To get to see the original stars of a Broadway musical repeat their parts for the sometimes edited television version is still an important part of our theater heritage. We'll never have the chance to see most of these incredible performances, but a few managed to get onto either the big screen or the little screen. Merman had played Reno Sweeney on the big screen once (the 1936 version) but was served better by the television version, and also got to play "Panama Hattie". Somewhere out there may still exist her in the much edited "Annie Get Your Gun" special from the late 1960's, while original national tour Annie (Mary Martin) got the full treatment that exists through kine-scope. She got to play both Nellie Forbush and Peter Pan on T.V., but sadly this T.V. production of "South Pacific" has not seen the light of day outside a few private collectors.
"Kiss Me Kate" was one of the greatest hits of the golden age of the Broadway musical, and a fairly faithful film version was a huge hit. However, like most movie musicals, the original Broadway stars did not get to be on screen, at least until the Hallmark Hall of Fame did their own version five years later. Alfred Drake and Patricia Morison were not house-hold names, although Drake had originated the role of Curley in "Oklahoma!" and Morison was a veteran movie "dark lady". They reunited a decade after the show's Broadway premiere for this black and white version which may be lacking in the color of the movie (as well as 3-D) but is of more historical value both for Broadway history and T.V. history.
Lisa Kirk and Harold Lang originated the roles of Lois and Bill, but were replaced here by the fantastic Julie Wilson and future "Days of Our Lives" heartthrob Bill Hayes (of Broadway's "Me and Juliet") who shine in the lighter roles of the second leads. Harvey Lembeck and Jack Klugman are hysterically funny in the brief scene-stealing roles of the gangsters out to make sure that Morison's temperamental Lilli Vanessi does not leave the theater, providing viewers with "Brush Up Your Shakespeare", one of Cole Porter's wittiest lyrics. Some of the original songs are restored to their original place in the script, but the book has been greatly edited to fit its original running time on T.V. Still, if less is more, I'll take this over most of the crap being put on T.V. today.
An interesting side-note concerning Patricia Morison is her recent appearance, at age 100, to sing a song from "Kiss Me Kate" at a Broadway event. Bravo to the original Lilli/Kate for being such a trooper and certainly for being a survivor!
"Kiss Me Kate" was one of the greatest hits of the golden age of the Broadway musical, and a fairly faithful film version was a huge hit. However, like most movie musicals, the original Broadway stars did not get to be on screen, at least until the Hallmark Hall of Fame did their own version five years later. Alfred Drake and Patricia Morison were not house-hold names, although Drake had originated the role of Curley in "Oklahoma!" and Morison was a veteran movie "dark lady". They reunited a decade after the show's Broadway premiere for this black and white version which may be lacking in the color of the movie (as well as 3-D) but is of more historical value both for Broadway history and T.V. history.
Lisa Kirk and Harold Lang originated the roles of Lois and Bill, but were replaced here by the fantastic Julie Wilson and future "Days of Our Lives" heartthrob Bill Hayes (of Broadway's "Me and Juliet") who shine in the lighter roles of the second leads. Harvey Lembeck and Jack Klugman are hysterically funny in the brief scene-stealing roles of the gangsters out to make sure that Morison's temperamental Lilli Vanessi does not leave the theater, providing viewers with "Brush Up Your Shakespeare", one of Cole Porter's wittiest lyrics. Some of the original songs are restored to their original place in the script, but the book has been greatly edited to fit its original running time on T.V. Still, if less is more, I'll take this over most of the crap being put on T.V. today.
An interesting side-note concerning Patricia Morison is her recent appearance, at age 100, to sing a song from "Kiss Me Kate" at a Broadway event. Bravo to the original Lilli/Kate for being such a trooper and certainly for being a survivor!