MovieChat Forums > Between Two Worlds (1944) Discussion > Writing A Musicalized Adaptation

Writing A Musicalized Adaptation

posted 20 years ago by ronaldmcdonaldisgay
14 replies | jump to latest

I love "Between Two Worlds" so much, I am working out the beginnings of an Off-Broadway musical based on it. I don't want to create a remake because the somber mood and slow pacing would not lend themselves well to conventional show tunes and production numbers. Although Rodgers and Hammerstein II masterfully tackled death and its sad trappings in "Carousel," I see this as something that requires a small theatre venue to maintain its sense of intimacy.

Therefore, what I feel is more viable would be to create an "adaptation" in a more general way, much how Romeo & Juliet is retold more loosely in the Off-Broadway musical "The Fantastiks" or the Broadway blockbuster "West Side Story."

I think the low-key approach of "The Fantastiks" is more appropriate to retaining the original spirit of the thing. I also prefer a loose adaptation because I truly believe the 1944 movie "Between Two Worlds" to be definitive, and would not want to tarnish its legacy with an inferior direct imitation.

This is the second retelling of the original Sutton Vane play, the first being the 1930 movie bearing the original title of the play, "Outward Bound." Anyone know how to nail a copy of this? I'm dying to see it. In the original version, everyone on the ship knows they are in the afterlife, the suicide couple being vague as to their state of existance.

My version shall be called "The Last Coffee House." At this point, my idea is that people flying to a reunion spot where the first stop is an old coffee house in the small town they grew up in crash, but find themselves in the coffee house anyway, where they are enlightened accidentally because of the two suicides, just as in the 1944 movie. Although the vocations of the individual characters shall change, their personalities and identities will remain the same, as will their relationships between each other. (To change this would be to compete with the original, which was successful for a reason: the perfect chemistry was defined, which should not be meddled with without risking the destruction of the major lessons on human nature that we taught.

Some of you might wonder why I'd be willing to risk giving away my plot ideas. It is the music that makes or breaks a musical, great plot notwithstanding. And since that won't be revealed until opening night--say there is one--I'm not risking anything here.

BUT I would love to hear from anyone who reads this. Please offer your input as whether you believe bringing this plot into 2005 and changing the location of purgetory to a coffee house setting works for you. Please bear in mind, that this will be an adaptation, not a direct remake. My reasoning here, is that I believe that a coffee house will allow me to create more a colorful--hence more entertaining environment, giving me a more flexible latitude that a musical requires.

Any thoughts or ideas whatsoever will be appreciated. Thanks.

Jeff Weinstein

I got everything I ever wanted, but I always wanted the wrong things.

[–] parisel 19 years ago

Hello Jeff,

Between Two Worlds was on this morning and by a happy coincidenence, i did not go to class this morning. I'm a big John Garfield fan, but the whole story drew me into the characters lives. I was able to feel for them all, even the businessman and the snob.

i wish you the best of luck with your adaptation and would love to discuss it with you. [email protected].

[–] ronaldmcdonaldisgay 19 years ago

Dear Gina,

I'm awefully sorry I never responded to your kind words, but because I typically don't stir much conversation on this site (and no one had responded to my attachment to what seems to be regarded as an esoteric choice for a musical property) I haven't been on IMDb for months.

As for the current progress of "The Last Coffee House," I'm on the verge of abandoning the idea of basing it on a previous movie or book (the best way to guarantee a producer will take a chance for funding) and go with the original story idea I had when I concocted the idea in the first place.

The difficulty is in locating the estate of "Between Two Worlds"' author, British playwright Sutton Vane. I've tried to ask permission via Samual French, but it's been a ventricular and unsuccessful path. I'm stumped at this point. But without securing permission and exclusive use of the storyline I can't even begin to start work on it, despite having some fine songs to spangle it with.

If you have any thoughts regarding this matter, feel free to pipe up. As for me, I figure I'll just have to create an ensemble piece in a different setting, or do a variation on "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" that doesn't reek of "Heavan Can Wait" or that stupid Chris Rock debaucherization that came out a couple years ago.

Take care for now,

Jeff Weinstein

I got everything I ever wanted, but I always wanted the wrong things.

[–] Hirightnow 19 years ago

Whyyyyyyyyyy
Does my latte' seem pointless nowwwwwwwww?
Is it only that fate
(there's a term I just HATE!)
has played a cruel jest? Ohhhhhhhh
Surely God drinks espressoooooooo!
For it feels,at each turn
Every cup I touch burns
me and so faith I spurn!

But IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
still have no way of being suuuuuuuuuuure
That when I hear you laugh
It's not lack of De-caf
Will you truly stay with meeeeeeeeee?
God Above, Hell Below
Like a Mocha-chino
Don't know which way I'll gooooooooooooo!
(Sung in a minor, sad way, like some old Russian song almost.....I'll let you know as soon as Tim and Andy call me back)

[–] mintonmedia 19 years ago

Life, Death and Coffee...you NAILED it, Little Timmy. ROFL!

I shudder to think what Jeff Weinstein's musical will be like, unless he manages to somehow incorporate the fact that, though the play and two film versions met with some success in the 1920s through the mid '40s, the basic concept is certainly now, if not then, "teddibly, teddibly" self-serious to (and perhaps beyond) the point of self-parody.

Not that I don't sincerely wish Mr. Weinstein luck. He seems determined to pursue the idea and obviously has a vision, however cloudy (er, steamed?) it may be. And if, by the grace of "He Who Runs The Steamship Line", Jeff CAN get THE LAST COFFEE HOUSE launched Off-Broadway or even Off-Main Street, Peoria, it has the makings of a classic. A camp classic, perhaps, but a classic nonetheless.

Frankly, I think he should bring you aboard as lyricist. If he did, I, for one, would pay to see the result.
Happy viewing and... don't spill your popcorn!

[–] ronaldmcdonaldisgay 19 years ago

Dear Minto,

I got a real kick out of you "review" of my unwritten musical. You bring up a salient issue regarding the "self-conscious" nature of the story's somber tone. The device that would undermine the lacrymose tenor of the original properties would be modernization and levity. In its original form is was modern, and hence had more universal appeal than if it were performed today, as it would now be a period piece.

But just as some of Shakespeare's plays are more wieldy than others, there will be a minor challenge in making "Between Two Worlds" relevant to today's more sophisticated (if not also more smug) theatre goer.

Ultimately, that's a matter of whether I'm the right writer for the job, and have a natural feel for the story. When "Phantom of the Opera" came out, there were THREE--count'em--different versions running similtaneously. Andrew Weber Lloyd was at the peak of his powers, and so he vanquished his competition effortlessly, like Stephen Sondheim used to.

Therefore, the subject matter isn't really the problem as the talent of the person managing it. God knows how many singer/songwriters have approached a mic, saying that they were about to play something "important" because it "actually happened" to them. And then they wind up playing the worst crappola on the planet and make you want to take your own life rather than bother taking the time to take theirs.

So all I can say, is, that if I can just find a way to contact the Sutton Vane estate so I can even ask permission for the rights, I'd be relieved by that alone. But I should have a product to perform an initial reading with, I'll be happy to let you know, should L.A. be accessible to you.

Thanks for your candid, witty input.

Jeff Weinstein

P.S. How did you get those illustrations into your letter? Totally cool.

I got everything I ever wanted, but I always wanted the wrong things.

[–] mintonmedia 18 years ago

A much-belated thanks for taking my sarcastic tone in good humor. The part about wanting to see your show should it ever get off the ground was dead earnest. In fact, I hope the reason this thread has been dead since early this year is that you've been working your butt off making your dream come true.

To answer your questions: yes, L.A. is certainly accessible from where I live in Beverly Hills.
Hi, neighbor!

(And if you're still wondering how to get things like that waving guy in your messages and haven't found the "secret" in the months that've passed, here's all the you need: When you compose an entry, you'll see--up above the box in which you're writing--a link much like an underlined version of this: (markup enabled). Click it and a page will appear filled with smilies to liven up your message (or make it look as ridiculous as THIS one does), from a angry Second A.D. to a Enquirer-worthy manage a trois . There are also instructions on how to make your text italic, bold or colorful.)

There are, however, no coffee drinkers to be found , so I'll have to toast your drive toward success with another liquid:
CHEERS! from,
J. Minton of mintonmedia

You read it here. Now go forth and preach it!

[–] ronaldmcdonaldisgay 19 years ago

Dear Timmy,

Sorry I had never commented on your witty silliness, but I've been off this site for months and wasn't even aware of it till today.

Unfortunately, I'm not a strict melodist, meaning that I write both music and words to my songs (like Cole Porter, just not as good--yet). But you've definitely got a knack for stage whimsy. Perhaps if I should get into a jam whilest writing the "second banana number" (comedy song) of the musical, could I call on you?

Thanks for your input, it's nice that you got that involved.

Yours Truly,

Jeff Weinstein

I got everything I ever wanted, but I always wanted the wrong things.

[–] sagg928 19 years ago

I think your idea is WONDERFUL! Back in Steambath (1973) (TV) (see the info on this film which is currently available in DVD), the theme was reprised in a steambath by people going from our place to the next and all curious about the Puerto Rican janitor who seemed to be taking care of the whole place...sort of.

This theme cannot not be done too often and in many ways as can be imagined since it does occupy the subconscious of humanity quite a bit!

I'll look forward to your play--break a leg!

[–] ronaldmcdonaldisgay 19 years ago

Dear Saggy,

Thanks ever so much for your kind words. Everyone always thinks that people who agree with them are nicer and smarter, so at this point I think of you as Mother Teresa with Einstein's I.Q.

It's encouraging to get positive input, if only to get a sense that someone might actually get off their sofa to go watch something like I'm trying to create. The great thing about the internet is that the candidness quotent can be useful when you need bloodless, professional feedback.

I believe that you are correct that the universal appeal of wondering what happens in the afterlife is still titillating for many (despite how jaded people get from patronizing cable, shock-jock radio, increasingly permissive movies, and reading magazines that turn every aspect of the human condition into some kind of yawner of a cliche).

Older people might not be as fascinated, but anyone up to 40 years will likely find something interesting in the subject matter if it's presented in a way that smacks of freshness rather than stock repetition.

I hope to be able to create an entertaining twist on this theme that is as fun and uplifting as it is serious and apparently unavoidable.

Take Care,

Jeff Weinstein

I got everything I ever wanted, but I always wanted the wrong things.

[–] carolyn-18 19 years ago

I too, read your original post and I love the idea of a musical adaption of one of my favorite films. Loved the movie since I was kid and still do at the age of 61. I love musical theater and opera. I wish you the best of luck in your endeaver and I do admire creative people. Don't give up your idea!

"Don't let's ask for the moon, we have the stars." "Now Voyager"

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] martini-29 16 years ago

Yo Jeff... just stumbled upon your thread. Great idea. Go for it.

I entered a playwriting competition here in NYC recently. I was very gratified by the reaction. Came in a very close second out of seven entrants. Two of the the three judges gave me very highs marks (9 out of 10) citing the beauty of the language and existential amiguity. In addition, the comments from the general audience, mostly young actors, writers and directors, was very encouraging. The one negative comment, unfortunately, was from the third judge who said "I don't get it. This existential ennui kinda leaves me cold."

But, all in all, a very satisfying night especially since nearly everyone in the audience was still in their twenties and I haven't been in my twenties since Carter was president.

[–] filmloverlady 19 years ago

Hi Jeff,
I just read your original post, and think that any creative idea is worth running with it. There have been several dramas that were turned into musicals, most recently 'The Light in The Piazza'. Why not give your 'dream' a try! I really admire creative people, and I don't think you should care what others say as long as you believe in yourself. I live in NY, so if you ever do write this play, I will certainly go and see it. I love the themes of 'Between Two Worlds' and think they could easily be adapted into another venue. Good Luck to you!

[–] 19 years ago

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