L 6 DECEMBER 28 2014 / THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH / DECEMBER 28 2014 L 7 T T FILM FILM figure it out.” that people adore and are To make the most of tax passionate about, and he’s breaks, filming took place in taken an hour out, and it feels Shepperton Studios outside like nothing has gone. There’s London. But before that, there nobody like him.” A fairy-tale were six weeks of rehearsals – “I would just caution [fans] unheard of for cinema. “One to know that you can’t take of the things that saved us was a stage piece as it is and put rehearsals,” says Marshall. “It it on film,” Marshall adds was invaluable, actually.” separately. “That’s happened As soon as those rehearsals before. I won’t cite examples ending finished and filming began, but I think we know the the rumours began to swirl. ones where they haven’t Into the Woods has a vast, reimagined them enough and devoted fan base. Followers that’s the biggest disservice Stephen Sondheim’s great musical ‘Into the Woods’ dress up as characters from you can do.” the show, write “fan fiction” Any adaptation will Kat Brown online and produce art struggle, of course, to please has finally been filmed. reports inspired by the story. And they Hoodwinked: James Corden as the Baker and Lilla Crawford as Red all of the fans all of the time, were convinced Disney was Riding Hood, above. Meryl Streep as the Witch, left but there is no doubting intent on, well, Disneyfying Marshall’s commitment to his the production. doesn’t die in this one’ Hood, is less lascivious. But version of Into the Woods. He tephen Sondheim’s Christmas Day release, six Oscars, including best When Sondheim was and you think, ‘You don’t I was too rapt to care. The feels sure too that Walt Disney Into the Woods arriving here in January. picture in 2003. quoted in June saying that know that.’ I think that you only part I really missed himself would approve. “He and Disney do Of course, the involvement Nevertheless, Into the Woods the studio had removed two feel the threat of the entire was the reprise of the two was such a forward thinking not make obvious of three-time Oscar winner is not exactly mainstream of the darker aspects of the kingdom even if you don’t see Princes’ gloriously hammy genius that he would have bedfellows. With Meryl Streep, who plays the material. To the uninitiated: plot – the death of Rapunzel it.” song, Agony. been thinking, how else could Slust and tragedy at its heart film’s menacing witch, goes the musical, which premiered and Prince Charming’s In this writer’s opinion, “There is not another we tell these tales and relate – not to mention a very rude some way to explaining on Broadway in 1987, weaves extramarital affair with the Marshall’s edits work. The director in the world that to a modern audience,” says take on Little Red Riding Disney’s confidence in the together some of the best- baker’s wife – the Woods film is undeniably more could pull this off,” says Marshall. “I think he would Hood – Sondheim’s fairy-tale production, not to mention known characters from the community exploded (even family-friendly than the stage Corden. “I think that what have loved this.” musical is a long way from a the presence of director Rob Brothers Grimm’s fairy tales – though Sondheim insisted he version. Hello Little Girl, the he’s done is far greater than U certificate. Yet here it is, the Marshall, whose film version Cinderella, Little Red Riding had been misquoted). song delivered by the Wolf you can imagine. I can’t work } ‘Into the Woods’ opens in House of Mouse’s American of the musical Chicago won Hood, Rapunzel and Jack (of “I don’t understand (Johnny Depp) to Red Riding out how he has taken a show cinemas on January 9 Beanstalk fame) – with three this,” wrote one fan on new ones: the Baker, his wife Entertainment Weekly’s and their neighbour, the PopWatch blog. “If Disney Witch, who has placed a curse really wanted a film musical on the couple which has about classic fairy tales, rendered them childless. why not do it from scratch? Each character has a I mean, why take Into the particular life wish they want Woods and excise from it fulfilled as we watch them the elements that make it a journey “into the woods” unique property? No sexy to try to achieve them. By witch, no Rapunzel tragedy, the halfway point all but the no horny wolf… why call it Witch have had their wishes Into the Woods then?” granted. But Sondheim, who Marshall calmly bats away has never been one for easy such concerns. happy endings, doesn’t leave “The rumours were crazy it there. The second half on this thing, ridiculous,” he of the musical deals with says. “The thing is, if myself the consequences of those and James Lapine and Steve “selfish” wishes, the fragility Sondheim aren’t going to of romantic relationships, be the ones to be protective the death of loved ones and and careful about all the the yawning gulf between decisions, I don’t know who dreams and reality. In else would be.” the process he creates a But did he feel any pressure beautifully orchestrated, from Disney when it came to clever reinvention of familiar the storylines? childhood stories, that stands “I felt none of that from as one of the most seductive anybody. It was really my own and original musicals of the vision. They supported my past 30 years. vision. I never had anybody “It is a very un-Disney saying no this, no that, do this, film,” Emily Blunt, who plays do that. Never.” the Baker’s Wife, told Variety Nevertheless, at an magazine last month. “It awards campaigning lunch is very funny, very human. in early December, Blunt I think kids will enjoy it, but admitted that “there was a there are very adult themes little fear on Disney’s side” running through it.” about the Prince Charming And it’s not just its adult infidelity scene. themes that make Into DISNEY “We fought hard to have it the Woods a difficult sell in there,” she said. “I don’t for Disney. Its score, too, Broadway and choreographed compassionate way, ‘You are Lapine, Sondheim and writer and co-star of Gavin & that they wouldn’t make it think it was ever going to be while featuring plenty of a production early in his not alone. No one is alone.’” Marshall cut a three-hour, Stacey, he was virtually without him. “To my surprise cut, but there was some soaring phrases, and witty career. “I remember John Besides its themes of loss and two-act musical into a two- unknown in the United States. and joy, he just stuck by me dragging of feet.” syncopation, is also notable [DeLuca, his business and life uncertainty, the show’s main hour film script, and then But his role as Francis and flat refused to see anyone The scene and its beloved for its challenging rhythmic partner] turning to me and message – underlined by the presented a “workshopped” Henshall in the National else. I’m incredibly indebted song, Any Moment, remain, patterns and dense lyrics. saying, ‘You should really do show stopper No One Is Alone version – a read-through with Theatre’s play One Man, Two to him for that and always although in a rather more All of which might explain a piece that you truly love,’ – is about the importance Guvnors, which enjoyed a will be.” chaste form than they appear why, despite the musical and I love Into the Woods.” of community. successful run on Broadway, Marshall’s close-knit on stage. winning three Tony awards In fact, Sondheim has said “It’s a scary world: there’s brought him to the attention company had to work hard Anna Kendrick, who plays and enjoying successful he earmarked Marshall as the always a giant out there in \(D?NRDGG@IEJT of the Woods team and the for their film. Compared Cinderella, is also famous revivals on Broadway and in director of a future film more some way,” says Marshall. actor auditioned in Marshall’s with Maleficent, Disney’s for her role as Jessica the West End, nobody, until than a decade ago, around the “I knew when I heard DO=POOC@M@<M@ apartment, singing No More reimagining of Sleeping in the Twilight films and now, has attempted a film. time he won his best picture [Obama’s speech] that it was and It Takes Two from the Beauty, starring Angelina knows a thing or two about (An adaptation with Goldie Oscar for Chicago. time for Into the Woods.” Q@MT<?PGO stage show. Jolie, which had a budget of devoted fans. Hawn and Robin Williams was Then Marshall heard After directing a billion- OC@H@NDIDO] “I didn’t feel that nervous, $180million, Into the Woods “In Twilight I was lucky bandied about through the Barack Obama speaking to dollar-grossing instalment oddly, because I wasn’t had to get by on $50million. because I was one of the Nineties but came to naught.) the families of 9/11 victims of Disney’s Pirates of the auditioning for a big Why was Marshall’s film characters that no one It turns out, though, that the on the 10th anniversary Caribbean series in 2011, extra choreography and acting movie,” Corden says.