The Sound of Music Screen Test - Foreign Dubbing

[thewelford]

I'm in love.

[mylesag2]

I think this was a reserve track when they thought Julie Andrews couldn't do the movie. So Marni had to learn to sing to Julie's voice.

[AlexandreFilho1705]

The "I am so happy they didn't dub Julie" comment made me laugh. Julie Andrews and Marni Nixon are two of the greatest singers I've ever heard. I also love Judy Garland and Edith Piaf.

[ThatsEntourtainment]

ABOUT FOREIGN DUBBING ... The Sound of Music was released in many countries and dubbed in numerous languages. These tests, that feature Marni Nixon, serve to show various foreign dubbing groups the range, style and approximate tempo of each song so that foreign voices, in their native languages, can closely match the English screen version. The TALENTED Marni Nixon, seen here, was not dubbing Julie's voice, per say, just creating a visual reel of reference to be used by foreign dubbing groups.

[hebneh]

Why this is titled "Foreign Dubbing Test" is perplexing...the film was in English, and this is also performed in English. Yet that's what's written on the clapperboard at the start of each segment.

[SognatoreDiStelle]

I prefer Julie because she has a much more modern voice... Narni's voice is too much old style in my opinion

[meggwtw]

Why would it have to be dubbed for foreign films if she's just singing in English? Hmm..

[BernardProfitendieu]

@meggwtw I was wondering the same thing

[gLeEeEeK123]

Beautiful...

[TheTypicalGirl]

Incredible voice!

[corrirosez]

When I was a senior...in High School [many, many, moons ago :) ] my chorus sung this entire medley in a State contest...and won...first place! :) ...it takes me back to the 'good times' :)

[18KATERINIO]

It is the best thing i have ever heard,And she is the most beautiful woman i have ever seen

[lexomil17]

I don't really understand what this footage was about. Wasn't the movie ans the scores enough for the translators?

[jayzcc83]

what a classy lady!!! love her

[spmccauley]

Adorable, poised, brilliant singer and actress.

We saw her on stage as the Mother Superior in Sound of Music. She stopped the show with Climb Every Mountain.  A true star!

[jaidemm]

Not sure why she didn't become an actress.

[lauhurst]

@jaidemm She did, just not in films. She is a stage actress to this day.

[TheGranule]

The movie 'Singing in the Rain' parallels Marni Nixon's life somewhat, though not really about Marni.

I think 'Singing In the Rain' was about Clara Bow, whose career was over when talkies came in in the late 1920s. Clara was said to have a strong Brooklyn accent. The clips on YouTube are probably not her real voice.

[happyhappycarol]

Julie was better.

[JAfan3993]

@happyhappycarol, I agree with you

[showstartsatdusk]

You can see why she was only used for her voice. She really didn't project much screen personality or presence.

[MacNair]

Is it possible this is just a regular screen test for the actress for the general film? She is singing songs that are not even sung by Maria, and Marni did eventually play a nun in the final film.

[DownandOut2008]

Respect To Marni Nixon but what in the name of God is this? Foreign dubbling? The film was in English and the singing here is in English??!!! What?

[adballet]

I love Julie Andrews and the Sound of Music but this is really gourgeous too.

[Kismetico]

Marni Nixon DID go on to have a successful career on stage and in concerts.Opera, plus the leads in My Fair Lady and The King and I (ironic).

The lady at last report is still fit and well, and nearing 80.

Her book 'I Could Have Sung all night' is a warts and all account of a very full professional and personal life. Got it out from my city Library a few months back and really enjoyed Marni's seemingly frank account of her life. She'll always be a star to me.

[Hummybird12]

Marni has a gorgeous voice. She should have done much more. She would have gone so far

[Schrotter0512]

Could anyone please help me and tell me what foreign dubbing is? For different countries, it's clear. But Julie talked and sung in English, so why did they need another English Version?

[Sub40H]

I dont know if I should say this, she could have replaced Julie Andrews in the English version. And she looks good too!

[Deblyn61]

She played one of the nuns

[jayzcc83]

WOW!!! she is wonderful.  give her some credit she can sing.

[pipebearjr]

What a treat to hear Marni Nixon (and see her!) singing these beloved songs. :)

[jspankin]

She sounds like a broke homeless person with throat cancer when compared to Julie Andrews.

Julie's phrasing is fantastic

[iskenderuna]

One has to remember a couple of things. This is a screen test, and the Marni had probably received the music a cpl of days before. That she can sound extremely good (in that type of music) one only hast to listen to the sound tracks of King and I, Westside Story and of course My Fair Lady, where Hepburn and Marni's sung voice were chosen over Julie Andrews (she has never forgiven anyone for that). I agree tho that Andrews has deservedly made this song her own,

[Schrotter0512]

perhaps it's a bit hard to say that julie has never forgiven anyone for that ^^. She was just not taken because she wasn't known well enough at that time, and in an interview she said that she knows that this was the only reason. She said that the media made such a huge story of it.^^

Anyway, I think Marni and Julie both sound great!

[gabrieljlivingston]

well, when the dubbed they ddin't want anyone to know it was dubbed. she says she was sworn to secret or she would be fired. julie andrews voice would have been know and it would have been advious.

[CoreyLeig]

What in the world are you saying??!! Marni´s voice was never chosen over Julie´s!!! Audrey Hepburn got the part of Eliza Doolittle in the movie of My Fair Lady that Julie created on Broadway, and Marnie happened to dub Audrey, but that doesn´t mean that Marni was chosen over Julie for Pete´s sake! As for King and I and West Side Story, Julie was never considered for nor was she even remotely interesed in the dubbing of those movies so again how could Marnie´s voice be chosen over Julie´s?

[iskenderuna]

No, not Marni was chosen over Julie Andrews - I never said that! - but Audrey Hepburn. The only snag: chosing Hepburn meant getting a singing voice dubber. The alternatives were Hepburn (PLUS Marnie) or Julie.

[Schrotter0512]

When she sings "So long, farewell" she grins as if it was the easiest thing in the world to sing that high :D

[hh2fan]

I love Marni Nixon! She's amazing!

[toddsherry]

I met Marni in 1996.  We were both singing on a cruise ship. Her show was amazing and she still sounded just like she did in those films she dubbed. Also, a very nice lady. I saw her again in a musical in LA called 70 Girls 70, probably about 4 years ago now. Still very good. She has perfect pitch, which means she can pull a note out of thin air...just say "sing a B flat" and she can just find that note. Amazing. And her voice in films speaks --or sings--for itself. Magnificent.

[cde123cde]

Were you singing duet with Maini Nixon? you must have good voice also..

[1Hannah730]

They never considered her for the sound of music....did they??? Julie is wayyy too good! well was...

personally i think julie is even BETTER tho they are both amazing!

[jeffreykare]

She ended up getting the role of Sister Sophia.

[12jenny]

i am so happy the didn't dub julie

[N0vakDj]

Why on earth would they dub Julie? Julie's voice is even more amazing than Marni's.

[TheTypicalGirl]

@12jenny Why would they?

[TheTat1992]

@12jenny julie andrews didn't need to be dubbed..haha she had amazing voice.

[supersammie89]

wow... she's so good...

[JohnnyGNV]

What was a "foreign dubbing" test? Did Marni sing for Julie for any of the Foreign release versions of SOM? I know Marni Nixon has recorded in German and French, so I was just wondering.

[rosebunting]

When she did the children's program "Boomerang" in Seattle during the 70's

Marni would sing at the Seattle Center on "Boomerang Saturdays". It was free, and a treat to hear her sing live.

[Broadwayzoso]

I was fortunate to study under her for a short time. She is a beautiful, classy lady, such a talent!!

[costumelady3760]

Fantastic!! I have loved Miss Nixon's voice since I was a little girl. I think her voice an technique is superior to Miss Andrew's. I first found out about her dubbing West Side Story about 10 years ago when I noticed a difference in Miss Woods voice from her singing in "Gypsy". Which is very different. Thank you Miss Nixon for sharing your gift with us. I miss hearing classical voices!

[welch57]

I love this. Thank you for posting it. I am a big fan of Miss Nixon's and treasure this You Tube video - and the signed photo and letter she sent to me in London. She is a gracious, and fascinating lady. Yes. An honorary Oscar is overdue!

[plutopro199415]

She has a nice voice...I was shocked when I learned that was her in West Side Story and My Fair Lady...never noticed haha. But I'm glad Julie Andrews sang in the actual movie.

[ellandelachapelle]

This is Marni??? Gosh. I´ve only heard her VOICE! (one of my BIG favourites.) Why didn't she become a STAR?? My guess: she was too shy! (and preferred only to be HEARD.) Love you, Marni!

[brabon]

marni was/is a voice actress and stage actress...so she wasnt shy, she was just never cast in any large roles...but someday soon, the academy needs to honor her work and present her with an honorary oscar

[patriciaoday]

Class.

Where did that go, btw? Our world is so coarse today.

[JAmusicalfan]

She really has a wonderful voice. It's a shame she never got some big roles to call her own. I ADORE Julie Andrews but you can see why they used Marni Nixon here. She sings everything straightforward and pronounces it all correctly. I noticed her R's stand out more.

[SaxGurl]

Her accent isn't the same as Julie's, so OBVIOUSLY they pronounce things differently. Julie has a beautiful, slightly upper class English accent. Would you really want to take that away?

[JAmusicalfan]

Believe me I love Julie's accent. But when a foreigner has to know what the words are (to translate) they may need to hear every single letter. That's probably why Marnie Nixon is enunciating so well.

[aspottedrabbit]

Believe me. As a non-English speaker, I find Julie Andrews' accent most clear to hear.

Marni sounds great too~

[Littlelotte502]

She is so amazing I got to sing for her it was a dream come true!