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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 26
United Kingdom
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 - 15:51
Hello Dolly
I was listening to Paul Gambaccini interview with Barbra on Radio 2 last Saturday, and when they spoke about Hello Dolly I've come to understand why she didn't like the movie, Barbra didn't want to so it but the company threatned to sue her if she didn't, which I think is terrible, but from my point of veiw I'm glad she did make it.
I was quite young when I first saw Barbra Streisand come down that staircase, I have love this movie ever since.
The sight of seeing Babra come down that staircase and singing Hello Dolly is one of my favourite movie moments, then she joins Louis Armstrong for a short duet, then goes on to do a dance routine, a wonderful production of a great number and wonderfully sung by Barbra.
The critic's were out for the kill from what I read later on in my life, yes some of it was a bit cheesey, but there were also some brilliant number and amazing dance routine's in the picture,
Enjoy it for what it was, and don't comepare Barbra with anyother Dolly, to me she will always be Dolly and no-one else will ever be Dolly, I have heard many people sing Hello Dolly and they don't even come close, only my opinion of course but would be interesting to find out if there are any other Dolly (Barbra's Dolly) fans out there.
Replies for this Forum Topic
Wow, I didn't know that she was threatened with a lawsuit if she didn't do Hello Dolly. Sounds much like the same situation with Funny Lady; a movie she REALLY didn't want to make and ultimately was not happy with either.
Frankly I think she really rose to the occasion with HD and I could not imagine anybody else performing the role. I realize that it lost money at the box office, and considering the era I'm surprised it did as well as it did. Can you imagine the scant receipts if Carol Channing had performed it? Yikes.
No harm to Carol Channing and from what I hear she is suppose to be THEE Dolly? but I've heard her and I think she is terrible, again only my opinion I don't mean to upset and one who like the Lady, but as far as singing the role she's not a patch on Barbra.
Channing belonged on stage. She did not translate well to the screen.
I love Hello Dolly, it's a very uplifting and well-made musical. It is also my first memory of Barbra, seeing this film. I didn't understand at the time how young she was when she played the role of the widow. And as for the renowned bad vibes between her and Walther Matthau, they didn't translate onto the screen in my opinion. Talk about professionals
I love the old-style musical feeling and the stunning musical arrangements and dance routines.
My favourite songs are So long dearie (fabulous comedy!) and Before the parade passes by.
Oh! So Long, Dearie is one of my all-time screen favorites from Barbra's career, and my fave from Hello Dolly. It's just a blast!
I loooove Before the Parade Passes By and Barbra feels something about it or she would not have sang a piece of it at MSG back in 2001. Her interpretation of the music is ...........like ............buttuh.
Well, I do enjoy the film though it is at times stodgy and old-fashioned in the extreme. Also, Streisand was too young for the role. That said, the role itself is not a particularly strong one and the character of Dolly functions more as a plot fulcrum than a real character. No wonder Streisand wasn't thrilled with it. She does, however, bring her comedic skills to the role and I find those moments to be some of the film's highlights. Also, she sings the heck out of those songs. "Just Leave Everything to Me", "So Long, Dearie" and "Love is Only Love" are terrific and "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" and "Before the Parade Passes By" are two of her best recordings ever. In fact, no one has ever sung the "Dolly" score better than Streisand. It's unfortunate that she doesn't like the film because she does a great job with the role.
Great comments folks, keep them coming, I agree with you all about so long dearie, great comic song done with class from Barbra, would love to see Channing do that as well as Barbra did, NOT!
Hey there! Just bought my first 55" TV and received a gift from the "Barbra Fairy".... Hello Dolly and Yentl have been on.
I first fell in love with Barbra in Hello Dolly... and now in HD, surround sound... my gosh it is absolutely AMAZING!!!! I wonder if there is a difference if it is in Blu-Ray?
@Big Fan, my son when first seeing Barbra come down the staircase had his first crush at the age of six
:) 
Lol.
What a beautiful, Hello Gorgeous day this is... Just wanted to share, and Barbra, thank you, as always. I can't tell you enough how much I love, love, love this movie.
I don't know if she was threatened with an actual Lawsuit, but I DO know that Barbra didn't want to lose the chance at doing FUNNY GIRL, which I believe was part of a 3-picture deal. I heard a story that once she finished FUNNY LADY, she wrote "paid in full" in lipstick on her mirror in the dressing room. Not completely sure how accurate this is, but it tells you that she would do ANYTHING to preserve her chance to do the role of Fanny Brice onscreen, for which she won an Oscar. As for Dolly, Barbra KNEW she was too young for the part, but look at how she managed to pull it off ? "Before the Parade Passes By" reminds me so much of Judy Garland singing the Trolley Song, a veritable classic. Barbra always rose to the occasion, bringing her own kind of style and personality to each and every role. The costumes were gorgeous, and her voice at its peak of perfection. I only hope someday she'll get a chance to sing her favorite song from the movie, IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT...perhaps in a MOVIE ALBUM # 2 ?? We can always HOPE !
See ya, Fran from NJ
"Dolly" would have enjoyed greater success if they had cast a more...appealing male lead. I cannot accept Walter Matthau as a romantic interest and he had zero chemistry with Barbra. And from what I've read, he did not treat Barbra with respect during the filming.
Hello Dolly was the first Barbra film I ever saw, waaaay back in... 2006! I was performing in the stage version so got the DVD of the film, and I was just mesmerised by Barbra. Obviously I had heard some of her songs before, but Barbra had never really been on my radar. From seeing this film, I then brought The Essential Barbra Streisand album and fell in love with her. I now have all of her DVDs and almost all of her albums. So, Hello Dolly is really the film that opened my eyes to the legend, and I am eternally grateful!
I THINK BARBRA'S HELLO DOLLY IS ONE OF THE GREATEST MOMENTS IN FILM HISTORY. I CAN'T IMAGINE ANY OTHER ACTRESS ABLE TO BRING AS MUCH MAGIC, COMEDIC BRILLIANCE, VOCAL & VISUAL BEAUTY TO THIS ROLE AS BARBRA DID! AND IT IS AMAZING TO ME THAT SHE COULD DELIVER SUCH A STUNNING, HOME RUN PERFORMANCE WHEN SHE REPORTEDLY DID NOT WANT TO DO THIS. WOW! TRULY AMAZING! I DID NOT KNOW THAT CHANNING HAD PLAYED THE ROLE ON STAGE PRIOR TO SEEING THIS FILM. I AM SURE CHANNING DID A WONDERFUL JOB ON STAGE, BUT I HONESTLY CANNOT IMAGINE CHANNING OR ANYONE ELSE SINGING THOSE SONGS OR PLAYING THE ROLE OF DOLLY BETTER THAN BARBRA. BARBRA'S VOCAL PERFORMANCE IN THIS FILM IS OUT OF THIS WORLD. SINGING BEFORE THE PARADE PASSES BY, JUST KNOCKS ME OVER. HAS THERE EVER BEEN A BETTER VERSION? SOME OF THE OTHER CHARACTERS AND SCENES ARE NOT GREAT, BUT WHAT MAKES THIS MOVIE WORK IS BARBRA'S PERFORMANCE. I AM SO GLAD THAT SHE MADE THIS MOVIE. IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES!
Yes, I agree. She played the "Hell outta" that staircase scene in Dolly! And her dress was so pretty! I wanted to be Dolly on that staircase lol! Loved the Louis Armstrong bit too. I can understand her feeling she was too young for the widow part, but she was excellent. How did she remember her lines talking that fast in Dolly?? I would of had to have a million takes, they woulda fired me so fast. But she just flowed really smoothly talking that fast.
I love the dinner scene: "You salt your beets and i'll salt mine!" The movie is actually a crack up, but I did have to fast forward on the other singers when watching it on tivo.
And as for a remake of Funny Lady, I hope they never, ever do. I cannot imagine anyone else playing that part. Who could sing "My Man" better than Barbra? No, I think they should leave that one alone as is. If it aint broke- dont fix it.
I get tired of this film getting such a bad wrap, it is a wonderful movie! Hello Dolly was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, so obviously there were many people who thought highly of it. The film received 7 Academy Award nominations (Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, Best Score, Best Sound and Best Picture) It won 3 awards (Best Art Direction, Best Score and Best Sound). Barbra was nominated for Best Actress for a British Academy film Award and both she and Gene Kelly (for directing) were nominated for Golden Globe Awards. Gene Kelly was also nominated by the Director's Guild for directing Hello Dolly. This film is highly acclaimed. Yes, Barbra Streisand was too young for the role, but that doesn't affect the enjoyment of the film. I don't think Barbra should have made the film later in her life because Gene Kelly would not have been there to direct it. He gave the film that "magic" of an old-time musical reminiscent of the golden age of musicals from MGM Studios. This musical is the last of a very special breed, which no longer exist and never will again - a feel good, happy movie with happy endings for everyone filled with incredible music that makes you want to dance around your living room! I'm so glad Barbra made this movie and I wish she made more just like it.