Wonderful Town (1958) (TV)

Directors:

Mel Ferber
Herbert Ross

Writers:

Jerome Chodorov (book)
Joseph Fields (book)

Release Date:

30 November 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Musical

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Based On Stage Musical | Remake | Based On Book

Cast

Rosalind Russell	...	Ruth Sherwood
Sydney Chaplin	...	Robert Baker
Jacquelyn McKeever	...	Eileen Sherwood
Joseph Buloff	...	Mr. Appopolous
Dort Clark	...	Chick Clark
Jordan Bentley	...	Wreck
Cris Alexander	...	Frank Lippencott
Jack Fletcher	...	Night Club Patron
Michele Burke	...	Helen Wade
Ted Beniades	...	'Speedy' Valenti
Isabella Hoopes	...	Mrs. Wade
Ray Weaver	...	Shore Patrolman
Gene Carrons	...	Violet
John Wheeler	...	Officer Lonigan
Don Grusso	...	Fireman

Runtime:

120 min (DVD release)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Fields Productions

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of "Wonderful Town" opened at the Winter Garden Theater in New York on February 25, 1953, ran for 559 performances and won the 1953 Tony Award for the Best Musical. Rosalind Russell won the 1953 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and recreated her role in the movie version.

Movie Connections:

Version of My Sister Eileen (1955)

Soundtrack:

Ohio

Wonderful Town! Wonderful Play! Wonderful Rosalind Russell!!

I feel that "Wonderful Town" is great for those of us that dislike the "over done" type Broadway musicals. (Although, I think of it now, over done IS what Broadway IS about!) The story, very simple: two sisters that come from Ohio to hit it big in New York city. But of course, it's not as easy as it sounds. I think they also have some of the biggest sterio typical characters I've yet to see on one screen! Jackie McKeever (a practicly unknown stage actress. Which she'd been and is going to be for the rest of her life!) plays the bubble-headed blond, Eileen. All she cares about is when is her next man going to show up! Which dosen't seem to hard sense almost every man she meets starts to drool when he see's her!Her reasons for coming to New York are very simple. To brake into the theater! ("Well, you have the face and build for it.") Next you have Ruth, Eileen's big sister. Played by none other than Rosalind Russell. Ruth is attractive, tall, dark, sharped witted and repelle's almost every man she meets! ("I did run into one man. And he said, 'Why the hell don't you watch where your goin'!'") There are a lot of other character's that need no going into if you'v read the book, seen the movie or seen the play. The musical numbers for the most part are fun and easy to take. the best song's have to be, "Ohio," (preformed by McKeever and Russell.) One Hundered Easy Ways to Lose a Man," "Swing,"(both mainly done by Roz. Although she has never been thought of for her singing, she was brilliant! She made it all fun and gave everything she did "energy!" Even though she was 51 years, she was still beautiful and more vibrent then the whole cast put together!)"Quite Girl" and "The Wrong Note Rag." I musn't forgett Cris Alexander! He was very funny, and very loveble in the role of Frank Lippincott. He played of everyone very well and was a fine actor. (I think he and Roz were the one's that held the whole thing together, really.)

But all and all, this was a great virsion. You well never see these musical numbers done as peppy, or the Ruth so funny and still so radient and lovely. La, what a Wonderful Town it was....