Jack Benny life movie. Will it ever happen???

[ZEjackbennykid]

I hope they never do a movie on Jack's life. Knowing Hollywood, they'd feel the need to "sex" up the story with tales of Jack's "wild days" and I'm sure they'd add all sorts of fictitious moments to enliven the narrative. The last thing I want to see is a mopey dour tour exploring the "dark side" of Jack Benny.

Well, JB did have a lifelong blood-feud with Fred Allen and he was hated by many hollywood stars (apparently, Ronald Colman couldn't even stand the sight of him). Also, he had to be replaced by Orson Wells for 5 straight weeks cuz he was in rehab.......

Just in case someone who doesn't know about Jack Benny reads this post: My comments are just a joke, i'm being sarcastic cuz Jack Benny didn't really have dramatic negative traits.

Roman, first of all not all hollywood biopics are "sexed up" or always filled with sorrow.

And Allan, the Benny-Allen feud was not even near close to real. Benny and Allen were very good friends throughout Benny's career.

Lastly I have decided to take a hiatus on the Benny Script as I have been making and writing other films. I won't forget to continue the script but need a breather.

Snoogans

[Roman]

ZEjackbennykid may be right that "not all hollywood biopics are 'sexed up' or always filled with sorrow" but it's hard for me to think of one that wasn't. Even the ones that were more or less sunny like the Glenn Miller Story and the Buddy Holly Story had the saddest of endings. Far more typical of those with an upbeat ending were Ray and Walk the Line where much of the film was devoted to Ray Charles' and Johnny Cash's marital problems and drug addictions.

That said, there certainly was a fair share of sorrow and disappointment in Jack Benny's life. Jack lost his mother at a fairly young age, he didn't grow up with great wealth, he was far from an overnight success, he had famous difficulties with some of his early radio writers, and, of course, his bitterness over CBS's ungracious conduct toward him near the end of his career. Even his personal life, while generally happy by most accounts, had its share of strains, particularly over his daughter's unhappy marriages and, if it is to be believed, Mary's sometimes demanding ways.

The bigger problem with any Benny biopic is that, unfortunately, most people no longer remember Jack. It would be difficult, to say the least, to convince a Hollywood studio that there is a large enough audience interested in Jack's life. Even a movie such as Capote, which the critics raved about, was hardly a blockbuster at the box office - and Truman Capote was arguably a larger public figure than Jack Benny over the past thirty years.

I'd love to see a well written, honest, fully fleshed out movie about Jack's life. But sadly I don't think it is very likely to happen.

[ZEjackbennykid]

Don't Worry Roman
It Will happen.

And To Members of the board, I have put the screenplay I have written on Hiatus but work on it as often as possible. Who knows, this film could happen, mabey we should petition Warnar Bros. to do one

[ZEjackbennykid]

Hey gang, its been a while since this thread has been updated. I plan to continue writing the screenplay. I put the script on hiatus to read a bunch of other Jack Benny biographies and study his films and tv shows. There have been some new facts that were brought to my attention through the bios by Mary Livingston and Hilliard Marks and the other bio by Milt Josefberg. These facts are still being compiled in my brain to be put on paper.

Another note on my dream cast. I have found great comics who could play Jack: Kelsey Grammar, Dane Cook, Lewis Black, Jon Stewart.

Please comment freely on these updates

[ZEjackbennykid]

The bigger problem with any Benny biopic is that, unfortunately, most people no longer remember Jack. It would be difficult, to say the least, to convince a Hollywood studio that there is a large enough audience interested in Jack's life. Even a movie such as Capote, which the critics raved about, was hardly a blockbuster at the box office - and Truman Capote was arguably a larger public figure than Jack Benny over the past thirty years.
.

I have to agree with Roman unfortunatly. But the good news is that with the use of You Tube, some kids are discovering Jack on accident or out of curiosity.

[Jack Benny]

Hey gang, its been a while since this thread has been updated. I plan to continue writing the screenplay. I put the script on hiatus to read a bunch of other Jack Benny biographies and study his films and tv shows. There have been some new facts that were brought to my attention through the bios by Mary Livingston and Hilliard Marks and the other bio by Milt Josefberg. These facts are still being compiled in my brain to be put on paper.

Another note on my dream cast. I have found great comics who could play Jack: Kelsey Grammar, Dane Cook, Lewis Black, Jon Stewart.

Please comment freely on these updates

I think having Kelsey Grammar Produce/Direct/Star is probably your best bet of getting it done. He has a deep love for Jack, and could probably be convinced to take on a project like this if the script were good enough. He definitely has the connections to pull this off.

[LLeff]

There have been some new facts that were brought to my attention through the bios by Mary Livingston and Hilliard Marks and the other bio by Milt Josefberg.

Careful on the "facts" from the Livingstone/Marks/Borie book...a lot of errors in that one. Milt's also off on a few things, but I think it's more out of love or just the way he saw things than anything else.

[Yhtapmys]

Careful on the "facts" from the Livingstone/Marks/Borie book...a lot of errors in that one. Milt's also off on a few things, but I think it's more out of love or just the way he saw things than anything else.

You mean the seder never happened down the street from me?

Yhtapmys
"Drive your blues away!"

[LLeff]

You mean the seder never happened down the street from me?

Nah, that one we're good on. But NBC didn't invent the chimes because Jack's show ran long and they needed a delimiter. Just for example.

[Roman]

ZEjackbennykid, any of those actors you mentioned would be great in a Jack Benny biopic. That's great that you found them. What were their reactions to doing a Benny movie?

[ZEjackbennykid]

Hey Roman, you talk like I know these people. I'm just shooting out suggestions, not like I can call up Grammar and say "Hey Fraiser, play Jack Benny." But theres always hope

[Yhtapmys]

But NBC didn't invent the chimes because Jack's show ran long and they needed a delimiter. Just for example.

You know, I've wondered if the "chimes" claim had started out as some kind of joke and it turned into the "truth" after being told over and over, over the years.

Yhtapmys
"Drive your blues away!"

[ZEjackbennykid]

I wanna focus on issues regarding his personal and perfessional life. Regarding personal, there is a way to do it. The fact that Jacks life was scandel free had the press either exaggerating situations or making assumptions about Jack because of his fictional character. The professional aspect has many stories to tell. Also like Jacks show, the film would not just focus on Jack but also the several people in his life like George Burns, Bob Hope, Fred Allen, Frank Remly, Mel Blanc, and others. The key is being able to find the perfect storyline to do the film, otherwise the film would be impossible to do. Also the key factor is finding the right actors to give life to the characters

[LLeff]

You know, I've wondered if the "chimes" claim had started out as some kind of joke and it turned into the "truth" after being told over and over, over the years.

Kind of like "Your money or your life was the biggest laugh ever on radio." NOT.

[Lookit]

I wouldn't mind seeing a film about the friendship between Jack and George Burns. The final emotional climax could be all the events surrounding Jack's death and George's replacing him in The Sunshine Boys. Gracie's death earlier could act as a foreshadowing plot point. Admittedly, this would make the film focus more on George, but there's a lot of good entertainment potential in the friendship of those two.