Who was first choice for the movie? - Sister Act (1992) Discussion

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] smokey-39 18 years ago

That may have been part of it - but the biggest reason was that she was tired of the "Disney" formula. She had done the four films "DAOIBH", "Ruthless People", "Outragoues Fortune" and "Big Business" pretty much back to back - and really this film is structured very similar to those and also filled with cast that Bette had either worked with before or thought very highly of. The film was pretty much tailor made for Bette. The Ronnelle's were both friends of Bette's and one was one her actual back up singers! She was tired of the formula and opted out of her contract. She came back for Hocus Pocus after realizing what a great film this was and how well it did at the box office.

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[–] poetessbynight 18 years ago

She came back for Hocus Pocus after realizing what a great film this was and how well it did at the box office. >>

bwaaaahahaha.

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[–] smokey-39 18 years ago

You do realize I meant Sister Act right? It did very well at the box office. She thought Hocus Pocus would do the same, and of course it did not. :)

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[–] observer1981 17 years ago

She thought Hocus Pocus would do the same, and of course it did not. :)

well it did okay, though it wasn't the blockbuster that sister act was.

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[–] Isaac5855 18 years ago

Bette Midler would have been funny in this role, but I'm glad Whoopi got it because Whoopi needed a hit film desperately when this one rolled around and it was right on time.

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[–] NosferUatu 18 years ago

Man, Bette Midler would've been so fricking hilarious in this film, not to mention that she can actually sing! (

In any case I adored Whoopi in it, and I think she did an excellent job, but man...Bette really made some bad choices, she turned down this, a huge box office hit, and I understand she turned down Misery which not only was a hit but gave Kathy Bates an Oscar...

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[–] Theo87 18 years ago

ever thought about that with bette midler Sister Act wouldn't have done well at the box office and that she wouldn't have gotten an oscar for Misery?

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[–] soozzbrat555 18 years ago

I thijnk Whoopi was cut out for this role
Bette's a good actress, but I dont think this role was her thing
She made a great winifred sanderson in Hocus pocus, another fav movie of mine

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[–] ShizaMinelli 18 years ago

I could NOT picture her in Misery. IMO she would give a way way WAY too over-the-top performance. Kathy Bates played it perfect. I don't think the result would have been the same if it had been Bette.

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[–] freefall79 18 years ago

much as i love the divine Ms M, i canlt imagine her in sister act, the whole idea was that a woman came in to give some sisters soul, bette is great but not for this film

Thunderbirds Aren't Slow

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[–] BKRudy-1 17 years ago

Bette was later quoted as saying that turning down "Sister Act" was one of the biggest regrets of her career...Who knows what kind of movie it could have been with her as Mary Clarence.

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[–] Screamingj 17 years ago

i think it's quite obvious that this movie was 'tailor made' for bette but i think whoopie does an excellent job and as a black actress, it's funnier to see her in this role. she has terrific comedic timing. also, people are saying that whoopie can't sing - yes she can! she's awesome!

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[–] tom_niles 17 years ago

Kathy Bates, Whoopi Goldberg AND Bette Midler were all considered for the role of Matron Mama Morton in Chicago. How's that for a twist?

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[–] witchery8 17 years ago

I like Whoopi (and she's an OK singer) but there is NO WAY she could have pulled off Mama Morton.

I'm quite a lovely person - apart from my terrible taste in pie.

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[–] puirt-a-beul 17 years ago

I like Whoopi (and she's an OK singer) but there is NO WAY she could have pulled off Mama Morton.

No, I agree -- I don't think Whoopi could have. Bette maybe, though.

I personally thought Queen Latifah was the weak link among the major roles in "Chicago" -- she wasn't all that good, and she really wasn't hard-boiled enough to be Mama Morton. Not to mention that I found it very hard to believe that, at that time in history, a black woman would have a position like that. (Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying that's how it *should* have been, just how it historically *was*.)

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

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[–] bobbysoxer69 17 years ago

I knew that Bette would regret turning down that part in Sister Act eventually.

Every time I see that film I always feel so sad that Bette turned down that role, it was made for her and she would have walked the part, she is awesome.

Can you imagine Bette doing that singing at the end with those nuns and really letting everything rip, what a shame she turned it down.

However I do like Whoopi, she is funny and acts the way Bette would have done and she made a good replacement for Bette.

At least we get to see two of the Harlettes in this movie, Jennifer Lewis and Charlotte Crossley, so some presence of Bette is still there.

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] shazeroon 16 years ago

whoopi was fantastic in the role!!

this face, the infection which poisons our love

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[–] Moonlighting 15 years ago

A big part of the reason why Bette didn't do Sister Act was because of how long it took for the movie to be developed. Paul Rudnik came up with the concept in the mid-80's, and she showed interest in it. There's a great article somewhere online about the development hell of Sister Act- basically almost every screenwriter and script doctor in Hollywood worked on the script (including Carrie Fisher lol). Through this time, Bette had her own production company, developing Beaches, For the Boys and Stella.

She would've been amazing! But I think it's quite clear that after she dropped out of the film it was again rewritten for Whoopi. I would love to see one of the earlier drafts- apparently there were about twice as many songs and it was practically a musical when Bette was supposed to be playing Deloris.

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[–] MetFanMac 15 years ago

Rudnik wrote a mildly amusing account of that saga in The New Yorker... we have the issue in the library somewhere.

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