There are not many musicals that I care for, but I've loved this one since I first saw it as a kid in the sixties. Frank Sinatra? No, that would have been trouble, yes I say trouble, that's trouble with a T and that rhymes with P and that stands for POOL! Seriously, I can't imagine anyone but Robert Preston as Harold Hill...
My absolute favorite musical of all time. When I first saw "The Music Man", I was very near to Winthrop's age at the time, so I identified with him. Add to that, I live in Avalon, on Catalina Island, and the school librarian was named . . . Marian. Yep, I knew a real life Marian the Librarian.
I thought I heard somewhere, maybe TCM, that the role was offered to Cary Grant? If I remember right, he turned it down and said "That's Bob's role." As much as I love Cary Grant, and Sinatra, there is no one but Robert Preston who could have played the part.
This brings back wonderful memories of a shining time in my life as a young teenager when we of the Joplin High School choir performed The Music Man. We had such a grand time and were received well. I even remember being on local television plugging the show. I am not sure but I think I was pretty giddy. Ah the fantastic times I had at Joplin High.
Sinatra couldn't have done this role...not at all. His voice or skinny form could not have carried the role. It would have been ridiculous! Robert Preston WAS Prof. Harold Hill.
I totally agree. That would have been HORRIBLE casting!!! I am so glad when they let the original cast members reprise their roles in the film version.....such as with Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady.
