I know it's stupid to pick one performance as best ever, but if I had to it would be Robert Preston's. I use the criterion, could anyone else have played it as well? Marlon Brando? Robert De Niro? Maybe James Cagney. My second best would be Anthony Quinn as Zorba for the same reason.
shareIt seems perhaps a fallacy to pick greatest performance ever based on who could play a specific role best, I think your criteria is just not proper.
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I'm inclined to agree that it's slim criteria this one role. He's amazing in it though. Best actor of all time is...
When there are two, one betrays-Jean-Pierre Melville
Then as now, Mr. Preston really was beyond excellent in "The Music Man", and I don't think anyone else could have topped his performance. This is especially notable as he began his career as a supporting (sometimes character) actor and transitioned to musical theatre as a star.
sharebut he doesn't know the territory!
shareI don't know if it's THE BEST, but it is certainly up there for charisma and energy. It's hard to think of anyone else doing it as much justice.
shareI think Cary Grant could play The Music Man ;)
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He was asked and turned it down. By this time he didn't like roles that had him chasing such young ladies. Did he sing in anything? I know he was a tumbler n his youth but don't remember him dancing or singing in any musicals.
When there are two, one betrays-Jean-Pierre Melville
Funny, I didn't know he was asked. I'm just a big Grant fan. How about Johnny Depp? He sang in Sweeny Tood, and he's quite diverse.
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Yeah I love me some Cary Grant as well. I also love reading about who else was up for certain roles. It gives an alternate history.
Preston has such a rich voice. He really owns the role.
When there are two, one betrays-Jean-Pierre Melville
It looks like NBC will be producing "The Music Man" next holiday season for their Live Show Series. The role of Harold Hill is iconic and it is crucial to cast the right actor for the role.
My vote is for an actor who captured the essence of Robert Preston as Harold Hill. His singing voice, speaking voice and inflections, movement and mannerisms echo Robert Preston to a "T" (and that rhymes with "P" and that stands for Pool). This actor played Harold Hill in the Broadway revival in 2000. He is a stage and movie actor and his name is Craig Bierko.
I saw his performance on Broadway as Harold Hill and I was astounded how good he was as Harold Hill. I don't want to say he impersonated Robert Preston because I do not think that was his intention but.....he embodied Robert Preston. Craig Bierko is the reason for my enjoyment of "The Music Man" revival. I honestly did not think anyone could replace Robert Preston as Harold Hill but I was so wrong. Not only was Craig Bierko as good a performer as Preston, he is so handsome.
Here is Craig Bierko performing "Trouble". Even in a tux, Mr. Bierko becomes Harold Hill and gives a riveting performance.....
http://youtu.be/7UnrCjw37SM
Craig Bierko and company on stage performing "76 Trombones".....
http://youtu.be/uh7KiFmzlic
I agree completely! I also saw Craig Bierko in the revival and, like you, I thought he excelled in the role of Harold Hill without having to channel Robert Preston in order to accomplish it. Thanks for the link to the youtube recording of Craig performing (masterfully) one of my favorite numbers from that show. By the way, even though I had seen the original production, I enjoyed the revival as much with Craig Bierko as I done the landmark show with Robert Preston. "The Music Man" is so magical that it is practically indestructible.
Speaking of the intricate "Trouble," there is also a youtube clip of Seth MacFarlane (of all people!)performing the number-- and doing it exceedingly well-- on a BBC telecast of Broadway musical excerpts. That's what I mean about this show being damage-proof.
Well I don't know if it is just lore, but I've read that he not only turned the role down, but told them if Preston didn't get the role, he wouldn't even go see the movie ...
shareDeleted......
EDIT: I just realized I posted 5 years ago on the IMDb site two YouTube Videos of Craig Bierko performing in the role of Harold Hill in The Music Man. No need to post them again.
I think what is described her is the best like-a-glove fit for actor and role. This certainly qualifies. For another example, look no further than Morton Da Costa's other famous film, Auntie Mame. I can't imagine anyone other than Rosalind Russell in the role.
Other examples IMO include:
Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins
Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade
Cicely Tyson in Sounder
Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie
Liza Minnelli as Sally Bowles
Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally
Surely there are others, but these in particular sprang to mind which I cannot imagine other actors doing.
"Well, for once the rich white man is in control!" C. M. Burns
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My pick of acting performances of that sort would include:
Yul Brynner in The King and I
Claude Rains in Casablanca
Humphrey Bogart in The Maltese Falcon (Well actually just about everybody in that movie)
Judy Garland in A Star is Born
Bette Davis in All About Eve
Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard
Clark Gable in Gone with the Wind
James Cagney in Yankee Doodle Dandy
Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird
Peter O'Toole in Laawrence of Arabia, or The Lion in Winter. or The Stunt Man
It is not our abilities that show who we truly are...it is our choices
Why did you post the same thing twice?
shareI think that sometimes on the iPad I've clicked Post Reply and it comes up on my screen again as if it didm't take, and Post Reply comes up again. (It does the same thing when i've made a post less than 90 seconds ago and doesn't let post another right away.). I've seen other duplicate posts here lately, so at least I know I'm not the only one. I delete it when I do notice it. I assue I'm not thinking that my comment is so good that I must repeat it.
"Well, for once the rich white man is in control!" C. M. Burns
No offense, but I think your criterion is faulty. Maybe nobody could have, for example, played the role in Grease as well as Travolta, but that still does not make it one of the best ever. The role itself has to be demanding, and the performance itself should have some outstanding qualities in it - a uniqueness. I like Robert Preston very much, especially in The Music Man, but I cannot imagine even putting his performance in the top 100 in screen history. He was ideal for this role, but it just is not that demanding a role and not that special a performance.
sharePreston was great, no question. He was not nominated for an Acad.Award. Shame.
shareDeNiro could have done a better job.
shareI think Cary Grant could play The Music Man ;)
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As noted above, Cary Grant was asked, and turned it down. He reportedly said that not only would he not take the role, but if Robert Preston were NOT cast...he wouldn't even buy a ticket to see the movie.
But Grant supposedly also said this about not taking the Rex Harrison role in My Fair Lady. So maybe he said it both times...or didn't say it at all.
I believe that Frank Sinatra was considered.
Elsewhere on this thread, it is said that Meredith Wilson wouldn't sell the rights to the play unless Preston was attached as Hill.
That would moot everything. If Jack Warner agreed to that, neither Cary Grant NOR Frank Sinatra could even be approached. And thus the Cary Grant "wouldn't even buy a ticket to see the movie" story must be about My Fair Lady.
Ah, Hollywood stories...the truth is elusive.