Looking for a movie to watch on a Saturday night, we decided to get The Music Man, that great 1962 musical starring Robert Preston and Shirley Jones. I hadn't seen the film in a long time, but the songs are iconic and memorable.
The following are thoughts and trivia regarding The Music Man..
- I can't picture anyone but Robert Preston in the title role. He did 880 performances on Broadway before author Meredith Willson insisted he be signed to play Professor Harold Hill in the movie version. Warner Brothers studio wanted to sign Frank Sinatra for the role. Bing Crosby was offered the lead role and declined, as did Cary Grant.
- Preston is energetic, fun, and can dance. A bomber in WWII, you can't take your eyes off him in The Music Man. And even though he was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in Victor/Victoria!, he will forever be linked to the role of Harold Hill.
- The play won a Tony award and the movie did win an Oscar for Best Original Musical Score in 1962. The Music Man was nominated for picture of the year, but lost to another brilliant musical, West Side Story.
- Shirley Jones played the female lead role, Marian the Librarian. Jones was the big female musical star in those days, along with Julie Andrews. Jones has starred on Carousel and Oklahoma! She later starred with her stepson, David Cassidy, in The Partridge Family.
- Ronny Howard was only 5-years-old when he was in The Music Man. He soon played Opie Taylor for many years in the Andy Griffith Show.He later starred in the 70s TV hit, Happy Days, playing Ritchie Cunningham. Now, he is one of the top directors in Hollywood at a still young age of 60.
- The Music Man had a top-notch supporting cast of veteran actors and familiar faces- Paul Ford and Buddy Hackett to name a few. The Buffalo Bills barbershop quartet were featured in the movie, reprising their roles from Broadway.
- The soundtrack album won a Grammy. The movie itself was both a box office and critical success. It was the 5th highest grossing film of 1962.
- One of the film's most beloved ballads is Til There Was You. It was so popular back in the early 60s that The Beatles recorded it, with Paul singing lead. The Beatles included the song in their first real introduction to the world- England's Royal Command Performance in front of the Queen
- Maybe for the first time ever, Willson combined two songs into one. 76 Trombones and Goodnight, My Someone are actually the same tune, only with different words and different paces.
- Willson was from Iowa and many aspects of the movie were taken from his Midwestern youth. Willson also wrote the play The Unsinkable Molly Brown, among others.
- It's a long but fun movie. If you want to spend a few relaxing, carefree hours, rent The Music Man. You won't be able to get the catchy songs out of your head.
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