Have you ever seen My Fair Lady, West Side Story, or The King and I? They are all beautiful musicals that garnered praise and Academy Awards. Maybe you’re wondering what these movies have in common, besides their type of genre, and the answer is simple: Marni Nixon. No, she was not a director, a producer, or even an extra hanging out on the back of a scene. But even though you didn’t see her on the screen, I’m betting that you heard her.
Marni Nixon was the singing voice for the leading ladies of these movies and more. She was the voice of Maria from West Side Story, Anna from the King and I, and Eliza Doolittle from My Fair Lady. And she was not credited. This was back in the 1960’s when the singers who dubbed the songs for actors and actresses were not given nationwide credit for lending their voices to the big screen. Audiences generally believed that actresses such as Audrey Hepburn, Deborah Kerr, and Natalie Wood had phenomenal singing chops as well as acting talents.
All of these movies have been near and dear to my heart since childhood. It was quite a shock to discover that my dear Audrey Hepburn didn’t actually sing about how “loverly” she felt. Or that maybe while Deborah Kerr could whistle a happy tune, she couldn’t carry one. Even Natalie Wood, miscast as a Puerto Rican, due only to the fact that she was a major star, had me believing that maybe they cast her because of her singing skills. No such luck. Only her thick, fake, Puerto Rican accented lines were her own.
These leading ladies received Academy Award attention for their roles in these musicals. But I think they are fooling themselves if they believe it was merely on their acting abilities. While they are good at acting, the crew of their films misled the audience to believe that they performed their roles in their entirety. Despite the fact that it is decades after the fact, should Marni Nixon receive some type of award for her contributions to these films? What do you think?
(One last little tidbit: Marni Nixon’s last recorded song for a movie was the 1998 Disney film, Mulan, where she was the voice and singing voice of Mulan's feisty Grandma Fa. And Marni was credited for both talking and singing.)
I love musicals. Ok, I should rephrase that statement, I enjoy newer musicals and a select few of older ones. The stories they tell are unique and there is never one exactly like it. To hear that some of the characters didn't actually do what it appears they do is very disappointing.
ReplyDeleteNot going to lie your Blog has shocked me. I had no idea that this kinda of false behavior was happening all through my life and I didn't even know it!!
ReplyDeleteI, like you, have watched these movies since I was very young. I was even in the King and I production when younger and played one of the Kings many children.
It was very interesting learning about this, and I think poor Marni deserves more credit!!
Wow! I never knew any of this! I've seen all of those musicals and not once did I realize that, that was the same voice singing. I really don't think that the other women should have gotten credit for all of it. It was a musical and they didn't even sing in them! I mean they could have gotten credit for their acting but Marni should have gotten most of the credit, fact being all they do is sing!
ReplyDeleteIt was a really interesting read! And, I never would have known this if I hadn't decided to read this.
No way!!! That's craziness! I can't believe that was considered acceptable...and that all of those famous musicals weren't sung by the actresses in them! Sad day.
ReplyDeleteBut that's really awesome that she was the Grandma in Mulan...and that she finally got some credit :)
I have personally never seen these movies, but i saw a few clips on youtube. It awesome. I could never imagine that i would ever like these kinds of movies.
ReplyDeleteI can understand exactly why you liked these movies..
I was not a great fan of american clasical movies, but now as i think about it, its not too bad