I'm feeling kind of ill at the moment, so the best I can do is real-life missed chances as opposed to imagined onces:
The choice of Rosalind Russell over Ethel Merman for Gypsy is a tragedy for the ages, and full of stupid Hollywood politics to boot. The fact that we have so few film versions of Merman's greatest stage roles with her actually playing her part never fails to make me sad.
I feel like musicals tend to be good hunting grounds for shoulda-coulda-wouldas. I love Audrey Hepburn, but man, I want to visit the alternate universe where Julie Andrews gets to play Eliza Doolittle. I love Danny Kaye, but ever since I found out Donald O'Connor was supposed to have his part in White Christmas (damn you, Francis the Mule), he looks like a pale shadow of what could have been. You can see O'Connor all over that role if you're looking for it--you just can't see him. I love them both, but I'm willing to give up Danny in White Christmas for Donald to have had a more lasting adult career.
On a more recent note, as much as I love Amadeus as-is, consider that Mozart and Salieri were played onstage for quite a while by Tim Curry and Ian McKellan. Then try not to feel like you missed out on something by casting Tom Hulce and F. Murray Abraham. The latter two are great, but Curry and McKellan! Or even just Curry. Let's be honest, I'm much more interested in seeing Tim's performance than Ian's.
I'd also be a lot more willing to watch a James Bond film if it starred Cary Grant.
...On the other hand, imagine Marlon Brando as Lawrence of Arabia. While I'd like to visit that world, I'm not sure I want to stay there.
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The choice of Rosalind Russell over Ethel Merman for Gypsy is a tragedy for the ages, and full of stupid Hollywood politics to boot. The fact that we have so few film versions of Merman's greatest stage roles with her actually playing her part never fails to make me sad.
I feel like musicals tend to be good hunting grounds for shoulda-coulda-wouldas. I love Audrey Hepburn, but man, I want to visit the alternate universe where Julie Andrews gets to play Eliza Doolittle. I love Danny Kaye, but ever since I found out Donald O'Connor was supposed to have his part in White Christmas (damn you, Francis the Mule), he looks like a pale shadow of what could have been. You can see O'Connor all over that role if you're looking for it--you just can't see him. I love them both, but I'm willing to give up Danny in White Christmas for Donald to have had a more lasting adult career.
On a more recent note, as much as I love Amadeus as-is, consider that Mozart and Salieri were played onstage for quite a while by Tim Curry and Ian McKellan. Then try not to feel like you missed out on something by casting Tom Hulce and F. Murray Abraham. The latter two are great, but Curry and McKellan! Or even just Curry. Let's be honest, I'm much more interested in seeing Tim's performance than Ian's.
I'd also be a lot more willing to watch a James Bond film if it starred Cary Grant.
...On the other hand, imagine Marlon Brando as Lawrence of Arabia. While I'd like to visit that world, I'm not sure I want to stay there.