1^

Timmy
FEATURE REVIEW
'The Music Man'
Warner
Bros.
By FRANK LEYENDECKER
QN A PAR with "Oklahoma!" which was
a real slice of Americana embellished
with rousing songs and vibrant dances, tliis
joyous picturization of Meredith Willson's
recent stage success, which played on
Broadway for three seasons and toured the
length and breadth of the U.S.. is unquestionably
one of the best film musicals
of the past decade. It should dehght audiences
and exhibition alike—with patrons
singing and cash coming in at the boxoffice.
For Meredith Willson was writing nostalgically
of his home town of Mason City.
Iowa, of 50 years ago and the River City of
the picture is remarkably reproduced on
the Warner lot. The horse-and-buggy era,
with a few old-type autos, the big open
square, the fireworks in the park and the
high-button shoes and extravagant, beplumed
attire of the ladies, all splendidly
photographed in Technirama and Technicolor,
will bring wistful sighs from the
older patrons and get chuckles from the
younger fans—all of them entering into
the spirit of the small town 1912 period.
Producer-director Morton DaCosta has
endowed the entire film with a consistently
happy quality which might even inspire
applause at the outstanding song and
i
dance numbers as it did several times during
the New York theatre screening and
i
send audiences out with a smile while humming
the lilting tunes. It's the kind of picture
which moviegoei-s will recommend to
their friends and. because of its wholesome
quality, is ideal family fare with a
special appeal to the ladies and the
youngsters.
No less than 17 musical sequences have
been integrated into Marion Hargrove's
screenplay and most of them stem from
"THE MUSIC MAN"
Worner Bros.
In Techniroma and Technicolor
Rofio: 2.55-1
Running time: 151 Minutes
CREDITS
Produced ond directed by Morton DoCosta
Screenploy by Morion Horgrovc, Based on Meredith
Willson's "The Music Mon," with his music
and lyrics: book written in collaborotion with
Fronklin Locey, as produced on Broodwoy by
Kermit Bloomgarten with Herman Greene in ossociotion
with Fronk Productions, Inc. Director
of photogrophy, Robert Burks, A.S.C. Art director,
Paul Grocsse. Film editor, Williom Ziegler.
Sound, M, A, Merrick Music supervised ond
conducted by Roy Hcindort. Vocal orrangements,
Chorles Henderson. Orchestrotions, Roy Hcmdorf,
Comstock ond Gus Fronk Levene. Choreogroiphy,
Onno White, ossistcd by Tom Ponko
Assistant director, Russell Llewellyn.
THE CAST
Horold Hill Robert Preston
Morion Poroo Shirley Jones
Morcellus Woshbum Buddy Hockett
Eulolie Shinn Hermione Gingold
Moyor Shinn Paul Ford
Mrs. Poroo Pert Kelton
Tommy Djilas Timmy Everett
jQcey Squires, Olin Britt, Ewort Dunlop and
Oliver Nik os The Buffob Bills
Zonecta Shinn Susan Luckcy
Wmthrop Poroo Ronny Howord
Chorles Cowell Horry Hickox
Mrs- Squires
Mary Wickcs
and Peggy Morvlo, Adnio Rice, Jessalyn Fox,
24
Cosey Adoo^s, Chorles Lone, Borboro Pespcr,
Moniquc Vermont
Shirley Jones and Robert Preston in
"
"The Music Man, Everett is
back of Preston.
plot situations so that they never seem to
intiTJde on the action. Of course, the
•stirring marching number. "76 Trombones."
is the standout, especially in the climactic
reprise down the streets of the Iowa town
when all of the leading characters are
identified on the screen and win an audience
hand just as if they were taking final
bows from a stage—an effect that should
be used more often when several screen
newcomers are being introduced. The opening
train number, "Whadayatalk." with its
clever stammering rhythm, the prancing
"Shipoopi " routine in the park, the songand-dance
to "Madame Librarian" and the
wonderful "Gary. Indiana." sung both by
Robert Preston and by the adorable tyke.
Ronny Howard, are sure-fire audience
pleasers. "Goodnight, My Someone" and
"Till There Was You" are tender romantic
ballads for Preston and Shirley Jones, while
the barbershop quartet humming "Lida
Rose" and several other tunes by the Buffalo
Bills of the original Broadway show is
the type of expert harmonizing seldom
heard in these times.
Onna White's spirited and splashy dance
routines arc tremendously inventive and
DaCosta has employed "iris shots" to cloak
the outer screen when a few intimate fadeouts
are needed.
As important to a musical as its songs
and dances are the talented performers and
Warner Bros, wisely chose Robert Preston,
who scored on Broadway, to recreate his
vibrant portrayal of Harold Hill, the music
man. Preston, a screen leaduig man of the
1940s, amazed Broadway audiences with his
grace, clever footwork and fine singing
voice, as well as his mature charm, and his
screen performance is sure to be judged one
of 1962s finest. Shirley Jones, of the wistful
loveliness and bell-like singing voice, is
ideally cast as the mousey librarian-heroine
and Hermione Gingold is elaborately and
raucously comic as the mayor's overdressed
wife.
Also from the stage show are Paul Ford,
as the pompous mayor, and Pert Kelton
as the heroine's lovable riish mother, as
well as the fat Peggy Mondo and the skinny
Adnia Rice, who garner many laughs.
Buddy Hackett is almost lost in the shuffle
until he leads the "Shipoopi" number while
Timmy Everett and pert Susan Luckey
make an engaging pair of teenage lovers.
And little, red-haired, freckle-faced Ronny
Howard, who lisps adorably, will win "ohs"
and "ahs" from many feminine patrons.
'Taste of Honey' Winner
Of 4 British Awards
LONDON—"A Taste of Honey." British
picture produced by Michael Balcon and
distributed in the U. S. by Continental
Distributing, won four British Academy
Awards April 5. Robert Rossen's "The Hustler,"
distributed by 20th Century-Fox, and
"Ballad of a Soldier," Russian picture distributed
in the U. S. by Kingsley International,
tied for the British Academy Award
as "best foreign-made picture."
"A Taste of Honey" was named "best
British film," Dora Bryan was named "best
"
actress for her starring role: Shelagh Delaney
and Tony Richardson won the award
for "best screenplay" and Rita Tushingham
was named "best newcomer" for her
featured role in the picture.
Peter Finch was named "best actor" of
1961 for his role in "No Love for Johnnie,"
distributed in the U. S. by Embassy Pictures:
Paul Newman was named "best foreign
actor" for his starring role in "The
Hustler" and Sophia Loren was named
"best foreign actress" for her starring role
in "Two Women." distributed in the U. S.
by Embassy Pictures. Walt Disney's "101
Dalmatians" won the award in the animated
film field.
Meredith Willson Gets
Big Brother Award
WASHINGTON — Meredith
Willson.
author-composer of the forthcoming Warner
Bros, musical. "The Music Man." was
presented with the 1961 Big Brother of the
Year award by President John F. Kennedy
at ceremonies at the White House Tuesday
• 10 1. Willson was selected for the award
by Big Brother leaders in the U. S. and
Canada in recognition of "his deep and
abiding interest in the welfare of youth."
Kirk Douglas has accepted the invitation
of Secretary of the Treasury Dillon to represent
the motion picture industry at the
kickoff of the new^ U. S. Savings Bonds
American International
Adds to April Releases
"Freedom Bond Drive." which takes place
in Washington April 16. Douglas was
chosen by Secretary Dillon to represent
the film industry because two of his screen
roles. "Spartacus" and "Lonely Are the
Brave," have depicted man's fight for freedom.
NEW YORK—American International
has added another combination bill, composed
of "Assignment Outer Space and
"
"Phantom Planet." to its list of April releases.
Another combination bill. "The
Brain That Wouldn't Die" and "Invasion
of the Star Creatures," is also on the
April list.
"Assignment Outer Space," Ls a sciencefiction
picture in color, with Archie Savage
and Gaby Farinson. "Phantom Planet."
also a science-fiction picture, stars Dean
Fredericks, Coleen Gray and Tony Dexter.
Lloyd Nolan to Star in Navy Film
HOLLYWOOD — Lloyd Nolan has been
signed to star with Kenneth More in the
comedy, "We Joined the Navy." to be produced
overseas by Danny Angel. Wendy
Toy will dii-ect the film, a spoof on the
American aiid British navies, and has
slated shooting in London on May 28.
BOXOFFICE April 16, 1962