What if MacRae... was Sinatra?
Added 3/19/2010
I count "Carousel" as one of the three best American theater musicals ever--along with "Porgy & Bess" and "West Side Story." R & H had so many good musicals, but this one may have the best music and the best story. This 50th anniversary edition (no blu-ray?)has two CDs of high quality video and lots of extras, highlighted by the commentary of Shirley Jones and a duet of "If I Loved You" by the original Broadway leads, Jan Clayton and John Raitt from a 1954 TV show.
I sang in a group which included Jan Clayton's understudy years ago, and was a member of the chorus in a local production of the show. Clayton displays a slightly darker soprano than Shirley Jones and a pixie quality not unlike Mary Martin, who introduced the duet in the TV show. Raitt is a somewhat stronger high baritone than Gordon MacRae, but both in my view served the role well vocally.
I won't get into the plot and performances which are covered extensively in other reviews, but did want to comment on Shirley Jones' commentary--especially regarding Frank Sinatra, who was supposed to play Billy--prerecorded the songs, but dropped out of the movie, it was said, because he didn't want to do an extra take for the cinemascope cameras. Shirley doesn't shed any light on this, and Frank told her he didn't want to discuss it.
Sinatra was at the peak of his powers as a singer in the mid-50s.I've heard tapes of some of his "Carousel" 1955 pre-recordings, and he sings very well, though he lacks the strong highs MacRae brought from his vocal training. Sinatra, however, had more depth as an actor, and would have made the dark "tough" side of Billy more vivid.Shirley Jones, on the other hand, had great chemistry with MacRae, evident previously in "Oklahoma", and you wonder why he hadn't been the first choice.
Contrary to what Shirley says, Frank did pre-record Soliloquy in 3 takes, subsequently recorded it again for release in 1963 and, remarkably, sang it in concert in his 70s which was released in 1995. In the latter he used the original "barroom" lyrics from the initial Broadway production cut from the movie. He also used these lyrics in his original Columbia recording in 1946. Sinatra had great savvy with a lyric, and he obviously relishes "Soliloquy", expecially the concert version in his 70s, which I think, incredibly, is his best effort.He sings it like a guy who has been there, done that--with a great deal of conviction.Perhaps he regretted not playing the role.
One wonders what kind of a movie "Carousel" would have been with Sinatra as Billy. And Vincente Minnelli as Director instead of Henry King.What would Minnelli have done with the sets? Safe to say it would have been different--on both counts.
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All these beautiful songs in this film. I love seeing these old musicals. This is one of my favorites. Great movie and a must see if you are a musical movie buff. Or, you might love this one with a box of tissues because it is a tear jerker.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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An excellent print of a good movie, I could not ask for better. Thanks for the speedy delivry.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Special Features
Added 10/3/2009
All special features included in this product come through just fine excepting the "sing-a-long". There is some sound distortion when words are flashed on bottome of screen. Otherwise, I am very pleased with video and audio of this product.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Gordon as good as my husband
Added 9/21/2009
Glad to have the DVD of "Carousel". Wanted to compare my husband's portrayal of Billy Bigelow back in 1981 to that of Gordon MacRae in this classic musical, and came away pleased.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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What if MacRae... was Sinatra?
Added 3/19/2010
I count "Carousel" as one of the three best American theater musicals ever--along with "Porgy & Bess" and "West Side Story." R & H had so many good musicals, but this one may have the best music and the best story. This 50th anniversary edition (no blu-ray?)has two CDs of high quality video and lots of extras, highlighted by the commentary of Shirley Jones and a duet of "If I Loved You" by the original Broadway leads, Jan Clayton and John Raitt from a 1954 TV show.
I sang in a group which included Jan Clayton's understudy years ago, and was a member of the chorus in a local production of the show. Clayton displays a slightly darker soprano than Shirley Jones and a pixie quality not unlike Mary Martin, who introduced the duet in the TV show. Raitt is a somewhat stronger high baritone than Gordon MacRae, but both in my view served the role well vocally.
I won't get into the plot and performances which are covered extensively in other reviews, but did want to comment on Shirley Jones' commentary--especially regarding Frank Sinatra, who was supposed to play Billy--prerecorded the songs, but dropped out of the movie, it was said, because he didn't want to do an extra take for the cinemascope cameras. Shirley doesn't shed any light on this, and Frank told her he didn't want to discuss it.
Sinatra was at the peak of his powers as a singer in the mid-50s.I've heard tapes of some of his "Carousel" 1955 pre-recordings, and he sings very well, though he lacks the strong highs MacRae brought from his vocal training. Sinatra, however, had more depth as an actor, and would have made the dark "tough" side of Billy more vivid.Shirley Jones, on the other hand, had great chemistry with MacRae, evident previously in "Oklahoma", and you wonder why he hadn't been the first choice.
Contrary to what Shirley says, Frank did pre-record Soliloquy in 3 takes, subsequently recorded it again for release in 1963 and, remarkably, sang it in concert in his 70s which was released in 1995. In the latter he used the original "barroom" lyrics from the initial Broadway production cut from the movie. He also used these lyrics in his original Columbia recording in 1946. Sinatra had great savvy with a lyric, and he obviously relishes "Soliloquy", expecially the concert version in his 70s, which I think, incredibly, is his best effort.He sings it like a guy who has been there, done that--with a great deal of conviction.Perhaps he regretted not playing the role.
One wonders what kind of a movie "Carousel" would have been with Sinatra as Billy. And Vincente Minnelli as Director instead of Henry King.What would Minnelli have done with the sets? Safe to say it would have been different--on both counts.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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All these beautiful songs in this film. I love seeing these old musicals. This is one of my favorites. Great movie and a must see if you are a musical movie buff. Or, you might love this one with a box of tissues because it is a tear jerker.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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An excellent print of a good movie, I could not ask for better. Thanks for the speedy delivry.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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