Sweat
Is it my imagination but was the entire cast sweating throughout the movie It seemed there was a heat spell wherever the movie was being filmed. It made me a bit uncomfortable, if I do say so.
shareSince the film takes place in Iowa over a 4-week period in July, it would make perfect sense to see the entire town sweltering from the heat & humidity of high summer in America's corn belt. But what's always struck me in The Music Man is the virtual ABSENCE of sweat; the fact is, the townspeople look more like they're enjoying a lovely stretch of springtime weather. Of course, there's a moment in "Iowa Stubborn" when the mayor mops his brow with a handkerchief, talking about how it could only be a "good morning" if you're walking around in your drawers - and another moment toward the end of "76 Trombones" when he's seen briefly wiping his forehead again - but these are among the rare times in the film that a River City-zian is shown perspiring. Marian, in particular, looks fresh and cool in every one of her scenes. So when you talk about "the entire cast sweating throughout the movie," I'm afraid that's something I don't see at all.
shareThis is a strange subject I know.
In my humble estimation most of the characters do not look cool and comfortable (a subjective judgment to be sure). Their faces are glistening a bit. Tommy Chillis (Timmy Everet) has visible "pits" in the soda bar/sweet shop scene.
I am not talking about sweat dripping of the bodies of the actors, but this is one thing that struck me the first time I viewed the motion picture and upon subsequent viewings. It made me slightly uncomfortable.
According to IMDB, the production was filmed in Burbank. High heat in SoCal is not unusual.
By the way, thanks for taking the time to reply.
I am not talking about sweat dripping of the bodies of the actors...
Thanks for clarifying that. Of course, when you mentioned "the entire cast sweating throughout the movie," that's the impression you gave - that sweat was dripping off the bodies of all the actors for the film's complete running time. I haven't noticed the "visible pits' of Timmy Everett (Tommy Djilas); does he have them in each of his scenes? Susan Luckey (Zaneeta Shinn) has talked about him having a substance abuse problem; if that's true, maybe that would explain his perspiration. Or maybe he was just having a liquid reaction to the lights he was working under that day (which some actors can find intense).
I lived in Los Angeles for 19 years, so I'm quite familiar with the climate there. But it can't be compared to the summer humidity of Manhattan (where I currently live) or the swelter of the corn belt, where heat & humidity is particularly brutal. And in the "River City" documentary that accompanies the film, none of the cast members spoke about "heat spells" or any kind of adverse conditions during filming. In fact, Shirley Jones said it was the happiest experience she ever had making a movie.
I was tempted to pull out the DVD and scan the film for "visible pits," but that seemed like such a weird thing to do; when I watch a movie, I tend to concentrate on faces and the way each shot is framed - and if it's a musical, I watch the choreography. But if you thought the actors' faces were glistening and felt uncomfortable watching them, then that's how you felt. I can only say that I've also seen the film numerous times, and I've never felt uncomfortable viewing it. And I still think Shirley Jones looks as fresh as a daisy in every scene she appears in.
Murph,
Points well taken. I also live in the mid-Atlantic and am no stranger to HHH—hazy, hot and humid. No need to scan the film for other instances of excessive underarm moisture production; I don't think there are any. As I may have stated before, the heat was the first impression I got upon my initial viewing.
Your absolutely right. Shirley Jones was a joy.
On another note, I had heard "'Til There Was You" a million times on the radio when it was a smash hit. I never realized until a few years ago how great a song it is. Kudos to Mr. Wilson.
On a third note, my wife loves the movie but dislikes barbershop quartet style singing immensely.
VTP