Santa
Evita
After
Superstar, the next theatrical project Tim Rice and
Andrew Lloyd Webber were going to do was Jeeves. Then in
1973, Tim heard about ten minutes of a radio programme
in his car about Eva Peron, and the idea for Evita came
to life. Tim researched Eva Peron (second wife of
Argentine president Juan Peron), and even visited
Argentina in February of 1974. Andrew staged Jeeves with
Alan Ayckbourn providing the book and lyrics in 1975,
and then he and Tim began serious work on Evita.
Tim's
very factual first draft of the show was discarded. Hal
Prince wanted to do a stage production, but had ideas of
his own about what should be done and was booked for at
least a year. Instead of going to the stage first, Tim
and Andrew followed their previous route, and released a
double album of the show-to-be in November of 1976.
(Andrew and Tim also produced the recording.) Julie
Covington sang the part of Eva Peron, and her
"Don't Cry For Me Argentina" reached number 1
on the charts in February of 1977 (and reached the
number one slots in other countries as well). Colm
Wilkinson (then going by the name C. T. Wilkinson) sang
the part of Che, Paul Jones was Juan Peron, and Tony
Christie sang the part of Magaldi. Barbara Dickson, as
Peron's Mistress, had a hit with "Another Suitcase
In Another Hall". In Britain, Australia, South
Africa, South America, and various parts of Europe,
sales of Evita were greater than sales of Superstar
had been.
Julie
Covington refused to repeat her role on stage, saying
that the message of the piece would be lost -- and the
search for someone to play Eva Peron was on. The prize
role went to 27-year-old Elaine Paige, the most notable
of whose numerous credits was originating the part of
Rita in the 1974 musical Billy which starred
Michael Crawford. Pop singer David Essex was signed on
as Che in late April, Joss Ackland was Juan Peron,
Siobhan McCarthy was Peron's Mistress, and Mark Ryan
played Magaldi. The show was directed by Harold Prince,
and presented by Robert Stigwood in association with
David Land. Prior to the show opening, a book containing
information about the Peron regime and the lyrics to the
songs in the musical written by Tim and Andrew was
released. It was called Evita: The Legend Of Eva
Peron 1919-1952, was published by Elm Tree books,
and sold for three pound ninety-five pence. Tim went to
book signings in early June. Despite allegations of
fascism, the original album went platinum just before
the show opened.
When
Evita opened at the Prince Edward Theater on 21
June 1978, the box office advance had exceeded $500,000.
Elaine Paige won rave reviews, becoming a star over
night and later receiving a SWET award -- as did the
show. David Essex had a number 3 hit with "Oh What
A Circus" arranged by Mike Batt.
The
Broadway production opened on 25 September 1979 with
Patti LuPone in the title role at the Broadway Theatre.
(There had been discussion of Elaine Paige coming to the
US, but nothing ever came of it.) Mandy Patinkin played
Che, Bob Gunton was Peron, Jane Ohringer played Peron's
Mistress, and Mark Syers was Magaldi. The show and cast
won seven Tony Awards at the 8 June 1980 ceremony held
at the Mark Hellinger, including Best Broadway Musical,
Best Score of a Broadway Musical shared by Andrew and
Tim, and the Tony for Best Book of a Broadway Musical
for Tim. The show went on to play around the world in
various places such as Madrid, Sydney, and Vienna.
The
rumors for a movie of Evita began after its London
opening. Of all the women considered for the title role,
the two who had proved how well they could play Eva
Peron -- Elaine Paige and Patti LuPone -- seemed to have
been barely thought about.
In
1981 Paramount acquired the rights, with Robert Stigwood
slated to co-produce. Ken Russell was brought on to
direct, but then was dismissed from the project. The
idea of Evita as a movie didn't go away though, and in
the mid 80's Madonna decided she wanted in the picture
and met with Stigwood. In 1987/88, Oliver Stone became
involved and Weintrabu Entertainment Group (WEG)
acquired the film rights from Paramount. Madonna was
still looking to star in the picture, but reportedly she
meet with Oliver Stone for 15 minutes and found they
could not work together.
By
1989 Meryl Streep was supposed to be staring in the
picture, but both she and WEG later backed out. In 1990
Stigwood struck a deal with Disney, and in early June
he, Tim, Andrew, Madonna, and Disney executives met in
New York to discuss the project. Jeffrey Katzenberg,
chairman of the Disney film studio, was said to be very
pro-Evita and pro-Madonna. The director eventually
picked was Glenn Gordon Caron.
In
January of 1991, Meryl Streep was reportedly upset that
Madonna would be staring in the movie -- it looked like
this time there actually was going to be a movie.
However, the estimated budget for the film soon exceeded
what Disney was willing to deal with, and the project
was put on hold yet again . . .
Until
1993 when Disney decided to try again, with Oliver Stone
as director (again). Stone closed the deal with Disney
on 10 December 1993. Tim said at a gathering for The
Lion King in July of 1994 that he got signed on to
Disney because he "was walking around the Disney
lot, hoping someone would make a film of 'Evita'. I'm
still waiting.".
Instead
of Madonna, Michelle Pfeiffer was named the Evita-to-be
in 1994, with Antonio Banderas as Che. The movie was
still in Disney and Stone's hands. Stone met with
Argentine president Carlos Menem in the summer of 1994
who at first seemed agreeable, but then decided that the
movie could not be shot on location after all. And then
it got quiet again.
In
late March 1995, the talks began yet again. Madonna was
signing a deal with Arnold Rifkin who was friends with
Andrew G. Vajna -- who was in control of the movie with
Robert Stigwood. In a round about way, it meant that the
movie with Madonna was on again.
This
time the plans did not slink back into oblivion.
After
many, many years of planning -- and many proposed
directors and proposed stars -- the movie of Evita
has finally been made. The estimated cost of the movie is
about $56 million. Robert Stigwood, Alan Parker, and
Andrew G. Vajna are the producers. Cinergy is the name of
the production company, and Alan Parker directed.
Hollywood Pictures released the film in the US and in
Latin America; Paramount released it in Germany and Japan.
It stars Madonna as Eva Peron, with Antonio Banderas as
Che (the Guevara has be droppped), Jonathan Pryce as Juan
Peron, and Jimmy Nail as Magaldi. David Caddick is the
musical director.
Early
in 1996, Madonna reportedly tried to contact all those who
had played the role of Eva Peron before to gather
information about the part. Madonna arrived in Buenos
Aires on Saturday, 20 January 1996 to began filming on
location. Her presence stirred up publicity between
die-hard Madonna fans thrilled at her arrival, and
die-hard Peronists horrified at her portraying their
"Saint". As late as 19 February, Menem was still
deciding whether or not the movie would allow scenes to be
shot at the Casa Rosada (the Presidential Palace). He
eventually agreed, and the Casa Rosada scenes were shot on
9 and 10 March 1996 with extras from the local population.
By the end of March, Madonna was receiving more acceptance
in the role. After the filming in Buenos Aires, the
shooting was moved to Budapest, Hungary for six weeks, and
then onward to wrap up shooting in London. The entire
filming for Evita finished on Saturday, 25 May, and
the editing began on 14 June.
For
the film, the song "The Lady's Got Potential"
has been included with all new lyrics except for the
Cinderella bit. Madonna will sing "Another Suitcase
In Another Hall". Most of "The Art Of The
Possible" has been cut. An entire new song, "You
Must Love Me", has been added for the final bedroom
scene. A 10-minute preview of the movie was shown at the
Cannes Film Festival in June of 1996, and received glowing
reviews and praise. A special about the making of Evita,
with interviews with Madonna, was shown on MTV in June of
1996. A minute and a half trailer for the film was
released on 31 July.
The
complete soundtrack release date was changed from 12
November 1996 to 5 November and then back to 12 November
in the US, and it was released on 25 November 1996
internationally. The first single was to have been
"You Must Love Me" with "Oh What A
Circus" on the B side -- it was to be shipped to US
radio stations on 1 October 1996, and available for
purchase in stores on 15 October. Instead, "You Must
Love Me" was released to the public on 29 October in
the US and on 21 October in the UK with "Rainbow
High" on the B side.
On 9
October, the video for "You Must Love Me" was
shown on MTV, and the single started to receive airplay.
("Don't Cry For Me Argentina" , "Another
Suitcase In Another Hall", and "Buenos
Aires" were to be issued later.) The video premiered
on MTV Europe on 15 October 1996.
"You
Must Love Me" entered Billboard's Hot 100 Airplay
chart, published on 26 October 1996, at number 55. It was
the highest-charting debut single that week. It debuted at
#10 in the UK charts.
A
Uni-CD highlight album of the show has been available
Internationally (with the US and Canada being exceptions).
The Warner Brothers double CD soundtrack was available in
stores starting on 12 November 1996 in the US, 18 November
in the UK, and was available on 25 November 1996
Internationally. The soundtrack is orchestrated by Andrew
Lloyd Webber with additional orchestrations by David
Cullen. It is produced by Nigel Wright, Alan Parker,
Andrew Lloyd Webber, and David Caddick. It debuted at
number 6 on Bilboard's Top Ten albums list. By mid-may May
1997, the soundtrack had sales of over 2 million in the
US.
Evita
premiered in Los Angeles at the Shrine Auditorium on 14
December 1996. The London premiere was on 20 December
1996. It opened on Wednesday, 25 December in New York City
and Los Angeles, with the world premiere on 10 January
1997 in the United States and 17 January 1997 in other
countries.
To
accompany the film, Alan Parker has written a book --
which came out in both hardcover and paperback in December
1996 -- called "The Making of Evita" which
includes 140 movie stills.
The
film ended its first week at number two.
"Don't
Cry For Me Argentina" has enjoyed chart success as a
dance mix. The International version was released in
January 1997. After one day of US sales, it appeared at
#17 on the Billboard Singles Chart.
Evitawas
nominated for five Golden Globe Awards: Best Musical or
Comedy, Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy (Madonna),
Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy (Antonio Banderas), Best
Director (Alan Parker), Best Original Song ("You Must
Love Me"). The 54th annual Golden Globe Awards
ceremony was held on 19 January 1997. Evita won
three of the five -- Best Musical or Comedy, Madonna as
Best Actress, and Best Original Song for "You Must
Love Me". Tim Rice accepted the award for the song
and paid tribute to the late David Land.
"Another
Suitcase In Another Hall" was Internationally
released in March 1997. It debuted at #7 in the UK charts
in the last week of March. There are two international
releases, one featuring "You Must Love Me" and
movie postcards, and the other with "You Must Love
Me" and "Don't Cry For Me Argentina". The
US release of the single has been cancelled.
Evita
was nominated for five Oscars at the 69th annual Academy
Awards (art direction, cinematography, film editing,
original song, sound), and won for the song "You Must
Love Me". Tim and Andrew accepted the Oscar together
at the ceremony held on 24 March 1997. This marks Tim's
third original song Oscar ("A Whole New World"
with Alan Menken & "Can You Feel The Love
Tonight" with Elton John) and Andrew's first.
Although
the release of the "Buenos Aires" single has
been put on hold world-wide, several radio stations have
received copies. A highlight album, Evita: Selections
From The Motion Picture Soundtrack was available
internationally by July 1997, except in the US. The US
debut was slated for 17 June, but has since been moved to
29 July 1997.
For
home use, Evita is/will be coming out on video and
laserdisc.
The
video was available for rental in the UK on 23 June 1997,
15 July 1997 in Argentina, and was released in the US on 5
August. It should be in video stores world-wide by mid
September 1997. After about six months from the time the
video was available to rent, it will go on sale to the
general public.
There
will be three laserdisc versions of the film, to be
released 19 August 1997 : Dolby Digital widescreen, DTS
wide screen, and a special edition version from Criterion.
The prices are tentatively set at around $40, $60, and
$125 respectively. The movie itself is 135 minutes, but
the Criterion disc also includes screen tests, demo tapes,
commentary by Alan Parker, a 42 minute programme "The
Making Of Evita", trailers, and the "You Must
Love Me" video.
