Marni Nixon, American soprano and playback singer for actresses in movie musicals, has died at the age of 86 of breast cancer. She is survived by two daughters from her first marriage, three sisters, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Read More: Damien Chazelle’s Ryan Gosling- and Emma Stone-Starring Awards Contender ‘La La Land’ Lands a Venice Premiere
Throughout the 1950s and ’60s, Nixon was the singing voice for stars in a variety of acclaimed Hollywood films. She dubbed Deborah Kerr in “The King and I,” Natalie Wood in “West Side Story,” and Audrey Hepburn in “My Fair Lady.” She also sang for Jeanne Crain in “Cheaper by the Dozen,” Janet Leigh in “Pepe,” and Ida Lupino in “Jennifer.” Her performances were frequently uncredited, but she was considered by the press to be “the ghostess with the mostest.” Though Nixon had to sign contracts that stipulated she wouldn’t...
Read More: Damien Chazelle’s Ryan Gosling- and Emma Stone-Starring Awards Contender ‘La La Land’ Lands a Venice Premiere
Throughout the 1950s and ’60s, Nixon was the singing voice for stars in a variety of acclaimed Hollywood films. She dubbed Deborah Kerr in “The King and I,” Natalie Wood in “West Side Story,” and Audrey Hepburn in “My Fair Lady.” She also sang for Jeanne Crain in “Cheaper by the Dozen,” Janet Leigh in “Pepe,” and Ida Lupino in “Jennifer.” Her performances were frequently uncredited, but she was considered by the press to be “the ghostess with the mostest.” Though Nixon had to sign contracts that stipulated she wouldn’t...
- 7/25/2016
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
Honorary Oscars have bypassed women: Angela Lansbury, Lauren Bacall among rare exceptions (photo: 2013 Honorary Oscar winner Angela Lansbury and Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award winner Angelina Jolie) September 4, 2014, Introduction: This four-part article on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Honorary Awards and the dearth of female Honorary Oscar winners was originally posted in February 2007. The article was updated in February 2012 and fully revised before its republication today. All outdated figures regarding the Honorary Oscars and the Academy's other Special Awards have been "scratched out," with the updated numbers and related information inserted below each affected paragraph or text section. See also "Honorary Oscars 2014 addendum" at the bottom of this post. At the 1936 Academy Awards ceremony, groundbreaking film pioneer D.W. Griffith, by then a veteran with more than 500 shorts and features to his credit — among them the epoch-making The Birth of a Nation and Intolerance — became the first individual to...
- 9/4/2014
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Myrna Loy biography: The Only Good Girl in Hollywood Many believe that Myrna Loy is the best American actress never to have been nominated for an Academy Award. Despite having played leads and supporting roles in more than 100 movies (in addition to a few dozen bit parts during the silent era), Loy was invariably bypassed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. But that's the Oscar and the Academy's loss. For starters, Loy was a delightful light comedienne in movies such as W.S. Van Dyke's The Thin Man and Jack Conway's Libeled Lady. One of the greatest — and most beautifully politically incorrect — dialogue exchanges in movies can be heard in Rouben Mamoulian's 1932 musical Love Me Tonight: Jeanette MacDonald: "Don't you think of anything but men, dear?" Myrna Loy: "Oh yes, schoolboys." Loy could be a remarkable dramatic actress as well, as can...
- 3/12/2012
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
We start the Top 7. You finish the Top 10.
When a famous person writes about her life it’s an autobiography, when a normal person does, it’s a memoir. Last weekend saw the release of Cameron Crowe’s We Bought a Zoo based on Benjamin Mee’s beautiful memoir. Here are seven other films, based on memoirs from normal folks with interesting stories in the hands of good filmmakers.
7. Cheaper By the Dozen (1950)
Recap: Unlike the 2003 remake, the original Cheaper By the Dozen film follows the Gilbreth family of New Jersey which had 12 children. Their efficiency expert father, Frank (Clifton Webb) attempts to raise his family as he would run a factory, with mixed results. As one would expect, things break down when it comes to teenagers.
Reason: Frank Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth wrote this memoir of their childhood as two of a dozen children which I had the fortune...
When a famous person writes about her life it’s an autobiography, when a normal person does, it’s a memoir. Last weekend saw the release of Cameron Crowe’s We Bought a Zoo based on Benjamin Mee’s beautiful memoir. Here are seven other films, based on memoirs from normal folks with interesting stories in the hands of good filmmakers.
7. Cheaper By the Dozen (1950)
Recap: Unlike the 2003 remake, the original Cheaper By the Dozen film follows the Gilbreth family of New Jersey which had 12 children. Their efficiency expert father, Frank (Clifton Webb) attempts to raise his family as he would run a factory, with mixed results. As one would expect, things break down when it comes to teenagers.
Reason: Frank Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth wrote this memoir of their childhood as two of a dozen children which I had the fortune...
- 1/2/2012
- by Megan Lehar
- The Scorecard Review
By Scott Feinberg
hollywoodnews.com: Marni Nixon has often been called one of the “unsung” talents of Hollywood’s Golden Age, but that’s probably not the most fitting of labels considering she sang more iconic songs in classic movies than just about anyone.
Nixon, a lifelong singer who turned 80 in February, dubbed the voices of many A-list actresses who were cast in movie musicals but lacked the musical chops to do their own singing. Her most prominent assignments were Deborah Kerr on “The King and I” (1956) and “An Affair to Remember” (1957), Natalie Wood on “West Side Story” (1961), and Audrey Hepburn on “My Fair Lady” (1964), each of whose singing she dubbed nearly entirely. She also tackled select notes and songs for Margaret O’Brien on “The Secret Garden” (1949), Jeanne Crain on “Cheaper by the Dozen” (1950), Marilyn Monroe on “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953), and one of the geese in “Mary Poppins” (1964). Though...
hollywoodnews.com: Marni Nixon has often been called one of the “unsung” talents of Hollywood’s Golden Age, but that’s probably not the most fitting of labels considering she sang more iconic songs in classic movies than just about anyone.
Nixon, a lifelong singer who turned 80 in February, dubbed the voices of many A-list actresses who were cast in movie musicals but lacked the musical chops to do their own singing. Her most prominent assignments were Deborah Kerr on “The King and I” (1956) and “An Affair to Remember” (1957), Natalie Wood on “West Side Story” (1961), and Audrey Hepburn on “My Fair Lady” (1964), each of whose singing she dubbed nearly entirely. She also tackled select notes and songs for Margaret O’Brien on “The Secret Garden” (1949), Jeanne Crain on “Cheaper by the Dozen” (1950), Marilyn Monroe on “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953), and one of the geese in “Mary Poppins” (1964). Though...
- 6/28/2010
- by Scott Feinberg
- Hollywoodnews.com
Coyote Ugly star Piper Perabo will star opposite Steve Martin in 20th Century Fox's Cheaper by the Dozen for director Shawn Levy and producer Robert Simonds. The project begins shooting Monday. Dozen is a contemporary redo of the 1950 feature comedy about the Gilbreth family (led by Martin and Bonnie Hunt) and its often amusing struggle to keep it all together with a brood of 12 children. Perabo will play the oldest daughter, whose other siblings are played by Tom Welling and Hilary Duff, among others. The original Cheaper is based on a book by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey; Sam Harper has penned the update. In addition to Simonds, Michael Barnathan and the project's original rights holder, Ben Myron, are producing. Fox vp production Vanessa Morrison is overseeing for division topper Hutch Parker. Perabo, repped by UTA and manager Tina Thor, recently wrapped shooting Dimension Films' The I Inside opposite Ryan Phillippe.
- 3/27/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Smallville star Tom Welling and Agent Cody Banks topliner Hilary Duff are joining Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt's family in the Shawn Levy-directed Cheaper by the Dozen for 20th Century Fox and producer Robert Simonds. Welling, making his feature film acting debut, is in negotiations to play the family's oldest son, and Duff has closed a deal to play one of the daughters in a role written specifically for her. Shooting on the film begins March 31. Dozen is a contemporary redo of the 1950 feature comedy about the Gilbreth family and its often-amusing struggle to keep it all together with a brood of 12 children. Welling will shoot the film while on hiatus from his duties as Superman on the WB series, one of that network's top-rated shows. Duff will begin work in late April before segueing to the recently set up Cinderella Story for Warner Bros. Pictures. The original Cheaper is based on a book by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey; Sam Harper has penned the update. In addition to Simonds, Michael Barnathan and the project's original rights-holder, Ben Myron, are producing. Fox vp production Vanessa Morrison is overseeing for division topper Hutch Parker. Welling is repped by CAA, Mosaic Media Group's Paul Nelson and the law firm Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca, Fischer, Gilbert-Lurie & Stiffelman. Before Smallville, Welling had a recurring role on CBS' Judging Amy. Duff is repped by Curtis Talent Management and attorney Michael Fuller. She next appears in MGM's Banks opposite Frankie Muniz.
- 3/10/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After finding success on the small screen with her ABC series, Life With Bonnie, on which she plays a working mom, writer-director-actress Bonnie Hunt will try her hand at motherhood on the big screen, joining Steve Martin in 20th Century Fox's remake of Cheaper by the Dozen for helmer Shawn Levy. Hunt has closed a deal to star in the role originated by Myrna Loy in the 1950 comedy about the Gilbreth family and their often amusing struggle to keep it all together with a brood of 12 children. Hunt and Martin are the first two actor deals to close on the project, but deals for several of the children's roles are expected to close in the next few days as production is scheduled to begin March 31, the studio said. The original Cheaper was based on the book by Frank B. Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. Sam Harper penned the contemporary adaptation with TCF vp production Vanessa Morrison overseeing for division topper Hutch Parker. Producing the project for the studio are Robert Simonds, Michael Barnathan and the project's original rights holder, Ben Myron. Hunt is repped by ICM. Her series has wrapped for the season, but it recently was picked up for a sophomore run on next year.
After finding success on the small screen with her ABC series, Life With Bonnie, on which she plays a working mom, writer-director-actress Bonnie Hunt will try her hand at motherhood on the big screen, joining Steve Martin in 20th Century Fox's remake of Cheaper by the Dozen for helmer Shawn Levy. Hunt has closed a deal to star in the role originated by Myrna Loy in the 1950 comedy about the Gilbreth family and their often amusing struggle to keep it all together with a brood of 12 children. Hunt and Martin are the first two actor deals to close on the project, but deals for several of the children's roles are expected to close in the next few days as production is scheduled to begin March 31, the studio said. The original Cheaper was based on the book by Frank B. Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. Sam Harper penned the contemporary adaptation with TCF vp production Vanessa Morrison overseeing for division topper Hutch Parker. Producing the project for the studio are Robert Simonds, Michael Barnathan and the project's original rights holder, Ben Myron. Hunt is repped by ICM. Her series has wrapped for the season, but it recently was picked up for a sophomore run on next year.
Helmer Shawn Levy is in negotiations to board the 20th Century Fox contemporary adaptation of the 1950 comedy Cheaper by the Dozen. Levy, who replaces Matt Williams in the director's chair, will make Cheaper his next gig, with the project on a fast track for a late-February start. Although he's turning his attention toward Cheaper, Levy will also continue to develop the studio's baseball comedy Fever Pitch, which is out to talent and remains in active development. The original Cheaper -- directed by Walter Lang and released by Fox -- starred Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy in the true-life story of the Gilbreth family and their often amusing struggle to keep it all together with a family of 12 children. Cheaper was based on the book by Frank B. Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey and produced by Lamar Trotti.
- 11/15/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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