With One Look [Sunset Blvd. ~ London, 1995] - Betty Buckley

Here's the amazing Betty Buckley in a very powerful performance of "With One Look" from Sunset Boulevard. After watching/listening to all the artists who played Norma Desmond on stage (including foreign ones such as Pia Douwes & Daniella Ziegler], I'm now convinced she's the best one in the role followed closely by Elaine, Patti, & Glenn respectively. Enjoy!

[@bmcvr6202]

I saw Betty live. I sat in the front row and my jaw must have dropped throughout her entire performance of a song. She winked at me. It was my anniversary and I was alone. My marriage had dissolved. This made my day. Thank you, Betty!

[@odalisque1814et]

B MCVR I‘m so jealous, Lucky you。

[@tavonitime]

What a lovely memory to cherish!

[@edcastrillon787]

That’s a beautiful memory. And talk about turning a potentially sad day into a triumph! I love doing that in my own life. ❤️

[@edcastrillon787]

That’s a beautiful memory. And talk about turning a potentially sad day into a triumph! I love doing that in my own life. ❤️

[@ghostrider-ek8gu]

You experienced what so few have experienced. A most beautiful experience . A tour de force performance. I was so very lucky ... "Cats' on Broadway. When she came out and sang "Memories", the audience stopped breathing ...motionless...witnessing that tour did force performance.

[@ktn9808]

Nobody can hold a candle to Betty's magnificent performance as Norma in Sunset Boulevard. It is burned in my memory. I left the theater that night transformed. She is a legend.

[@christopherreed4071]

i've just never head someone sing that way with such little apparent effort....its unbelievable amazing woman

[@johnfrank25]

Betty was the BEST Norma in my opinion. I saw all of them and felt vocally no one could touch her.

[@pigeon4858]

Totally agree

[@thefonzkiss]

The only Norma to get show stopping standing ovations after this and As If We Never Said Goodbye.

[@coonalisa230]

She's like the perfect balance between Patti and Glenn; soaring voice with just perfect amount of emotion and drama, without any exagerration. And those hand gestures, oh my gawd. Hands down, the DEFINITIVE Norma Desmond.

[@peterjohn974]

I saw her and Elaine Paige both in London in 1995. I am torn which was better. They both were perfect.

[@jc22358]

Fantastic marriage of artist, role and score.

[@loiskopf6162]

So glad I found this. I saw Betty Buckley in London. She was perfection in this role. The hair on my arms was standing on end by the time the number was over. She was absolutely electrifying. I clapped my hands raw. No one does it as well and I say that as a major Lupone fan.

[@docchatter]

thats how its done baby. such a glorious truthful performance

[@steventownsley6763]

The most wonderful Norma I saw. Elaine, Glenn and Petula all brought something different to the role, but only Betty captured the classy, seductive sex appeal of silent stars. The others were too cartoonish and ‘mad’ from the outset. Betty descended into madness. I saw Betty 5 times in London, she was magnificent each time. I also saw Patti who was not at ease in the role and seemed not fully formed - the show itself felt half baked when it opened which didn’t help. When the show closed for a short period and Betty arrived in London it was a total transformation, including a much more satisfactory finale. Thank you for this video, it has brought back many wonderful memories of family and friends I took to see her, as well as this amazing talent.

[@oneslifesadream]

She ellevates musical theatre to a much higher level.

[@joneathann]

I think the reason that Betty is such an amazing Norma is that she absolutely commands attention! Not in the over exaggerated way that Close does, but in such a way that you have no choice, but to give it to her. In my opinion that's exactly how Norma would be!

[@BHAKTIBROPHY]

On opening night in both London and in NYC, Betty got a standing ovation after this number. Could you imagine having to stay in character while the audience is on their feet not for seconds, but minutes? I would have teared up. :)

[@WJC981]

I didn't realize she was considered a star in England :)

[@Winterfeldt0401]

I saw her in London - she was absolutly fantastic! She is the greatest star of all!!!!

[@chocolatesouljah]

I love the pun. I saw her in New York. A year into her run. She was wonderful!

[@FISTRIG]

what a remarkable salesman Betty Buckley is in this role. she had me from the first note. I love the voice ! I love the singing actress. What a wonderful gift to us she is !

[@ElizabethBiceCavalli]

Fabulous. Brava!!

[@TeamJRob]

What an unbelieavalbe performance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@apriltaylor7123]

I never comment on videos, but this gave me goosebumps. I've been listening to versions of this song all night and this is the only one I've heard that has the power to back up the song. It's well done by other artists, but it was missing the umph behind it....until this one. Stunning.

[@garymuzik]

I just saw Betty Buckley in Hello Dolly, from the front row in D.C. WOW! She is amazing and in my opinion the greatest Broadway performer. I wish I would have gotten to see her as Norma.

[@jjjj614]

i love this recording, i watch the full recording at least once a week!

[@kiwibelt]

I love how she 'breaks' up onto the final 'Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhee!' Awesome contro!

[@bryangreeley6803]

I saw Betty in London and 3 times in NYC have also seen Elaine/Glenn and Karen ...all great but Betty was the complete package ..great acting /beautiful and that voice....

[@allancuseo7431]

I remember my excitement seeing her do this on Broadway. I shall always cherish her performance and her talent

[@stevehinnenkamp5625]

Incredible! Miss Buckley has the vocal chops as well as the acting persona to make Norma more remarkable than anyone seen on stage or film. Miss Betty, you own the role.

[@FISTRIG]

fantastic, beautiful, wonderful acting, outstanding voice, perfect !

[@AtLastOnTheGround]

Thank you!!! I agree, she is the best. If you have any more from this performance, please post!

[@darkphoenix1312]

She's so classy, she don't need to cartoonize the role to deliver a great performance, best stage Norma ever.

[@ilovebroadway2221]

this is PHENOMENAL!!! Betty is the BEST Norma!!!!

[@themonaghans]

I was lucky enough to see Betty Buckley in Sunset Boulevard. She was just amazing, as always. I had horrible bronchitis and tried to save my coughing fits for the many times the audience was going wild with applause. I practically exploded trying not to cough.

[@mikaelb7735]

I was there and it was.....ohhhh, outstanding!!! No one have done this role better then her 💓💓💓

[@zentraveler1834]

Ms. Buckley blew new life into a ho-hum show

[@zayvier69]

She sings fearlessly

[@pigeon4858]

Absolutely fabulous

[@JaymoLACa]

Outstanding!

[@MrRee-rs5dm]

The best Norma Desmond ever. Betty Buckley owned this role. So much better than Glenn Close, Lupone, and the rest.

[@alexturner3045]

Thrilling, just thrilling

[@MattTexas]

I love the touch she gave to the bust/statue during “I’ll return to my glory days.” I loved her and Close in this role.

[@sgtdroxie]

I saw Betty in this role. She was the best! She had the voice like Patti and the acting chops of Glen.

[@karrezza]

Another reason she was better than the others besides just singing, her whole demeanor, seems more of how I would imagine a great retired actress to be, and she was believable as a great beauty of the past because she still is as the 50 yr old actress!!!

[@paulorsramos6131]

I totally agree with you, C. Betty is the business!

[@pomegranatefreak]

Brava! BL owns it.

[@runningcafe1]

Is this actually live? If it is, I am speechless. Unbelievable vocal performance

[@amyclarke41]

I would have liked to have seen this☺

[@danielwalker301]

The best

[@MrPoochsmooch]

As amazing as all the major Normas were, i wish we could have Betty's voice with Glen's acting and Elaine's looks!!!!

[@VeronicaGarland]

SO well sung

[@TeamJRob]

And her singing is un effing real!! Way better than Close.

[@nycp1969]

I saw Betty and Elaine in New York and of course Betty was better! Such a combination of passion, delusion, exigence and vocal power.

[@KevinSigman]

I've always thought that, of all the women who've played Norma in the musical, she looks the most like Gloria Swanson. Not that it necessarily has anything to do with her appropriateness for the role, mind you, but there's a resemblance there, I think.

[@josielevy6073]

After watching and hearing the wonderful Glen Close act and sing "With One Look" for me she portrayed the part movingly and the best I have ever seen or heard!

[@karrezza]

YOu kidding? Buckley is gorgeous! Did you never watch Eight is Enough?

[@bookerjones8123]

Stop coughing! Jk. Great capture. Classic.

[@karrezza]

Its a musical, you NEED vocal perfection. This is not about a film actress who maybe could sing a little. Its a movie PUT to musical.

[@richardmayora1289]

You apparently don't know Glenn Close's resume. Stupid remark. I much prefer Buckley.

[@HighKingTurgon]

Betty is amazing, and this song is one of a few highlights in a tepid score, but this song is WRONGLY placed. It does not belong here; it belongs in the scene where Joe starts editing 'Salome'. It doesn't make any sense to leave her alone on stage after such an introduction--they make the mistake of treating Norma as an iconic role rather than a character in a drama.

[@Dianaemanuel]

Is it true that neither the London or Broadway productions made back their investments and lost money?

[@chocolatesouljah]

I'm not sure about London which had a longer run by almost 2 years but the American production was a financial failure. Although it ran on Broadway for over 2 years critic Frank Rich labelled it a "flop-hit" not only was it an expensive show to run on na weekly basis but also the lawsuits and settlements from the casting fiascos of Faye Dunaway and Patty Lupone.

[@LouBrikanT]

@@chocolatesouljah I don't know how relevant is to answer to this today, but i just found it. I saw the show many times, with Betty 9...with Glen 3...with Elaine 3 more. Betty didn't like to be compared because at least with Glen she is a close friend and being as humble as she is, couldn't take that as a compliment. She spent a long time chatting with me, and i love her. AS for Broadway, in one of the shows they raffled a backstage tour for Broadway Cares (The AIDS Foundation), i was lucky enough to score one of 5 tickets. The tour was conducted by the stage director or some big kahuna like that, so he was answering questions, and i was the eager beaver of the group. First Faye (his words) sucked at singing, so bad that Andrew LLoyd Webber fired her in the spot. The cost 3 million dollars a week to keep it stand it as it was, so they needed to reduce the cost in lighting and thing that were not that noticeable, and 3 million dollars a week was too much even with the theater at full capacity. The silent investors, such as Trump, Barbara Walters and others, got fearful so they demanded their investment and the show kept getting poor. As for the Just one curtain in "as if we never said goodbye", cost 50.000$US. and ALW didn't care. Also when Glen Close left, she bought every single costume so they have to start with new ones, and when they brought Elaine, it took them 2 weeks to raise the stairs because she was too short...again new costumes. So, basically they were draining money and nobody was supporting the show after Glen Close left. The last time i saw it, a simple spot light was used to follow the characters, it was dark and depressing and even the floating house wasn't as spectacular as it was illuminated. Too bad...

[@jenylogan1]

@@LouBrikanT the show’s most expensive running cost was 731,000 in July 1995, a matter of public record.

[@SDoesNotKnow]

I understand what people are saying about Buckley being commanding on stage. I do like she just draws your attention without having to work for it. However, Glenn Close is the only actress I've seen who is believable as a former silent film actress. All the over-exaggerations and mannerisms were perfect for what a silent film actress would do to get her point across. I'd rank them Close, Buckley (her voice is a bit metallic for me), then Lupone (who did not fit Norma at all although I love her).

[@JamesHarris-hl2bm]

By far, the best. Next is Petula Clark. Would have loved to see Shirley Bassey play it. She certainly sings it as well as anyone!

[@karrezza]

LOL.. ok.. Close is a fine actress, but not a stage person.. I found her performance totally OVERBEARING and Fatal Attraction like. This role belongs to Buckley in my opinion.

[@richardmayora6974]

Miss Close is most certainly a stage person. I knew she would be a major star when I saw her Broadway debut when I was a child. She is a three time Tony winner with many other outstanding stage credits, including a show running in New York right now where she received stunning reviews. I do agree that Buckley is far superior. Her voice is peerless.

[@Teezer44]

I disagree - Norma is character who is at once egotistical yet deeply insecure and vulnerable, something which Glenn captured wonderfully. She can't be just 'tough', no human being is all the time, and Norma is no longer in her comfort zone, its a new world of talking pictures and celebrities - far different from her silent era she knew well and was confident in. Glenn captured the egotism and the vulnerabity in a way no other performer has. The lack of vocal perfection in Glenn is ideal too.

[@thefonzkiss]

Glenn plays it like a freak show.

[@rawr3122]

Kinda disappointed she didn't keep the key like patti did... She could have done it; she sounded phenomenal.

[@SDoesNotKnow]

Also, Buckley and Lupone may be superior singers, but I just preferred Close's rendition of the songs. There's something just appealing about Close's vocals that don't leave me cold like Buckley's or bored (which is odd) for Lupone who just didn't seem comfortable with the role at all.

[@rogueromulan]

Betty just doesn't do it for me. I thought she was AMAZING in "Cats" but her performance seems completely devoid of any emotion or vulnerability. I can imagine that from a purely vocal standpoint it was electrifying with her belting EVERY note in this song with her strong rapid vibrato. But I feel no emotion whatsoever. Maybe her interpretation of playing a silent film star is to be over the top at every turn but even Petula Clark put more emotion into the role. Know I'm in the minority here....

[@BHAKTIBROPHY]

rogueromulan I have to kindly disagree. And this is TOTALLY subjective. Betty's performance in Sunset gave chills down my spine, and goosebumps. Then, at the end of this piece and As If... my heart just danced into I started tearing up. We're all moved by different styles and in different ways by different things. I met Glenn when I photographed her for In Style around 1996-1997. She was one of the most kind, sweet, and generous stars I had the pleasure of talking to and spending time with. I met Betty at the Minskoff during a photo shoot (we rented ot the auditorium). Betty was there and saw me looking at her. She waved, smiled, and said hello. So sweet. I worked with celebrities throughout the late 1980s and 1990s. These two were/ are total class acts. I admire them both tremendously! 😊🙏

[@charliechilders6630]

​@@BHAKTIBROPHY Yes-I agree with you somewhat absolutely! It is so very hard to try and judge who is the absolute greatest performer in this role. Both each of their performances are so very excellent, great and superior than most of the other wonderfully talented singers who have also been cast in this same role. I love them both and I actually thought Glenn close would probably win the movie role. 🤔However, I recently read that she has died. 😱This makes me feel very sad. What a great and talented loss. 🥺 I absolutely love Betty Buckley and I hope and pray now this superior, talented , and deserved (and well earned) actress will be chosen to play this great role.🤗🥰👍❤

[@scottdunavent]

I beg to differ, Patti LuPone puts all y

[@Teezer44]

Betty is a great singer but she wasn't right for this role. She lacks the energy, and commanding presence of a former diva telling the world how great she was. Some of the words are being lost and very fact her voice is so great, contradicts the diminishing powers of the character. This role belongs to Glenn Close.

[@CH-tj2ru]

That key change is still hideous. I’d rather hear a singer struggle on the high D than hear this disgusting key. Regardless, love the song!

[@karrezza]

She was a cartoon to me.. WAY over dramatized. This is now the woman's private life.