MovieChat Forums > The Secret Garden (1949) Discussion > Marnie Nixon again

Marnie Nixon again

posted 18 years ago by voltape
8 replies | jump to latest

I have just seen this film in channel TCM - It is an all time favourite.
All my praise. But I want to stress again what I said yesterday in a comment on my fair lady. Again Marnie Nixon downplayed. She should be one of the greatest stars of all times - Her voice was used for the stellar roles of My fair Lay, West Side Story, this one, and what not. And it comes to my mind again Signing in the Rain, how they defended Debbie Reynolds saying that if she lent her voice for the high-pitched, out-of-tone star she would have ruined her career. Is this not the same case?

[–] elyrest 17 years ago

I have at least one explanation for you. I have read many autobiographies and biographies of many people involved in the music area of show business so I'm not sure who exactly I am remembering here. I think it was Alan Jay Lerner. Whoever it was stated that Marnie Nixon had a beautiful voice, but no screen presence. She could sing, but didn't have that zing that was needed in star.

[–] MEEdmo42 17 years ago

She appeared as one of the nuns in The Sound of Music. :)

Mary

"Believe in the magic of your dreams"

[–] xylonian-1 17 years ago

Yes she did, and was hoping she and Norma Varden would team up in a walk on role as another nurse, and do a duet...."How do you solve a problem like these children"....or "Mary"....just a point towards the future....

Urania to Terpsichore: "You're so quiet. Musing????"

[–] franklinlj 16 years ago

My fair Lay? Is that the NC-17 version? :)

[–] practicepiano 15 years ago

Yes, and Signing in the Rain is about a school for the Deaf that has no roof . . .

:-)

(not making fun of the OP, honest -- I just love it when a typo leads to silliness, even one of my own)

[–] SAMRubinsky 13 years ago

You think she should be "one of the greatest stars of all times" and yet you spell her name wrong? Interesting.

[–] voltape 13 years ago

HA! hA!

[–] practicepiano 10 years ago

The melody that is dubbed by Nixon (and in the score) in this film was also used in The Rains Came.

https://youtu.be/hogyZmbZWTg?t=668

https://youtu.be/hogyZmbZWTg?t=1265

https://youtu.be/01nVfrK77D4