Jumping off the earlier rant, but sticking with the film of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING ... When I was a kid, the film was my first exposure to the musical. I thereafter bought both the OBC and OST albums (LPs of course) and was surprised that in the original stage musical, the first time you hear I Believe in You is when Finch sings it to himself in a mirror over a sink in the Executive Washroom. I thought then, and still think, that screenwriter-director David Swift actually wrought some improvements. It seems a unique stage-to-film adaptation in that — where such moves could be renovated to the point of disaster (BYE BYE BIRDIE); or completely reconceived in cinematic terms to become entities unto themselves (CABARET) or slavishly stagey — its VERY faithful to the tone and style of the show (as well, most of the lead and key supporting players did their roles in the original Broadway run and/or on tour), as if hemade it his mandate to honor Abe Burrows original intention and vision … yet I find his cuts and changes thoughtful and tasteful throughout. Its arguable, I suppose, how many of them would transfer backwards to the stage ... but this one has always struck me as not just inspired, but a brainstorm. He dropped the satirical songs for and featuring Rosemary (Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm and Cinderella Darling) and swapped in a sincere love song for her to sing to Finch. The song? I Believe in You. (Of course it didnt hurt that he had Michelle Lee to sing itand sell it in its fresh, new context.) And once weve heard it in *that* context, it takes on a whole new layer of meaning much later, when Finch, knowing or at least sensing that his fellow executives are looking to take him down, tries to buttress his own spirit with it. Check out the clips below and see for yourself. (Oh and back to the earlier rant or a bit; note again how uncomplicated and uncluttered the direction is, both the musical staging and the camera work. Swift rusts not only the material, but the audience to get it.) https://youtube/watch?v=pmV74kOzK1Y
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 03:52:58 +0000