I just went searching for info about the rules in 1974, and I couldn't find any discussion of the Gigi issue in either the Times or Variety. Which surprised me.
One thing I found, which I had forgotten, was that no one showed up to accept the Tony for Gigi, suggesting either that neither Lerner nor Loewe thought it would win under the circumstances or that they themselves were embarrassed that it was even nominated.
It was a new situation, and I think you are right that no rules were in place. Also perhaps of interest is that it was initially announced that both Candide and Lorelei would be eligible for best musical. There were protests from various sources, and the decision was reversed.
Btw, part of "The Contract" uses the music for "A Tojours," which is heard as underscoring in the film. If memory serves, the song was cut from the film, which makes sense since it was on that Evening With Lerner and Loewe two-LP set with Jane Powell, Jan Peerce, Robert Merrill and Phil Harris, released in 1959. |
