MovieChat Forums > Town Without Pity (1961) Discussion > 'Moon River'

'Moon River'

posted 17 years ago by ducdebrabant
4 replies | jump to latest

One person here (in the Comments section) complains that "the syrupy 'Moon River'" beat the title song out for an Oscar. I love both songs, but as a lyricist myself, I would like to say that "Moon River" is one of the most admired popular songs, in terms of its lyrics, ever written in America. There has probably been no greater lyricist in American history than Johnny Mercer, and this is Mercer at the top of his form. I remember one afternoon I spent at the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in NYC, speaking to an elderly man, a black lyricist with a rich history of collaborators including Fats Waller. He brought up "Moon River" as a touchstone, and fondly recalled collaborating Mercer personally on the triplet that goes:

We're after the same rainbow's end
Waitin' 'round the bend --
My huckleberry friend,
Moon river and me.

The sudden, full-stop, characterization of the river (one of the "two drifters") as an entity out of Twain, so perfectly capping the Huckleberry Finn resonances already running through the song -- the yearning to journey, to adventure, to savor all America and all human beauty and potential and promise -- is a stroke of complete and transcendent imagination. It is so right, yet so unexpected. And following as it does immediately upon the visualization of a the sudden sight of a rainbow as a vessel rounds a river bend, it simply blows the song up, like a burst of fireworks.

And since both songs are used thematically to further their stories, I would argue that, although "Town Without Pity" does its job perfectly, "Moon River" actually raises the character of Holly Golightly and her personal history to a higher poetic plane. It may still be true in many places that the young have it tough at the hands of un-understanding elders .... but ... the restless yearning for something more in life is a feeling that leaves few of us at any age.

I know that the monster hit Andy Williams recording of "Moon River" may have been drummed into us too endlessly (and I do prefer Pitney, as the perfect interpreter of "Town Without Pity"). Even so, some of us feel that this "syrupy" Mancini/Mercer song awakens feelings that have always been with us, and that we conveniently put away in order to get on with most of our quotidian moments. Otherwise, we feel too lonely.

Remember, the singer has only one companion on her journey: the river. As far as human companionship, she is bereft, traveling alone with only her personified companion. Two drifters, off to see the world / There's such a lot of world to see. Beautiful, yes. Lonely, oh God, yes.

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***You must be old and wrinkled to have that type of reaction. - Liana***

[–] pdmh48 15 years ago

Wow! Thank you for such a great analysis of this classic song.

[–] BCarl 13 years ago

Funny you used "syrupy" to describe "Moon River." IMO, Gene Pitney's vocal performance of "A Town Without Pity" is one of the most disgustingly syrupy performances of all time. I wonder what Frankie Laine would have done with it since he sang Tiomkin's theme for "Gunfight at the OK Corral."

And, I find it incredible that Dimitri Tiomkin even wrote this song. He must have been influenced by the 50's "heavy triplet ballad" feel and chose to base the accompaniment on that style which was really in vogue.

Funny - there are some motifs here and there in the film that are reminiscent of the early "Bond" films.

All I can say is...THANK GOD the members of the Academy chose Mancini's superior "Moon River" over it and that "The Beatles" came along two years later and pretty much swept all that "50's Crapola" music out to sea.

[–] Venus-25 11 years ago

"Moon River" may also be despised because it was so overplayed in those days and for some time after. Thanks for pointing out its connexion to Holly Golightly's personal history which is easily forgotten due to the Pygmalion job she did on herself.

"Town Without Pity" perfectly expresses the 50s attitudes that prevail in its film. Gene Pitney was the perfect singer for it. That decision could not have been easy.

The Fabio Principle: Puffy shirts look best on men who look even better without them.

[–] spin73 10 years ago

I know this is off the topic but in Breakfast at Tiffany doesn't Holly sing Moon River while "playing" guitar as an accompaniment. I don't know why they did that because she obviously isn't even trying to finger chords on the guitar. They did the same thing with Haley Mills on the Parent Trap. I think it's a little embarrassing to watch. They should have done what they often do with piano playing and simply not show the fingers.