Glitter and be Green
French actress and Bond Girl Eva Green (Casino Royale) is in talks to star as Maria Callas in a biopic from Italy’s DeAngelis Group (DAP) and British producer partner Future Films. The project will be co-produced by Swarovski, “whose bling was often worn by the iconic opera star on stage and off.” [Hollywood Reporter]
There is also a DREADFUL Italian TV movie called “Callas e Onassis”, with Luisa Ranieri dubbed by Annalisa Raspagliosi (!!!!). At least they could have used Callas’ real voice (but perhaps they didn’t reach an agreement with EMI). For those who are interested the whole movie is on Youtube, in Italian only. Here is a part where “Callas” sings Medea.
Your idea to use real opera singers is a winner. Get Andrea Bocelli to play Onassis. They both had that eye thing.
Anjelica Huston should have been given the opportunity to fulfill her dream of playing Callas. She would have been perfect! Huston also is an opera lover. Can’t help but think she’d have done Callas as well as my favorite singer biopic – Jessica Lange’s Patsy Cline.
I can only think of one actress I’d want to see as Callas now: Rachel Weisz. Doesn’t look that much like her, but she has both the chops and the passionate spirit.
Anne Bancroft would have nailed it, there was an earthiness to both of them. Even Gena Rowlands, maybe ?
gena, no, but Bancroft (also for whom Funny Girl was written, but who turned it down) would have been perfect. And Isabella Rosselini would have been wonderful.
And if we’re casting singers, my first choice would have been Sylvia Sass followed by Carol Vaness
Funny Girl might’ve been conceived with Bancroft in mind, but none of those songs were written for her voice. I sort of agree with Ethan Mordden’s insinuation that Styne intentionally made the score beyond Bancroft, and firmly in keeping with what he’d observed to be Streisand’s strengths.
God, this is going to be Super Gay Tuesday, if I’m going on about Funny Girl before 8:30 am.
Anne Bancroft WAS Maria Callas.
Similar in so many ways!!!!!
I loved Jane Seymour’s Callas opposite the Onassis of Raul Julia, who was a lot sexier than the real thing. Remember how they even had someone portray Muzio in that mini-series?
Can’t help but think Seymour’s ballet background helped…
What happened to the film version of Nicholas Gage’s “Greek Fire” with Eva Mendes (eew, yeah, I know) as Callas? Still listed on the imdb.
Believe it or not, one person I could have seen as Callas was Meryl, but she’s too mature now.
Robert De Nero or Al Pacino as Onassis, two great actors who are short, intense men capable of dominance and huge outbursts.
It’s impossible, of course, but the young Sophia Loren would have been perfect as Callas; a powerful actress with an exotic look who knew about lip synching because of her acting Aida to Tebaldi’s voice in the ’50s Italian film. Sadly, they were both young at exactly the same time.
Kashie: I didn’t post the picture or green and Craig at all, just the address. Somehow it turned into the picture?? E strano! But I love it.
Anyone know how that could have happened?
As editor, I have the capability of posting photographs. When I notice a particularly interesting photo link, I’ll edit the comment so the photo displays as an image.
Alles klar!
Cieca, thanks for doing that.