I'm watching "The Music Man" on DVD.

[TennesseeWalker]

It's the Matthew Broderick version. I'm reminded of how "76 Trombones" was played after President Clinton's farewell speech at the 2000 Democratic Convention.

Professor Harold Hill is a loveable rouge, a charming con artist. I'm bemused that this would be played following Clinton's farewell speech. I even remember the commentators remarking that this was kind of an odd song to play, considering Clinton's style during his presidency.

Did anyone else notice that? Who's idea was it to play that song? It's actually kind of cool...really self aware and unrepentant. I like Professor Hill, and I liked Clinton....it's good to know someone who can really get away with thumbing their nose at society from time to time....if the greater good is still served....

[Karenina]

1. There's TROUBLE

in River City.

[TennesseeWalker]

2. Back then, Liberals played billiards.

And, as usual, caused the "downfall of civilization"....;)

[absyntheNsugar]

7. Starts with T

and rymes with P and that stands for POOL!

[Wilber_Stool]

3. Eulalie.........

MacKechnie Shinn. What a name. My favorite musical. I couldn’t watch anything but the original.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi Wilber_Stool!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[TennesseeWalker]

4. lol...one of these songs is one that Monica Lewinsky was shown singing

in a clip from an old college play she had been in. I remember that clip showing right after the media "outed" Lewinsky as the president's girlfriend.

Someone at the Democratic Convention had a really BOLD sense of humor. lol

I LOVE IT! Makes me like Clinton even more.....

[bbernardini]

5. Ugh! Nothing but the original for me, thanks!

That new version is an abomination, as much as I like M.B.

[nuxvomica]

6. I haven't seen Broderick's Hill. Is it worth a look?

I loved the Preston version. It was the first movie my parents took the whole family to see when I was a little kid. I still think I shouldn't use words like "sw*ll" and "s*'s y**r *ld m*n".

[Rhiannon12866]

8. This version was a sacrilege to me, having been raised watching

the original. I loved Robert Preston and thought Shirley Jones was beautiful. If you watch Frasier, the short girl who played his wannabe agent, Portia, played Marian. I found Broderick's Harold Hill without humor or charm. The original, being a period piece, stands up so well over time. Why do they remake these things? It's as if no one can possibly come up with any new ideas...:shrug:

[TennesseeWalker]

9. If they didn't remake them from time to time, I'm not sure a big

audience would ever find those golden oldies. It doesn't hurt to do it, and people can bitch about the results on internet chat boards! :) For example of the good reasons to remake movies, I'm going to go check out the Robert Preston version now, since you have recommended it so highly.

Thanks, by the way! I really like Old Robert Preston.

[Rhiannon12866]

10. You won't be sorry! He really makes the film

He's entirely too old for Shirley Jones, at the time, but you hardly notice because he displays so much energy. Buddy Hackett is priceless as his friend and confidant. Ronnie Howard is Shirley Jones' little brother, with the lisp, and Pert Kelton is great as her Irish mother who doesn't want to see her turn into an old maid piano teacher. A strange movie choice for a feminist like me to love, but the performances and the music are superlative. I grew up watching these characters and singing those songs!:D

[grasswire]

11. gag the new version

I hated it.

Matthew Brodderick is an automaton compared to Robert Preston. Actually, he was so stiff that it was hard to believe he'd ever done Broadway. It was an abomination, and I'm not just saying that because I loved the original.

I adore Music Man almost as much as I adore Victor Victoria. If you've never seen Robert Preston in Victor Victoria, go get it for Saturday night. It's my all-time favorite movie. The music is great, too.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. Yes, I have seen Victor/Victoria

I enjoyed that, as well. Robert Preston was excellent in anything that he did. I agree with you about Matthew Broderick. Maybe he is good in something I have missed, but I thought he was totally miscast as the charming Harold Hill. The Music Man remains a favorite because it brings back memories of my childhood. My cousin and I were only little kids, but we knew the words to all the songs. Great music!:D