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
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