Movie Review: ****Cinderella (1957)

This is the original presentation of this Rogers and Hammerstein musical.  This musical was written for television and was first performed live in 1957 with Julie Andrews in the starring role.  Jon Cypers plays the prince.  Many of the songs form this musical taught me about love, although I was watching a later version.  "Do I love you because you're beautiful; or are you beautiful because I love you." and the "Ten Minutes Ago" is classic: "I have found her, she's an angel, with the dust of the stars in her eyes!  We are dancing, we are flying and she's taking me back to the skies.
Those kinds of melodies and lyrics make a home run every time.
This film is in black and white, but beautifully done.  The songs carry the day.

Musical Movie Review: ***^Cinderella (1997)

There is lots to love in this made for TV version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.  This was originally performed in 1957 in another made for television version.  The 1997 version was made for Wonderful WOrld of Disney.  This version features Brandy Norwood as Cinderella.  The prince is played by Paolo Montalban.  The king and queen are played by Victor Garber and Whoopi Goldberg.  Bernadette Peters takes the roll of the stepmother and the step sisters are played by Veanne Cox and Natalie Desselle Reid.  The foot man, Lionel, who announces the ball is played by Jason Alexander.  The fairy godmother is portrayed by Whitney Houston.
The musical features tremendous vocals.  The music from Richard Rodgers is wonderful.   And of course the book from Oscar Hammerstein is also superb.
But the thing that overshadows this version the use of mixed race of the families.  This is a story that lends itself to not seeing color, and the performances over power this aspect.  The show was presented on Wonderful World of Disney in 1997, when rolls for minorities in movies was much talked about.  In fact it is still talked about today.  It would be nice to arrive at a place where color of skin is not important.  It isn't in this movie.

Musical Movie Review: State Fair

I finally sat down to watch this movie, an found it delightful.  Jeanne Crain stars as Margy Frake, a young woman who just knows there is something better than her expected life with the farmer next door, and perhaps at the fair she will meet someone; and her brother Wayne (Dick Haynes) who is let down as his girl can't go to the fair.  I love the portrayal of their parents as they participate at the fair.  Mrs. Frake in the mince meat and pickle contest, and her husband in the swine contest.  It provides a very nice background.  Well of course both siblings meet people at the fair.  Margy meets Pat Gilbert (Dana Andrews) a reporter who is covering the fair, and writes about the mince meat competition.  Wayne meets Emily Edwards (Vivian Blake) a singer with a traveling group at the fair.  Harry Morgan, portraying a fair barker is instrumental in their meeting.   Wayne learns that sometimes city life and country life don't mix, as there are different values.  Only one relationship spills over into a relationship that lasts after the fair, which shows that sometimes things work out, and sometimes they don't.  However, this may be for the best as Wayne meets up with his girl.  Some of the music for this Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is lovely.  "Our State Fair" leads off, but then there is also "It Might As Well Be Spring" in which Margy sings of her expectation that something new is coming.  "It's a Grand Night for Singing" is a favorite.

Music Review: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2013)

The music CD for the updated Cinderella is very good.  The music is clear, and includes many familiar songs.  I questioned how they could say "original" when this musical has been presented before.  However this musical was written for television, first starring Julie Andrews in 1957.  It has been reproduced for television twice since, each time adding new songs.  This is the first Broadway Production and features Laura Osnes as Cinderella and Santino Fontana as the prince.   I love "In my Own Little Corner", "Impossible" with Victoria Clark as the fairy Godmother and "10 Minutes Ago", especially when the prince sings "I have found her."  I love that.

Movie Review: Six by Sondheim

This is an HBO 2013 documentary special about the career of Stephen Sondheim.  James Lapine, who often wrote with Sondheim directed and produced.   It focuses specifically on six songs, but tells a much broader story.  Sondheim was mentored by Oscar Hammerstein and his wife.  His first break came when he wrote the lyrics for West Side Story, with Hammerstein writing the music.  They particularly focused on "Somethings Coming," a song added to the beginning of the musical to introduce Tony, and to put him in a sympathetic light.  
Sondheim describes his writing as being a difficult process, with delving into the characters, to come up with the style and lyrics the characters would use.  Hammerstein taught him that a song has a beginning, middle and end, but also must move the story along. 
The documentary also focused on "Opening Doors"  from Merrily We Roll Along.  This is the closest to an autobiographical musical, as it explores persons who are struggling to make it in the Broadway business.  One song was about the piece being hummable, which concept Sondheim did not like. 
"Send in the Clowns"  from A Little Night Music was an after thought type of song, added so the character Desiree could explain her disappointments.  The documentary showed many different artsts singing part of this song; it has been covered many times.
"Being Alive" from Company is Sondheim, who was not married, explaining why marriage is important.  He had asked many of his friends about marriage.
Carlotta, a woman who has been through the entertainment world for many years sings "I'm Still Here" from Follies.  The song was written at the last, and took the place of "That Boy can Foxtrot."  Sondheim felt that song wasn't working, as it was humorous, but quickly got old.  The new lyrics are a list of things the character had gone through, and she is "still here/"
"Sunday" Sunday in the Park with George Sondheim explains has almost a funeral type feel, but it is not a funeral song, but a bit more. 
Broadway Baby from Follies plays as the credits are given, giving this production a seventh song.

Music Review: South Pacific: In Concert from Carnegie Hall

South Pacific: In Concert from Carnegie Hall, Rhino Entertainment Corp., 2006.

This is not a musical, but in fact a concert, although they did add some action and some costuming.  I mean, what would the scene with Luther Billis (Alec Baldwin) in the Thanksgiving program be without Billis dressed up with a coconut brassiere.   Reba McEntire takes the roll of Nellie Forbush and Brian Stokes Mitchell as the love struck Frenchman Emile de Becque.  The Orchestra of Saint Lukes provides the music.  The other notable roles are Jason Danieley as Lt. Cable who does an excellent job of singing “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught” dealing with racism.    Lillian White portrays Bloody Mary, who is intent on her daughter marrying the Lieutenant, but thwarted by prejudism, and then the war takes his life. 

The thing this movie has going for it is MeEntire and Stokes Mitchell.  They are both veterans of the music scene, McEntire in country music and Stokes Mitchell in musical theater and opera.  Their voices carry the presentation.  The rendition of “Some Enchanted Evening” is very beautiful.  As are all of the reprises.  Even though I would never have cast Baldwin as Luther Billis, “Honey Bun” is just a hoot.  Maybe it’s the music, or just the scene but even in the medium of a concert this song is very enjoyable. 

This presentation is enjoyable, and except for a couple parts of people finding their places in the script, it flows very well.

Music Review: Oscar Hammerstein: The Legacy

Oscar Hammerstein was a prolific lyricist, and wrote with many composers.  This included George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, and of course Richard Rodgers.  This anthology of music includes all of these composers.  The music is presented from State Fair, Show Boat, Carousel, South Pacific, and Oklahoma.  The different presentations are from the musicals (which I like best) as well as jazz, big band and solo versions of popular artists.  For example, Frank Sinatra singing "Some Enchanted Evening" was nice, but lacked the energy of the song.  However Sinatra's "Ol' Man River" was very nice.  There are also some original artists, including Mary Martin as Juanita Hall singing "Happy Talk" and "Bali Hai" Mary Martin singing "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy." This collection concludes with Judy Garland singing "You'll Never Walk Alone."  This is a showstopper. 

Music Review: ****Carousel: Original Broadway Cast

***Carousel.  I listened to the musical selections from Carousel.  I can't get enough of "When You Walk Through a Storm."
This C.D. is the original Broadway cast (1945), and I prefer the movie cast, but still the story is poignant, and this one song is as good as it gets in musical theater. The rest of the music is not quite as good, but Soliloquy and If I loved you are also very nice.  However I can't get excited about the clam bake song.