Will there ever be a movie bio about Mario?

[Lover of Grand Voices]

I am sure we have all thought about this subject and I know that other
Lanza groups have discussed it and are interested in seeing this
happen.

For me the real issue is what does it take for a movie bio like "Ray"
to emerge so that it is a commercial success as well as a musical
one. Certainly Mario's meteroic rise to fame has all the material of
a great movie. Memorable and successful films have important stories
to tell, have splendid acting and have superb music. No one can say
that Mario Lanza' s life does not have these elements and then some.
The most important quality, like the movie Ray or the recent one about
Edith Piaff is the voice. Any film about Mario has to have his voice
and should show his greatness and his talent and needs actors who can
rise to the occassion of creating on the screen a personality who was
larger than life off and on the stage.

To have a movie about Mario perhaps we need a fictional bio that is a
best seller that can be created into a screen play. This may be the
formula. I am willing to work to write one. Perhaps someone is
interested in contributing as well.

Thoughts are welcome.

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Emilio: There is a Lanza film biography currently in the works, but
if it actually ever gets past the planning stage, I'm extremely
dubious as to its likely pedigree. I think what it will be is a
lowbrow piece of sensationalism with that ridiculous Mafia "hit" story
(for which tabloid writers everywhere should pay homage to Terry
Robinson's Lanza bio) taking center stage. It's not even clear at this
point whether the producers are going to use Lanza's voice or not.
And, of course, without Mario's voice, there is no point to the film.

In the right hands, Lanza's story could make a thrilling and deeply
moving film. There's absolutely no need to add fictional elements like
the Mafia story to spice things up; Lanza's real life was quite
sensational enough!

[Lover of Grand Voices]

Hi Derek: If this is the case, I hope they never make one. It would
be tragic to do a film based on all of this hearsay and nonsense when
Mario's music would be enough to make a best-selling film.

Emilio

On Dec 1, 1:04 am, "Derek McGovern" <derek.mcgov...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Emilio: There is a Lanza film biography currently in the works, but
> if it actually ever gets past the planning stage, I'm extremely
> dubious as to its likely pedigree. I think what it will be is a
> lowbrow piece of sensationalism with that ridiculous Mafia "hit" story
> (for which tabloid writers everywhere should pay homage to Terry
> Robinson's Lanza bio) taking center stage. It's not even clear at this
> point whether the producers are going to use Lanza's voice or not.
> And, of course, without Mario's voice, there is no point to the film.
>
> In the right hands, Lanza's story could make a thrilling and deeply
> moving film. There's absolutely no need to add fictional elements like
> the Mafia story to spice things up; Lanza's real life was quite
> sensational enough!
>

> On 11/30/07, Lover of Grand Voices <efiod...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > I am sure we have all thought about this subject and I know that other
> > Lanza groups have discussed it and are interested in seeing this
> > happen.
>
> > For me the real issue is what does it take for a movie bio like "Ray"
> > to emerge so that it is a commercial success as well as a musical
> > one. Certainly Mario's meteroic rise to fame has all the material of
> > a great movie. Memorable and successful films have important stories
> > to tell, have splendid acting and have superb music. No one can say
> > that Mario Lanza' s life does not have these elements and then some.
> > The most important quality, like the movie Ray or the recent one about
> > Edith Piaff is the voice. Any film about Mario has to have his voice
> > and should show his greatness and his talent and needs actors who can
> > rise to the occassion of creating on the screen a personality who was
> > larger than life off and on the stage.
>
> > To have a movie about Mario perhaps we need a fictional bio that is a
> > best seller that can be created into a screen play. This may be the
> > formula. I am willing to work to write one. Perhaps someone is
> > interested in contributing as well.
>

> > Thoughts are welcome.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Mike McAdam]

And...speaking of actors who *should* be 1st in consideration to play
Mario, has everyone seen the previews/trailers for 'Sweeney Todd
(Demon Barber Of Fleet Street)" on the telly yet? Early critical
reviews rave about Johnny Depp's performance and comment favourably on
his "very decent light baritone voice" in the singing parts (which
covers most of the film...very opera-like with minimal dialogue
apparently). Watch Depp and it's eerie how, in certain poses or
expressions and with the lighting from a certain angle...looks so much
like our Tenor. Shame that Mario doesn't have an offspring with the
drive and acumen of Lorna Luft when she engineered that good to
excellent TV Movie of her mama Judy Garland. Doesn't look like it will
happen for Mario.

That being said, with Lanza's yearly 'unit' sales still outstripping
Elvis's, maybe a publicity drive and mass write-in to the TV Networks
and Warner Bros etc. may tweak the boffins in their respective ivory
towers. God knows they've mined most areas of original TV fare dry
years ago. The public is really taking to Talent(?) shows in the
singing and dancing venues and to film bios of music stars at the
Cinema box office.

Enuff on that...do try to catch those tv clips of Johnny Depp.
Later, M.


On Dec 1 2007, 7:41 am, Lover of Grand Voices <efiod...@yahoo.com>

> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[Jan Hodges]

I haven't seen those TV trailersof Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd yet Mike,but I have watched  "Zodiac" and I thought Mark Ruffalo could be another good choice for the part of Mario He has the dark curly hair and the dark eyes and a similar stature, but more importantly a soft spoken tenor voice with an American accent that is reminiscent of Mario. It would go well with Mario's singing voice and not grate like Purdom's English accent does for me in The Student Prince. Of course without Mario's singing voice there would be no point to any movie in my view. I have my doubts that any will be made in the foreseeable future. Jan

[Lover of Grand Voices]

Hi Mike, thank you. If this ever happens, we all hope that they use
Mario's voice or it will be of no value.

I would be interested in knowing what the "unit sales" of Mario's CDs
are today. As you note, they outstrip those of Elvis. If this is the
case, then he must be among the highest of performers of the past and
the present. Any data on this would be very interesting from an
anecdotal point of view.

All the best

Emilio

[Mike McAdam]

I'm sure our indefatigable Derek will be able to ferret those figures
out for you, Emilio. I know that I read (an anecdotal report only)
that these were the comparative sales figures in 2004. Not sure if
they have been that way on a continuous basis.

Cheers, Mike

[Derek McGovern]

Ciao Mike and Emilio: As far as Armando knows, Mario's total album
sales are around the 40 million mark - way below Presley, who is
around the 500 million mark! For what it's worth, here's a Wikipedia
link to the best-selling artists:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_selling_music_artists

40 million is still a very respectable figure!!

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Mike: I meant to comment on your Depp comment earlier.

My main reservations about Depp as Lanza are that a/ he's much too
slight to suggest Lanza's physicality (and I don't think padding or
other trickery could conceal this) and b/ he's too old. He'll be 45
this year, and even if a Lanza film (and I mean a *real* movie, not
the mere suggestion of one - or a piece of sensationalism from a low-
budget producer) were to happen, it would take *at least* another
couple of years to eventuate. 47 or 48-year-old Depp - even with those
cheekbones - would by then be a decidedly middleaged Lanza. (That is,
unless the film were confined to his final years, when he often did
look much older than his real age.)

Cheers
Derek

[Derek McGovern]

Mike McAdam wrote today on a separate thread:

"God help us not to have a 'Mario Lanza Story' filmed with a 3rd tier
Billy Zane miming to some Canadian tenor's version of Lanza's
recordings .....this is the latest that I hear??"

Mike: I think we can safely assume now that neither the Billy
Zane-miming-to-Richard Margison project nor the Susan De Laurentiis
proposal will be going ahead. The Internet Movie Database shows no
Lanza bio on the cards for Zane, who turns 42 this month; in fact,
he's tied up right through next year. Similarly with Susan De
Laurentiis, whose last writing and directing job was the low-budget
Mutants (!!) in 1999, of Lanza there is not a word on her updated
imdb.com entry.

Time to breathe a collective sigh of relief, wouldn't you say? :-)

[Muriel]

It doesn't sound promising, does it? Guess it's up to the Cesari/
McGovern team to write a screenplay eh? We can all look around for a
young handsome guy with a big chest who might want a break making a
picture about a marvelous singer....

On Feb 11, 8:14 pm, "Derek McGovern" <derek.mcgov...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Mike McAdam wrote today on a separate thread:
>
> "God help us not to have a 'Mario Lanza Story' filmed with a 3rd tier
> Billy Zane miming to some Canadian tenor's version of Lanza's
> recordings .....this is the latest that I hear??"
>
> Mike: I think we can safely assume now that neither the Billy
> Zane-miming-to-Richard Margison project nor the Susan De Laurentiis
> proposal will be going ahead. The Internet Movie Database shows no
> Lanza bio on the cards for Zane, who turns 42 this month; in fact,
> he's tied up right through next year. Similarly with Susan De
> Laurentiis, whose last writing and directing job was the low-budget
> Mutants (!!) in 1999, of Lanza there is not a word on her updated
> imdb.com entry.
>
> Time to breathe a collective sigh of relief, wouldn't you say? :-)
>

> > > happen for Mario.- Hide quoted text -

[Derek McGovern]

I'm moving George's post here for anyone who would like to comment on his intriguing choice of actors to portray Lanza in a film biography. (And just a reminder that we have this substantial related thread as well.)

Derek,

I'd like to suggest a new topic if it has not already been done. If it has, we can just continue that conversation.

So, here it is: If you had to choose someone today, who would be the person to play Mario in a movie about him or a remake of a film that he has was in?

To get this rolling, I'm going to nominate Seth MacFarlane. Here is my evidence:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D0DYYFKT5c

Some of you may be amazed by this or tell me that I'm nuts. BUT, to qualify for being Mario, you have to have several [roughly] matching characteristics: a great voice, charm, physical resemblance, character, and talent. And should I mention, a colorful and fully lived life.

For those of you who do not know Seth MacFarlane, I would encourage that you read about him on Wikipedia. And, you will get to see him pretty soon since he will be hosting the Oscars.

Seriously, George

[Derek McGovern]

Hi George: I've just watched an interview with Seth MacFarlane, and can certainly understand why you think he'd be a good choice to portray Lanza in a film biography. He has a certain charm about him, he's animated, and physically I think he'd be a better choice than any of the other actors who've been suggested (Billy Zane, Johnny Depp et al).

On the downside, he turns 40 this year---so he'd need to get cracking!---and do we really know if he'd be up to the acting challenge? I only know of his voice acting in cartoons.

His speaking voice is also clearly that of a baritone, so that could be problematic (unless the film was dealing only with Lanza's final years!).

An intriguing choice, though. It's a shame his musical preferences (as far as I can tell) lean more to Sinatra than Lanza, as an operatic enthusiast with his Hollywood clout would probably stand a better chance of persuading a film or TV studio to take such a project on.

 

Cheers

Derek     

[Barnabas Nemeth]

Hi Derek,

 

Since Mario was far more handsome and temperamental than any other potential person, incl. Seth in question,  for me it were disappointing and disillusioned to play his bio in a movie. It was different in The Great Caruso. How about the singing voice?

 

Thanks,

Barnabas

2013/1/21 Derek McGovern <derek.m...@gmail.com>

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Barnabas

I'm not suggesting for a moment that any voice other than Lanza's be used in a hypothetical film or TV biography. A bio that didn't use his voice would be pointless---just as no tribute album to Lanza I've ever heard comes close to recreating the excitement and beauty of his singing.

As far as looks go, I feel that as long as the actor is able to capture some of Lanza's visual expressiveness and charisma, that's all that really matters. I didn't get much of a sense of MacFarlane's charisma from his "Singing in the Rain" that George linked to, but watching him elsewhere in an interview, I found him a lot more animated and interesting. 

Cheers

Derek 

[Barnabas Nemeth]

This way I agere either.

Barnabas

2013/1/21 Derek McGovern <derek.m...@gmail.com>

Hi Barnabas

[Nick]

I'm still available to portray Lanza, haha.

Ok, now I'll be serious. I really hope someday that a Lanza movie will appear.

If they could make a few movies about Elvis, why not about Mario?

[George Laszlo]

I'm happy to see that people are weighing in on this topic and about MacFarlane in particular.

I will grant that my nomination of Seth came about because I saw him perform and it hit me at the gut level that he'd be the closest that anyone could come along the criteria that I mentioned. I also agree with Derek that it would not make much sense to do a biopic about Mario that did not include his voice. BUT, that does not mean that all of it has to be using his voice.

I would also like to suggest that the movie does not necessarily need to be a biopic either. Surely there are creative ways to develop a plot line that  would include Mario without the whole film being about him. For example, they managed to put more of Mario's singing into the movie Heavenly Creatures than any other film since Mario himself appeared on celluloid. Along these lines, let's be realistic and admit that those who love Mario as fervently as we do on this forum are dying out! So, some other vehicle is needed to create a movie that would attract a large audience.

As far as the looks are concerned, this is a very subjective issue. Personally, Seth may not be a dead ringer or even close, but overall in physique, mannerisms and demeanor, he comes pretty close.

I'd like to suggest that you all watch more of the videos with him on YouTube or Vimeo and also tune in to the Oscars. Then come back and weigh in again.

As far as him doing something with/about Mario, we would need to suggest that to him. Perhaps the most amusing would be for him to create an episode of Family Guy involving Mario. The options are limitless in a cartoon!

Humbly,

George

[leeann]

Hi, George. You certainly raise a lot of interesting questions! I have to admit, when I first read that thoughts of movies about Lanza pop up from time to time, my response was "please don't do it." I'd really hate to see a conventional script that followed a chronological progression--even set against grand cinematography like the recent biography of Caruso. Or really worse still, a script rooted in sensationalism--not exactly an unusual approach to Lanza's life.

I don't know enough to imagine how a movie might deal with Lanza's voice and music. Recent comments about the movie Les Miz, suggests that there's a great deal of decision-making involved in whether music or acting takes precedence. Then, too, in other recent films, character development revolved around music, and they worked. And I imagine, who might best portray Lanza would depend a great deal on the script.

Seth McFarlane? I don't know. I kind of agree with Barnabas. Obviously McFarlane's got the ability to do voices, and he's got a certain sparkle in his eyes. And certainly, he's intelligent and thoughtful and an interesting conversationalist.  But that doesn't necessarily make a good actor--that is, the kind of actor whose whole being gets inside of a role and conveys the complexities of the character they're playing. And that, to me, is part of the fascination of Lanza--his own multi-dimensionality, his internal tensions, the unresolved issues rooted in his own personality and in the situational issues of the era in which he lived.

The Lanza story doesn't have an ending, a resolution. It has a sad, untimely death, but that didn't answer the questions. And I think any movie about Lanza has the potential to look at very fundamental ideas. It's part of what makes him so interesting. I mean, what do you do with a gift like his? It has to highlight the light and dark side of the man--the questions he asked himself and that we don't think he had yet answered--but also to emphasize heavily the context of the times in which he lived and how he negotiated them, or didn't. I want mega-themes that are magnificent and very human, just as Lanza's singing gives us insight into meanings of music and lyrics that are bigger than the songs themselves.  Lanza's life can hold them. As you point out, it doesn't have to be  just another biopic.

But a guest appearance on Family Guy--well, still thinking about that one.  Cheers, Lee Ann

[Barnabas Nemeth]

I can't compose so academically like Lee Ann or Derek, but agree with both of them basicly. I'm convinced that noone would be able to portray Mario Lanza truthfully. He was a really handsome man along with temperament and inner radiation. This magnetism coming through in his singing and playing is extremely special and diverse. In addition, his voice and timbre in every register resulted in an extraordinary effect. If anyone's production in a biomovie could result less appeal, it would produce a deterioration of his greatness in the eyes of moviegoers. Not to mention that would focus on his controversial later years. I would avoid this type of attempt.

My advice: don't even think about it!

 

Barnabas 

2013/1/27 leeann <leeann...@gmail.com>

--
 
 

[leeann]

Barnabas, you completely summed it up! Thanks. Then, when you wrote

...If anyone's production in a biomovie could result less appeal, it would produce a deterioration of his greatness in the eyes of moviegoers. Not to mention that would focus on his controversial later years. I would avoid this type of attempt."

Well, that is why, it seems, to me anyway, a very, very good thing that  a Lanza movie has not yet happened. Lee Ann

[George Laszlo]

Wow, I have to say that your comments went way beyond my expectations. I was, of course, trying to be provocative but thoughtful at the same time. I have to agree with all of your comments with a very strong caveat. Here it goes:

If you are a member of this forum, it goes without saying that you love Mario and would want to protect his legacy. This may lead you to believe that he has to be protected in some way. On the other hand, as Lee Ann says, you have to take the person as a whole; good and bad and everything in between. So, let's take it at face value, that anyone who already loves Mario will not change his/her mind about him no matter what biopic or other movie is made about or reminiscent of him. So, these people don't need to be protected.

But, I'd like you to think about those who are not yet familiar with Mario. Is it completely fair to either keep Mario from a younger audience or to have the constraints of the era within which he existed be dismissed because it is either dated, quaint, or schmalzy?!

I am suggesting that a modern treatment of Mario using all that is now available technologically, socially and culturally can be used to expand the audience and then lead the listeners/viewers back to Mario. Or, would you be happier if this forum simply died of old age and Mario along with it?

Keep 'em coming!

George

P.S. - I'm writing this note while my wife and I are listening to Joe Cocker's Baden Baden concert available on YouTube. Check it out!

[leeann]

Hi, George and Rupert. George, I think we're almost overlapping in ideas, but the fit is still a little slippery.  I'm not really talking about protecting Lanza's legacy. For one thing, if you read comments on Twitter, Facebook, Amazon--his legacy, or let's say, contemporary perceptions of him are all over the map. (Actually, and interestingly, most of the comments on Twitter come from a young fan base!  And they like him!)

Most of them wrong; many of them built on the gossip column weight-problem/Mafia/bad boy stereotypes promulgated and perpetuated by people who just don't bother to do research, by people who had been close to him, by shallow press reports--you name it.

Who wants to protect that?

In fact, who wants to see a movie or read about book that's badly done about anybody--like them or not.

I'm not sure what "a modern treatment of Mario" entails, but a different treatment would, in fact, be refreshing. It would move his legacy out of the old stereotypes that drag it down--and that's what so many of the threads on this forum do--untwist and expand the old cliches,  and that's what the writings of Derek and Armando do. And I think that's what Barnabas, Rupert and I (excuse me, Barnabas and Rupert if I've got that wrong) are saying.

Lanza's experience, I think, anyway, is a totally modern one--a totally universal one. The trouble is, all the conversations about films I've read so far are totally limiting, uncreative, old-fashioned, and real yawners. Cheers, Lee Ann

[leeann]

Oops.  this forum doesn't "...expand the old cliches!" It unravels them and replaces them with  accurate perspectives! :-)  Lee Ann

[Derek McGovern]

While lying half-asleep in bed this morning (and admittedly feeling a little feverish thanks to a nasty bout of gastroenteritis), I suddenly conceived the scenario for a Lanza film biography that I think would work beautifully---and most movingly---just as long as it fell into the right hands. It would focus on two consecutive months of Lanza's life; can anyone guess which ones? :) (They were significant for different reasons.) 

[Barnabas Nemeth]

How about during the discovery of his talent in Los Angeles in 1947 at the Hollywood Bowl and in front of  the studio management? Or during his dismissal from the MGM and leaving for Italy?

 

Barnabas

2013/2/7 Derek McGovern <derek.m...@gmail.com>

While lying half-asleep in bed this morning (and admittedly feeling a little feverish thanks to a nasty bout of gastroenteritis), I suddenly conceived the scenario for a Lanza film biography that I think would work beautifully---and most movingly---just as long as it fell into the right hands. It would focus on two consecutive months of Lanza's life; can anyone guess which ones? :) (They were significant for different reasons.) 

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[Derek McGovern]

Hi Barnabas: No, neither of those periods :) And remember that they were two consecutive months, e.g. January-February, March-April.

 

Cheers

Derek
 
 

[Rob]

The Fabulous Fifth of May,1948 was the first recording session, some of which recordings were included in the Great Caruso LP album. That LP achieved the extraordinary status of being the first all operatic compilation to reach Number 1 position on the popular charts (I've pinched these details from elsewhere on the site and hope I have kept the facts straight).

In June, Mario Lanza recorded his greatest popular hit, 'Be my love' which sold a million records.

Within just two consecutive months, this relative newcomer had effortlessly made opera a popular music genre for many thousands of listeners, in a  society largely unfamiliar with that music, and then just as smoothly had made a recording which almost two thirds of a century later appeals to a new generation of listeners. The potent appeal of that song title was recognised by the Decca/London company who used it as the title song of the CD featuring a rising new star singing in tribute to his great predecessor.

[Rob]

That year should have been 1950, not 1948. Slight brain slippage on my part - the cranial part, that is.

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Rob: Interesting. Those were two great months in Lanza's career from a commercial standpoint, but I could also envisage a screenplay about them that focused on the dark clouds that were already circling (despite outward appearances).

 

The two months I'm thinking of would fit much more within the framework of conventional narrative film. It has to have conflict, and it also has to have resolution.

 

Cheers

Derek     

[Rob]

Let's try 30th September, 1954, then -  the Shower Of Stars lip synching controversy - lots of drama: "Has Lanza lost his voice!!!"etcetera.

Four weeks later, the big come back - a room filled with journalists who were probably mostly doubting thomases, but who on hearing the splendid voice were won over - plus, praise from the highly respected critic, Max Dee. Schaunsee.

[Rob]

(sigh - fingers and brain not coordinated) Max De Schauensee.

[Derek McGovern]

Yes, Rob: I was indeed thinking of that period (September-October 1954). All the ingredients are there for a first-rate dramatic narrative. In fact, I once wrote an essay on that triumphant second Shower of Stars appearance---arguably the bravest thing Lanza ever did professionally:

 

http://www.mariolanzatenor.com/confounding-the-enemy.html  

 

Cheers

Derek

[Rob]

Hurrah! I won! I won! Please send the cigar and kewpie doll ASAP!

[Derek McGovern]

Ciao Emilio: I agree that no film or telefilm on Lanza would work with another singer's voice on the soundtrack. For starters, the tenor would have to be a native English speaker lirico spinto---and preferably American---but also with an Italianate quality and a powerful voice of extraordinary colour, excitement and placement, and with the ability to throw out high Cs with ease. Then he'd have to be versatile enough to sound equally convincing in popular and operatic music. There isn't a tenor alive who comes close to meeting those requirements!

 

Cheers

Derek     

 

 

[efran...@gmail.com]

Caro Derek: Grazie tanto. Please come visit me in Rome. All the best. Emilio

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

---

From: Derek McGovern <derek.m...@gmail.com>

Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:21:36 -0800 (PST)

To: <mario...@googlegroups.com>

Cc: <efran...@gmail.com>

Subject: Re: Will there ever be a movie bio about Mario?

[norma]

On Tuesday, February 19, 2013 6:23:39 AM UTC, efran...@gmail.com wrote:
> Caro Derek: Grazie tanto. Please come visit me in Rome. All the best. Emilio
> Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

> From: Derek McGovern <derek.m...@gmail.com>
>
> Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:21:36 -0800 (PST)
> To: <mario...@googlegroups.com>
> Cc: <efran...@gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: Will there ever be a movie bio about Mario?
>
>
> Ciao Emilio: I agree that no film or telefilm on Lanza would work with another singer's voice on the soundtrack. For starters, the tenor would have to be a native English speaker lirico spinto---and preferably American---but also with an Italianate quality and a powerful voice of extraordinary colour, excitement and placement, and with the ability to throw out high Cs with ease. Then he'd have to be versatile enough to sound equally convincing in popular and operatic music. There isn't a tenor alive who comes close to meeting those requirements!
>  
> Cheers
> Derek

Dear Derek,I do not think there could ever be a film about Mario that would do him justice.It would have to be with his voice but who could have his personality?I think of the Jolson Story.And believe it was a success because the younger generation did not know who Jolson was,so a story about Mario might work with his voice with future generations.
Norma

[George Laszlo]

Just a friendly reminder that Sunday is Oscars day. This will be your chance to see and then weigh in on Seth MacFarlane. We all know that a movie about Mario is a real long shot but at least you'll get the chance to see how talented this guy is. At least I'm hoping that he'll pull out all the stops.