Thursday, September 20, 2007

THE WOMEN are coming!

I was so excited when I read this article over at Playbill.com announcing a few new names attached to Diane English's upcoming new version of the the classic George Cukor film, THE WOMEN.

I had heard of a few of the previous casting choices, and the new film's IMDb page shows just who is playing who...

Note: For a quick reference of "Which star of the present is taking the place of which star in the past," I am including the names of actresses from the 1939 version of THE WOMEN in parenthesis...

If the names "Norma Shearer" and "Paulette Goddard" mean nothing to you, you're probably straight.

I don't care how many cocks you've sucked - - in my book, if you don't know Paulette Goddard, you're straight!

Eva Mendes ... Crystal Allen ( Joan Crawford)

Meg Ryan ... Mary Haines (Norma Shearer)

Debra Messing ... Edith Potter (Phyllis Povah)

Annette Bening ... Sylvia Fowler (Rosalind Russell)

Jada Pinkett Smith ... Miriam Aarons (Paulette Goddard)

Candice Bergen ... Mary's Mother (Lucile Watson)

I can't think of a better person to take over a role played to perfection by Roz Russell than the incomparable Annette Benning!

And the latest additions to the cast are just as strong: Bette Midler, Cloris Leachman, Carrie Fisher, Lynn Whitfield, Joanna Gleason, Ana Gasteyer and Debi Mazar.

Which one of them is playing The Countess DeLave? Midler? Leachman?

Well, whichever one of them is playing The Coutess DeLave, you can bet your ass that the other one is playing Lucy, the Reno mistress of the prairie played by Marjorie Main in 1939.

I'll bet Carrie Fisher is playing their writer friend, Nancy Blake.

Dear Lord - - Carrie Fisher, Bette Midler, Cloris Leachman, Candice Bergen, Debra Messing, Ana Gasteyer...

This movie couldn't get any gayer if Larry Craig showed up in the final scene set in the elegant Ladies' Lounge and began tapping his foot dressed in Hedda Hopper drag.

I can't wait!


13 comments:

ayeM8y said...

I hope they don't ruin what should be a great movie. Clitoris Leechman would make a great Lucy and Bette Midler would make an excellent Countess DeLave. If you ever get a chance to watch Paulette in the movie "Kitty" it's not to be missed.

Stephen R. said...

ayem8y - Paulette in KITTY!! I'm on it! Thanks for the suggestion and I'm with you - - I hope they don't ruin what should be a great movie.

Anonymous said...

I'm really torn over this.

The Women is one of my all time favourites, and I fear that it will be butchered.

I'll keep an open mind and see it, but mark my words, if it's crap I will denounce it from the rooftops!

Stephen R. said...

Shirley Heezgay - I agree with you 100%. But can you imagine if it actually WORKS?!?! I mean, what if Dianne English pulls it off? I'm not usually very "Glass Half Full" at all, but with Midler and Fisher on board, I have hope. :)

Michael said...

My first thought is "this has train wreck written all over it."

My second thought is "Why is Meg Ryan still getting work?"

Stephen R. said...

Michael - Believe it or not, this remake has been on again and off again for over a decade and Meg Ryan has been one of the only names - - if not THE only name - - that has stayed attached to the project the entire time.

Still, the modern day Norma Shearer is Meg Ryan? I'm not so sure about that...

Lance Noe said...

Meg ryan needs to lay off the plastic surgery.

She is beginning to look like that rich cat lady in NYC

Stephen R. said...

Lance - Either that or some strange Pan-Asian version of The Joker. And remember, The Joker is a guy. I'm just saying...

Michael said...

Meg Ryan sucked over a decade ago too Stephen......I'm just saying...

Stephen R. said...

Michael - I just checked and you're right!!! WHEN HARRY MET SALLY was released in (I can't believe it) 1989!!! Which means, I'm old and she's been sucking for over a decade.

Or course, so have I... but in a good way...

Lance Noe said...

i know this is going to make you gasp, swoon and call for vabors, but i just watched the women, FOR THE FIRST TIME!

i have questions:

1. what the hell is with that fashion show and in COLOR no less!

2. are they updating the new movie or doing it in that time period? it would seem hard to update it but then again....

3. I LOVE RUSSELS character!

4. When is there going to be a drag version of this?

Stephen R. said...

Lance -

1) Well, it's a movie for women, so you know those men who produced it thought, "It's a woman's picture, so we have to put in a fashion show or they won't come!"

2) I believe the new movie is set present day. I think the script is rather modern - - especially that grandmother's take on the whole affair.

3) Of course you love Roz! Roz is brilliant in this movie! "After all I gave to Howard Fowler. I gave him MY YOUTH!!!" Genius.

4) I don't know about a drag version, but I have done an all-male reading of it before. Years ago. It was LOADS of fun!

I'm so glad you liked it.

The first time I watched it, I was dating this bisexual guy back in Knoxville and we fucked while we watched it. How gay is that?

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry. English (and Jagger) must know this will appeal greatly to gay men. And for the Joan Crawford role they come up with Eva Mendes? HUH? WHO????

Jada Pinkett Smith for Paulette Goddard's role. C'mon. Her husband would have been a better choice (sorry couldn't resist).

I love Annette Bening, but how can she possibly compete with Roz Russell?

I know we get Midler (hopefully as the Countess) and Leachman will be great in the Marjorie Main role), but how about some other truly gay divas? Were no calls made to Streisand, Minnelli, Madonna, Cher, Dolly ???? Those four would have been this a slam dunk!!!!