MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SCREENING SERIES, THE:
A TRIBUTE TO RICHARD RODGERS: THE SOUND OF HIS
MUSIC, PACKAGE 7: GENERAL FOODS: PRESENTING
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN
Summary
Summing up Richard Rodgers's lasting popularity New
York Times drama critic Brooks Atkinson wrote, "He is
the greatest. And everyone knows it because his music
is in the air every day of our lives." Having published
his first song when he was only fifteen years old,
Rodgers went on to create some of the most instantly
recognizable and most beautiful melodies in the history
of the American musical. Such standards as "Manhattan,"
"With a Song in My Heart," "Isn't It Romantic?," "My
Funny Valentine," "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin',"
"You'll Never Walk Alone," "Shall We Dance?," and "The
Sound of Music" do not even begin to suggest the number
of enduring songs he created. Rodgers's immeasurable
contribution to twentieth-century music is the subject
of a worldwide centennial salute that celebrates the
breadth and versatility of his work, which encompasses
theater, television, radio, records, and film.
Television made the composer a familiar face -- to go
with the famous name -- with Rodgers appearing on
tributes, talk shows, and variety series where his songs
were performed for an eager public. In addition, there
were television adaptations of his musicals ranging from
collaborations with Lorenz Hart like "A Connecticut
Yankee" and "Dearest Enemy" (which had been their first
full score for Broadway) to Rodgers's personal favorite,
"Carousel," which he wrote with Oscar Hammerstein II.
Rodgers & Hammerstein's one original work for
television, "Cinderella," with Julie Andrews in the
lead, became one of the highest-rated specials in
history. All of these programs are included as part of
the Museum's contribution to the Richard Rodgers 2002
Centennial. Also being screened are a long unseen
episode of "The Tonight Show" saluting Rodgers; a rare
1951 special, "An Evening for Richard Rodgers,"
featuring Mary Martin; a little-known, locally produced
revue, "Rodgers and Hart Revisited;" and highlights of
Rodgers songs from "The Ed Sullivan Show."
"General Foods: Presenting Rodgers and Hammerstein"
General Foods celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary by
paying tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein in the tenth
year of their collaboration. Re-created moments from
Broadway include Yul Brynner singing "A Puzzlement"
from "The King and I," Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza doing
"Some Enchanted Evening" and Martin singing "A
Wonderful Guy" from "South Pacific," and John Raitt and
Jan Clayton singing "If I Loved You" from "Carousel."
In comedic moments, Jack Benny recreates his
adventures trying to get a cheap ticket to "Carousel,"
and Groucho Marx hosts a version of "You Bet Your Life"
with Rodgers and Hammerstein as contestants.
(1954; 90 minutes)
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: November 30, 2001
- RUNNING TIME: 1:29:23
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T:70214
- GENRE: Music/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Composers; Music, popular (songs, etc.); Musical revues, comedies, etc. - Excerpts
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1954
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ralph Levy … Producer, Director
- Sam Perrin … Writer
- George Balzer … Writer
- Samuel Taylor … Writer
- Bernie Smith … Writer, Additional material written by
- Bob Dwan … Writer, Additional material written by
- Norman Paul … Writer, Additional material written by
- Si Rose … Writer, Additional material written by
- Richard Rodgers … Composer
- Hammerstein, Oscar, II … Lyricist
- Harry Sosnik … Conductor
- John Butler … Choreographer
- Jerome Robbins … Choreographer, For "The King and I"
- Crane Calder … Choral Director
- Mary Martin … Host, Performer
- Ed Sullivan … Guest
- Jack Benny … Performer
- Edgar Bergen … Performer
- Gordon MacRae … Performer
- Florence Henderson … Performer
- John Raitt … Performer
- Jan Clayton … Performer
- Bill Hayes … Performer
- Janice Rule … Performer
- Ezio Pinza … Performer
- Tony Martin … Performer
- Rosemary Clooney … Performer
- Anna Lee … Talent, Bird's Eye chicken, Minute Rice, Swans Down cake mixes, Jell-O instant pudding, Maxwell House instant coffee, Sanka instant coffee
- Yul Brynner
- Clarence Francis
- Hammerstein, Oscar, II
- Groucho Marx
- Michiko
- Patricia Morison
- Richard Rodgers