Did R & H ever do anything serious
When
Pal Joey opened on Broadway in 1940, its unsavory characters and frank lyrics broke ground. Even seventeen years later, the plot, characters and lyrics were still so adult that they had to be altered for the movie.
Several of Rodgers & Hart's shows were groundbreaking in their day, mostly in form but also in subject matter. None of the film versions of their shows represent what the shows were really like, so you'll have to get an idea from reading about them and listening to recordings. Their shows did have love stories, as audiences expected, but they also wrote such unusual shows as
I'd Rather Be Right (with George M. Cohan playing sitting President FDR),
On Your Toes (with two ballets furthering the plot),
The Boys from Syracuse (one of the first Broadway musical adaptations of Shakespeare),
Dearest Enemy (about historical characters from the American revolution),
Babes in Arms (featuring an entire cast of young newcomers),
Chee-Chee (with an innovative score that is hard to describe). They took pride in never repeating themselves.
cabaret type songs relating to men/women, relationships/romances ?
It may be hard to imagine this today, but Rodgers & Hart were among a small group of songwriters that
invented the kind of song you are describing, and Hart set the standard for hard-bitten sophistication and pained unrequited love in his lyrics (though he certainly overlaps with Cole Porter).
In some of the film work they did in the early 1930s (such as
Hallelujah I'm a Bum and
Love Me Tonight) you will find Rodgers & Hart experimenting with techniques such as rhymed dialogue and extended musical numbers that transform a song over time and space and many characters.
By the way, Sinatra's would-be co-star in
Carousel, Shirley Jones, has said that she suspects that the real reason that Sinatra quit the film was that, as much as he loved the material, he was frightened of the role.
"Please! You're not at home!"
reply
share
rsgre
15 years ago
Thanks for all your useful information Drytoast, refreshes my memory of some of the things I had heard about R & H years ago. So the film Pal Joey may not be representative of their work, more just of hollywood glitz in the 1950's. Watched it again and noticed how the story starts to sink half way through, with the improbable 3 way love triangle, and the character of Joey all seem to be too nice to be believable. Just a musical vehicle for three major stars, and a dog thrown in for good measure.
Interesting comments about Carousel. Considering that the film was ridiculously overproduced, and a resulting financial flop, you might be right. Frank sensed impending doom and got out while he could. I made some comments about this at the Carousel site.
Regarding Kim Novak, she already had the hairdo and manner of Madelein Elster in this film. Hitchcock was not as original in his choice later,as many might have thought.
RSGRE
reply
share
entertainme5
14 years ago
Joey was a womanizer and loved women. So, there was nothing uncharacteristic about him being "nice". He was never portrayed as being violent and demeaning. He was a hidden romantic and although he loved women; money was his first love..until....well, I'll leave that for you to watch and find out.
"I have no memories I'm prepared to share with you."- Peter O'Toole
reply
share
bradford-1
10 years ago
Joey Evans was supposed to be a dancer. Shame on Hollywood for never filming the real show and starring Gene Kelly. Oddly enough, Kelly's first film, FOR ME AND MY GAL, comes closer to the "real" PAL JOEY than this film.
May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?
reply
share
eelb53
9 years ago
The problem many modern day listeners have when they make negative remarks about Rodgers and Hart, Gershwin, Porter, etc., is that they've been desensitized by rock n' roll to the point that any other form of music seems insipid. It's unfortunate, but illustrates the cultural decline in musical taste.
reply
share
raymondou1994
9 years ago
Actually for me it's the opposite. I grew up taking piano lessons and listening to classical music, and music nowadays seem really dull and repetitive with their constant beat. That's part of the reason why I started listening to jazz/swing music, and also because I like how orchestras sound, none of that electronic or synthesized stuff.
reply
share