They Wasted Their Shirley Jones

They had Shirley Jones right there, one of the loveliest 1950s and 60s screen actresses with a gorgeous soprano voice to boot. She will always be my favorite Laurey from Oklahoma and she is one reason for me to visit the 1950s should time travel ever become possible and available. With Marian Paroo’s high soprano octaves, this on paper sounded like perfect casting.

So why, oh why did they screw it up? Why in the world did they lower her songs by at least an octave? As a result of them doing so, every time I watch this movie and listen to Shirley Jones singing her parts, she sounds really dull and boring. Even worse than that, they cut My White Knight and replaced it with a really bland, completely unmemorable song written for the movie, and there was no reason for them to do that. I’ve seen Oklahoma many times and listened to the music, and Shirley Jones is not only one of my favorite performers in that movie, but I know for a fact she could’ve sung that high without any issues. Just listen to the way she sings Many A New Day and People Will Say We're In Love from Oklahoma. She definitely could’ve sung Marian’s songs in their original key, and she would’ve knocked My White Knight out of the park for sure. There was no reason to think she couldn’t, and there was no reason for them to make those lame changes.

(Oh and speaking of them cutting My White Knight and replacing it with a boring, unmemorable song, here is something actually really infuriating. I’m rewatching this movie now and they actually included a portion of
My White Knight in the middle of that said boring, unmemorable song, drawing attention to the fact that they could’ve just kept My White Knight instead of writing that whole other song and they chose not to. And like I suspected, Shirley Jones DID hit the high notes comfortably and perfectly, also drawing attention to the fact that she could’ve done the same with all the other songs, so there was no need at all to tamper with their range for the movie.)

I know there are many people who dislike the remake with Matthew Broderick, but I’m sorry guys. They used Kristin Chenoweth in the remake way better than they used Shirley Jones here, and it’s one of the reasons I prefer the remake because Kristin just SELLS it as Marian. And Barbara Cook, I could listen to her ALL DAY. It makes me extremely sad that I can’t say the same for Shirley Jones because I freaking love her to death otherwise.

Just…why, movie? You wasted your Shirley Jones. You had her right there and you let her go to waste. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive you for that - in fact, Music Man is one of my favorite stage shows but this is probably the number one reason I don’t care for this movie.