MUSICALS, include humor, music, dancing and a story.
One of the reasons I love musicals, is the use of beautiful background scenery. Dancers seem to perform as if there is a live audience watching.
This is my version of DANCING WITH THE STARS.
Showing posts with label rodgers and hammerstein. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rodgers and hammerstein. Show all posts
Round 1 of the 50's era for the favorite classic musical film tournament has just ended with no real major surprises. Top seed and heavy favorite Singin In The Rain just destroyed Silk Stockings 16-5. But believe it or not, that was not the biggest blow-out. That took place in the battle of Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, as South Pacific just crushed The King and I, 16-2. The other Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, Oklahoma got edged out by Show Boat 11-9 in the round's closest match. One of the most surprising matches had to be 15th seed Carmen Jones hanging tough with 2nd seed An American In Paris before losing 12-7. 3rd seed White Christmas was all over Guys and Dolls 16-3. A mild upset occurred when 11th seed A Star is Born (hey its Judy again) beat 6th seed Royal Wedding 11-6. And one of my personal favorites, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes defeated Gigi 16-5.
Round 2 now begins tonight and will run thru Sunday 8pm EST. Here are the scheduled matches.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954). Directed by Stanley Donen, with music by Saul Chaplin and Gene de Paul, and lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The script by Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich, and Dorothy Kingsley, is based on the short story The Sobbin' Women, by Stephen Vincent Benét, which was based in turn on the Ancient Roman legend of The Rape of the Sabine Women. The film was a 1954 Oscar nominee for Best Picture. The film is known for the beautiful choreography by Michael Kidd, which makes dance numbers out of chopping wood and raising a barn.
The story begins when woodsman Adam Pontipee comes to town looking for a bride. He soon meets Milly, who agrees to marry Adam on a whim, even though she just met him. When she arrives at the cabin she is surprised to learn that Adam is one of seven brothers living in the same cabin.
Milly teaches Adam's younger brothers manners and how to dance. At first, the brothers have a hard time changing from their "mountain man" ways. Soon they are able to test their new manners at a barn-raising, where they meet six girls they like. One major problem, the girls already have suitors from the town, who get into fight with the brothers during the barn-raising. After which, they are banished from the town by the townspeople.
Winter arrives and the six younger brothers become moody longing for their girls. Adam reads his brothers the story of "Sobbin' Women" and tells them that they should go get their girls. Adam and his brothers come up with a plan to kidnap the girls and then cause an avalanche so that they can't be followed by the townspeople. Unfortunately, they have forgotten to kidnap a preacher. Milly is furious at Adam and the girls are upset at having been kidnapped. Milly sends the brothers out to the barn "with the rest of the animals" while the girls live in the house. Adam, offended by Milly's reaction, leaves for the trapping cabin to live out the winter by himself. Will his temper cool by the spring?
I do not remember very many western musicals that are this much fun to watch.
Fun Fact:
The dresses were made from old quilts that costume designer Walter Plunkett found at the Salvation Army.
Soundtracks:
"Barn Dance"
Music by Gene de Paul
danced by Brothers, Brides and Town Suitors
"Bless Yore Beautiful Hide"
Music by Gene de Paul
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by Howard Keel
"Wonderful, Wonderful Day"
Music by Gene de Paul
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by Jane Powell
"When You're in Love"
Music by Gene de Paul
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by Jane Powell and Howard Keel
"Goin' Co'tin'"
Music by Gene de Paul
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by Jane Powell
"House-Raising Dance"
Music by Gene de Paul
Danced by brothers, girls and city boys
"Lonesome Polecat"
Music by Gene de Paul
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by Matt Mattox (dubbed by Bill Lee (uncredited)) and chorus
"Sobbin' Women"
Music by Gene de Paul
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by Howard Keel, brothers
"June Bride"
Music by Gene de Paul
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by Virginia Gibson and chorus
"Spring, Spring, Spring"
Music by Gene de Paul
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by chorus
Cast:
Adam: Howard Keel appeared as "Adam," the romantic lead and eldest of the seven brothers.
Benjamin: Jeff Richards, who played "Benjamin," was a former professional baseball player who topped out at the AAA level of the minor leagues. Per the filming notes in the DVD anniversary edition, although obviously athletic, he is noticeably in the background, seated, or standing during the dance numbers so as to not expose his less than stellar dancing skills. Unfortunately this often relegated his partner, the classically-trained ballet dancer Julie Newmar, as well to the background.
Caleb, Daniel, Ephraim and Frank: All four actors (Matt Mattox, Marc Platt, Jacques d'Amboise, and Tommy Rall) were professional dancers - with d'Amboise (Ephraim) appearing on loan from the New York City Ballet. All four balanced on a beam together during their famous barn-raising dance.
Gideon: Russ Tamblyn beat Morton Downey Jr. for the role of youngest brother Gideon. Tamblyn showcased his gymnastics training throughout the action sequences.
Milly: Jane Powell channeled her experiences growing up in Oregon to create Milly. She and Howard Keel would later reprise their roles in a Seven Brides for Seven Brothers stage revival.
Dorcas: Julie Newmar (Newmeyer), a classically trained ballerina, would later rise to fame as Catwoman in the 1960s TV version of Batman. She also won a Supporting Actress Tony Award for The Marriage-Go-Round (starring Claudette Colbert). She appeared on her neighbor James Belushi's sitcom According to Jim after the two settled a highly publicized lawsuit.
Ruth: Ruta Lee enjoyed a long stage and television career, working with Lucille Ball, Sammy Davis, Jr., Elizabeth Taylor, Natalie Wood, and Frank Sinatra. Lee appeared in the sitcom Roseanne as the first girlfriend of Roseanne's mother. Her singing parts were dubbed in post-production by Betty Noyes.
Martha: Norma Doggett performed in the 1940s-50s Broadway shows Bells Are Ringing, Fanny, Wish You Were Here, Miss Liberty, and Magdalena
Liza: Virginia Gibson was nominated for a Tony Award in 1957 and performed regularly on the Johnny Carson show.
Sarah: Betty Carr was also a Broadway veteran, dancing in Damn Yankees, Happy Hunting, Mask and Gown, and Fanny (alongside Norma Doggett). She died in October 2008 (the first of the seven brides to pass away).
Alice: Nancy Kilgas made her film debut in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. She danced in the film versions of Oklahoma!, Shake, Rattle & Rock!, and Alfred Hitchcock's Torn Curtain.
Me and Dawn decided the theme for this month on Singin and Dancing would be the musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein and I thought of this story to share. My first Rodgers and Hammerstein musical that I saw was South Pacific (1958) starring Rossano Brazzi, John Kerr, Juanita Hall, and the unforgettable Mitzi Gaynor as Ensign Nellie Forbush. I was around 17 or 18 I believe and my mom bought it from the Columbia Video Club on VHS. It came in as a two tape set since it was early 3 hours long. I remember watching as soon as I got it in the mail and I was amazed. It seems strange that while my buddies was out playing football and video games, I was watching classic movies. But that was me, and I loved it. I still love watching classic movies. Anyway South Pacific was a terrific movie with a star making performance by Mitzi Gaynor. Her rendition of I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair is a show-stopper. I still have the movie after all these years. I will need to re-watch again now, but from my memories I know it's a good movie. How does it compare to the other R&S musicals like Oklahoma, State Fair, The King and I, and Carousel? That's why I need to see it again, because it's been so long. Anyway, I just wanted to share this little story with everyone. And I will be posting more stuff on R&S films the whole month.
State Fair(1945). Directed by Walter Lang. The film is the first remake of the 1933 film of the same name. This version has original music by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Cast: Jeanne Crain, Dana Andrews, Dick Haymes, Vivian Blaine, Fay Bainter and Charles Winninger. This was the only musical Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote for film. The movie introduced such popular songs as "It Might As Well Be Spring" and "It's A Grand Night For Singing".
This version won an Academy Award for Best Song for "It Might As Well Be Spring" by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Jeanne Crain's singing voice was dubbed by Louanne Hogan. State Fair was remade a second time in 1962.
The story begins with the whole Frake family excited about their trip to the Iowa State Fair: Mother Melissa hopes her mincemeat recipe will win first prize. Father Abel is bringing his prize boar, Blue Boy. Wayne goes to the fairgrounds, where he plans to get even with the ring toss barker, who cost Wayne eight dollars the year before. When the barker threatens to call the police, a young woman, claiming to be the police chief's daughter, talks him into returning Wayne's money. Margie spends her time with newspaper writer Pat Gilbert, who is covering the fair for the Des Moines Register . That night, Margy and Pat again meet at the fairgrounds, and Wayne discovers that his mystery woman is singer, Emily Edwards. Each of the Frake family members come home every evening with their secrets. What will happen to their new romances when the fair closes?
State Fair, is a wonderful fluffy romantic film. Beautifully photographed in beautiful color that will take you back into the mid 40s and, best of all, it does contain the Oscar winning song, "It Might As Well Be Spring."
Rodgers and Hammerstein, were a well-known American songwriting duo. Created many Broadway musicals in the 1940s and 1950s during the golden age. With Rodgers composing the music and Hammerstein writing the lyrics, five of their shows, Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I and The Sound of Music, were outstanding successes. They won thirty-four Tony Awards, fifteen Academy Awards, the Pulitzer Prize, and two Grammys.
Prior to their partnership, Rodgers had collaborated for more than two decades with Lorenz Hart. Among their many Broadway hits: A Connecticut Yankee (1927), Babes in Arms (1937), The Boys from Syracuse (1938), Pal Joey (1940), and By Jupiter (1942), as well as many successful film projects.
Hammerstein, a co-writer of the popular Rudolf Friml 1924 operetta Rose-Marie, and Sigmund Romberg operettas: The Desert Song (1926) and The New Moon (1928), began a successful collaboration with composer Jerome Kern on Sunny (1925). Their 1927 musical Show Boat is considered to be one of the masterpieces of the American musical theatre. Other Hammerstein/Kern collaborations: Sweet Adeline (1929) and Very Warm for May (1939). It features one of Kern and Hammerstein's best-loved songs, "All the Things You Are". By the early 1940s, Hart became unreliable, prompting Rodgers to team up with Hammerstein.
Rodgers and Hammerstein used the technique of what some call the formula musical. The term formula musical may refer to a musical with a predictable plot, but it also refers to the casting requirements of Rodgers and Hammerstein characters. Typically, any musical from this team will have the casting of a strong baritone lead, a dainty and light soprano lead, a supporting lead tenor, and a supporting alto lead. Although there are exceptions to this generalization, it gives audiences an idea of what to expect from a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.
List of Rodgers and Hammerstein films:
Oklahoma!
Carousel
State Fair
South Pacific
The King and I
Cinderella
Flower Drum Song
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music(1965). Directed by Robert Wise. Cast: Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. The film is based on the Broadway musical The Sound of Music, with songs written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, and with the musical book written by the writing team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Ernest Lehman wrote the screenplay.
The musical originated with the book The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp. It contains many popular songs: "Edelweiss", "My Favorite Things", "Climb Ev'ry Mountain", "Do-Re-Mi", "Sixteen Going on Seventeen", and "The Lonely Goatherd", as well as the title song.
The movie was filmed on location in Salzburg, Austria and Bavaria in Southern Germany, and also at the 20th Century Fox Studios in California.
Maria, who is always in trouble with the nuns, life changes when a widowed navy captain, Georg von Trapp needs a governess for his seven children. Mother Abbess, unsure of Maria's suitability, asks her to take the position on a temporary basis.
Maria finds that the captain keeps his household in strict shipshape order. While the children at first very hostile to her, they warm to her when she comforts them during a thunderstorm . Liesl, who is Sixteen, sneaks into Maria's window, after a secret meeting with the messenger boy. At first she insits that she doesn't need a governess, but, Maria instead offers to be her friend.
Later, the Captain entertains, Baroness Elsa Schraeder, a wealthy socialite from Vienna, along with Max Dettweiler, who is looking to find the perfect musical act for the, Salzburg Music Festival.
The Captain becomes aware that Maria has been taking the children on a boat on the lake. Maria, standing up in the boat, loses her balance the boat capsizes, throwing everyone into the water. He sends the children home and orders her to return to the convent.
When he hears the children singing “The Sound of Music” for the Baroness, he changes his mind. Maria has brought music back into his home, and he asks her to stay. Maria and the children perform a puppet show ("Lonely Goatherd"). Max announces that he has entered the children in the Salzburg Festival.
At a dance held in Schraeder's honor to celebrate her engagement to the Captain, Maria sees eleven-year-old Kurt trying to dance and tries to teach him the steps. The Captain cuts in and he Maria perform the dance perfectly. Maria breaks off and says something about not being able to remember any more. The children perform “So Long, Farewell” to say goodnight to the guests, and the Baroness, jealous of Maria, convinces her to return to Nonnberg. Will Maria ever return to the Von Trapp family?
This is a beautiful musical. From the cinematography,
acting, costumes, music, choreography. The film is family friendly and a sweet story.
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honours. Andrews was a former British child actress and singer who made her Broadway debut in, My Fair Lady(1954) and Camelot, and in musical films, Mary Poppins (1964), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, and The Sound of Music (1965).
Andrews big comeback was in the films: The Princess Diaries (2001), its sequel The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004), and the Shrek animated films (2004–2010). In 2003 Andrews revisited her first Broadway success, this time as a stage director, with a revival of The Boy Friend at the Bay Street Theatre, Sag Harbor, New York (and later at the Goodspeed Opera House, in East Haddam, Connecticut in 2005).
Andrews is also an author of children's books, and in 2008 published an autobiography, Home: A Memoir of My Early Years.
South Pacific(1958). Based on James A. Michener's Tales of the South Pacific. The film was directed by Joshua Logan. Cast: Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor, John Kerr and Ray Walston.
The movie also features, Juanita Hall, a musical theatre and film actress. She is remembered for her roles in the original stage and screen versions of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals: South Pacific, as Bloody Mary and Flower Drum Song, as Auntie Liang.
The film begins when Marine lieutenant Joseph Cable, is sent on a mission to set up camp in Japanese territory, along the coast, in order to keep track of enemy. Meanwhile, Sailor Luther Billis, is trying to sell grass skirts to Bloody Mary, the island trader. Billis does not like the fact that the island of Balai Ha'i, is off limits to his enlisted men.
While, waiting for the war in the South Pacific, one of the nurses finds herself having to choose between love and prejudice.
Rodgers and Hammerstein have given us some truly wonderful music scores, and the movie South Pacific has many of them.
