The Trouble Relieving Film

Greetings, readers. The designated topic of September's secondary post is a 1962 film. Its inspiration was a 1957 musical. I refer to Meredith Willson's The Music Man.

The scenery people were aceful at crafting 1912 settings. The Dorothy Jeakins-designed costuming is esthetically-pleasable. The film's vividly lit. Willson composed songs that are seminalous and exemplar. They're enriched by the arranging/instrumenting. Onna White's choreography is magnificently merged with the musical numbers. Applauses to makeup, hair and prop departments. I'm charmed by the opening titles. There's scope to the cinematography.

The cast of this film is supreme. The River City townsfolk divert. Acting vet Charles Lane is the constable. The traveling salesmen posses synchronization. Harry Hillcox conveyed hateability as Charlie Cowell. The Buffalo Bills are perfectly pitched. The Pick-a-Little Ladies had jocoseness. Monique Vermont was a pleasant Amaryllis. Ron Howard had total adorability as Winthrop Paroo (thank you Jean and Rance for your parenting). Susan Luckey and Timmy Everett acted pweciously as the love birds. Iffy solo aside, the plucky Buddy Hackett was an elfin lackey as Marcellus Washburn (a Greg dreamrole). The fussbudgety Paul Ford and rococo Hermione Gingold are waggishing as The Shinns. The cracking Pert Kelton, Mrs. Paroo, was quite a stupendable performer. The divine Shirley Jones was stunningly beguiling as Marian "The Librarian" Paroo (they skillfully hid Shirley's pregnancy). Repeating his 1st musical role, the triumphant Robert Preston had dynamic charisma as Professor Harold Hill.

There's 2 cringey scenes. I miss My White Knight from the stage show. Nonetheless, Marion Hargrove morphed Meredith's libretto into a screenplay. It's somewhat autobiographical. The characters are indelible. There are stagey aspects to the movie and character evolution. I opin that there's licit aspects to the romance. There are character-affiliated catchphrases. There's zippiness to the dialogue. They effectively blended the songs and text. The film's finale enthralls. The Music Man is musical comedy and family entertainment that enthralls.

The film reproduced Meredith Willson's material. Props to Morton Da Costa (the dandiful director/producer) for molding the show into a rapturous film. Incidentally, I'm lookin' forward to the 2022 B'way revival of The Music Man. It's director and choreographer are capable of enacting a revival. A sleazoid was swapped for a proficient female producer. It's splendidly cast, too. Break a leg, all. To quote this post's title, you'll relieve people's troubles.