Not that I don’t love a good play, be it drama, comedy and even the rare musical, and in most cases the original stage production is superior. But there are a handful of classic films that actually improve on the original.
Opening on Broadway in 1975, Chicago is a Kander and Ebb musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. Chicago was originally directed and choreographed by the great Bob Fosse. The opening night cast starred Chita Rivera as Velma Kelly, Gwen Verdon as Roxie Hart, and Jerry Orbach as Billy Flynn.
The subsequent 1996 revival was not only a huge hit, but is the sixth longest running show on the Great White Way. Featuring choreographer and Bob Fosse collaborator Ann Reinking as Roxie Hart, Bebe Neuwirth as Velma Kelly, Joel Grey as Amos Hart and James Naughton as Billy Flynn, Chicago won five Tony Awards.
The story is great commentary on society’s fascination with criminals, and the celebrity status that comes with it. IMDB summarises the story: “Murderesses Velma Kelly (a chanteuse and tease who killed her husband and sister after finding them in bed together) and Roxie Hart (who killed her boyfriend when she discovered he wasn’t going to make her a star) find themselves on death row together and fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows in 1920s Chicago.”
As good as the cast is for the Broadway production, it just can’t compare to the megawatt performances in the 2002 film version. The film, won six Academy Awards, was directed by Rob Marshall, and starred Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, and Richard Gere. In the film version, the musical numbers become larger than life, and the surround sound of the movie theatre lifts us higher than a theatre orchestra could ever hope to achieve.
Another screen production that eclipses its original stage performance is Glengarry Glen Ross. The superlative David Mamet wrote Glengarry Glen Ross in 1982 about real-estate agents who will do anything to make the sale. The play was directed by Gregory Mosher and starred Joe Mantegna, Mike Nussbaum, Robert Prosky, Lane Smith, James Tolkan, Jack Wallace, and J. T. Walsh. The production was nominated for four Tony awards including Best Play, Best Director, and two Best Featured Actor nominations for Robert Prosky and Joe Mantegna, who won the production’s one Tony.
The film version was an adaptation directed by James Foley and was released using an expanded script and features a virtual Who’s Who of amazing actors giving including the late Jack Lemmon, Kevin Spacey, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin, and Al Pacino. The film version differs from the stage in the addition of a role specifically written for Alec Baldwin that echoes through the entire story. Glengarry Glen Ross in its film version feels rawer and the camera is able to create an almost uncomfortable level of intimacy.
One could go on about the specific differences and why a film version of a story can be superior compared to the original. We could mention set design, lighting, cinematography, and the way some scenes envelop the audience, but the real genius in film productions from stage performances is exposure. We probably wouldn’t have been able to appreciate Chicago or Glengarry Glen Ross as much if they remained tied to a stage, but on the big screen they shine. WH