I have never seen this show either live on stage or this film version. And don't believe I have ever seen Judy Holliday in any performance. She recreates the role that earned her a Tony Award in Bells Are Ringing.
While this is straight out of the heyday of Broadway shows, this one doesn't capture me as others have. Ms. Holliday is a charming and funny performer, with enough vulnerability and ability with both physical and verbal comedy to warrant her reputation. But a lot of the rest of the story and performances don't quite reach the level they should be for me.
Some of the music, too, doesn't quite do it for me. I was particularly disappointed in the chorus number "It's a Simple Little System." I kept looking for Stubby Kaye to arrive and show us how this number show be. No offense to Eddie Foy Jr who leads the chorus in this number, I think the song is not developed as well or as broadly as it could have been.
Dean Martin is well cast as playwright Jeffrey Moss who needs a mother to look after him and bolster his confidence. His singing of the jazz-tinged songs of Jule Styne is just right, as well as just in time. I notice that Sydney Chaplin played Jeffrey in the Broadway original. I believe he was also the original Nick Arnstein in Funny Girl. I must find a recording with his singing, because I don't know anything about him.
Bells are Ringing
Music by Jule Styne
Book and Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
1960 film directed by Vincente Minnelli
Cast: Judy Holliday, Dean Martin, Jean Stapleton, Eddie Foy Jr., Hal Linden
While this is straight out of the heyday of Broadway shows, this one doesn't capture me as others have. Ms. Holliday is a charming and funny performer, with enough vulnerability and ability with both physical and verbal comedy to warrant her reputation. But a lot of the rest of the story and performances don't quite reach the level they should be for me.
Some of the music, too, doesn't quite do it for me. I was particularly disappointed in the chorus number "It's a Simple Little System." I kept looking for Stubby Kaye to arrive and show us how this number show be. No offense to Eddie Foy Jr who leads the chorus in this number, I think the song is not developed as well or as broadly as it could have been.
Dean Martin is well cast as playwright Jeffrey Moss who needs a mother to look after him and bolster his confidence. His singing of the jazz-tinged songs of Jule Styne is just right, as well as just in time. I notice that Sydney Chaplin played Jeffrey in the Broadway original. I believe he was also the original Nick Arnstein in Funny Girl. I must find a recording with his singing, because I don't know anything about him.
Bells are Ringing
Music by Jule Styne
Book and Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
1960 film directed by Vincente Minnelli
Cast: Judy Holliday, Dean Martin, Jean Stapleton, Eddie Foy Jr., Hal Linden
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