lupone but I can see why he picked Glen Close over her when he brought the show to Broadway, Glen Close became Norma whereas I never felt that with Patti Lupone.
I think miss close performed her interpretation of Norma. She did an incredible job and I have always admired her as an actress. Personally she didn't do it for me as Norma. Just as people say Lindsey Ducan was better in dangerous liaisons. Its a matter of taste. No-one is right or wrong xx
I saw Glenn Close on Broadway when they revived it. She was magical. The entire evening was. The Palace Theater was transported someplace very special.
Hands-down the best interpretation of this role. Her attention to the text, and just her acting are way outside anyone else's class. And sure, La Pone and Paige can belt, but Close can too-- and then she can deliver a phrase at mezzo-voce, softly, accurately. Listening to Patti and Elaine might be thrilling, but after a while it's lie being hit on the head: "Did ya get the point? Well, DID YA?" After delivering a belt, Glenn can just sing "the point" softly. And it works.
All three women are extremely gifted and brought different gifts to this part--Close came the closest to Norma Desmond in her acting, Lupone sang this in all the original (better) keys, and Buckley brought both an actress and singer to the role. I saw all three, and loved all three for different reasons. To say one is "better" than the other is not to understand personal interpretations or give each of these incredible women the respect they deserve.
No, to say one is "better" than the other is personal choice. I prefer Buckley's voice and Close's acting chops. I don't undrestand Lupone's attraction, what with her diction and poor acting. I don't get it.
To act in a musucal on the stage, it's not about how great the voice is: it's acting the character through the music. Rex Harrison, Yul Brynner and Ricard Burton spoke the music and all 3 gave definitive performances on the characters they portrayed. Close does this here. I saw Sunset with her and Alan Campbell. She was astounding on that stage. She became the character.
Sorry, but in a musical, it's about acting AND singing ability. I enjoy Glenn's singing ability, although I recognise Buckley is a much better singer. However, Glenn delievers as a unit both singing and acting ability better than the others.
Ralphy then your priorities are about singing over acting. Betty is a more gifted vocalist. Glenn is a more gifted actor. Betty’s voice makes my spine tingle. But when Glenn looks at the studio around her we know EXACTLY what Norma feels from moment to moment because Glenn is a character actor with needlepoint precision. Betty is a better singer. Glenn is a better actor. There is room for both of them. I think they’re both dazzling in the part.
The reason why Glenn Close is the best for this lead for Sunset Blvd, because she feels the moment of this song. If you listen to her iTunes song for sunset blvd you can understand.
I can see her playing Norma in the film version of sunset blvd the musical. She will win the Oscar. No offense to Patti Lupone but she is a musical theatre legend but Glenn Close is a film legend.
I can see WHY they fired Patti Lupone and chose Glenn Close for this role.. She is PERFECTION and Deserved the Tony for this!!! Oh and BTW, Give Glenn a Damn OSCAR Already!!!
I just saw her perform this, and I can confirm: this is indeed perfect! It sent a chill down my spine, and I knew I was watching something that was flawless.
People, you must remember that Glenn Close is playing a very elderly actress and she is also about 70 years old, herself. At that age, her singing is perfectly fitting for the part. This performance touches my heart. Glenn Close is the best of the best.
If you think you're going to enlighten people, at least have the facts straight. This was filmed in 1995, not whenever you wrote this comment lol, Norma was only in her 50s, not "very elderly", and Glenn at the time was in her 40s. Her singing has literally nothing to do with age.
Whilst LuPone and Paige are better technical singers that Glenn Close - neither of them come near her emotional connection with the character and the words. LuPone in particular is too young and comes across as quite cold and dead in my opinion - a bit frustrating when the first line in the song pretty much slaps you in the face with how Norma Desmond is meant to be feeling... Glenn Close gets every fluctuation of feeling bang on and I would rather watch that than someone who can hold a note for a little longer.
I'm sorry, but this is one of the best performances I've seen, and can you guess what Glenn's secret is? Yes,she's an actual movie actress and star...who better to connect with Norma Desmond? Patti and Paige may sing better, but they'll never understand Hollywood or movie making better than Glenn,which is why she connects so much better.
Why do people feel it's necessary to compare actresses? they all smash this role! People seem to expect their interpretations to conform to a single character when, in fact they all have different vocal abilities and styles, as well as a personal interpretation to the character
I know your comment is a year old, but I just have to respond. People compare performances by the various Broadway Norma Desmonds for the simple reason that similar things always have and always will invite comparisons. It's nothing more than human nature to make them. Which restaurant serves the best steak? Which golfer has the most beautiful swing? Which artist paints the prettiest oak tree? See my point? In my opinion, comparing Glenn Close to Betty Buckley to Patty Lupine to whoever is perfectly normal. I myself like Glenn Close's overall portrayal the best but think Betty Buckley's delivery of the music numbers can't be topped.
I agree. I saw both Close and Buckley twice each. Buckley blew the roof off the theatre every time she sang the big numbers. But I don't remember any of the rest of her performance. Glenn Close, on the other hand, was towering, overwhelming, terrifying, majestic, pathetic and thoroughly and completely unforgettable from start to finish. You could FEEL her Norma, in your gut.
Glenn refined her performance, and gives a much more powerful and subtle performance at the Andrew Lloyd Weber fete a few years later. That is also here on RU-vid.
I love doing these kinda numbers for drag performances. I wish drag could change. We don't all want to take dollar bills believe it or not. It's art and really getting to act out a lip sync is the most important thing in my life. This is one of those performances I'll do. Lol for some reason I connect to any song musical theater or even ballads, 80s pop ballads, also big band stuff. I'm waiting and want this show turned into a movie but it has to be with Glen Close. I think she will do something grounded in reality but still give us the drama we all want from this character ❤.
I don't understand why people continue commenting on her voice as if it's bad, or "less than". It is superb, most people will never be able to sing this well, with this level of vibrato. Just because we're used to hearing certain notes belted by other singers, doesn't mean Glenn isn't belting at other points. Pay attention, because she does. Therefore it isn't some kind of trade-off; Her vocal abilities match her acting. Just because Elaine Paige is a 10 in vocal performance, doesn't mean Glenn is a 4.. Glenn's a solid 8-9, which is *more* than adequate.
IMO Glenn is absolutely the best ever Norma. She IS Norma. 💖 and it’s rude to say she can’t sing . She sings and acts the pants off every aspect of this demanding character role.
I love Patti LuPone and I would die for her but Glenn Close is perfect for this role. I am not angry with her, I'm angry with Andrew Lloyd Webber who fired Patti LuPone at the backstage of the theater before the said performance. And now there is animosity between Glenn and Patti even though it shouldn't have exist. It is all because of him.
Perfectly serviceable. Check out Betty Buckley if you want to see it done right. Literally stops the show after With One Look and this song with standing ovations.
it's so interesting to see how she developed and matured, what she kept and what she left. I still think ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-4Y-hmaltmxs.html is the better recording of her but this is really fun to compare to. I also like the with one look costume better on her, as well as the slightly more reserved/better done makeup
I think in this version she had to hurry due to the format of the show. The Albert Hall one is better paced and nuanced, but this one is mucho more intense in the ("With so much to LIVE for").
Say what you will in my book Diane Carol is the one to beat. She brought a whole different kind of depth to the part that was truly amazing. It’s recorded get it!
She is absolutely the greatest. Sadly, this performance echos the late great Judy Garland when she was so excited and tried hard and did her very best to make a comeback in the movie "valley of the Dolls" . She was treated with no respect, no appreciation, no patience or understanding and was unjustifiably fired after only a week of filming. She even did a great job recording her one song and was so happy and excited when she did her wardrobe test. This was truly a tragedy and this was the very beginning of the end of Judy Garland. she was shocked, and deeply hurt and felt that she was no longer a star. She was discarded and the industry seemed to treat her and think of her as a joke. She died two years later at the age of 47.
She is playing an old woman, with 'old woman' pipes. A 'better' voice, displaying greater range and versatility and flexibility with a beatuful and consistent vibrato, loses a bit of the character to gain the vocal edge. That voice should crack, it should falter. Close has a far from perfect voice, but that's why she is perfect for this role. But Close is the only Norma Desmond that I have heard, that allows for that.
@BTURNER1961 Kirsten Flagstad was the greatest Isolde, Leontyne Price was the greatest Aïda, Birgit Nilsson was the greatest Turandot, Maria Callas was the greatest Tosca, Joan Sutherland was the greatest Lucia, Glenn Close was the greatest Norma Desmond. Easy… every one of the roles listed presents a great challenge to performers. Many try and succeed for sure. But none surpass these women in these roles. P.S. Saw Glenn on Broadway and was mesmerized. Saw Betty too, and thought, “hmmm, nice voice.”
I love Ms. Close and nothing against her. But when I saw Betty Buckley as Norma completely OWN this song, I knew for the rest of my life I would compare all the Norma's to her and find them somehow lacking.
My only problem with these early production are none of the actresses were the right age. Gloria Swanson was 51 and that's how old I believe Norma should be. I will not deny Close has done an amazing job, but again she was not the right age, in my opinion, during this production. In the new Broadway revival I believe she is the right age to play this role.
Ok so that's not as bad as I thought. I just did the math she was actually 46 when they started out in LA. I have no idea why I thought she was in her 30's or something. I think 45-48 is the gray zone for Norma Desmond. Anything younger and I feel they're too young. That's just me. As a future director I feel that Norma should be older because she's been inactive for about a decade or 2. Again that's just me as a director.
It's an actors role ! Not about a lovely voice racing through a song and forgetting to annunciate prominent words ! They've clearly never been on even their high school stage , leave alone swept one ! 🤣
first....remember..this song HAS NOTHING to do with the movie....if you have at least seen the movie you understand this...so the point is...the song having no relevance must be interpreted on the stage ....and every performance.....i dont deny the acting ability of glenn close.....but she sure doesnt reach the potential greatness of the song...... in fact at a few points her interpretation is embarrassing...
I like this song, but it doesn't show what's truly going on. This soaring kind of music makes it look like a moment of triumph and hope for Norma, when in reality it's the opposite - she's one step closer to losing her grip on reality, and that just doesn't show in the music. Stephen Sondheim could have written a song that made you sense Norma's growing madness even when she sounded more hopeful. I don't hate Webber, but dark subtext is not something he's good at expressing - the surface is the substance.
