Flower Drum Song (1961 Film Soundtrack)
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Free Music Notes for Flower Drum Song (1961 Film Soundtrack)
Free Music Review: Better than Broadway Cast Album
Hit: 4 Stars
When it comes to Broadway musicals, I hardly ever prefer a movie soundtrack to the Orginal Cast Album, but "Flower Drum Song" is one of the exceptions. The vital diffence is in the orchestrations and musical leadership. The Broadway cast album features the routine orchestrations of Robert Russell Bennet. Maybe Bennet did too many Rodgers and Hammerstein shows. This is certainly his least inventive. "Love Look Away" has a plodding accompaniment which almost ruins this beautiful torch song. The conductor of the cast album takes everything at a maddeningly measured pace: there's no spark to the jazzy numbers. Every rhythmic accent, every syncopation is underlined in such a foursquare manner. The film soundtrack however has clever and lush (almost too lush) orchestrations. But Alfred Newman really has fun goosing up the jazzy tunes and faux orientalisms in the score. The Opening Main Title alone is worth buying this album. And "Love Look Away" (dubbed by Marilyn Horne) is subtly and beautifully presented. Unfortunately the soundtrack seems to have been recorded in a sonic haze that prevents me from giving it a fifth star. Still the energy and elan of orchestration and conducting is miles beyond the Broadway Cast Album.
Free Music Review: 100 million miracles,its finally here!
Hit: 4 Stars
I am so pleased that this charming Rodgers and Hammerstein musical has been translated to CD. I am a big fan of James Shigeta(Wang Ta) from way back. Truth be told he is one of the few who ever came close to Yul Brynner when I saw him in King and I on two separate occasions back in the early seventies on the stage at the Municipal Opera in St Louis and at Memorial Hall in Dayton as part of the old Kenley series(I do miss those days!) Anyway, Flower drum song is a delightful romatic show with a terrific cast in the movie version. Shigeta is terrific as the romantic lead, torn between two worlds, and what can you say but bravo to Miyoshi Umeki. I also liked Jack Soo and Nancy Kwan as the comic foils,and Juanita Hall and the older gentle who plays Wang's father. Also in good form is Patrick Adiarte and the kid brother( Prince Chulalonkorn grows up in San Francisco)
This is a welcome addition to my collection and I would urge other Rodgers and Hammerstein fans to give it a listen again!
Free Music Review: Terrific R&H film version
Hit: 4 Stars
Maintains all of the charm of the broadway show, also has the delightful Miyoshi Yumeki recreate her role and the wonderful Rodgers and Hammerstein music. Far superior to the "updated, politically correct" revival.Free Music Review: Disappointed
Hit: 3 Stars
I have listen to The Broadway 1958 Flower Drum soundtrack since I was a little girl. I loved it so much I had my dance teacher arrange a solo dance to the overature for me. A month ago I ordered the 1961 Film version expecting it to be equally beautifull. I couldn't believe my ears!!! It lacked so much depth that was contained in the 1958 version. Comparing the 2 Overatures the 1961 version seemed to skip right through it and it lacked the intence feelings the original 1958 version abtained.