MovieChat Forums > The Perils of Penelope Pitstop (1969) Discussion > How about a Live-Action Movie Remake?

How about a Live-Action Movie Remake?

posted 18 years ago by johnnymacfox
27 replies | jump to latest

I can't right off hand think up any actors for Penelope, Sneekley/Hooded Claw, nor
7 midget actors to portray the ant hill mob. But I'm sure if stuff like Inspector Gadget, Scooby Doo, George of the Jungle, and such could be remade to live action movies why not one for lil' ole Penelope Pitstop. Jessica Simpson perhaps? It's just a mere thought. Well the actress has to be sort of a country girl with a country personality. Well this is all a dream I've been thinking about, maybe those of you who read this might have some good ideas. I know they're working on one for Underdog. If they can pull that off they certainly can make one for P.P. and even for Dick Dastardly, Mutley, in their flying machines. Stop the pigeon!
Well, think about it folks, and let me know what ideas you can come up with.

[–] finbarr-saunders 18 years ago

PP - Reese Witherspoon (as in Freeway)
Sneekly/The Hooded Claw - Jim Carrey

"I'll get you Pitstaaaaahp!"

[–] johnnymacfox 18 years ago

Hey, not a bad idea, finbarr. Yes I reckon I could picture Jim Carrey. He sorta has the Paul Lynde type personality that could fill the Hooded Claw's outfit nicely. And Reese Witherspoon is not a bad idea either for Penelope Pitstop though I thought up Jessica Simpson for that role. That's 2 good possibilities so far. I wonder how this "Underdog" movie is going to work out.

[–] lil_mizz_shy_69 18 years ago

There was a romer that There was goner be a penelope Pitstop movie and The Woman who was in lealy Blond would play Penlope and The guy in star trek mmm can't rember which one the one that is a robot and is in all white :) lol Any way that was awhile ago don't know if they are still thinking about it thoe iT Would have been kl thoe to see waht they could do with it :)

[–] finbarr-saunders 18 years ago

That'll be Reese Witherspoon & Brent Spiner then...

Interesting option Brent Spiner... and not altogether a bad one... he's got the voice... could be cool... come on movie moguls, make the thang! There's at least, uh, 3 people here wanna see it... that should be enough...

"Is This Your Homework, Larry?"

[–] lil_mizz_shy_69 18 years ago

I think they should do it ^_^

[–] finbarr-saunders 18 years ago

I think WE should do it ^_^

[–] ddmod 17 years ago

Well I think Reese or Jessica might make a good Penelope but how about Anne Hathaway?? You need someone tall svelte and can be the heiress and can pull off the comedic timing. I know this is an old string and the milage may heve gone out of it but there is my thought on it.

[–] ironcheffan10 18 years ago

Nononononononononononononoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

STOP WITH THE *beep* LIVE ACTION REMAKES GOD PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[–] de_niro_2001 18 years ago

Reese Witherspoon would be good in a live action remake. Brent Spiner has been talked about as the Hooded Claw but Jim Carrey would be a lot better. It would be an easy transition from Count Olaf in Lemony Snicket to the Hooded Claw. Bob Hoskins would be great as Clyde of the Anthill Mob. Bill Murray and Dan Ackroyd would do well as other members of the Anthill Mob but their height might count against them (although they could be made to look shorter with CGI effects). Who would play the Bully Brothers?

[–] HarlowMGM 18 years ago

I have always thought there should have been a live-action Penelope Pitstop movie! If they had made it back in the 1970's, Donna Douglas of "Beverly Hillbillies" fame would have been perfect for the role (some people think Penelope was in fact inspired by Douglas as she seems rather Elly Mayish). Farrah Fawcett could have done it in the late 70's or early 80's. Michelle Pfeiffer would have been wonderful in a 1980's or 1990's version but is a bit too old for the role now. I don't think Reese Witherspoon (not sex-kittenish enough) or Jessica Simpson (lacking Penelope's cleverness) would be good choices for a current version though.

[–] amorrice80 18 years ago

It's one of the few cartoons that would work in live action as the whole cast are humans. The vertically-challenged Ant Hill Mob might be tricky though. Of course it's 99% likely that a new director would ruin it.

[–] pianocellolove 18 years ago

I agree with you. To remake this classic would be a mistake and the enchantment would be lost.

Peace.
PCL

[–] amorrice80 18 years ago

Some new cartoons like this wouldn't go amiss. All 'cartoons' nowadays all look the same:- all flat computer-graphicy and full of badly-designed ugly schoolchildren and Tom Kenny.

[–] nes_star 18 years ago

I can't help but think if there was a live-action version of this, it would be a porn movie.

[–] FonzyJones 17 years ago

LOVE IT! Had the same thought myself watching Boomerang the other day.

[–] sigismond 17 years ago

TARDIS Dude,

If I were in charge of writing and directing, which obviously I'm not, this is how I'd do it.

PENELOPE PITSTOP

A supermarket check-out girl from San Francisco, Penelope "Pitstop" Meyers(so nicknamed because of her fascination for motor sports), discovers, on learning of the death of her uncle, she is the heiress of multi-billion dollar fortune, which is to come to Penny on her twenty-first birthday, only a few months away. However, her uncle's unscrupulous lawyer, Sylvester Sneikleigh, has managed to add a clause in the will that allows him to inherit his late employer's fortune and estate, should Penny die before him. An avid watcher of the silent movie series, 'The Perils Of Pauline', he dresses up as 'The Hooded Claw' and sets about trying to do away with her. Suspicious of Sneikleigh, the vice-president of the conglomerate, hires a group of reformed ex-cons, The Anthill Mob' to protect her, but Penelope always manages to survive Sneikleigh's attempts on her life by using her wits.

CAST:
Penelope 'Pitstop' Meyers.....Carey Mulligan
Sylvester Sneikleigh/The Hooded Claw....Gary Oldman

Regards,
TARDIS Dude.

[–] dems0408 17 years ago

How about Diora Baird as Penelope?

[–] sigismond 17 years ago

Who's Diora Bird?

Regards,
TARDIS Dude.

[–] unDeny 17 years ago

one of the girls from "the wedding crashers". check her out, u'll never forget the day u do :)!

[–] ginda2000 17 years ago

I always thought Renee Zellweger would make a good Penelope Pitstop - she is from Texas, as has those big cheeks! I thought Danny DeVito or Bob Hoskins would have to lead the Anthill mob. I thought maybe two non actors could play the Bully Brothers - either seven foot tall baseball players or footballer stars (the parts wouldn't speak much). But was never sure about the Hooded Claw and who could play him. Steve Carrell seems to be getting cast in Paul Lynde's roles - so maybe him?

[–] ginda2000 17 years ago

I knew there was someone I thought would be great as the Hooded Claw and couldn't think who it was - it came to me after I posted the above!

Sean Hayes from Will and Grace! He always reminded me of the Hooded Claw whenever he was camping it up on W&G!

[–] ravenwood62 16 years ago

NOT Renee Zellweger! She smiles and her face looks like she's about to fart! I could see Jessica Simpson in the role of Penelope Pitstop, though. Too bad Paul Lynde isn't still around. He could've played Sylvester Sneakly/The Hooded Claw to the "hilt" in a live action version, chewing up the scenery as he went! But I have to agree, Steve Carrell does an excellent Paul Lynde impression! He could definitely pull it off. Especially after seeing him play Uncle Arthur in that horrid attempt at a "Bewitched" film. He was the only good thing about that movie!
The Bully Brothers would have to be a couple of huge twins.
The Ant Hill Mob would absolutely HAVE to be cast with seven vertically challenged actors! Or you could have Joe Pesci, Danny Devito, Bob Hoskins, etc, in the roles.
It could be done.

[–] Drewboy-2 15 years ago

I think Penelope sounds like she's from Tennessee, not Texas. Therefore, Reese Witherspoon could do her well.

[–] laustcawz-789-925423 14 years ago

A live-action remake would be as problematic as it would be satisfying if done properly.
The Rube Goldbergism of the traps, plus the rescues, plotting &, especially, the MUSIC, would be imperatives.

I absolutely agree that Steve Carell is the ONLY choice for The Hooded Claw; Reese Witherspoon is the best choice I can think of for P.P.(though there could be someone better [NOT Jessica Simpson, though]). As for The Ant Hill Mob, with the kinds of CG, visuals & effects that are possible today, technically & technologically, there'd probably be minimal problems (if any) using full size actors, which isn't to say that it wouldn't still be COLOSSALLY expensive, difficult & time-consuming, & would probably end up being the most complicated, most innovative, most insane & most long-awaited film in history, plus you'd need the right director, writers, etc. to really make it as good as it deserves to be. Any project so massive would certainly have to be done by a big studio that could afford all these painstaking measures, but they'd only care about money & changing everything that was great about the show to tailor it to today's younger audiences, who'd probably never appreciate it, anyway. Hypothetically, though, with most of the other characters cast, for The Ant Hill Mob, I'd pick:

Clyde--Bob Hoskins (a great choice I hadn't thought of!)
or possibly Michael Richards
Dum-Dum--Dan Castellaneta
Yak-Yak--Jim Carrey
Softy--Adam Sandler
Zippy--David Spade
Pockets--Mike Myers
Snoozy--Rob Schneider

Since all these guys are so well known, that might be enough to bring in the younger crowds.

As for The Bully Brothers, I don't know...a double CGI Billy Bob Thornton???

Again, I can't express this enough times, the music is essential!!! If it must be re-performed/re-recorded,
the musicians MUST STICK EXACTLY (& I do mean EXACTLY) to the original score.

Otherwise, they just shouldn't bother.

BLAST!!!

[–] aspergius5 8 years ago

Definitely should stick to the original score of Ted Nichols.