You should check out the American Playhouse recording if you can find a copy (assuming you haven't seen it already). It's excellent, and I doubt the film will surpass it as a more definitive version.

Not that the movie itself won't be great. It may.

I have indeed seen that version! Bernadette Peters was fantastic.

The movie is looking to be more serious than the play, methinks. It will be interesting, and it's sort of why I'm looking forward to it. I love the retelling of stories. =P

I think a major part of the play's charm is the humor in the first act, so if that's downplayed in the film I'll be pretty disappointed.

On the other hand, the play presents some major mood whiplash between the two acts and I'm really not sure if that would work well on film. I'm definitely curious to see how it plays out.