| re: "The Music Man" was on, too |
| Last Edit: WaymanWong 03:20 pm EDT 07/05/21 |
| Posted by: WaymanWong 03:18 pm EDT 07/05/21 |
| In reply to: "The Music Man" was on, too - PlayWiz 01:03 pm EDT 07/05/21 |
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Robert Preston is priceless as Harold Hill, and it's remarkable that he got to re-create his Tony-winning triumph for the big screen.
As Wikipedia notes, Preston wasn't the first choice for the movie because he wasn't a big box-office star. Bing Crosby was offered the role, but turned it down. Warners also wanted Frank Sinatra, but Willson insisted on Preston. And Warner tried to cast Cary Grant, but he declined, saying ''nobody could do that role as well as Bob Preston.'' (Grant also reportedly turned down the role of Henry Higgins for the movie of ''My Fair Lady.'')
Barbara Cook, Preston's Tony-winning co-star, wasn't so lucky. Warner's decided it couldn't produce ''The Music Man'' with TWO unknowns, so Shirley Jones, an Oscar winner, got to play Marian. In any event, ''The Music Man'' became a big box office hit. It earned 6 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, but alas, none for Best Actor. Preston wouldn't score an Oscar nomination until 2 decades later, for ''Victor/Victoria'' (1982). |
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"The Music Man" was on, too - PlayWiz 01:03 pm EDT 07/05/21 |
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re: "The Music Man" was on, too - jo 04:31 pm EDT 07/05/21 |
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