ON THE TOWN (1949)

“On The Town” should be seen this year because it is the centennial of Leonard Bernstein’s birth (August 25, 1918). The music for the play “On The Town” was composed by Bernstein. It opened on Broadway in December 1944.

The movie of the musical came five years later with only five of Bernstein's songs (one is very brief) remaining, the rest newly composed for the film. The six new songs (by Roger Edens) are not bad (they are just serviceable), but why in Dog's Name did they do that? It hurt Lenny (I call him “Lenny”) to give up a couple of great ballads (i.e. Lonely Town).

Meanwhile, I really enjoyed the cast of Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Jules Munshin along with their corresponding girlfriends Ann Miller, Betty Garrett, and Vera-Ellen. I also liked the ending which is ambiguous and bittersweet, not what you would expect from a big budget musical of the time. Otherwise, there is a lot going on – it is a very “busy” film – but doesn’t get very far.

Personal Note: I first heard of this film back in the mid or late '60s after seeing Jules Munshin as Fagin in the official Broadway road show of “Oliver!” Further note: Betty Garrett (the cab driver who sings the Bernstein song “Come Up To My Place” with Sinatra) was later a victim of the blacklist, mainly because of her husband, Larry Parks (“The Jolson Story”) who was an admitted member of the Communist Party. TV producer Norman Lear gave Garrett her first real job after this – breaking her blacklisting – as a neighbor of the Bunker family in “All In The Family” in 1973. There are several recordings of the full Bernstein score. I own the 1992 London revival recording. There was another London revival from 2013 that also resulted in a cast album. This version came to Broadway in 2015 and, guess what, another album. Take your pick.

Maybe it helps to be from NYC for this one.... I found it to be a fun film and enjoyed the music very much.!