This is wonderful "find" of Cloris Leachman, who passed away three weeks ago at the age of 94. And it's probably her as most people haven't seen before. It comes from a 1982 TV tribute to Frank Loesser singing “Adelaide’s Lament” from the musical Guys & Dolls. And…she’s tremendous. Even my aunt, after I sent her the video because, as I've mentioned, they lived across the hall from one another at Northwestern and stayed in touch over the decades, said that she had never seen Cloris do anything like that. And added, she was terrific. I do know that she did some musical work, but it wasn't all that well-known. What stands out here for me is that I think it's perhaps the best interpretation of it other than Vivian Blaine who originated the role. Everyone who sings the number -- and a lot of people do -- seems to be trying to copy Vivian Blaine and overdoes the heavy New York accent. But Cloris does it just spot-on right, subtle and funny and correct – and acts the socks off of it, as well. And even sounds like she actually does have a cold..
2 Comments
Douglass Abramson
2/17/2021 07:07:01 pm
That's great. I wonder if Faith Prince saw that and was doing just a little bit of Cloris during her version of the song?
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Robert Elisberg
2/19/2021 12:33:32 pm
A) I doubt she saw it, and B) she was doing Vivian Blaine. (Who I'll hopefully post tonight.) Everyone does Vivian Blaine. This was much more low-key.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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