The Music Man (1962 film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Music Man | |
|---|---|
 original film poster |
|
| Directed by | Morton DaCosta |
| Produced by | Morton DaCosta and Joel Freeman (uncredited) |
| Written by | Meredith Willson |
| Starring | Shirley Jones Robert Preston Buddy Hackett Ron Howard |
| Music by | Meredith Willson |
| Cinematography | Robert Burks |
| Editing by | William H. Ziegler |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) | June 19, 1962 |
| Running time | 151 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
The Music Man is a 1962 film starring Robert Preston as Harold Hill and Shirley Jones as Marian Paroo. The film is based on the 1957 Broadway play of the same name by Meredith Willson.
The film was one of the biggest hits of the year and highly acclaimed critically. It also at last made Robert Preston into an "A" list star in motion pictures, after years of appearing in supporting roles in famous films and in starring roles in "B" movies. It also marked one of the first pictures in which Preston's character was not killed off, one of his former screen "trademarks."
After the success of the film, Preston began getting much better film roles. Although he scored a great success in the original stage version of the show, it is said that he was not first choice for the film version, partly because he was not a box office star. A common story is that Cary Grant was offered the role by Jack L. Warner, who was notorious for wanting to film stage musicals with stars other than the ones who played the roles onstage, and that Grant not only refused the role, but refused to see the film if Robert Preston did not star in it. Unusually for a musical film at the time, Morton DaCosta, who had directed the show onstage, not only directed the film, but produced it as well, ensuring that the film was extremely faithful to the show. The actress Pert Kelton and the Buffalo Bills (quartet) also reprised their stage roles, and practically all of the show's songs were retained for the film.
Contents |
[edit] Cast
Robert Preston .... Harold Hill
Shirley Jones .... Marian Paroo
Buddy Hackett .... Marcellus Washburn
Hermione Gingold .... Eulalie Mackechnie Shinn
Paul Ford .... Mayor George Shinn
Pert Kelton .... Mrs. Paroo
Vern Reed .... Jacey Squires
Al Shea .... Ewart Dunlop
Bill Spangenberg .... Olin Britt
Wayne Ward .... Oliver Hix
Timmy Everett .... Tommy Djilas
Susan Luckey .... Zaneeta Shinn
Ron Howard .... Winthrop Paroo (as Ronny Howard)
Harry Hickox .... Charlie Cowell
Charles Lane .... Constable Locke
Mary Wickes .... Mrs. Squires
Sara Seegar .... Maud Dunlop
Adnia Rice .... Alma Hix
Peggy Mondo .... Ethel Toffelmier
Jesslyn Fax .... Avis Grubb
Monique Vermont .... Amaryllis
[edit] Trivia
- The word "shipoopi" has no meaning and was concocted by Willson for the show.
- Several phrases were altered for the film, as the writers felt they were too obscurely Midwestern to appeal to a broader audience; "Jeely kly!" is Tommy Djilas's catchphrase in the play, while in the film he exclaims, "Great honk!"
- Shirley Jones found out she was pregnant while filming was already underway; the costume designers kept having to adjust her dresses to conceal her figure. In the scene at the footbridge, where Marian and Harold embrace, Shirley Jones says that baby Patrick kicked hard enough for Robert Preston to feel him.
- The backlot used for River City is also used as Hazzard County in The Dukes of Hazzard and as Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls.
[edit] Academy Awards
- Best Scoring (adaptation or treatment) - Ray Heindorf (win)
- Best Picture - Morton DaCosta (nomination)
- Best Costumes (color) - Dorothy Jeakins (nomination)
- Best Art Direction (color) - Paul Groesse and William James Hopkins (nomination)
- Best Film Editing - William H. Ziegler (nomination)
- Best Sound - George Groves (nomination)
[edit] External links
 |
This article about a musical film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
