The Music Man

"You watch your phraseology!"

Harold Hill (Preston) is a con man who poses as a traveling salesman.  He sells towns the idea of a boys band, with shiny instruments and uniforms, despite not knowing anything about music.  After running afoul of the law and other traveling salesmen, led by anvil salesman Charlie Cowell (Hickox), he goes to the town of River City, Iowa.  The people of River City are not interested in anything new and do not trust Hill.  However, he finds an ally in his former business partner Marcellus Washburn (Hackett) who has turned to a normal life in River City.

Hill uses the introduction of a new pool table as the chance to start swaying the town to his con.  He urges them to endorse the band in order to keep to keep out bad influences.  The only person who is suspicious of Hill is librarian and piano teacher Marion Paroo (Jones) who rebuffs his attentions.  Mayor Shinn (Ford) also wants more information and sends the feuding School Board members (The Buffalo Bills) to get Hills credentials.  But Hill turns them into a barbershop quartet.  Hill convinces the mayor's wife, Eualie Mackechnie Shinn (Gingold) to lead the dance team, getting the women of River City on his side.  He also wins over the teenagers, by helping delinquent Tommy Djilas (Everett).  He also encourages the romance between Tommy and the mayor's daugher, Zaneeta (Luckey).

As the town eagerly awaits the arrival of the instruments and uniforms, can Hill stay a step ahead of his detractors?

This is the film adaptation of Meredith Wilson's 1957 Broadway show, "The Music Man."  The show was directed by Morton DaCosta, who produced and directed the film.

The Good:

The cast is great - a combination of Broadway performers and well-known character actors (Mary Wickes and Charles Lane are stand-outs in small parts).  Robert Preston is phenomenal as Professor Harold Hill, a role he originated on Broadway.  He is charismatic, with a twinkle in his eye.  It is hard to picture anyone else in the role.  Shirley Jones is great as his love interest, Marion Paroo.

My favorite character is Mayor Shinn, played by the always funny Paul Ford.  He repeatedly says my favorite line, quoted above.  And comedy great Buddy Hackett is a hoot as Marcellus.  He sings my favorite number from the film, "Shipoopi".  The songs are memorable and have your toes tapping.

The Bad: 

The kids are ok... not bad, just completely outshone by the adults.  The mayor's younger daughter and the blonde boy who dances with her are good, but the rest don't stand out - other than Ron Howard as Marion's lisping brother Winthrop.

Other Comments:

-The Broadway show won 5 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Performance by a Leading Actor (for Preston).

-Several members of the original Broadway cast reprised their roles in the film: Preston as Harold Hill, Pert Kelton as Mrs. Paroo, The Buffalo Bills as the School Board, Peggy Mondo as Ethel Toffelmier, and Adina Rice as Alma Hix.  In addition, Broadway replacements and members of the 1st national tour reprise their roles: Paul Ford as Mayor Shinn, Susan Luckey as Zaneeta Shinn, Harry Hickox as Charlie Cowell, and Monique Vermont as Amaryllis.

-The show was reprised on Broadway in 2000 under the direction of Susan Stroman, starring Craig Bierko and Rebecca Luker.  It was reprised on Broadway again in 2022 under the direction of Jerry Zaks, starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster.

-The film was nominated for 5 Academy Awards and won Best Musical Score for Ray Heindorf.

-This may not be the best or best known musical film, but it packs a lot of heart and you can't help but feel uplifted by the iconic ending featuring the University of Southern California's marching band.

The Music Man (1962) 151 minutes

Director: Morton DaCosta

Starring: Robert Preston as Harold Hill

Shirley Jones as Marion Paroo

Buddy Hackett as Marcellus Washburn

Hermione Gingold as Eulalie Mackechnie Shinn

Paul Ford as Mayor George Shinn

Pert Kelton as Mrs. Paroo

The Buffalo Bills as The School Board

Timmy Everett as Tommy Djilas

Susan Luckey as Zaneeta Shinn

Ronny Howard as Winthrop Paroo

Harry Hickox as Charlie Cowell, the anvil salesman

Charles Lane as Constable Locke

Mary Wickes as Mrs. Squires

Everything Everywhere All at Once

"The universe is so much bigger than you realize."

Evelyn Quan Wang (Yeoh) is unhappy.  Her husband Waymond (Quan) wants a divorce, her daughter Joy (Hsu) is distant, her demanding father Gong Gong (Hong) is visiting, and their laundromat is being audited by the IRS.  During a disastrous meeting with their IRS agent, Deirdre Beaubeirdre (Curtis), Evelyn learns there are other universes and other versions of her life.  Through a rift in the multiverse she is able to experience parallel realities.

All realities are in danger from Jobu Tupaki and her "everything bagel" of destruction.  Evelyn may be the only person able to save the world.  But can she reach her full potential and tap into the powers needed to save the world and more importantly, her family?

Wow.  This film has a little bit of everything - action, martial arts, comedy, drama, science fiction, family, etc.

The Good:

There are so many good things about this film, and it deserves all the accolades.  The cast is incredible and all play multiple versions of the same character.  Michelle Yeoh is incredible.  She is a strong lead and has excellent chemistry with the rest of the cast.  She also takes on the most multiverse versions of her character, Evelyn, each with subtlety and charisma.  Ke Huy Quan is the emotional heart as Waymond, while also getting to show-off his martial arts training.  Stephanie Hsu is great.  Jamie Lee Curtis is clearly having a blast.  And James Hong, at 90, is still a commanding presence in the film.  The rest of the cast are equally good, in smaller, but still memorable roles.

The story, written by directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, is a lot but manages to juggle the multiverses and the distinctions between them well, without having to label them on screen.  The effects and action are top-notch.  It's hard to explain the plot without going into lots of detail, but it definitely keeps you on your toes.

The Bad:

This film won't please everyone.  There is a lot of things thrown at you at once and it is easy to get lost.

Other Comments:

-Nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won 7: Best Picture, Best Director (Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert), Best Actress (Michelle Yeoh), Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), Best Supporting Actress (Jamie Lee Curtis), Best Original Screenplay (Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert), and Best Film Editing (Paul Rogers)

-It is clear that everyone involved is having a blast.  The multiverses are all distinct and have their own quirks... and the emotional heart of the film happens when the characters are rocks and the dialog is subtitles on the screen.

-I thoroughly enjoyed this film.  This is the type of film that gets better with repeat viewings to pick up all the nuance and thought the creative team put into this film.

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) 139 minutes

Director: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

Rating: R for some violence, sexual material and language

Starring: Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Quan Wang

Stephanie Hsu as Joy Wang

Ke Huy Quan as Waymond Wang

James Hong as Gong Gong

Jamie Lee Curtis as Deirdre Beaubeirdre

Tallie Medel as Becky Sregor