FINALE 3 (The Greatest Star of All [Reprise]) GERMAN SUNSET BOULEVARD
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- Helen Schneider's Norma goes completely ape-sh*t in this monstrously well done version of the finale... Note the chilling cackling! The German production may not have the biggest Salome headdress (that honour goes to the London, 1st US tour and Australian productions), but they definitely had the scariest Norma!
Also, if you look carefully, you'll see a portrait of Helen Schneider at the top of the stairs. I just LOVE that little touch of authenticity!
Yada yada yada, not my show, etc.
I think Helen’s Norma is almost 100% complete. Her vocals are so completely satisfying and her acting is really top notch. I’ve always thought it was a true shame this production didn’t run “forever” like the German productions of Starlight and Phantom. I love her portrayal so much and am beyond grateful that there is so much on UA-cam that survives of this production to this day! Thank you for all of your Sunset postings!
Helen Scheider was phenomenal in Sunset Boulevard. She's my second favorite Norma Desmond with Betty Buckley being the first. They were both completely different but both so right in their interpretations of the role. Betty was very " silent " in the part, while I loved Helen's Norma desperately clinging to her last 15 minutes of youth and sanity. It's a shame that America never appreciated Schneider's talent but I'm glad that Germany does.
It really is funny that Helen being American played the role in Germany and never made it to Broadway as far as I know. She ranks up there with the best Normas, no doubt about it.
I can cope with LuPone, but when someone starts praising Petula Clark, I want to hurt that person physically.
Love it! Saw Helen twice, when I was a teenager. *sigh* Why don't they bring it back?!?!?!
Hers is probably the most poignant heartbreaking Norma.....she is so vulnerable-outstanding performance
Yes! Almost my words!
What I love about Helen's descent down the stairs (which is a VERY symbolic moment and should have NEVER been cut in the 2nd US Tour) is that she is actually performing her "Dance of the Seven Veils." Not only has her dream "finally enfolded her," but Norma has now fully turned into her idol... Salome.
....And it's all a great reference to one of the greatest musical "mad scenes" ever written! Lucia's descent into insanity in "Lucia di Lammermoor."
Damn - that was pretty freaking amazing. No disrespect intended but there are so many better Normas out there than Glenn
WOW! Even thought there's the language barrier, I knew the words and this woman is amazing!
Actually, I consider Helen's the scariest Norma. You should look up Linda Balgord to see the most tragic Norma.
no, not bad acting, just a bit too over the top for me. the finale is really good the way she does it, but ziegler was more "norma" to me, and if you'd have seen her in the phone call scene, the way she begs joe not to go, it was such a heartbreaking performance of how all her dreams, hopes her whole world falls apart.
Can you at least say whether you were cast or crew? And by original, you mean that awkward (but well intentioned) mess that premiered with Patti LuPone or the revamped version with Betty Buckley? ;-)
wow. memories :)
i think saw 3 normas between '96 and '98 in niedernhausen, but while helen was quite a powerful singer (nichnamed fishy by us), i've always preferred daniela ziegler in that role because of her acting. tohugh i've never seen her, i always imagined glenn close's acting looking like ziegler's. sort of.
but thank you very much for sharing your clips!
Well, I also think her delivery, bulging eyes and the insane cackling also helps.
Well, the only one that's missing from the original team is Uwe Kroeger and believe me, it's no huge loss. (Though Uwe would sure like to think it was.)
Why, so you can talk more smack about it? In any case, no known video of the original cast is known to exist.
WOW... Michael Kunze DID do a better job with the lyrics! And they make more sense within the context.
She look really mad!!!!!! Thanks, finally i can see to Helen in stage.
No, just a very obsessed fan. How were you involved?
We discussed this and most of us agreed that Norma's descent into madness needs to be more dramatic for the stage.
Interesting. I've seen Patti LuPone twice in the role, Glenn, the horrid Elaine Page, Betty Buckley and the brilliant Helen Schneider. There was something very " silent " about Betty's interpretation and one actually felt her Norma still had talent. Betty is my favorite Norma with Helen my second favorite. Both completely different but both spot on the money. Glenn Close once said in an interview that she plays Norma completely sane but Norma fakes insanity while descending the staircase to beat the murder rap. I think that's a brilliant spin on the character. Every actor brings their own strengths to the role. I wish Helen had done the Broadway production after Glenn and the obnoxious Elaine Page had vacated the role.
I watched it live three times and believe me, it was so dramatic, that I had tears in my eyes und forgot almost to breath!
How does the final verse translate from German?
Diesmal für immer (This time forever)
Ich bin wieder da (I am back again)
Bin zurück, wo ich Legende war (Back to where I was a legend)
Nur ein Blick macht mich wahr (Only one look makes me true)
You call this bad acting?!?!
HouseOnSunset Definitely! Just terrible.
I agree...true that all the other Normas are tremendously talented but none as powerful as Ms., Schneider. I have watched and listened to Helen more than a dozen times (at times sat so close to her I could hear her breathing) as well as the rest of the ladies who portrayed Norma...not one of them can hold a candle to Helen.
I've seen Sunset Boulevard with five different Norma Desmonds- Patti LuPone twice in the London production, Glenn Close in the Broadway production, the horrid Elaine Page who replaced Glenn, Betty Buckley twice in the Broadway production and the phenomenal Helen Schneider in the German production. Betty Buckley was the best, Helen is 2nd, Glenn Close 3rd ( she was camptastic ) 4th Patti LuPone ( by the time Glenn inherited the show it had been retooled and the mistakes corrected, LuPone might have been more successful in the role had she been given the reworked show ) Elaine Page was awful. She made the show all about her Elaine Page and not the character Norma Desmond. I can honestly say, Elaine page gave the worst performance I've ever seen on a Broadway stage.