Who could ask for anything more? OK I haven't seen this version of Thorton Wilder's "Our Town" in over a decade. And I was only 4 years old when it first aired. So much of this production is wrong. Yes, wrong. I've read that Wilder didn't like this version. It certainly was not in keeping with his (Wilder's) view of this production and its values which were anything but sentimental.
Sinatra as the prototypical New Englander? Paul Newman singing? A musical of this largely misunderstood though often produced play? It borders on "Springtime for Hitler" lunacy.
But wait a minute. How many chances do you get to watch Sinatra in his prime singing "Our Town", "The Impatient Years", and "Love and Marriage"? The latter two are still associated with him while the first song is largely forgotten. Sinatra's singing anything in 1954/5 is worth the price of admission. What can you say about Van Heusen, Cahn, and Riddle? They knew how to write for Sinatra. And where can you hear/see Paul Newman sing? I have seen this telecast two or three times at the Museum of Broadcasting in Manhattan. What a treasure. Why don't they make TV shows like this any more? They had higher aspirations for TV in 1954 and today's viewers are paying the price every evening as they click through the guide to see what's on.
Sinatra as the prototypical New Englander? Paul Newman singing? A musical of this largely misunderstood though often produced play? It borders on "Springtime for Hitler" lunacy.
But wait a minute. How many chances do you get to watch Sinatra in his prime singing "Our Town", "The Impatient Years", and "Love and Marriage"? The latter two are still associated with him while the first song is largely forgotten. Sinatra's singing anything in 1954/5 is worth the price of admission. What can you say about Van Heusen, Cahn, and Riddle? They knew how to write for Sinatra. And where can you hear/see Paul Newman sing? I have seen this telecast two or three times at the Museum of Broadcasting in Manhattan. What a treasure. Why don't they make TV shows like this any more? They had higher aspirations for TV in 1954 and today's viewers are paying the price every evening as they click through the guide to see what's on.