nicholas 1 Posted May 4, 2007 Share Posted May 4, 2007 Since this is the season for futile speculation - I wonder if they will ever make a bio-pic of John Williams, in the manner of "The Glenn Miller Story"?If they did, who should play the maestro? And - more beserkly yet - who should do the score? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh500 1,615 Posted May 4, 2007 Share Posted May 4, 2007 Hmmm... this is such a ridiculous idea I don't even know what to say. But if pressed, I would say Richard Attenborough could play JW, and JW could write his own autobiographical score. HAHA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicholas 1 Posted May 4, 2007 Author Share Posted May 4, 2007 Richard Attenborough is an inspired idea.I myself would go for Dick van Dyke to play John Williams, and for the score to be by an unknown with an Italian-sounding name, performed entirely by a very bad synthesised orchestra. You know the sort of thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckM 1 Posted May 4, 2007 Share Posted May 4, 2007 The score would have to be done by Hans Zimmer. Seriously though, probably Alan Silvestri. Not sure about an actor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicholas 1 Posted May 4, 2007 Author Share Posted May 4, 2007 I love the idea of "seriously" in this context... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted May 4, 2007 Share Posted May 4, 2007 We've done this before. Instead of Dickie Attenborough I would more prefer David Ogden Stiers.Of course a bio pic about Williams would be really boring.We watch a man sitting behind a piano writing music for 3 hours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mahler3 478 Posted May 4, 2007 Share Posted May 4, 2007 We've done this before. Instead of Dickie Attenborough I would more prefer David Ogden Stiers.Of course a bio pic about Williams would be really boring.We watch a man sitting behind a piano writing music for 3 hours?David Ogden Stiers, what a superb and wasted actor. Other than Mash he's performance is The Accidental Tourist as Macon's eccentric brother that has no sense of direction is great. Even his short performance as the huffy conductor in The Man With One Red Shoe is a stand-out.Definitely the man to play Williams!- Tim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 1,059 Posted May 5, 2007 Share Posted May 5, 2007 He was a mild mannered composer until they made him mad, now he'll show them exactly what a baton is capable of.....Arnold Schwartzenegger is John Williams!!!!Coming this summer..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmo Lewis 6 Posted May 5, 2007 Share Posted May 5, 2007 Christian Bale should play Williams!What? Anything to keep Bale working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 1,059 Posted May 5, 2007 Share Posted May 5, 2007 How bout Jude Law?He seems to be in everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Barnsbury 8 Posted May 5, 2007 Share Posted May 5, 2007 Including the nanny...SNAP!Ray Barnsbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 1,059 Posted May 5, 2007 Share Posted May 5, 2007 Oh no, you didn't just go there...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 75 Posted May 5, 2007 Share Posted May 5, 2007 Attenborough or Ogden Stiers are pretty much the only options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce marshall 1,315 Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 I know there was a more recent thread, but I couldn't find it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,331 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 No, but there's a biopic coming about Leonard Berstein. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce marshall 1,315 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 Cooper will probably turn him into a pro- war hawk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bayesian 1,363 Posted September 1, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 1, 2020 I feel I’d much prefer a Ken Burns style documentary about JW than a biopic that (inevitably poorly) tries to dramatize some aspect of his life. The Illustrious Jerry, bruce marshall, Fabulin and 4 others 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabulin 3,511 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 Oddly enough, I think that a comedy with a jazz score would work better as a biopic about Williams than a "drama biopic". Anyway, I think that if Williams passes first, Spielberg will make a film about him, whether documentary or fictionalized. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmilson 7,439 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 Was Williams life that interesting to warrant a biopic? I mean, he spent most of his life writing music, conducting and recording, it's not exactly that cinematic. But if it happens, I'd like to see Jude Law as the young Williams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jay 37,355 Posted September 1, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 1, 2020 That's the thing that always make me laugh about these actor suggestions. Williams' life IS actually interesting enough to make a movie out of... just not his later life. People always post pictures of old actors that look kinda like JW, which is pointless for a biopic because the interesting part of his life was when he was younger, not older. The part of his life that would make a good movie is breaking into the industry, falling in love with an actress, getting married, having kids... and then her suddently and unexpectedly dying, and him having to pick up the pieces and raise their three kids alone, while still trying to be a film composer. All this happened pre-Jaws, when JW was 42! The success of Jaws, showing he could continue on without Barbara, could be the finale of the movie. Biodome, Holko and bruce marshall 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,501 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 8 minutes ago, Jay said: The part of his life that would make a good movie is breaking into the industry, falling in love with an actress, getting married, having kids... and then her suddently and unexpectedly dying, and him having to pick up the pieces and raise their three kids alone, while still trying to be a film composer. All this happened pre-Jaws, when JW was 42! The success of Jaws, showing he could continue on without Barbara, could be the finale of the movie. Meeting Spielberg over SUGARLAND is often credited with him wanting to get back into it. But yes, there's his affair with Barbara while she was still married to Robert Horton, and then eloping to Mexico to get married in April-56 - just a few weeks after the divorce was finalized (Barbara actually broke up with Horton after the premiere party of CAROUSEL - a film that incidentally had a few Williams arrangements in it). Those kinds of stories. But there's no way a film of this kind, with that level of private material, would get the green light from Williams or his estate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce marshall 1,315 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 The early life of a professional musician is usually more interest than the post- success part. The best part of THE DOORS were the pre- success scenes set in Venice and L.A.! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,355 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 1 hour ago, Thor said: Meeting Spielberg over SUGARLAND is often credited with him wanting to get back into it. Exactly! Spielberg and Lucas wouldn't even factor into the majority of the movie, only the ending! Quote But yes, there's his affair with Barbara while she was still married to Robert Horton, and then eloping to Mexico to get married in April-56 - just a few weeks after the divorce was finalized (Barbara actually broke up with Horton after the premiere party of CAROUSEL - a film that incidentally had a few Williams arrangements in it). Those kinds of stories. Exactly! All of this would make a genuinely interesting movie. Quote But there's no way a film of this kind, with that level of private material, would get the green light from Williams or his estate. Very true. Even if someone wanted to make this movie, we're years away from it ever happening 1 hour ago, bruce marshall said: The early life of a professional musician is usually more interest than the post- success part. Exactly. Which is why they'd be looking for actors in their 30s, maybe early 40s, not actors who look like JW does now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce marshall 1,315 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 42 minutes ago, Jay said: Exactly. Which is why they'd be looking for actors in their 30s, maybe early 40s, not actors who look like JW does now Picky....picky.... A good screenplay would skip SUGARALAND and have the meet over JAWS ( dramatic license(. Then end with SW. Remember, his score was slated for the unprecedented two LP treatment before anybody knew how big SW would be. You could show the recording sessions and the building excitement among musicians and filmmakers. Maybe, touch in his relationship with IRWIN - a colorful character in how own right! 2 hours ago, Bayesian said: I feel I’d much prefer a Ken Burns style documentary about JW than a biopic that (inevitably poorly) tries to dramatize some aspect of his life. God no! He'd probably score it with old folk tunes and Civil War era songs ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,501 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 1 hour ago, bruce marshall said: A good screenplay would skip SUGARALAND and have the meet over JAWS ( dramatic license). That would be taking creative license too far, I think. The initial SUGARLAND dinner didn't necessarily have to be the end of the movie, but it would need to be factually correct. And then at some point after that hint at his legacy to come, the end. bruce marshall and Once 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce marshall 1,315 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 God, can you imagine the nitpicking over ' historical innacuries' and ' factual mistakes' n this board? If a JW bio a got made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,501 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 I know that I would have a field day, at least. Williams' early life is pretty much all I obsess over these days! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce marshall 1,315 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 Joseph Gordon Leavitt as GEORGE LUCAS. The guy from Thomas Middleditch( KOTM and SILICON VALLEY) as SS! 1 hour ago, Thor said: I know that I would have a field day, at least. Williams' early life is pretty much all I obsess over these days! YOU have to divorce youreself from " facts" and look at It as a drama. I know everything about Jim Morrison but didn't care about The dramatic license taken in THE DOORS. You can too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manakin Skywalker 4,892 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 I heard Steve Buscemi will be playing JW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,501 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 19 minutes ago, bruce marshall said: YOU have to divorce youreself from " facts" and look at It as a drama. I know everything about Jim Morrison but didn't care about The dramatic license taken in THE DOORS. You can too! That's why I'm far more interested in a thorough documentary than a fictional biopic. Once and Bayesian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce marshall 1,315 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 5 minutes ago, Thor said: That's why I'm far more interested in a thorough documentary than a fictional biopic. But, a biopic can dramatize events that have no historical record especially personal relationships! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manakin Skywalker 4,892 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 Not Mr. Big and Martinland 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmilson 7,439 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 What if Michael Giacchino scores the JW movie, with him adapting all the famous Williams scores with his trademark style? Bayesian, Fabulin and Manakin Skywalker 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manakin Skywalker 4,892 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 Tim Burton can direct the film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce marshall 1,315 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 27 minutes ago, Edmilson said: What if Michael Giacchino scores the JW movie, with him adapting all the famous Williams scores with his trademark style? Joel McNeely. He can imitate anybody!😒 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Fabulin 3,511 Posted September 1, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 1, 2020 54 minutes ago, Manakin Skywalker said: Michael Bay can direct the film. Fixed. Williams living during World War II and his time in the army will be rewritten to have him serve in WW2, in the *badoom tss* European Theater. That's where he gets his idea to steal European classical music and sell it to the masses repackaged. If the test audiences find the film too boring for women, he can get the idea from Morricone's wife. And later suffer because his own will have sent him a picture of her and Jerry "Gorgeous" Goldsmith, played by Ryan Gosling. (Who cares about the timeline? We will be lucky if Haydn doesn't show up!) Anyway, a spy plot will follow, with Williams doing a break-in to the Holst estate to steal out the plans of the Planets Suite. He, Spielberg, and Lucas in a boat will be chased by an English destroyer, which will inspire Jaws and enable Lucas and Williams to put the final piece into the Star Wars scam. Later it will turn out that George Lucas is short on cash, and they have to record the score in the UK, with the help of an East German agent Andre Previn. There will be Her Majesty's Secret Service assassins trying to prevent Williams from recording with the LSO, so that the finale of the film can be a kung fu showdown between Lionel Newman, John Williams, George Lucas, and the latter's Alascan dog on one side, and the assassins on the other. Then the opening of ANH will be a big middle finger to the British, and initially banned in the UK, but after diplomatic pressure from Ronald Reagan (CGI), they will let it air in theaters. The final scene will be "40 years later", where Lucas with 4 billion dollars, Williams hailed "the new Mozart", and other antiheroes sit around the table. Williams will tell the Schindler's List anecdote, and all burst into laughter. Roll credits. Narrated by Hans Zimmer. Hack coming to Netflix soon. ins, Edmilson, The Illustrious Jerry and 1 other 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce marshall 1,315 Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 52 minutes ago, Thor said: That Michael Bay film Sounds like the Chopin biopic with Cornell Wilde. Total fiction as opposed to dramatic license- necessary when condensing many years of living in to two hours. 1 hour ago, Thor said: That would be taking creative license too far, I think. The initial SUGARLAND dinner didn't necessarily have to be the end of the movie, but it would need to be factually correct. And then at some point after that hint at his legacy to come, the end. Thank God you didn't pursue a screenwriting career. 😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce marshall 1,315 Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 Fabulin, I preferred your shorter, ' theatrical' cut.😒 4 hours ago, bruce marshall said: God, can you imagine the nitpicking over ' historical innacuries' and ' factual mistakes' n this board? If a JW bio a got made. Can you imagine how much work this meme would get? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 They don't make biopics about dull people whose lives are not scandalous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,501 Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 1 minute ago, Bespin said: They don't make biopics about dull people whose lives are not scandalous! An affair with a married woman is not scandalous enough for ya? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,072 Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 I think Bes prefers men! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 "John Williams is gay." Now, that would be scandalous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce marshall 1,315 Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 A respected film and TV composer recently passed away. Obituaries didn't say it specifically, but all the biographical info points to his being a gay man. So, you never know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce marshall 1,315 Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 Not sure about JW but... Judd Hirsch is perfect for Korngold! 😅 Fabulin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tom 4,654 Posted September 3, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 3, 2020 Serious question: why do people need salacious and scandalous events to find a person's life interesting? It seems contrary to how we value people in real life. Most people do not want their spouse, whose's life they surely find compelling, to be unfaithful, or their kids (again, parents tend to find their young or grown children's lives to be interesting) to be criminals or such. And in neither case do people want their loved ones to die of an overdose or other forms self-destruction--the culmination of many Hollywood biopics. I just don't get it. Holko, Miguel Andrade, SteveMc and 1 other 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 Cinema and "real life" are two very different things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,501 Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 11 hours ago, Tom said: Serious question: why do people need salacious and scandalous events to find a person's life interesting? It seems contrary to how we value people in real life. Most people do not want their spouse, whose's life they surely find compelling, to be unfaithful, or their kids (again, parents tend to find their young or grown children's lives to be interesting) to be criminals or such. And in neither case do people want their loved ones to die of an overdose or other forms self-destruction--the culmination of many Hollywood biopics. I just don't get it. I find that to be a rather curious argument, to be honest. I guess you could just as well ask why we need drama. Drama and fiction are a way for people to escape their everyday toil and worry. A vent, really. When people get pleasure out of watching a violent revenge film, for example, it's not because they want to go out and kill people, but because it's an ersatz way of nurturing a deep sense of justice. Even directors who subscribe to a very socialrealist style, like Ken Loach or the Dardenne brothers, still have dramatic events at their core. The same would be true if one ever were to do a Williams biopic. One would find the most dramatic moments in his life, and weave around that. It could be his affair with Barbara (really, that on-and-off-again love story from high school onwards is one of the most interesting parts of his personal life), but it could also be the toil and sweat at Mario Tedelnuovo-Tedesco's (realized rather poorly in the MAESTRO film) or it could be the rough war years. In fact, I would consider it an injustice if these issues weren't dramatized properly; a 'robbery', almost. You'll find that other composer biopics, like AMADEUS or IMMORTAL BELOVED, are organized much the same way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,072 Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 What we need is a totally boring biopic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bayesian 1,363 Posted September 3, 2020 Share Posted September 3, 2020 No, what we would need, if we need anything at all in this vein, is a well-made, well-researched documentary. Unlike the lives of the people who have been the subject of Hollywood biopics, we know very little about JW’s life (unless you’re Thor or Miguel, I guess). A biopic would be most people’s first glimpse of his life—and it would be a dramatization of true events whose record is nonexistent in any other source (at least until Thor’s book comes out). That would be a real problem in my book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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