I saw it at the Long Wharf In New haven.
It was magical
"Connecticut?!.... Connecticut..... Dang girl, and I thought I was pimp!"
-erik stoggy boase
Never saw it live, but I got to know the play very well -- on paper, that is, because I owned a copy of the book Six Plays by Rodgers and Hammerstein. When I saw the film for the first time, I could mentally say a lot of the dialogue right along with the characters. The early scene with Mrs. Mullin, Julie, and Carrie is a good example of this -- very close to Hammerstein's original.
So, even without actually having seen the play staged, I feel qualified to state that I, too, prefer the film -- at least in regard to text. The screen dialogue definitely improves on Hammerstein's libretto -- not through drastic changes but mostly, I'd say, through judicious pruning and tightening up, getting rid of some of Hammerstein's weaker (read: "dumber") lines.
Regarding Billy: Somehow, I find that the telling of his story through flashbacks and the change of his suicide to accidental death are further improvements -- although this latter change is something that the code in Hollywood required at the time, according to my research. Some viewers don't like these changes, but I find the pathos more effective this way than I did when reading Hammerstein's libretto.
I saw it in New Haven, as well, Jiggers. What did you think of it? I liked its concept and the staging was very interesting, but the leads were in way above their heads, in my view. Where in the name of heaven did they excavate Ernestine Jackson as Cousin Nettie? Hmm..
I'd be interested in your thoughts.
If you can't improve the silence, DO NOT SPEAK!
i Rather Liked Their cousin Nette. I thought Everyone was supurb.
Really, Billy wasnt the best singer, but i dont think his Characters ment too. and he wasnt bad too. You see Gaelic guy, I think Theater Actors have a charm, a Geniue feeling to them that A List stars just dont. I think there Real actors, ONes that are good, and dont get payed an Entire Economy to Make One apperance.
Ah yes, THe night in May was mystic indeed.
"Connecticut?!.... Connecticut..... Dang girl, and I thought I was pimp!"
-erik stoggy boase
It was recently reviled at Lincoln Center and was on PBS this past week I saw it tonight it was wonderful.
Kelli O'Hara was Julie, she was great as always.
Shuler Hensley who played the monster in both Van Helsing & the musical "Young Frankinstein" was Digger
See some stars here
http://www.vbphoto.biz/
Thanks for your thoughts everyone. Never saw the play, but have the orignal cast recording and talked to someone who saw the play. When done well, it is very good and moving experience apparently, although sentimental and silly in some places. As far as the film goes, I think it was a way overdone, rediculous CinemaScope 55 production, that pretty much falls apart with Billy's (stupid) death, and one of the most rediculous and stupid robbery attempts ever filmed ! The film had to be cut to pieces because the audience was simply bored throughout, and incidently, the film bombed !
RSGRE
Yes, I've seen it live, and frankly, the film in comparison, with its many grievous cuttings is the next thing to a "highlights" version. The acting and singing aren't bad, and the realistic backgrounds are a plus, but I found the show's flow and evolution sadly inferior.
"Believe not what you only wish to believe, but that which truth demands."
@rsgre.
I don't disagree with you but still liked the film. But, I saw a live performance in 1994 in Lincoln Center and I'll never forget it. At the end of Louise's ballet, the audience rose -as one - with spontaneous applause. It was as if the audience had rehearsed the moment.
I've seen 3 different productions:
The National Theatre one which transferred to the West End in 1994. But I don't remember much about it!
The Opera North production at the Barbican Centre, London in 2012 - Very good production and we bumped into the leading male on our way home
The Morphic Graffiti production at the Arcola Theatre, London in 2014 - Absolutely the best production out of the 3. It was in a smaller space, so felt very intimate and more grounded as a story. The people feel more human somehow. A wonderful production but only on for a limited run until the end of this week unfortunately.