Mami Nixon - What a Voice!

[bhryun]

While I was watching Audrey Hepburn lip-sync to "I Could Have Danced All Night" in My Fair Lady, I was thinking about the woman some people don't even know about - the one with THE voice. Mami Nixon also did Natalie Woods singing in WestSide Story and Deborah Kerr's in The King & I. ( I've had arguments about the Natalie Wood thing.)

She has such a fabulous voice - just think of all the songs she sings in those three films!!!

I'd like some background on Ms. Nixon if anyone knows anything or where I might find out.

 

Also im sure there are other behind-the-scenes singers that dont get recognized, post them please if any come to mind. Thanks!

[classicsfan1119]

There is a thread in the Information Please Forum titled "Ask Mongo", and because this is a very good question, I bet that he would be more than happy to tell you more about Marnie Nixon (and other singers like her) if you post this question in that thread. Give it a try! Many of us here have a very special affection for Marnie Nixon and will be equally interested in his answer.

;)ML

[path40a]

There is some interesting bits and a small bio about Marni Nixon on imdb.com:

 

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0633262/bio

 

which says that she also dubbed Margaret O'Brien's voice in "The Secret Garden (1949)" and appears as a nun in "The Sound of Music (1965)", singing a bit in "how do you solve a problem like Maria?". A talented singer, to be sure!

[richardny4me]

Only 2 or 3 years ago Marni Nixon appeared on Broadway in the Roundabout Theater Company's revival of the Stephen Sondheim musical Follies. She still had a wonderful voice.

[brackenhe]

She recently appeared on the AFI's 100 Years-100 Songs special last summer. I agree she has a great voice.

 

I also wanted to add that Richard Beymer was also dubbed in West Side Story. I think Larry Kert was the singer but I can't be sure of that. As much as I love that movie, I can't understand why they picked non singers (well, not professional singers) for that movie. I think even Rita Moreno was dubbed too.

[bggalaxy]

Yes Rita's voice was dubbed on one song "A Boy Like That"?

I believe is the title - The duet with Woods (Nixon)after the rumble. I'm not sure why, the singer who dubbed Rita on this song did not mesh well with Nixon.

I've seen the original takes of Woods (I Feel Pretty)and Hepburn (Wouldn't it be Lovely - I think) singing, though they weren't bad at all - Nixon made the songs.

[d120421]

Nixon's certainly a very talented singer and has proven her talent as a vocal double for some of the biggest musical films of the 1950s and 1960s.

 

Still, her very bright, "pingy" monochromatic soprano isn't my favorite type of voice. While I thought Nixon made a good try at dubbing for Audrey Hepburn in MY FAIR LADY, and did well enough in the "lady" songs, in my opinion the weakest part of "Hepburn's" performance as the flower girl Eliza is Nixon's too refined, sedate and "pretty" soprano vocalizing. I think it takes a lot of the "earthy" personality abd spontaneity out of these narvelous songs.

 

In my opinion, Nixon's best job of "ghost singing" was for Deborah Kerr in THE KING AND I. Kerr reportedly did some of her own singing on the soundtrack including all of "I Whistle a Happy Tune", and introductory portions of "Getting To Know You" and "Shall We Dance?", and her vocals were melded with Nixon's so that Nixon's singing covered the higher notes and more sustained passages. For example, Nixon reportedly sang all of "Hello Young Lovers" because the vocal line for this song is so sustained.

 

As for other "unsung" vocal doubles. Here are a few more:

 

It was Betty Wand who dubbed Rita Moreno's vocals in WEST SIDE STORY, and, from what I've read, she dubbed all of Moreno's singing in the film, not just "A Boy Like That." Wand also dubbed Leslie Caron's vocals in GIGI. I think it was Jimmy Bryant who dubbed Richard Beymer's vocals in WSS.

 

Although Juanita Hall had originated the role of "Bloody Mary" in the Broadway version of SOUTH PACIFIC, when she appeared in the film version, her vocals were dubbed by Muriel Smith who had played the role in London and whose voice Rodgers and Hammerstein reportedly preferred in the part to Hall's. Rosanno Brazzi's vocals in the same film were dubbed by Metropolitan Opera basso Giorgio Tozzi, while John Kerr's were dubbed by Bill Lee.

 

Lee also did the vocalizing for Matt Mattox ("Lonesome Polecat", etc.) and some of the other "brothers" in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, as well as dubbing Christopher Plummer's vocals in THE SOUND OF MUSIC. You can catch a glimpse of Bill Lee in the 1965(?) television version of R & H's CINDERELLA (the one with Lesley Anne Warren). In the "The Prince is Giving a Ball" number, Lee is the "father" who recites the line: "Our daughter's looking dreamy-eyed.

 

Among other "ghost vocalists", singer Carole Richards dubbed the vocals for Vera-Ellen in the film version of CALL ME MADAM and for Cyd Charisse in the film versions of both BRIGADOON and SILK STOCKINGS. Louanne Hogan performed similar duties for Jeanne Crain, dubbing Crain's songs in both STATE FAIR and CENTENNIAL SUMMER.

 

For his rendition of "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody" in THE GREAT ZIEGFELD (1936), tenor Dennis Morgan (then billed as Stanley Mormer) was dubbed by MGM star tenor Allan Jones. Singer Tony Martin's vocals as the radio singer of "When I'm With You" for the Shirley Temple film, POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL (1936) were dubbed by popular band vocalist Dick Wood, while Jack Haley's vocals as the popular radio crooner who suffers from "mike fright" in the Alice Faye vehicle, WAKE UP AND LIVE (1937) were dubbed by popular singer Buddy Clark. Clark also dubbed the vocals for actor Mark Stevens in I WONDER WHO'S KISSING HER NOW?

 

Nan Wynn dubbed Rita Hayworth's vocals for both of her musicals with Fred Astaire YOU'LL NEVER GET RICH and YOU WERE NEVER LOVELIER (I think she may also have dubbed Hayworth in MY GAL SAL), while Martha Mears did the honors for Hayworth in COVER GIRL and Anita Ellis dubbed her in GILDA. Ellis also dubbed Vera-Ellen's vocals in THREE LITTLE WORDS.

 

Dramatic soprano Eileen Farrell dubbed Eleanor Parker's vocals for the film biogpraphy of Australian dramatic soprano, INTERRUPTED MELODY. Popular singer Jane Froman dubbed Susan Hayward's vocals for the filmization of Froman's life story, WITH A SONG IN MY HEART.

 

A pre-Broadway bound Mary Martin dubbed Margaret Sullavan's vocals ("Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag") in THE SHOPWORN ANGEL, while a pre-Met Opera Marilyn Horne dubbed the vocals for Dorohty Dandridge in CARMEN JONES.

 

Perhaps the most unusual case of "ghost vocals" were those used for Debbie Reynolds in SINGIN' IN THE RAIN. Although the film's plot has Reynolds' unknown extra "Kathy Selden" allegedly dubbing both the singing and the speaking voice for Jean Hagen's adenoidal movie diva "Lina Lamont", in reality, when the time came to dub "Lina's" speaking voice (e.g., "Nothing will keep us apart. Our love will last till the stars turn cold."), it was Hagen, using her own naturally cultured and refined speaking voice who actually spoke the lines for Reynolds, whose voice at that time was considered too "Texas accented" to speak the lines convincingly. Thus, Hagen ended up dubbing Reynolds dubbing Hagen.

 

Only in Hollywood!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[brackenhe]

Good info about the dubbing of voices, although I'm surprised about Dennis Morgan because I thought he was a pretty good singer.

 

Speaking of Eleanor Parker in Interrupted Melody--even though she didn't sing the songs I thought that her lip synching was very well done. It seems like lip synching to opera would be very, very hard and I thought Parker was pretty convincing.

[d120421]

Hi brackenhe:

 

I agree about Dennis Morgan being a very talented singer with a good voice. I'm not sure why MGM chose to dub his voice with Allan Jones's but one reason given was that it was THE big number in a spectacular production that was costing the studio a fortune and they didn't want to have an "unknown" sing it.

 

Of course, the fly in THAT ointment is that they didn't advertise that it was Jones doing the singing, so I'm not sure what the advantage was in having him do the honors anyway. Maybe MGM just got a sense of satisfaction knowing that one of their stars was doing the honors.

 

And I agree 100% that Eleanor Parker's lip synching to Eileen Farrell's vocals in INTERRUPTED MELODY was superlative: possibly the best lip synching job I've ever seen by a non-singer. And the musical program was certainly a daunting one, taking in everything from opera to folk songs to "pop" ("Over The Rainbow", "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree", etc.) Somehow I doubt whether Marjorie Lawrence ever sang all these songs, but Farrell made them all sound like it was a piece of cake for her. Perhaps the most impressive (and varied) vocals of any "ghost singer."

 

Farrell later recalled that Eleanor Parker would show up for the rehearsals and recording sessions whenever she could to study Farrell's breathing, etc. when she sang, so that she could mimic them realistically onscreen. As Parker was then in the process of shooting the Western MANY RIVERS TO CROSS, she would often show up at the recording sessions in the buckskin costume she wore for the film. Farrell also recalled that Parker studied her so carefully and intently that, after the filming for INTERRUPTED MELODY was completed, Parker suffered a mild nervous breakdown and needed to take a few weeks' rest.

 

Apparently, the only one who was not pleased with Farrell's participation in the project was Marjorie Lawrence herself. MGM initially hoped to have Lawrence record the soundtrack to INTERRUPTED MELODY, but, for whatever reason, found the test recordings Lawrence made unacceptable and hired Farrell to do the honors. Farrell enjoyed the project, and, although already a very popular radio vocalist/concert artist in her own right, the best-selling status achieved by the film's soundtrack album was a major boost to her career.

 

Farrell did recall running into Lawrence inadvertently as they were exiting a concert and thinking to herself: as she saw Lawrence's wheelchair approaching, "Betcha that's Marjorie Lawrence...Wonder if she's got a gun?" but recalled that Lawrence swept past her without uttering a word.

 

 

[bhryun]

Thank you all for all the information, especially on all the other singers. This is definitely the right place to go with a film question! And sorry for the misspelling. It was after 2AM and I didnt realize my error until it was already posted. Thanks again!

[richardny4me]

In my opinion, I always thought Ava Gardner's own singing voice from SHOWBOAT was superior to the dubbed in vocalist MGM used. I had the record album and then the CD with Ava' vocals, and I was happy THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT III re-edited some footage to at least let us properly "hear" Ava with the visuals.

 

India Adams is another vocalist who dubbed quite a few stars. I guess her most famous work was dubbing for Cyd Charisse in THE BANDWAGON...which, because MGM deleted the number "Two-Faced Woman" , she also dubbed for Joan Crawford when she "performed" it in TORCH SONG.

 

But I have never seen INTERUPTED MELODY, I hope TCM airs it soon.

[brackenhe]

richardny4me--You MUST watch Interrupted Melody if you ever see that TCM is showing it if only to watch those scenes where Parker does the songs from different operas. I was watching by myself and said out loud "Wow--what a great job of lip synching" because even though I knew Parker wasn't a singer, I was so impressed. It's worth watching even if her co-star is that stick in the mud Glenn Ford.

 

[path40a]

**** brackenhe, I feel the same way about Ford. But a young Roger Moore was something to behold, eh?

 

I don't know when this one will be aired again, but I do know it was just on in December, 2004 - so it may be a while.

 

BTW, I wrote a full review of this film, which is posted here:

 

http://www.classicfilmguide.com/index.php?s=pageA&item=41

[brackenhe]

Oh yeah, Moore was gorgeous. I've been watching a lot of James Bond movies lately and even when he got a little bit too old for the part, he still looked fabulous.

[d120421]

I think MGM dubbed Ava Gardner's vocals with Annette Warren's voice. However, MGM allowed Gardner's recordings were used on the soundtrack of SHOW BOAT, so she continued to collect royalties from sales of the soundtrack until the day she died.

 

Gardner's voice probably sounded more natural, if less polished, than Warren's, but MGM ruined that version of SHOW BOAT In so many ways, including the staging of Gardner's numbers, that it really wasn't a big deal to me that they dubbed Gardner.

 

A textbook example of MGM's "style over substance" approach and disregard for the special qualities of a groundbreaking musical theater classic.

 

[twtpark]

Marni Nixon was quite a dubber..but she can't compare to Eileen Wilson. Eileen was Ava Gardner's "official" voice double in pix like "The Hucksters", "One Touch of Venus","The Bribe". She dubbed for Mary Astor in "Meet Me in St. Louis", She dubbed for Cyd Charisse. In fact just about all the MGM ladies were dubbed by Eileen. She even dubbed for Donna Douglas in Elvis' "Frankie and Johnny".She was a vocalist for the big bands and one of the original stars of TV"s "Your Hit Parade" in the 1950's..Eileen was a star in her own right, but found dubbing for the stars more profitable.

[d120421]

I thought Glenn Ford did very well in INTERRUPTED MELODY. Since I've read how temperamental he could be behind-the-scenes, I'm surprised that he took the role,which was clearly secondary to Parker's despite his top-billing.

 

Eleanor Parker also gave a fine performance, though I thought she was a little too "grand" in a couple of scenes. Eileen Farrell did a marvelous job singing those songs though.

 

Incidentally, in addition to Roger Moore, Stuart Whitman is one of the men who hits on Parker when she's lying on the beach in Mexico. (They subsequently notice her wheelchair and beg off.)

[brackenhe]

Hey D120421--if we all liked the same thing it would be a dull world. I never have been much of a Glenn Ford fan. Actually, I never have felt one way or the other about him but, to me anyhow, he did seem awfully stiff in that movie.

[bggalaxy]

Not to get off the Marnie subject, but Ford is one of those hit and miss actors for me. I have three of his films tape: Blackboard Jungle, Pocketful of Miracles, and The Courtship of Eddie's Father. I've enjoyed a few others but not enough to keep on tape. Odd as it seems, I really got into his westerns as a kid when they would appear on the weekend "Afternoon at the Movies" on the tube.

[bggalaxy]

P.S. Great info D120421 - keep it coming.

[d120421]

Hi brackenhe:

 

Agreed. It would be a very dull world indeed if we all liked the same things. I much prefer discussing our different opinions, preferences, etc. (so long as it's done considerately, of course). Makes life much more interesting.

 

Actually, the performance in INTERRUPTED MELODY I had a problem with was Roger Moore's. It was probably more due to his character than his performance, but I agree with Eleanor Parker that "her success" went to his head. Also, I always wonder how Moore's character, Cecil Lawrence, made a living after Marjorie contracted polio and couldn't work for so long. I assume he managed other performers, but the movie didn't touch on this, nor do I recall Lawrence's memoir doing so.

 

Another intersting sidenote to INTERRUPTED MELODY: MGM soprano Kathryn Grayson has reportedly stated that Marjorie Lawrence vetoed Grayson as a candidate to play her onscreen because Grayson was "too pretty." While Grayson was an attractive and talented vocalist, I can't imagine her light, bright florid coloratura being an appropriate vocal match for Lawrence's enormous dramatic soprano, nor, given audiences' familiarity with Grayson as a singer, can I imagine her being dubbed for the movie by Eileen Farrell or anyone else. I would think audiences would expect to hear Kathryn Grayson.

 

On an unrelated note, while I agree with twtpark that Eileen Wilson was a very talented vocalist, I don't think she dubbed Mary Astor's vocals in MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS. The singer listed on my soundtrack CD of the film dubbing Astor's portion of "You and I" is Denny Markas. Incidentally, the "singer" who dubbed Leon Ames's vocals in the song was MGM producer Arthur Freed.

[brackenhe]

I didn't mean any of my comments to be a putdown of anyone favorites. I'm not like certain people that put down other peoples choices in movies (however, I hate Tom Cruise so I can't understand why people continue to support his career LOL.) Plus I didn't mean to get off topic of the wonderful Marni Nixon.

[path40a]

But as long as we ARE on the topic of Interrupted Melody;-)

 

Something else I read on imdb, which may or may not be true, is that Greer Garson desperately wanted the role and even did some preparation before she left the studio.

[d120421]

Hi Path:

 

I've read that about Greer Garson, too. I believe MGM bought the rights to INTERRUPTED MELODY as a potential vehicle for Garson, who was very interested in playing the role and began preparing for it, but left the studio before the film went into production, so the lead was given to Eleanor Parker.

 

It's certainly a part that would seem to suit Garson and I imagine she could have done a good job with it. The only real potential problem being that she might have been a little too old (late 40s) by the time the film was produced.

 

Incidentally, just so we don't completely forget Marni Nixon, I've read that in addition to THE SECRET GARDEN, she also dubbed Margaret O'Brien's vocals for BIG CITY (1947).

 

She and Deborah Kerr became quite friendly duirng the filming of THE KING AND I, and Kerr was reportedly quite upset that the studio refused to credit Nixon for her contribution to the film on the film's soundtrack recording, but, however it happened, I guess it became general knowledge that Nixon had done the vocals in any case.

 

 

[sabrinakfair2]

I think that Marni Nixon did have an incredible voice and like so many other singers who dubbed movie stars voices she did not receive as much credit as she deserved. I know this might sound a little hyprocritical after I just said that but, even though most of Audrey Hepburn's songs in "My Fair Lady" were dubbed by Nixion I don't think she received her credit due, either. Hepburn didn't have a wonderful singing voice but she had a relatively good one. In "Funny Face" and "Breakfast at Tiffany's" she managed to "get by". Hepburn was led on to believe that she was going to sing all of the songs. When Nixion came in Hepburn was "consoled" when they told her that the majority of her voice would still be in "My Fair Lady". After "taking" Julie Andrews role and the dubbing of her voice she was cheated out of an Oscar that she should have been awarded. Hepburn was a marvelous actress in My Fair Lady and wasn't even nominated that year!!! And even though this really had nothing to do with Marni Nixion herself, (nor do I blame Nixion in any way), there is more behind dubbing. Also I think Nixion was a nun in Sound of Music and I believe she was in the Disney animated film Mulan. I think once you are protrayed as a "dubber" (like in "Singin' the Rain") you have that job forever and it's a shame that Nixion did not get sing and act more often.