A visit with legendary Hollywood "ghost voice" Marni Nixon

[navyluvr08]

That's how horrible Hollywood can be. You might have so much talent but because you're not "beautiful" they wont allow you to show your face. Or you have zero talent but a pretty face so they put you in. It's awful! Marni Nixon should've gotten more attention.

[Mr1958louief]

She has an Outstanding Vocal Range!!

[witwikkie]

I actually got to meet her and talk to her :D

[zamyrabyrd]

@witwikkie Lucky you! She really does deserve an Honorary Oscar or some equivalent. Her singing as professional could stand on its own but it is near incredible to have channeled it into actresses with different styles and voice timbre - a double achievement.

[pwthcim]

Why didn't they take out her voicebox and brain wiring for singing and put it into the people who needed to sing like her? We have the technology! Portable Talent Inc.

[opsvideo2008]

Wow ! What talent. Thank you Ms Marni Nixon for letting the world enjoy your melodious singing. May God continue to bless you richly.

[opsvideo2008]

I am truly impressed by the body of musical works done by Ms Marni Nixon. She is indeed a great singer and a great lady. I hope Hollywood will honour her with some sort of award and recognition for bringing so much joy to the world through her singing.

[Buelligan88]

I never knew Ms Nixon's son was the singer/songwriter Andrew Gold whom recently passed away.

My condolences.

[Lorsonline]

Immediate chills the second this video started.

[Xtubelis]

A national treasure, but who gives a shit when there's Am. Idol?

[rmtmiller]

I hope she got a ton of money for her work.

[Rkerekes13]

Marni Nixon has such a lovely voice!

[Vogler9]

Marni Nixon must be one of the most brilliant persons from Hollywood.

[mazzini0]

Marni Nixon deserves an award. An Oscar, a Grammy. I don't know.

[EmpireLS56KW]

Wow this is cool interview because its fooled me! I have

The King and I

West Side Story

My Fair Lady

Yes the timber speech pattern as she mentioned wow fooled my ears LOL 

Its indisguisable and transparently smooth in frequency.

[MTondeleo]

The anecdote just mentioned was told by a forgotten but reliable source when I was a physics grad student at UCLA and moonlighted backstage with sets and props over at Opera Workshop, where I got to rub elbows with Marni Nixon, Lotfi Mansouri, Carol Burnett, and Maralin Niska.

[MTondeleo]

I wonder if a story about Nixon is true or apocryphal. A performance (what?) starting with orchestra, a long a-capella choral segment, soprano solo by Nixon, and again orchestra. To the conductor's horror (who?), chorus dropped in pitch until terribly flat. Nixon started her solo where the chorus left off, then gradually and imperceptibly, eased the pitch up to where the orchestra was supposed to come in. Maestro silently thanked God for sending this angel to his rescue. Wow!

[eddiebiker1]

Marni Nixon had a massive career in her own right as a classical singer and also in revivals of many musical shows. Read the book...it's all there.

[82abnoff]

Not too bad.

[janinej54]

She was a classmate of my mother's, and has dubbed quite a bit. She was also in The Sound of music as a nun btw.

[EmpireLS56KW]

LOL now Ive seen the youtube version of The Sound of Music "cant" if that rings any bells LOL

[Etnecserc]

Hey! I knew for a long time that Marni Nixon dubbed those movies but I didn't know she's a good looking broad.

[powerfulpowerzz]

was there dubbing done in the sweeney todd movie?

[alxesp]

Helena Bonham-Carter that the voice training was too hard, but she had to prove more than anyone else to the director (her husband) that she was fit for the role of Mrs Lovett.

Anyway, in this role, the difficulty of the songs lies in their reciting, not in high-pitched ornaments. Angela Lansbury played Mrs Lovett on stage, and she has quite a plain singing voice, but very recitative-like.

[jemb2000]

@alxesp Have you heard Angela Lansbury's tracks from Gypsy? She certainly didn't speak-sing through them.

[EmpireLS56KW]

Only watched the DVD once I found it deeply depressing story it was okay but too much of downer I mean deep downer. Not saying its was rubbish just made me feel sad at the end of the film.

[aeliveurlife]

i don't think anyone had their voice dubbed in sweeney todd. if i'm not mistaken all sang.

[freestuffffff]

Ms. Nixon is amazing. Glad the secret came out when it did. (Btw, nobody I know ever thought that was Ms. Kerr, Ms. Wood, or Ms. Hepburn when those movies first were released.) Too bad Hollywood can't be like Bollywood, where the convention of song dubbing is accepted, and the "playback singers" are revered just as much as the actors. Question though:  where did she acquire the surname "Nixon?" Wikipedia gives no clue.

[pitberlin]

The good old school....

We will miss them.

[xXxskayaxXx]

a great star

[justmaz2004]

isnt it amazing after all these years none of us feels cheated knowing marni did the singing and the others just acted it out .

[thedayyuman]

hear, hear!

[silvershields]

ill third that!

[FLAGENHAW]

oh my gosh! those are my two favourite movies!!!! (ok, i also have Howl's Moving Casle on the list, but whatever) I can't believe she did those songs!!!!!!!! I would have never known!!! but... looking and them, you do kinda get the feeling they may not sing so well

love both movies!!!! this woman should have an Oscar or something!

[thedayyuman]

that should be interesting. an Oscar or a Tony's for best dubbing voice! lol

seriously, she is awesome.

[adballet]

I agree, for lifetime achievement maybe.

[meavid]

I used to love watching Boomerang starring her and Norbert and Libby

[kannika12]

Thanks so much, gifted voice.

[faeriegirl84]

What an interesting career. It must be very satisfying to be a professional that can be relied on to make things great when the "stars" can't bring the goods.

[BofferBings]

Thanks! I enjoyed this. Her voice always sounded so effortlessly beautiful.

[ontheinternet2]

She's my great Aunt!!!!!

[AlANeptune]

Gratz.

[BEVERYCUMMINS]

She deserves an Oscar for the body of work she has done

[missuniworld]

i'm agree with u

[kakaduty]

@BEVERYCUMMINS Yep!! I think the same!!

[rialou22]

Dang, she looks great!

[tall32guy]

I'm sure she'd be offended by this but I'd thought all this time she'd died years ago! LOL I could never remember if she was alive or not.

[EnglishBayley]

Marni Nixon, one of the most fabulous singing voices to have ever taken a breath. She not only hits the notes but has such a wonderful ability to convey the meaning of the song. For those of you who love Marni check out the wonderful Dutch soprano Elly Ameling. Many similarities in their craft.

[princessdisney26]

She should be honored in Hollywood-does she have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? She really should! I am in love w/ her voice!

[68NYC]

Hmmm...

I've known about "West side Story" and a few others but this was interesting-

Thanks.

[ShockDoc]

Many dont know her son is pop singer/songwriter Andrew Gold (Thank You 4 Being a Friend, Lonely Boy)

[homie413]

Really? Yea, I didn't know that. That's cool. I love 'Thank You for Being a Friend'! I watch the Golden Girls and that's the theme song (diff version than his)

[Mike6E]

She didn't sing that song, it was performed by Cynthia Fee.

[homie413]

Oh yeah, I know Marni didn't sing it. I was just saying that's cool that her son is Andrew Gold. I didn't know that.

And that I like that song. And love it on GG.

[nominext]

she should have a monument in hollywood.

[brabon]

ms nixon deserves a lifetime achievment award from the oscars

[Broadway4444]

She singed my Pay Pill today!

[Littlelotte502]

She is so amazing and she still is amazing!!!! I got to sing for her at a class she taught...it was a dream come true!

[Kismetico]

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou for this clip, which Ive just watched twice and I want the book!!

Being in Thailand and sooon Cambodia, a pal in Australia will get it to me( Amazon were less than helpful, previously).

Finally seen Marni interviewed.And great she can still sing.

Recently turned 78, what a dynamic lady. Much Love to MY fair lady!And to the talented ladies she ghosted for, bless them in Heaven -Natalie, Audrey and the exquisite Ms Kerr.

[mezzomaria]

Last year she came out with an autobiography that knocks your socks off! She has sung it all and been there and done that! With warmth, grace, and perspective. WOW!!!

[dido93]

I've got two "treasures": her two Reference recordings albums, Gershwin and Kern...

Her voice is simply "delicious"...perfect for that repertoire...

[GrahamMercer]

I second that! Her 2 recordings for Reference Recordings are a benchmark and are highly recommended to one and all!

[welch57]

Looking back on Marni Nixon's fascinating movie career, I would like to suggest that she be given an Honorary Oscar. After all, as a 'ghost' singer to the leading lady, she contributed to two Oscar winning Best Films (West Side Story, My Fair Lady). Ms Nixon has never been given proper credit for her work, which has constantly been revived in cinema, TV, DVD and CD reissues. She is a beautiful human being, with a beautiful voice who should be rewarded.

[54nomore]

I agree w/you 100%.I could'nt of said it any better..

[Unklebillybob]

@welch57 I know your post was three years ago, but you couldn't be more correct.

[rcktmanil]

I saw the show last night.. it really was wonderful! And once I realized that Marni Nixon was playing Mrs. Higgins, I realized I was in the presence of greatness. What a wonderful interview! She's a gem!!!

[justmeeh2004]

thanks!

[piccaluteti]

Thnx for the video! poor Marni! no one knows her untill today.

[FranklinParkIL]

A gem of an interview! The film clips are beautiful! I never knew.