MovieChat Forums > Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1982) Discussion > Angela?

Angela?

posted 15 years ago by mcjs_joshh
7 replies | jump to latest

Am I the only one who thinks that her singing was awful. Don't get me wrong I think she's a great Mrs Lovett. Butt in the final scene her voice sounds like a cat drowning until she sings "I love you!".

[–] denbeez 15 years ago

Well, her singing THROUGHOUT was a helluva lot better than that of Mrs. Tim Burton. (She's an outstanding actress, but NOT a very good singer in my opinion.)

Sondheim wrote the roll FOR Lansbury. I got to see her in the role in L.A. during High School. (The same Dorothy Chandler Pavilion run chronicled in this video version.) She was awesome!

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Doje 14 years ago

I had to check whether she was English after watching the DVD, because her accent was ropey at best, it ranged from a Lancashire accent to a New York accent a lot of the time. It's unfair to compare her performance to HBC's because they were different mediums, the stage requires more loud performances but personally I felt that Helena Bonham-Carter's Lovett was better as there was less of the caricature about her than Lansbury, but I saw the film before the stage version so my opinion is obviously influenced by that

[–] TheLittleSongbird 14 years ago

I can understand your thoughts. I think Angela is wonderful as Mrs Lovett, her singing voice isn't absolutely exceptional admittedly, but she is enormously entertaining in the role.

"Life after death is as improbable as sex after marriage"- Madeline Kahn(CLUE, 1985)

[–] whatever1235 14 years ago

I think thats why she does so well in the role. If her voice was beautiful... it would completely change her portrayal. Yet as Mrs. Lovett her voice is harsh, distonal, and perfect for the part. Lansbury can sing very nicely (ie Beauty and the Beast), but here a beautiful voice is not called for. I think to sing as she does is harder.

[–] whitelion43 12 years ago

I saw this before the film and I prefer Angela Landsbury myself. Her sweetness towards Toby is more genuine, whether the character actuallly means it or not

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[–] RichN36 8 years ago

It goes to prove what an exceptional actress Ms. Lansbury is. Takes a lot of talent to sing off key when you know your craft

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