Oh, I know -- I was just in a fanciful mood (again) when I did that post. I guess being the son of Mickey Katz doesn't open as many doors as being the daughter of Judy Garland. It's too bad Borscht Capades wasn't a big hit on Broadway. Still Grey was cast as Bender, a showy role in the '52 Warners musical About Face -- his performance is the only thing worth mentioning in that awful film.
I was watching Where's Charley? this morning. Although he is charming in the "Once in Love with Amy" sequence, the 48-year old Bolger is laughably (actually grotesquely) cast as a college student -- he looks like his roommate's father. He's even 7 years older then Margaretta Scott, who plays his aunt. Maybe if Warners had reconceived the film as a vehicle for Doris Day (as Amy) and Gene Nelson (as Jack), it would have allowed them to cast someone as relatively unknown (but talented and age appropriate) as Joel Grey in the title role. I'm sure that would have made Loesser happy, and most likely the film would be less obscure today. Although Day might have come across a bit like a Mrs. Robinson-type (a role which I believe she would be considered for some years later). |
