tgd@clyde.UUCP (Thomas G. Dennehy) (10/03/83)
Yet another article on musicals:
A reader recently chided me for neglecting Singing in the Rain
and The Wizard of Oz in my musical tirades. [By the way, have you
even noticed that half of Wizard of Oz is in color and half in black
and white. What was the director thinking? Is this a bad film? :-)]
The discussion concerned the transition of musicals from stage to
screen and how well/badly this is done in general. SitR, Band Wagon,
Silk Stockings (musical remake of Ninotchka) Easter Parade, and others
from that era were devised as film vehicles for their stars, and don't
exist in theatrical versions. Totally different head. Totally.
We also have the Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland "hey kids, let's put on
a show" series. How could that be done on stage? "Hey kids, let's
put on a movie?"
The WofO played on Broadway in the early 1900's, but it was not a
musical, and Toto was a cow (absolutely no joke.)
Was "Meet Me in St. Louis" ever done on stage? (prior to the film)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was written for the screen, and recently
adapated into a lavish and expensive stage flop starring Debbie Boone.
The barn raising from that movie is a prime example of a production
number better suited for the screen than the stage.
I am nothing if not critical (Othello, II,1).
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Tom Dennehy AT&T BL Whippany, NJ {clyde!tgd}halle1@houxz.UUCP (10/03/83)
Actually, 7 Brides for 7 Brothers was done for the stage. The reason you don't remember it is that it closed after one night.