John Goodman as Ralph Kramden?

[The Great One]

I remember awhile ago hearing about how John Goodman from "Roseanne" would be starring in a movie version of the Honeymooners. I don't recall what the reason was for the movie never being made so I'm hoping that someone on this message board knows and would be willing to post that info. Thanks.

[T-Greg]

I had heard the same thing, and well before the "Urban" Honeymooners movie came out, there was word that a Honeymooners movie was going to be made with Tom Arnold as Ralph. Nothing ever came of it. I think there is no one today that could play the role of Ralph better than Goodman. My choice for Norton would be Jim Carrey.

[*ClassicPinUp*]

I read an article that said the 2005 Honeymooner movie producers where originally looking at John Goodman for the part of Ralph Kramden but then decided to "change a few things" & that's how we got the uh...new...version of "The Honeymooners."
I'm glad they left John Goodman out of it! I think the sucky movie had the perfect sucky actors.

[Bill S.]

John Goodman did a good job as Fred Flintstone, so I could definitely see him as Ralph. The Honeymooners movie could've been handled so much better, it's really a shame. John Goodman, Tom Arnold or Kevin James would've all been much better choices than Cedric the Entertainer. I still can't believe they actually made that movie.

Originally Posted by T-Greg

I had heard the same thing, and well before the "Urban" Honeymooners movie came out, there was word that a Honeymooners movie was going to be made with Tom Arnold as Ralph. Nothing ever came of it.

I remember when Tom Arnold was going to do that Honeymooners movie. There was even an article in the newspaper about it, with a picture of Arnold dressed in Ralph's bus driver uniform. I'm pretty sure Alice was in the picture too, but I can't remember who was going to play her. I wish I still had that article, I haven't been able to find any information about that movie since.

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by T-Greg

I think there is no one today that could play the role of Ralph better than Goodman. My choice for Norton would be Jim Carrey.

I agree with you about John Goodman and Jim Carrey~excellent choices for who could portray Ralph and Norton.

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by AndAwayWeGo

I'm glad they left John Goodman out of it! I think the sucky movie had the perfect sucky actors.

Your statement caught me off-guard~very funny!!! Thanks for the laugh.

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by Bill S.

John Goodman did a good job as Fred Flintstone, so I could definitely see him as Ralph. The Honeymooners movie could've been handled so much better, it's really a shame. John Goodman, Tom Arnold or Kevin James would've all been much better choices than Cedric the Entertainer. I still can't believe they actually made that movie.

I agree!!! It's a mystery to me how they could pick Cedric the Entertainer over John Goodman, Tom Arnold or Kevin James to portray Ralph. It seems like
all those involved in making the movie made sure it was as bad as it could be.

[Woolworth27]

Originally Posted by T-Greg

I had heard the same thing, and well before the "Urban" Honeymooners movie came out, there was word that a Honeymooners movie was going to be made with Tom Arnold as Ralph. Nothing ever came of it. I think there is no one today that could play the role of Ralph better than Goodman. My choice for Norton would be Jim Carrey.

What do you mean by urban, because it was a black cast?

[T-Greg]

Originally Posted by Woolworth27

What do you mean by urban, because it was a black cast?

Of course it had a black cast, which is not the problem. "Urban" distinguishes it from the actual Honeymooners TV show. They never should have done a movie about the Honeymooners, unless it was about the show. The reality is, it did not have much to do about the TV show at all. It's like taking a classic movie like "Gone With the Wind" and butchering it to the point that it's nothing like the original at all...a farce! People who've never seen the original Honeymooners probably wonder if that's what the TV show was really about. It's a shame because if they had done it right, it would interest new viewers about a classic 1950's comedy they'd never seen before, and that interest would likely boost DVD sales and get more Honeymooners released...but, they blew a great opportunity.

[Woolworth27]

Originally Posted by T-Greg

Of course it had a black cast, which is not the problem. "Urban" distinguishes it from the actual Honeymooners TV show. They never should have done a movie about the Honeymooners, unless it was about the show. The reality is, it did not have much to do about the TV show at all. It's like taking a classic movie like "Gone With the Wind" and butchering it to the point that it's nothing like the original at all...a farce! People who've never seen the original Honeymooners probably wonder if that's what the TV show was really about. It's a shame because if they had done it right, it would interest new viewers about a classic 1950's comedy they'd never seen before, and that interest would likely boost DVD sales and get more Honeymooners released...but, they blew a great opportunity.

I agree with you 100%, the Honeymooners movies was trash,a disrespect to Jackie,Audrey,Art and Joyce. I feel that they should have got Kevin James to play Ralf and Jim Carey to play Norton. Leah Rimini would have made a good Alice as well. I feel that Leah has that same gift as an actress to carry out the role of Alice (Gibson) Kramden, just like Audrey Meadows had.

[T-Greg]

...and something that I did not understand was Art Carney's widow Jean, gave it her blessing. In fact, I think she gave Mike Epps (the Norton character) an autographed 8x10 of Art. I wonder is she was paid to give it her endorsement. I've never heard Joyce Randolph speak publicly about it, but I'd be willing to bet she does not approve.

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by T-Greg

...and something that I did not understand was Art Carney's widow Jean, gave it her blessing. In fact, I think she gave Mike Epps (the Norton character) an autographed 8x10 of Art. I wonder is she was paid to give it her endorsement. I've never heard Joyce Randolph speak publicly about it, but I'd be willing to bet she does not approve.

Wow! Art Carney's widow gave the movie her blessing? Sure does sound like she was given $$$ for her endorsement.

[T-Greg]

Originally Posted by The Great One

Wow! Art Carney's widow gave the movie her blessing? Sure does sound like she was given $$$ for her endorsement.

Here you go. I found an article, but they say "Barbara" Carney, who was his wife before Jean. Not sure which one they meant, but here's the article, and the quote I'm referring to:

"...Mike Epps' tour promoter, Doug Isaac, showed up on the set accompanied by Barbara Carney, the widow of Art Carney. They had never met, but she came to the set with a picture of her husband, who died last year, signed, "With Love, Art Carney."

"I brought it for you, Mike," she said.

"This is amazing," he said, suddenly quiet. "I will never forget this in my entire life. It is such an honor to meet you."

Carney had very little trouble making sense of the other twist in the film's re-creation of her husband's series.

"I think that Art would be thrilled," she said...."

Article: http://www.azcentral.com/ent/movies/...mooners20.html

[Bill S.]

There's many other things I don't understand when it comes to this movie. For one, I remember seeing an interview with Cedric the Entertainer where he mentioned that he had never watched the show before. They gave the part of Ralph Kramden to someone who had never even seen The Honeymooners before! He did say that he had picked up the Classic 39 box set, but you can't truly understand the magic of the show after just seeing it for the first time. Also, the fact that the film was bashed by most critics but praised by Roger Ebert annoys the living hell out of me. Something tells me HE was offered some money to give it a good review, which it doesn't deserve. This movie should be taken off the shelves until there is some sort of public appology.

[T-Greg]

Another thing that people seeing this for the first time won't understand is the "faux" threats that Ralph gave Alice. Some people might be turned off by the "wife-beating" threats, but it never happened and you know it never would. People who grew up watching it, always knew that. The threats were merely an avenue for Ralph to channel his anger for the frustration he felt for not "making it", despite his efforts to get rich quick. Isn't that the American dream...? That said, it always ended with Alice and Ralph embracing...Ralph wanting to make Alice happy by giving her things they normally could not afford, and Alice reassuring Ralph that it was not necessary...I think I'm gonna cry now