Back to Julie... I don't know if she's a Lesbian. I've heard the same rumors for years about her, her choices in husbands, and her relationship with Carol Burnett. Whatever. Another poster mentioned how Julie served as a sort of role model for young Lesbians. Good for her and good for them. Whether she is or not, she helped some young women feel better about themselves and their world! If she really is gay, I hope she has a hot, younger girlfriend who rocks her world. If she really is straight, no harm no foul...

Dubbing in film musicals. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Christopher Plummer was dubbed in The Sound of Music, but I've heard his original vocals, and they would have been fine. Not as "smooth" as Bill Lee's contribution, but in the context of a character who hasn't sung in years he would have been fine. Likewise, there was absolutely no need to dub Jeremy Brett in My Fair Lady. Today's audiences don't tolerate dubbing, so actors have to polish their singing skills if they want to do a film musical these days. I don't imagine this summer's release of In The Heights will have any dubbing at all. In the 60s and 70s the studios still ran things, and they had stars to promote -sometimes at the expense of the material (and the star). So Audrey Hepburn got My Fair Lady, and Natalie Wood got West Side Story. Audrey knew she would be dubbed, and was embarrassed. Natalie was lied to and manipulated and genuinely mortified when the film was released.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Very fun film, and much better in its uncut form (as are so many things...). In its initial release it was barely coherent. The restored scenes and songs show that it was a Disney masterpiece easily on par with Mary Poppins and others. The animated football game is still classic -and incredibly funny. But why go into fights of comparing Lansbury to Julie Andrews -or anyone else for that matter. Lansbury and Andrews are so unalike! It's not a zero-sum game. Both can be wonderful without the other needing to be diminished.

Julie's career. You'd have to be a total idiot to argue that she hasn't been extremely successful both with audiences and critics. She made millions at the box office, picked up awards, and became a household name. She's still working. We should all have such a "terrible" career! Is she a brilliant actress? No, I don't think so. Neither is Liza. I never really liked (as actors) Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, or Sir Laurents Olivier. Doesn't mean I feel a need to tear them, or their work, down. They just never did anything for me up on the screen. So what? Some actors have "star quality" which counts as much or more as acting talent. Two actresses who come to mind, whom I've seen on stage as well as in film, are Kathleen Turner and Stephanie Powers. They've done good work on screen, but nothing to necessarily write home about. But live, in the theatre, they both exuded so much star power that the knocked you out of your seat. Turner playing Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate in London kept your attention 100% every moment she was on the stage. Powers, in the flop musical Matador, was drenched in class and confidence. She had a largely thankless role, and one good song –But she was clearly The Star of the show. That's something you don't learn. You either have it or you don't.

So. Is Julie Andrews overrated? By whom, and by what measures? Hugely successful in her career? Check. Talented performer? Check. Bankable box office? Check. She had her flops, just like everyone else. But she achieved iconic status in a film that will never be forgotten, and has worked in showbiz for more than sixty years! She may not be your personal favorite, but it's totally unfair to say she is overrated.