MovieChat Forums > You Can't Take It with You (1938) Discussion > Perfect Cast for a Remake

Perfect Cast for a Remake

posted 20 years ago by CIARG4
41 replies | jump to latest

OK, the format of this cast follows more closely to the portrayal of the characters from the play than from the movie. I don't expect everyone to agree with every casting call in this movie and some people cast in this have been in other movies or shows before so we all know that they can pull off the chemistry required for this production. Having said that, here it is:

Alice - Kate Bosworth (The perfect all American girl next door)
Grandpa - Christopher Walken (The only actor that could possibly live in a situation such as this and find it totally normal)
Tony - Topher Grace (Polite, charming, and with a slightly crazy edge, he'd be perfect)
Mr. Kirby - James Rebhorn (The tightass bad guy from "Scent of a Woman" has also shown a genuine warmth in a few other films to make Kirby's character arc believable)
Boris - Willem Dafoe (Who else could play an eccentric Russian?)
Essie - Jessica Simpson (Beautiful & bubbly, she'd be fantastic)
Penny - Debra Jo Rupp (Just watch her as Kitty on "That 70's Show" and you'll see that there's no contest)
Paul - Ron Perlman (The middle-aged everyman with something slightly off kilter about him)
Ed - Keanu Reeves (His stoic energy and subdued charm would be a nice foil to Jessicas' Essie)
DePinna - Colin Mochrie (Just watch him on "Who's Line is it, Anyway?" and you'll see that he was born to play DePinna)

I know that some people will have some beef with some of my casting calls, especially if their only exposure to these wonderful characters is through the movie alone, but I personally feel that this cast could pull off a damn fine version of this show. Any thoughts?

[–] MissBuffaloGal 17 years ago

I dread this talk of remakes.

---
Jimmy Stewart: A Wonderful Legend
"Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing a Jimmy Stewart imitation myself"

[–] lunacydress 17 years ago

I just watched this movie yesterday for the first time in a long time and found myself unconciously re-casting it. The only one I think I was really right on was John C. Reilly as Ed Carmichael. Good God, Keanu Reeves and Jessica Simpson- are you kidding?!?!

[–] maddiemoiselle 16 years ago

i'd like it better if Mrs. Wellington, Rheba, and Donald were added to the list, and if i had heard of everyone on this list, but, in the words of Essie from the play, "That's fine, Ed!" however, i feel that a remake of this already wonderful movie (or so i've heard, i haven't actually seen it) would be pretty pointless.

"HOW COULD THAT EVEN HAPPEN?!"
Spencer from iCarly
Never be ashamed of being Christian.

[–] claudja777 16 years ago

do you honestly think that k bosworth hs that sexy-crazy-almost pre hippie way as j rthur?????and those perfect comic times???

[–] buxtehude99 14 years ago

I almost always HATE remakes, but CIARG4 is onto something. But not a remake of the movie. Do a production of the play for television, before a live audience.

[–] betatron 13 years ago

sev kardesim (1972)is a remake to this film. sev kardesim is a turkish movie aka yesilcam. (green pine)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0827739/

[–] octagonproplex 13 years ago

I agree there should not be a remake, but because this is just a fun exercise, I'll partake!

First off, it could only be properly executed at all under the controlled eccentricities of a director like The Coen Bros, Wes Anderson, Gore Verbinsky or Danny DeVito.

Here's my casting choices:

Martin Vanderhof = Andy Griffith, Gene Wilder or Christopher Loydd

Alice Sycamore = Anne Hathaway, Claire Danes or Natalie Portman

Tony Kirby = Zachary Levi, Lee Pace, Joseph Gordon Levitt or Colin Hanks

Anthony P. Kirby = John Goodman, Alec Baldwin or Tim Robbins

Boris Kolenkhov = Christian McKay, Mads Mikkelsen, John Turturro or Adrian Brody

Essie Carmichael = Zooey Deschanel, Alison Brie or Olivia Thirlby

Penny Sycamore = Melanie Griffith, Diane Keaton or Marsha Gay Harden

Paul Sycamore = Jeff Goldblum, Richard Dryfuss, Daniel Stern or Michael Keaton

Ed Carmichael = Michael Shannon, Jason Segel, Luke Wilson or Woody Harrelson

Mrs. Anthony Kirby = Blythe Danner, Patricia Clarkson or Annette Bening

Poppins = Kumar Pallana, William H. Macy or Richard Jenkins

DePinna = Paul Giamatti, Jeremy Piven or Stanley Tucci

[–] hodie 13 years ago

I remember years ago when entertainment publications tried SO hard to make Kate Bosworth "happen." It didn't work. She is nothing special, even given the low standards of today

"Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?"

[–] georgestrum 13 years ago

Here are a few ideas for a remake cast : Ellen Degeneres as Alice. Jack Nicholsen as Martin. Beau Bridges as Anthony. Jerry Stller as Kolenkhov. Betty White as Penny. Eddie Murphy as Donald. Can't think of any more right now.

[–] audrey252 13 years ago

I was just rewatching this wonderful film and I was struck by how much Lionel Barrymore reminded me of Stephen Root. He's a little young (though he's 60) but he would make a perfect grandpa.

[–] mrbens 12 years ago

No need for a remake of a good film. Just watch the original.

Only reason I could see to remake anything is if the original is disappointing and could be improved.

[–] lavignebiz1 9 years ago

The perfect remake of this has already been done. It was filmed in 1984, based on a magnificent Broadway Revival.James Coco played Kolenkhov, Colleen Dewhurst was Princess Olga, Jason Robards was Grandpa, Elizabeth Wilson was Penny, Maureen Anderman was Alice, Jack Dodson was Paul, Alice Drummond was Gay Wellington, Bill McCutcheon was Mr. DePinna and Nicolas Surovy was Tony Kirby.

In 1979 The Guthrie Theater did a brilliant production as well. This is one of the greatest comedies of all time.

You can find the above mentioned 1984 production through the Broadway Archive.