Title: "The Music Man"
Director: Morton DaCosta (RIP)
Producer: M. DaCosta
Editing: William H. Zeigler (RIP)
Composer: Meredith Wilson (RIP)
Starring:
- Robert Preston (RIP) as Harold Hill
- Shirley Jones as Marian Paroo
- Buddy Hackett (RIP) as Marcellus Washburn
- Paul Ford (RIP) as Mayor George Shinn
- Hermione Gingold (RIP) as Eulalie Mackenchie Shinn
- Pert Kelton (RIP) as Mrs. Paroo
- Vern Reed (RIP) as Jacey Squires
- Ron Howard as Winthrop Paroo
Plot and Critical Review: Set in July of 1912, a traveling salesman, "Professor" Harold Hill, arrives in River City, Iowa. Intrigued by the challenge of swindling the famously stubborn natives of Iowa ("Iowa Stubborn"), he gets to work at once. Masquerading as a traveling band instructor, Professor Hill plans to con the citizens of River City into paying him to create a boy's marching band, including instruments, uniforms, and music instruction. Once he has collected the money and the instruments and uniforms have arrived, he will hop the next train out of town leaving them without their money or a band.
With help from his associate Marcellus, Professor Hill incites mass concern among the parents of River City that their young boys are being seduced into a world of sin and vice by the new pool table in town ("Ya Got Trouble"). He convinces them that a boy's marching band is the only way to keep the boys of the town pure and out of trouble, and begins collecting their money ("76 Trombones"). Hill anticipates that Marian, the town's librarian and piano instructor, will attempt to discredit him, so he sets out to seduce her into silence. Also in opposition to Hill is the town's Mayor Shinn, who orders the school board to obtain Hill's credentials. When they attempt to do so, Hill avoids their questions by teaching them to sing as a barbershop quartet via "sustained talking." They are thereafter easily tricked by Hill into breaking into song whenever they ask for his credentials.
Meanwhile, Hill attempts to win the heart of Marian the librarian, who has an extreme distrust of men. His charms have little effect upon Marian ("Marian the Librarian") until he wins the admiration of both her mother and her withdrawn and unhappy younger brother Winthrop ("Gary, Indiana"). Marian falls in love with Hill, and subsequently hides evidence she has proving he is a fraud ("Till There Was You"). The band's instruments arrive ("Wells Fargo Wagon") and Hill tells the boys to learn to play via the "Think System," in which they simply have to think of a tune over and over and will know how to play it without ever touching their instruments. Hill's con is nearly complete and he is about to leave town when a disgruntled competing salesman comes to town and exposes Hill and his plans. Chased by an angry mob and pressed to leave town by Marcellus and Marian, Hill realizes that he is actually in love with Marian too and can't leave River City. He is captured by the mob and brought before a town meeting to be tarred and feathered. Hill is saved by the boy's band who miraculously have learned to play their own instruments. Hill remains in River City with Marian to conduct the boy's band full time, which eventually becomes properly trained and equipped with better quality instruments and uniforms. ("76 Trombones 2nd Reprise").
"The Music Man" was among the first generation of Broadway shows to make a successful transition from the stage to the screen. This was mostly due to Morton DaCosta, who directed the stage production and elected to direct and produce (finance) the film to ensure the highest level of accuracy and faithfulness to the show in the cinematic rendition. "The Music Man" earned 6 nominations from the Academy and received one Oscar for Best Musical Score; a worthy tribute to the well-loved music of Meredith Wilson. "The Music Man" lives on as a common part of many community and professional theatre repertoires. If you have the chance to see it live, do so. If not, the movie will suffice.
My Rating: 7.5/10
Content to Caution:
V-1 - No comment.
L-0 - No comment.
DU-1 - Minor smoking and drinking.
RT-0 - No comment.
H/S-0 - No comment.
CH-1 - No comment.
S/N-0 - A rarity, indeed, to find so wholesome a film.
The "Reel Revelation": "Saints Preserve Us!"
In 2005, "The Music Man" was placed in the National Film Registry; a selection of films preserved in the Library of Congress. The National Film Registry was established by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988 in an effort to preserve and maintain an all-encompassing collection of American cinematic art for future generations. "The Music Man" is one among a list of films ranging from Hollywood classics to documentaries. It stands side by side with films such as "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope", "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial", "Schindler's List", "Lawrence of Arabia", and "12 Angry Men".
The cause for film preservation (and restoration) came to the forefront in the 1980s when directors like Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese began to contribute their time, money, and expertise to the issue of films losing their quality due to improper storage techniques and insufficient restorative methods. Spielberg's interest was peaked when he went to watch the master print of "Jaws" and was surprised to find the film had become degraded and deteriorated. This hastened the pressing of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (which in turn pressed national legislature) to support the preservation and restoration of cinematic classics.
That's an awful lot of effort just for the medium of film, don't you think? Do we treat the preservation of our lives and souls with the same sort of sincerity and passion? King David certainly did:
"Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.
I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord;
I have no good besides You."
As for the saints who are in the earth,
They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight." (Psalm 16:1-3)
Director: Morton DaCosta (RIP)
Producer: M. DaCosta
Editing: William H. Zeigler (RIP)
Composer: Meredith Wilson (RIP)
Starring:
- Robert Preston (RIP) as Harold Hill
- Shirley Jones as Marian Paroo
- Buddy Hackett (RIP) as Marcellus Washburn
- Paul Ford (RIP) as Mayor George Shinn
- Hermione Gingold (RIP) as Eulalie Mackenchie Shinn
- Pert Kelton (RIP) as Mrs. Paroo
- Vern Reed (RIP) as Jacey Squires
- Ron Howard as Winthrop Paroo
Plot and Critical Review: Set in July of 1912, a traveling salesman, "Professor" Harold Hill, arrives in River City, Iowa. Intrigued by the challenge of swindling the famously stubborn natives of Iowa ("Iowa Stubborn"), he gets to work at once. Masquerading as a traveling band instructor, Professor Hill plans to con the citizens of River City into paying him to create a boy's marching band, including instruments, uniforms, and music instruction. Once he has collected the money and the instruments and uniforms have arrived, he will hop the next train out of town leaving them without their money or a band.
With help from his associate Marcellus, Professor Hill incites mass concern among the parents of River City that their young boys are being seduced into a world of sin and vice by the new pool table in town ("Ya Got Trouble"). He convinces them that a boy's marching band is the only way to keep the boys of the town pure and out of trouble, and begins collecting their money ("76 Trombones"). Hill anticipates that Marian, the town's librarian and piano instructor, will attempt to discredit him, so he sets out to seduce her into silence. Also in opposition to Hill is the town's Mayor Shinn, who orders the school board to obtain Hill's credentials. When they attempt to do so, Hill avoids their questions by teaching them to sing as a barbershop quartet via "sustained talking." They are thereafter easily tricked by Hill into breaking into song whenever they ask for his credentials.
Meanwhile, Hill attempts to win the heart of Marian the librarian, who has an extreme distrust of men. His charms have little effect upon Marian ("Marian the Librarian") until he wins the admiration of both her mother and her withdrawn and unhappy younger brother Winthrop ("Gary, Indiana"). Marian falls in love with Hill, and subsequently hides evidence she has proving he is a fraud ("Till There Was You"). The band's instruments arrive ("Wells Fargo Wagon") and Hill tells the boys to learn to play via the "Think System," in which they simply have to think of a tune over and over and will know how to play it without ever touching their instruments. Hill's con is nearly complete and he is about to leave town when a disgruntled competing salesman comes to town and exposes Hill and his plans. Chased by an angry mob and pressed to leave town by Marcellus and Marian, Hill realizes that he is actually in love with Marian too and can't leave River City. He is captured by the mob and brought before a town meeting to be tarred and feathered. Hill is saved by the boy's band who miraculously have learned to play their own instruments. Hill remains in River City with Marian to conduct the boy's band full time, which eventually becomes properly trained and equipped with better quality instruments and uniforms. ("76 Trombones 2nd Reprise").
"The Music Man" was among the first generation of Broadway shows to make a successful transition from the stage to the screen. This was mostly due to Morton DaCosta, who directed the stage production and elected to direct and produce (finance) the film to ensure the highest level of accuracy and faithfulness to the show in the cinematic rendition. "The Music Man" earned 6 nominations from the Academy and received one Oscar for Best Musical Score; a worthy tribute to the well-loved music of Meredith Wilson. "The Music Man" lives on as a common part of many community and professional theatre repertoires. If you have the chance to see it live, do so. If not, the movie will suffice.
My Rating: 7.5/10
Content to Caution:
V-1 - No comment.
L-0 - No comment.
DU-1 - Minor smoking and drinking.
RT-0 - No comment.
H/S-0 - No comment.
CH-1 - No comment.
S/N-0 - A rarity, indeed, to find so wholesome a film.
The "Reel Revelation": "Saints Preserve Us!"
In 2005, "The Music Man" was placed in the National Film Registry; a selection of films preserved in the Library of Congress. The National Film Registry was established by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988 in an effort to preserve and maintain an all-encompassing collection of American cinematic art for future generations. "The Music Man" is one among a list of films ranging from Hollywood classics to documentaries. It stands side by side with films such as "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope", "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial", "Schindler's List", "Lawrence of Arabia", and "12 Angry Men".
The cause for film preservation (and restoration) came to the forefront in the 1980s when directors like Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese began to contribute their time, money, and expertise to the issue of films losing their quality due to improper storage techniques and insufficient restorative methods. Spielberg's interest was peaked when he went to watch the master print of "Jaws" and was surprised to find the film had become degraded and deteriorated. This hastened the pressing of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (which in turn pressed national legislature) to support the preservation and restoration of cinematic classics.
That's an awful lot of effort just for the medium of film, don't you think? Do we treat the preservation of our lives and souls with the same sort of sincerity and passion? King David certainly did:
"Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.
I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord;
I have no good besides You."
As for the saints who are in the earth,
They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight." (Psalm 16:1-3)
David's prayer is spoken with deep faith, but also spoken with great hope and trust in God. How many times have you cried out, "God, help me!"? How many times have you prayed, "God, preserve me and protect me from danger!"? In the same breath, were you also able to say "...I have no good besides You!"? While we naturally cry out to God for help, we struggle to fully realize and confess that God alone is good; that God alone can preserve and protect us from the evils and dangers of this world. That is what David is trying to communicate in this Psalm; God alone can preserve us unto everlasting life.
What does it mean to be "preserved"? It means to be protected. The Hebrew word for "preserve" refers to the placing of a hedge around an object or person. Have you ever thought of God protecting you with a hedge? That can seem absurd at first, the image of a hedge surrounding us. But when we realize that it's God's measure of protection for our lives, we recognize that that hedge will do far more good for us than we will ever know.
And what about "...the saints who are in the earth...", why do they get special attention? David recognizes that those who have followed God and lived for Him also help to preserve our faith by their example and sacrifice to the Lord. Like the films that have been placed in the National Film Registry to represent what good film-making is, the faithful of God who have gone before us (and who are now "in the earth") help us to know what it means to walk faithfully with Christ. We can take "delight" in them because they show us that God is faithful and will protect us. They show us by their testimony that, indeed, we "have no good besides" our God.
We, like celluloid, are attacked by the natural forces of this world. While dust and dirt and scratches and tears compromise the fidelity and quality of the films we love, we too are assailed by forces that erode and weaken the quality of our lives. Pray that God will protect you from sin, danger, temptation, and the subtle persuasions that lead to the degrading of the soul. Pray as well for the ones who do not know of God's protection and love, that they too may be "hedged in" and kept from the dangers of this world.
If you find that your life is suffering from the eroding effects of sin (which would mean you're like every other person, so do not be ashamed), remember David's words and pray them as your own. And look to "the saints who are in the earth" for examples of faith, that you might learn from them and walk worthily of the calling of Christ.
See you tomorrow - E.T.
That passage from Psalm 16 has been going through my head all night and then I read your blog and here it is again! Think God is trying to tell me something? ;)
ReplyDeleteFilm personified as saint -- beautiful. "Music Man" is certainly a saint among films. :-) I think we often forget to look to the example of the saints and martyrs, as they can seem so historical and distant to us. At first I was thrown off by the wording "in the earth," but your explanation (of their burial) makes sense. But I still wonder if that was the original meaning?
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