I didn't know Meredith Willson wrote a musical other than The Music Man! Well, The Unsinkable Molly Brown was his follow-up. The music for Molly doesn't reach the same level as Music Man. Mainly I miss the group numbers--not just chorus numbers, but also songs for smaller groups. And the leading lady doesn't even get a big 11 o'clock number for herself.
This 1964 film version of the 1960 stage musical stars perky Debbie Reynolds as the titular floater. Ms. Reynolds is not one of my favorite performers, but is the right balance of bubbly and brassy for this role. Harve Presnell makes his screen debut as John Brown, a role he originated on Broadway. Mr. Presnell has a robust and agile baritone voice that I very much like.
I was surprised by how much dance there is in this film. And it was choreographed by Peter Gennaro, a Broadway hoofer and choreographer from the 50s through the 70s. He danced in the original casts of Pajama Game, Bells Are Ringing, and Guys and Dolls. He choreographed Molly Brown on Broadway, Fiorello!, and won a Tony for Annie, as well as being co-choreographer for the original production of West Side Story. His choreography for Molly is lively, and appropriate for character/time/place/etc. without being over-the-top.
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Music and Lyrics by Meredith Willson
Cast: Debbie Reynolds, Harve Presnell
This 1964 film version of the 1960 stage musical stars perky Debbie Reynolds as the titular floater. Ms. Reynolds is not one of my favorite performers, but is the right balance of bubbly and brassy for this role. Harve Presnell makes his screen debut as John Brown, a role he originated on Broadway. Mr. Presnell has a robust and agile baritone voice that I very much like.
I was surprised by how much dance there is in this film. And it was choreographed by Peter Gennaro, a Broadway hoofer and choreographer from the 50s through the 70s. He danced in the original casts of Pajama Game, Bells Are Ringing, and Guys and Dolls. He choreographed Molly Brown on Broadway, Fiorello!, and won a Tony for Annie, as well as being co-choreographer for the original production of West Side Story. His choreography for Molly is lively, and appropriate for character/time/place/etc. without being over-the-top.
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Music and Lyrics by Meredith Willson
Cast: Debbie Reynolds, Harve Presnell
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