Howard Keel and Betty Hutton
i think i read it in the trivia or something but it says that they did not get on during filming. anyone know why?
"The only Abnormality is the incapacity to love"
I saw an interview with Betty Hutton on TCM about a year ago. She stated that nobody on the set treated her well. They all started working with Judy and kind of took it out on her when she was cast in her place.
shareI saw an interview with Betty Hutton on TCM about a year ago. She stated that nobody on the set treated her well. They all started working with Judy and kind of took it out on her when she was cast in her place.I know she said that but I wonder whether it's true. She said a lot of strange things in that interview, and complained of many people treating her badly including her children. I really do adore Betty but I think she was nuts.
"I don't seem able to strike the congenial note." share
I didn't get the feeling of any chemistry between them at all.
It was funny when they were singing with the faux sunset behind them. At first it looked like she was almost at eye level and then she was much shorter than before.
Why ain't you at the garden party you heathen?
I agree, no chemistry. The way the TCM interview went, whether true or not, Betty said she wasn't the one that everyone in the cast wanted to play the role..(was it Garland? Correct me!)
Something tells me she was not quite as nuts in her youth as people made her out to be but had a very rough life..of course, I don't know. I think the studio system could have been at least a little part of the problem and som ebad marriage choices the rest of it. Love to hear the lowdown if anyone out there knows.
I am very glad for the TCM interview, Osborne was a big Hutton fan and though I'm older, was never even aware of her until TCM showed the various films clips of her career. Then I got to see "Annie Get.." two nights ago. Tremendous job she did and now I am totally hooked and must say she surpasses everybody, Judy G included, in sheer raw talent and energy. Garland to me always showed a lack of wit and was very introverted. With Hutton you get to see her heart and she was quite open and fearless...and more talented vocally and physically than Garland if you'll forgive the comparison.
Howard Keel is no longer with us, so he can't give his side of the story. I find it difficult to believe that the entire crew treated her badly because of the departure of Judy Garland. Judy Garland had a breakdown during production,
and rather than wait for her to recover, the producer decided to replace her. The entire crew resented Betty Hutton because of that? Like I said, I find that hard to believe. I tend to get suspicious of people who say that EVERYBODY hates them. She was a great actress, but I think she was paranoid. Even her sister said that Betty Hutton blamed everyone else for her problems, but that the biggest problem was Betty Hutton herself.
i have recently read Howard Keel's autobiography and in it he stated that Betty Hutton tended to steal everyone's scenes and seriously overplayed and in one scene, Howard had the chance to steal a scene from her and she threw a huge tantrum over it and they had to do 40 takes! He also said that she was a complete diva and held up filming. Years later they appeared in another film together but she did the same again and had to be taken off it.
Also there is no way that Betty was a better singer than Judy Garland, or a better actress for that matter..Judy underplayed and therefore was more natural..watch Betty in the Anything you can do number the way she bounces about as if on speed and her bizarre facial expressions...i just can't help but thinking Judy could have done a far superior job
Oh please..the hospital where Judy Garland spewed out Liza Minnelli is a gay landmark!
I never read Howard Keel's autobiography - what he said makes sense, and is completely believable. As I said, I tend to get suspicious of people who say that EVERYBODY dislikes them. If that's the case, then there must be a reason. And it doesn't sound like the reason in AGYG had anything to do with Judy Garland. Even her sister and daughters were estranged from her. I agree that Judy Garland would have been better. I love Betty Hutton, but she was more suited to slapstick. I am sorry that Betty Hutton was such an unhappy person, but blaming others didn't help her problems.
share
And I tend to get SUSPICIOUS when the Judy-could-do-no-wrong crowd
attack Hutton and state (repeatedly and boringly) that Garland "would
haven been better."
Let's set the record straight. Hutton was a TOP STAR in her own right
and played Annie marvelously. She is captivating, spunky, and also deeply
vulnerable in the role. If one watches her carefully, she embodies this
role with much heart and soul. She is also quite touching in the part.
Yes, Hutton plays it broadly, but there really is no other way to play
a role like this. Can you imagine the overbearing Ethel Merman being
any more subtle?? I can't. Hutton was the best choice for the role.
The surviving Garland footage is beyond atrocious. Her wig, performance
and casting are an embarrassment to watch...truly, her lowest moment
at Metro.
I would also like to point out that Keel was one of the most arrogant
performers ever to grace an MGM soundstage. He had a healthy opionion
of himself throughout his life. The MGM people were also quite
snooty. As brilliant as they were, I can believe (big time) that they
gave Hutton the cold shoulder. In the TCM interview, Hutton goes on
for quite a long time stating that "Annie" "broke" her. I'm not sure
I don't buy her story. I do know this: She is often the only thing
interesting in the film, which becomes stodgy in its direction and
script in the last third of the film.
I might have believed the story if it weren't for the fact that even her
sister and daughters were estranged from her. That was the part that always had me wondering, and realizing that we were only getting one side of the story.
I think Betty's story is at least partially true. They might not have "all" been "mean" to her, but I suspect quite a few were chilly given she was replacing the musical queen of the lot. I do wish Betty hadn't generalized though suggesting everybody was against her; Benay Venuta actually attended a tribute to Betty in the 1970's when Betty was at a personal lowpoint.
Howard Keel does come off as someone who had a very strong ego. Even sweet little Jane Powell, who never says anything bad about anyone, suggests in her autobiography that he was rather aloof and not friendly. Keel's hostile comments in his autobiography suggest that Betty might not have been too far from the truth in his feelings toward her.
Good info! Howard Keel has a lot more credibility than poor Betty. Her mugging on I'm an Indian too made this almost unwatchable, though surely the director had something to do with her performance? Her voice on Anything you can do was terrible! I loved Betty when i was a little girl though, so I can't be too hard on her.
shareAgreed. I don't think EVERYONE was angry at her.
And lets not forget that Judy Garland was already insanely difficult to work with at this point. Always drugged up, a diva, skipping scheduled film shoots. She was going a bit crazy at this time. (She always was, but I lover her anyways lol)
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