Any thoughts on who would be good to play the title character if a new version of the film were to be made?
Personally I think Meryl Streep would be an excellent choice if the film were made into a musical again. Meryl has already proven her vocal abilities in Mamma Mia and I don't think she would have to much trouble with dancing.
Mame comes from a wealthy, conservative WASP family. She cannot be Jewish or black. She cannot even be Armenian. The Upsons mistake her for one of their own. You cannot say to Cher, "We don't want the wrong people moving into this town." Cher is the wrong people.
This is why Mame has always been so hard to cast: she is theatrical yet sincere, WASPy but bohemian. Such contradictions to pull off. And in the musical, she also has to sing.
"You must sing him your prettiest songs, then perhaps he will want to marry you."
This is one of the reasons why I mentioned that in my opinion Meryl Streep would be perfect for the title role. She has the right look, acting ability and she can sing and dance! Someone in a later post than mine said they thought she was too old. Meryl is only 65 and lets face it, she's got the stamina of a 40 year old. I stand by my conviction that she would be the best choice.
shareAfter Lady Gaga's marvelous performance on the Oscars singing the medley of songs from The Sound of Music, I think it should be Gaga. She's a little young, but what fun she'd be. And she'd breathe more life into it than Lucy did. Lucy couldn't even sustain a note when she sang the songs. Cast Gaga with Bette Midler as Vera! George Clooney as Beau?
shareI have another name to throw into the hat. Andrea McArdle who originated the role of Annie on Broadway. She still does shows, having appeared in Cabaret and I think she also appeared in Les Miserables. She still has her fantastic vocal range and she is about 50 years old I believe. Kristen Chenowith might make a good Vera. Viggo Mortenson would make a nice Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside.
shareYes, but is Andrea McArdle a strong enough name to sell it? I love the idea of Chenowith as Vera, and Vigo Mortenson as Beau, but can he sing?
shareReading through everyone's responses, I would have to agree with you that Meryl would be the best choice to play the role. She has the vocal and acting capabilities and unlike Lucy at 62, Meryl at 62 certainly has a lot more appeal and stamina for the demands of the role. Unfortunately, there aren't too many in the same class of actresses as Rosalind and Angela around anymore.
One of the posters remarked that the actress playing Mame, if it is to be kept as the period piece that it should be, cannot have any hint of ethnicity other than being a WASP.
I think at this rate we are just going to have revere Rosalind's and Angela's performances as the gold standard and nothing to be matched ever again.
I may as well have property of M.G.M. tattooed on my backside!
I haven't seen one name offered here that would seem right for the role; musical or not. Meryl Streep could pull it off but I don't need to see her in every big movie that comes out. Though no one comes to mind at the moment, I'm sure there's someone out there who would be believable and be able to pull it off. That's why there are casting professionals; it's not easy to find the right people for roles.
In regards to the character's WASP background, that can be changed. What matters is the same message. The right group of filmmakers, writer and director, could adapt the story to fit a different scenario. I enjoy remakes that depart in some way from the original.
Enough elements have to be there so we can recognize the connection but it should stand on its own as a completely different movie. This is why a lot of the classic works of literature continue to be made. There are many based on the same novels but they are different enough that they can be enjoyed on their own merits.
Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]
"I wish ABC would have done a Wonderful World of Disney tv movie remake of Mame like they did with Cinderella."
There were plans for a TV remake of MAME - at one point CHER was all but signed - she even mentioned it in interviews; at another point Barbra Streisand's name was attached to the project as a co-producer. The project was ultimately shelved, due, if I recall, to some legal wranglings with Patrick Dennis's estate.
Whoever said Tilda Swinton a while back looks like their wish came true!
http://www.playbill.com/article/tilda-swinton-may-star-in-adaptation-of-auntie-mame
"Splodey heads keep splodin' " - Sarah Palin, 7-1-16
Catherine Zeta Jones
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