Tim Curry and Gary Oldman singing M.O.T.H.E.R. - Schmoedipus

The film Schmoedipus was made for the BBC 'Play For Today' series in 1974. Tim Curry sings and plays M.O.T.H.E.R. on the piano to his 'mother'. From the very first line his performance is exceptional, that voice!

There was an American re-make of Schmoedipus filmed in 1988, this time with actor Gary Oldman playing Tim Curry's role. He sings the same song and I uploaded both versions so you could compare by yourself.

I must say that I've spent the last 10 years admiring Gary Oldman's version believing it the only one filmed. Only this month I discovered Tim Curry's rendition and I have to say that I now prefer Tim Curry. What a performance! So subtle and dark and sweet, all at the same time; voice and acting. A disturbing yet fascinating role.

About Schmoedipus: it is a dark story, between 'mother' and 'son'. Tim plays an androgynous but sexually threatening man-boy. He is a threatening outsider, who comes to the home of a middle aged couple, and is drawn to the wife. That's one way to understand it. Another is that the woman is imagining him, and that he is the son she smothered a few days after his birth, many years ago.

It is understood that only ONE copy exists in the New York Film Museum. It's never been on TV since 1974 and probably will never be. If you are lucky enough to live in NY you can go to the museum and book a screening!

Just in case someone is interested in the sheet music in order to play this old tune on the piano, here you can find scans of the music and lyrics: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.100007859/contactsheet.html

Category:

Film & Animation

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• Schmoedipus
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• english
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• british

[emilyg21]

Oh, dear. If I was the actress playing the mother, it would take everything in my will power to not just rape Tim then and there.

Beeeautiful voice!!!

[malfoysbabexoxo]

Oh my God, Tim curry's voice <3 He could sing me right to sleep. You can hear the love, and emotion so clearly in his voice. And I agree, tripilexx001, extremely seductive ;)

[sugarland588275]

How can I possibly choose my favorite???!!! OK, I pick...Tim's voice and Gary's face. Fair? :)

[inanotherlife1]

@SpiderXxPirate Sad, but true story. I had tickets to see Tim in Amadeus. When I got to the theater, I found out that he was on sabbatical for month while he was filming Annie. When I had tickets for Spamalot, I went to the theater 6 hours early, just to make sure he was there. He was and was absolutely amazing!

[SpiderXxPirate]

@inanotherlife1 Nice!! I didn't know that! I'd kill to see that

[inanotherlife1]

Tim's voice is superior in technique and tone. Plus, his version fits the play. The character is supposed to be innocent and seductive, and seductive is what Tim Curry does best!

[inanotherlife1]

@SpiderXxPirate Tim Curry was the original Mozart on Broadway. He was nominated for a Tony but lost to Ian McKellan who played Salieri.

[SpiderXxPirate]

Both of their voices are delicious <3

[MisterOfan]

It's always Gary for me, what a voice. He makes me melty. <3

[SarahMarsters1]

Tim, without a doubt! His voice..it's so deep and sensual. I love it :)

[caterpillargirl84]

@charliekaiser I couldn't agree more!