MovieChat Forums > Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) Discussion > Was Holly/Wiest's singing supposed to be...

Was Holly/Wiest's singing supposed to be bad?

posted 9 years ago by GuyOnTheLeft
10 replies | jump to latest

The way it was set up, when her character Holly was shopping with Hannah, they talked about her audition for a musical, and Hannah was a bit dubious since she didn't think of Holly as really being able to sing. Holly protested that she could sing, more or less; but she didn't sound very convinced herself.

Then we see her sing a song at the audition, and to my ears it sounded quite good! The producers or directors or whoever, who were listening to people audition, seemed complimentary but not in a fake or "just being polite" kind of way. She apparently did not get the part, though (I'm not sure if that was the one she was rejected for because she had a "weird look"?). So I'm not sure how we are supposed to take that audition. In that respect it reminds me, actually, of the comedy material seen at the end of The King of Comedy.

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[–] Etxpeme 8 years ago

On the subtitles for impaired I have it says she's ''singing off-key''. I myself didn't find it to be awful but not that great either. I guess it was ok but not good enough.

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[–] GuyOnTheLeft 8 years ago

Huh. Interesting move, for the movie to make it that ambiguous.

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[–] Fleur_de_lis 8 years ago

Yes, IMO, Hannah's flaw was that she was accuate in her assessment of other people, and blind to her own circumstances.

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[–] GuyOnTheLeft 8 years ago

So why did her singing sound good to me? Believe me, I'm not just some easy mark who thinks all singers sound great.

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[–] skohl632001 8 years ago

Mediocre. Not much range. And certainly not "Broadway musical" worthy.

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[–] GuyOnTheLeft 8 years ago

That's awfully subtle, though, to get a clear message across to audiences. I'm not saying she had to have some horrific, over-the-top screech, but I feel like there could have been a middle ground if that's what they were trying to get across.

Have you seen King of Comedy, BTW? Because as I say, that was the other really maddeningly ambiguous case that came to mind, and I've gotten into plenty of debate on that in the boards.

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[–] skohl632001 8 years ago

I actually think Allen's intention was even MORE subtle. Re-watching it last night I was struck by how shy and inhibited she acted while she sang. Check out her body language...hands crossed in front of her...slightly hunched over...projecting no confidence or stage presence whatsoever. And then remember, in the previous scene, how Hannah whether on purpose or accidentally (that part is very much open to debate) destroys whatever small amount of confidence Holly had when telling her of the audition.

I absolutely believe that Allen wanted to get across the idea that Hannah had gotten into her head,

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[–] GuyOnTheLeft 8 years ago

Ooh, interesting idea!

And yeah, I think her sister does seem to have a tendency to undermine her "accidentally on purpose". Good call.

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[–] Fleur_de_lis 8 years ago

Did April sound good to you too? What about Keaton in Annie Hall? Just curious, as I have no background in singing other than as a consumer, and thought they all sounded mediocre at best.

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[–] GuyOnTheLeft 8 years ago

I don't remember. Do you have links to video (or audio, even) of those singing perfs?

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