Show Boat - Ava Gardner 's own voice -- Bill
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- Опубліковано 1 бер 2013
- Here's Ava's own vocal track - she was dubbed by Annette Warren in the released film.
From "Ava: My Story"
"Now, I can sing. I do not expect to be taken for Maria Callas, Ella Fitzgerald, or Lena Home, but I can carry a tune well enough for the likes of Artie Shaw to feel safe offering to put me in front of his orchestra. But since Julie's two songs, "Bill" and "Can't Help Loving That Man," are so beloved by everyone, I decided to work as hard as I could to fit the bill. I even found this marvelous teacher, who'd worked with both Lena and Dorothy Dandridge, and we slaved away for several weeks and produced a test record of those two songs.
Then, rather nervously, I took my life into my hands and gave the record to Arthur Freed himself, God Almighty of musical productions. I don't think the son of a bitch ever even listened to it He just put it on a shelf and delivered the usual studio ultimatum: "Now, listen, Ava, you can't sing and you're among professional singers." So that settled that one.
Or did it? Because the singer they'd chosen to dub my singing had a high, rather tiny voice, totally inappropriate when it was paired with my own speaking voice. The studio spent thousands and thousands of dollars and used the full MGM orchestra trying to get this poor girl right. I mean, there was nothing wrong with her in the first place, except for the obvious fact that she wasn't me.
Finally, they got Annette Warren, this gal who used to do a lot of my singing off-screen, and they substituted her voice for mine. So my Southern twang suddenly stops talking and her soprano starts singing - hell, what a mess.
When it came to the album version of the movie, things got even worse. Being a great fan of Lena's, I had copied her phrasing, note for note, on my test record. So they took my record imitating Lena and put earphones on her so she could sing the songs copying me copying her.
But Metro soon found out that they couldn't legally release the album with my name and image, as they called it, without my voice being part of the package. So then I used earphones to try to record my voice over her voice, which had been recorded over my voice imitating her. I did it note for note, they wiped Lena's voice off the album, and the record was a success. That's the way they worked in those days. And I still get goddamn royalties on the thing!"
From Hugh Fordin's book "The World Of Entertainment!":
Ava had made up her mind to sing her two numbers herself: no dubbing. Both songs, Can't Help Lovin' That Man" and "Bill," not only require a voice but vocal skill of a high degree. Coaching her, Fdens knew from the very start that his efforts were in vain. Accompanying her at the piano, he recorded a test which turned out to be pale, thin and tentative. He decided to audition voice doubles: Marni Nixon, Anita Ellis, Carole Richards and Annette Warren. He found Warren's singing voice best suited as a match for Gardner's speaking voice.
When it came to the prerecordings Gardner still insisted on singing the songs herself. As a precaution a set of tracks was also made by Warren.
After a couple of weeks of screening the two scenes for a number of in- and outsiders, Annette Warren was called back to rerecord the songs, now to Gardner's lip-synch. What ensued until after the production had closed was a kind of a parlor game. Warren's tracks were in; Warren's tracks were out. Gardner's tracks were in, and then they were out; and so on and so forth, depending on the comment of whoever had seen the sequences last.
Before starting the dubbing of the picture, vocal director Lela Simone asked music director Roger Edens "And who is singing?" The answer was a not very enthusiasic: "Ava."
The picture was previewed on March 22, 1951. The one change that was made afterward was that Gardner's voice was out and Warren's voice was in. At the second preview on April 3, the change had a very noticeable and positive effect on the audience.
When Simone asked and Jesse Kaye discussed the forthcoming soundtrack album he felt that for reasons of exploitation and sale Ava Gardner's name on the cover would be an added plus. Simone took great pains in the dubbing of Gardner's tracks, backing up her voice with the accompmaniments to make her sound more palatable.
Show Boat cost $2,295,429 and grossed in excess of $8,650,000.
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![What's My Line? - Ava Gardner (Sep 13, 1953) [CORRECTED]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TV8D3eeA4OE/mqdefault.jpg)
I remember meeting her when I was 18 yo in LA at the Opera. Her beauty was stunning. I kept staring and she told me, stop staring and say something. All I could think of was "You are gorgeous" She laughed and pinched my cheek and said "Your not so bad yourself kid". I remember her vice on the original LP album -- it was breathtaking. Doesn't matter whether the voice was beautiful or not -- she knew how to interpret the words thru the music and succeeded. In my mind as a former opera singer, that song and the way she performed it showed her to be the Maria Callas of the Non classical voice! Brava Ava -- RIP The angels are lucky to view your beauty and your talent.
Hi, just read your comment - thanks for sharing this story! Just wondering what year it was when you met her? Thanks :)
was wondering the same thing ;D
People, this story is totally made up! Ava did not sing on "the original LP". This soundtrack was not found till after her death. She lived in London for years. She was not at the LA opera. Even the dialogue is just a fan's fantasy. She always addressed people as "Kid", and this fan knows it.
Dont judge until you have all the facts.
Get a grip, naif. It's just an obsessed fan who has seen an Ava Gardner BIOGRAPHY episode. Ava did not live in LA at the time, a universal sex symbol would never go to an opera alone, etc. Most ridiculous lie of all SHE WAS NEVER ON THE ORIGINAL ALBUM.
"I love him, because he's...I don't know..." The most genuinely, beautifully human lyric ever penned. I remember what it was like to be young and to love the girl who lived next door like that, without apology, or explanation, or qualification. She just was and you just did.
One thing nobody's remembering is that Ava didn't speak the lyrics from her own feelings: remember Jerome Kerne. Don't forget the composer who had the original thought and emotion. This all came from him. He deserves credit, too.
Lyrics by P.G.Wodehouse
Ava Gardner was heartachingly beautiful, her speaking voice sends chills up your spine, she had it all. God she was gorgeous!
She wasnt beautiful
Yes she was..outstandingly so.Are you blind@@kannaisoverweightuglyandfa9238
@@kannaisoverweightuglyandfa9238 Satire, right?
One of the most beautiful women ever in Hollywood. And she has a lovely voice too.
She perhaps had THE loveliest voice. Listen to her speak. Why do you think Frank Sinatra chose her?
She is extremely beautiful. That beauty is not normal
I agree very unusual beauty
👍👍👍👍
Amazing
that beauty is extinct now. Now beauty is defined as how much you look like the Kardashians
Gorgeous woman
She is absolutely unreal. God, she’s so beautiful.
My mom used to sing this to me 55 years ago when I was around kindergarten age.
I didn't realize it was from Show Boat.
I miss you mom.
She sells the song beautifully. They shouldn't have dubbed her. She was right to be discouraged.
I suspect she'd had a gutful of the lot by then and, reading stories of Hollywood factories at the time, who'd blame any of them?
Dubbing her was criminal.
My mother use to sing this song at New year partys to my Dad who was called Bill.
She had all the movements of Ava.
My father died of cancer at only 62 and her beloved Bill was gone. Sad but wonderful memories .
I read once that Frank Sinatra had sent her to a vocal coach to take lessons for this role,she must have worked hard and been disappointed not to be chosen to sing.I think that she does a great job,just the right sound for troubled Julie.
Maybe so because you hear lots of reasons. But I heard that Sinatra had coached her himself. It wasn't just the voice, it was her interpretation he got from her that did the trick.
Ava was an Actress & it comes thru in her own voice which is Sheer Perfection & that Face 💎
The dubbed wasn’t an actress...she was, well- a dubber
@@robertn800 No intention of being disrespectful to her, but she wasn't the most skilled or interpretative actress in the lineup. But it was her stunning looks and connections that started her career. But, she had a voice which obviously wasn't noticed or appreciated in her Hollywood era.
The people who dub voices, aren't considered to be actors. They do the job when the star can't sing a note. In this case, Ava was an excellent vocalist and she should have been allowed to do her thing. She simply amazed me at the time!
@Peter Taylor There’s a UA-cam video showing Stars of that era who really could sing well. The funniest is they filmed Debbie Reynolds doing a scene in “Singing in the Rain” where Debbie was dubbing an actress with a bad voice- then the studio, dubbed Debbie dubbing using another singer & and used the singer’s voice for the bad actress-very complicated 🙀
Yes Ava was Stunning- but she didn’t really have connections to be a 🌟 Her brother took a photo of Ava in NYC & someone contacted an MGM scout & he sent her to LA, & MGM liked her looks so they gave her a long contract at a small salary. MGM didn’t really use her for anything except background stuff. Another Studio wanted to use Ava for I think “The Killers” ? She had a big Beautiful role & after that MGM used her slightly more, at the same salary & after the 7 year contract was over she didn’t want to resign. But her lover, Frank Sinatra’s career was on the skids, so she told MGM she’d re-sign if they also signed Sinatra. Ava waited for a good role, but Sinatra made “From Here to Eternity” & got an Oscar- reviving His career.
Ava didn’t think she was a good actress & wasn’t interested in taking acting classes. She was no Vivien Leigh, but she didn’t try to overact, but was just natural. Apparently she was very good in “Night of the Iguana” but I’ve never seen it. My favorite movie is “One Touch of Venus” I remember seeing it on a late nite cable network in the late 90s as a little kid and now I have it on blu-ray & still love it 😍 & Ava 💋
The most beautiful woman ever.
That's a big haul, Seddi......ever? There were other perfect women. For instance, think of Hedi Lamarr, a Hungarian beauty, and I do mean beauty, of the 40s. Brilliantly clever and physically perfect, even if a bit wooden as an actress. But nobody cared then.
Amén.
Ava's voice is more emotional and soothing. ❤️
She had a fantastic voice! What were the idiots who made the decision to dub her singing voice thinking???
damn shame huh ?
DarinSharon0602 just run of the mill idiots
@Sharon Tate What do you mean she was forced because of the racial climate? I do t understand.
@@josephdockemeyer4807 It was against the law to depicted Black people and white people in romantic relationships on film. It was even illegal for them to marry in real life in the South
DarinSharon0602 I agree!
Not only was Ava Gardener incredibly beautiful with a lovely, sultry voice, but
she was also a very good actress!
Im not sure about that . I watched some of her stuff and i thought she was awful
Who else is binging on Ava Gardner ? Lol she was extremely gorgeous
I can never watch this part of Show Boat without tearing up, so beautiful and heartbreaking. Ava Gardner truly was one of the best yet underrated actresses of our time she could take any role and truly pluck at your heart strings. RIP dear Ava
What a gorgeous stunning woman Ava Gardner was! No wonder so many guys wanted to marry her! She was much more striking than any of the actresses today, with a mysterious sexy voice and looks. Her life ended tragically because of alcoholism-very sad because she had such talent and beauty.
She has a lovely voice. Don't understand why they had to dub it. This version is much more poignant and heartfelt.
She was coached by Frank Sinatra for the singing and it shows. She put such feeling into it, which somebody in a studio, dubbing, could never do. Why is because at that time in Hollywood, an operatic voice pleased old Louis B. Mayer more. The Studio brass had no idea about quality, just horseflesh!
Not even close to the ghost singer Annette Warren...
If you get the soundtrack of the show boat record it includes Ava’s voice in Bill and Can’t help that man.
@@SuperOMG123456 True. It's Can'tHelp Lovin'That Man ( Of Mine)...cheers!
@@petertaylor3600 Oh damn, sorry for that mistake . But also thank you for the correction. :)
Never get tired of watching Ava Gardner in this movie...In both this song and "Can't Help Lovin' That Man,' she is totally believable...and a sight to behold. She's got to be the most beautiful of all movie stars of the golden age.
Well David, at least one of them for sure!
I'm speechless.... watched this and tears welled in my eyes.
You can see the tears well in hers. I wonder if she was thinking of Frank. Wow... she's more beautiful singing with that passion.
Mgm screwed up...the emotions were right ...Ava nailed it...
countess77 her voice is gorgeous and so is she!
Iavagardner she and lena horne were good friends i love them both
HER own voice was wonderful!
The only word for that is beautiful. I've never in life wanted to be named Bill so badly.
Beautiful...Ava, her voice and that wonderful song!!!
She was absolutely gorgeous
My grandmother's favorite song, hence why I named my daughter Ava.
I know Mye...although it's not exactly a complimentary song to Bill.........kind of like the male version to "My funny valentine"
Album: Showboat
I used to dream that I would discover
The perfect lover some day.
I knew I’d recognize him
If ever he came ‘round my way.
I always used to fancy then
He’d be one of the godlike kind of men
With a giant brain and a noble head
Like the heroes bold in the books I read
But along came Bill, who’s not the type at all
You’d meet him on the street and never notice him;
His form and face, his manly grace
Are not the kind that you would find in a statue.
And I can’t explain,
It’s surely not his brain that makes me thrill.
I love him because he’s wonderful
Because he’s just old Bill.
He can’t play golf, or tennis, or polo,
Or sing a solo, or row.
He isn’t half as handsome
As dozens of men that I know.
He isn’t tall and straight and slim,
And he dresses far worse than Ted or Jim;
And I can’t explain why he should be just
The one, one man in the world for me;
He’s just my Bill, an ordinary boy,
He hasn’t got a thing that I can brag about.
And yet to be upon his knee
So comfy and roomy feels natural to me.
And I can’t explain,
It’s surely not his brain that makes me thrill.
I love him because he’s I don’t know,
Because he’s just my Bill.
What a fabulous performance. I never dreamed she was that talented.
Good piano accompaniment, too.
Let's hear the movie version that they thought was so much better. I double dare them.
The final clip of Ava on the dockside watching “Show Boat” leave is one of the iconic pictures of movies.
If that isn’t Sheer Beauty and great acting, we’ll just imagine Katherine Hepburn “acting” that final close up of her face, so Beautiful & so Subtle.
Her voice is perfect for Julie. Better suited to her songs than the dubbed voice.
i agree
A beautiful rendition by a beautiful woman.
Timeless beauty
Stunning. She sounds great, she looks great, she's moving. They should have used her voice.
When she sings “I don’t know because he’s just my Bill” whoa
Ava is queen
Wow! You look just like Amy Winehouse.
Joe Bananas 😂😂😂
Oh Golly Thanks, Haha btw my REAL name is Ava not Charuku-chan lol that would be funny tho
she is just so pretty and a good singer!
Good lord! Ava was astoundingly beautiful!
"I love him because he's... I don't know..." Hearing Ava's voice for the first time delivering these lines along with her physical and emotional choices makes the song all the more heartbreaking.
I liked this actress.she was beautiful.she had a strong personality.
She is the reason I named my daughter Ava 21 years ago.
Now there’s Ava’s everywhere. Damn it.
Thanks for posting this.
One of the greatest beauties to ever come out of Hollywood; and a very likable, down-to-earth, genuine person. She was way ahead of her time; and her personality and life-style choices would have fit in much better today than in the stuffy, canned Hollywood of her day.
There is something unique about when it is the person''s own voice
I get tired of it as well TheRetroWoman80, but sometimes, though somebody like Ava Gardner who had a pleasant voice, may not quite have the vocal range of a professional
Quite true. Different vocal types for the different feel/emotion being sought after, I suppose.
She was so beautiful. The words don't need a "trained" voice nor is the tune that difficult. It needed heart and she gave that perfectly with a very sweet voice.
Ava was wonderful in this role. I feel in love with this movie as a kid and her. The Character of Julie is truly heartbreaking and this moment in the movie shows you just how hurt she is, such a wonderful acting to turn around the meaning of these lyrics which are quite comic.....
Her voice is lovely and full of emotion.
She has a lovely, intimate voice. She probably wouldn't have been able to sing live in large venues, but this is a film, it doesn't matter if her voice is not big. She nails it.
I don't get how they felt they needed to dub her.
She was such a fantastic performer...stunning!
I have never been a fan of pinch-singers, this is so much more effective and affecting than the voice-over in the film. We love you Ava, be at peace we will all join you soon.
Here is an all time beauty, a lovely lady with talent, a singer of hidden class, and quite an attractive sight and sound for all time
Wow! What a wonderful singer she was. She had the inteligence to interpret the song perfectly
Incredible that she never believed in her acting stills. She gave one of the most powerful supporting performances ever in "Show boat".
This was wonderful. Her voice is lovely, on key, and her singing is so authentic, sexy and just right.
this song was sung by my wife;s aunt Marie Burke in the 1928 Showboat when performed in London.the great Paul Robeson also was in the show when he sang Old Man River.
Cledwyn Yorwerth Paul Robeson performed the very first concert at the Sydney Opera House. He was visiting Sydney and came to what was then a construction site and sang Old Man River to the workers.
I absolutely adore this song, and her voice is sweet as honey to my ears.
Ava Gardner was so appreciated for her beauty that people didn’t give enough attention to the roles she chose that were not the usual ingénue actress roles. She was before her time and took risks that imho made her miles above a lot of other actresses. Her acting skills were likewise amazing.
Her beauty was not of this earth ♥️♥️One of the most beautiful woman that existed
La plus belle actrice du cinéma ! Plus belle qu'elle, je n'ai jamais vu, comme le disait si bien Juliette Greco qui avait tourné avec dans the sun also rises
I just compared it to the dubbed version and this is SO much better! I also compared it to others who have sung this song and most of them- no matter how well trained their voices are- are devoid of feeling. Ava puts her soul into this song and we feel it. I wish they would have kept her voice in the movie...it's lovely and so much more poignant.
You said it. Exactly.
Amen
Such love, such emotion in her voice, her so beautiful face, wonderful actress ❤️
I always loved her. "One Touch of Venus" and so many others. Great voice.
She was also dubbed in Venus, by Eileen Wilson.
Heartbreaking and beautiful!
Absolutely beautiful, unique, gorgeous. Ava could sing. She emoted just the right way, always. A fine actress who never took herself seriously. In terms of perfection of facial features, Hedy Lamarr and Gina Lollobrigida were closer to the ideal. But Ava was perfect in her own way. No need to establish standards of perfection when you reach this level. Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner, Gene Tierney, Irene Papas, Vivien Leigh, Sara Montiel, Dolores Del Rio and Maria Felix were also great beauties. So difficult to rank any of them above the others...
Oh... and she was dubbed also.
E.J. Smith Uh, that's the whole point of this clip - to restore her own voice.
Lost Vocals I agree, and yes it is sad when the suits make the decision to dub when it is not necessary. I just wanted to mention Natalie as she is one of my favorites (along with Ava) as one of those who was so talented and just seem to be a little less appreciated.
This is not to say that I don't appreciate the talents of Marni Nixon and other dubbers. They serve a great need too.
I wish there was an un-dubbed version(s) of Showboat and other great musicals.
E.J. Smith Did you watch my clips restoring Natalie's voice on my other channel?
Lost Vocals Not yet, thanks for the info. Just watched the other Ava, song Can't Help Lovin' That... Thanks for that. Although close and no offence to Ms. Warren but I prefer Ava's version.
Do you have a link?
That is so much more moving than the dubbed version that was released in the film. The emotion that Ava Gardner conveys feels so much more real than in the other version.
Because she was a beautiful, sensuous woman, many people made the mistake of seeing Ava Gardner primarily as a sex symbol and overlooked the fact that she was also a very fine actress. Her performances in The Killers and Night Of The Iguana are proof of that.
Parfaitement juste !!.
She sang the song like it was dialogue in a perfect manner. She was the most beautiful human ever created.
Most beautiful woman ever.
000h! Love her sultry voice. Magnificent!
Truly beautiful and talented
As I've said in another entry, I really do understand how a NJ Italian --American kid like Sinatra, fell completely for this woman ! OMG, she was gorgeous. ------Wolfsky9
At the end of “Bill” 🎶 her close-up Showing her face filling the screen is breathtaking 🌸 and her only equal is Garbo. 🌟
One of Ava's best part... she deserved an Award for this role!
Ava is resuscitated, she lives the wonderful and glorious life of the Angels of Mr. Dibis Nguembock's paradises - made of eternal youth and eternal happiness.
♥️🌹LA PLUS BELLE FEMME DU MONDE 🌹♥️... C’EST AVA GARDNER 💫🌞SA BEAUTÉ ÉTAIT INDÉFINISSABLE ❣️
so wonderful! I appreciate the post. I've always heard she was dubbed but cannot imagine why.......
Perfect in every way
her face is just perfect really!
lovely, including the voice. And as far as I am concerned, that lady can act a song too!
Sheer perfection in every way
She was absolutely gorgeous. I love that shade of blue blouse. Beautiful!
#RIPAvaGardner 🙏🏼
You’re missed and remembered. 🌹
That was so beautiful,it makes u wanna cry!
This is why they call them GODESSES!
An unearthly shine, an outstanding ability to "SELL" a certain emotion and with this, we, the average spectator are CLAWED. Left breathless in any audience.
WHAT A GIFT!
Show 🔴 excellent voice..
This song is so special to me.💙
Phenomenal performance.
I have listened numerous versions of this song but the feel in this one is most genuine. Splendid this is ❣️
FANTASTICK VOICE AND I LOVE THIS WOMAN !!
wow! so georgeous and classy woman ...
Truly the most beautiful woman that ever walked the earth! She could sing and act and no woman has come close to her since. Stunning! No wonder Frank fell in love with her. What man wouldn't? Yes, she was hard to handle according to biography. But look where she came from. Everything about her was gorgeous, period.
Beautifully sung and fits the role perfectly. Ava was an amazing lady
What a WOMAN !!!
Beyond perfect!!! THANK YOU!
Ava gives a wonderful performance and the last scene is heart-breaking. Thank you.
What a wasted voice! And so beautiful, just like the lady! She anx Frank were such a couple. Shame they couldn't live together. Ava was an all-time great!"
Most beautiful woman you can have the pleasure of beholding. Unbelievable.
So beautiful
She's the most beautiful actress ever.
So beautiful that it puts knots in my stomach.
I just always loved her...Hearing her voice just works for me...
Lovely beautiful voice
Perhaps her voice was too weak for live performances, but in a movie, who cares? She's on key and her phrasing is perfect.
She's just great. After all she was married to three men who were all involved with music (Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw, and the great Sinatra), and she loved music herself
I believe she sang for herself on the Lux Radio Theater live performance of Show Boat, I've heard it.
Like when Rita sang put the blame on mame in the casino after dark on guitar. Very natural. But singing with an orchestra and can be daunting and if you dont have the training for projection they go with the professionals who get the job done fast.
@DDiva R. You do know that in the black dress “Put the Blame on Mame” singing- they dubbed Rita’s singing, which is a shame because earlier in “Gilda” there’s a short scene of Rita in a barn playing a guitar & they actually used Rita’s own singing. She could have sung the “Mame” song perfectly but the Studios were stupid.🤪
Богиня. Найвродливіша акторка кіно усіх часів!
Bella voz de Ava Gardner