TCM Party screens The Music Man

moviesJul 4, 202633503

Turner Classic Movies is airing The Music Man (1962), starring Robert Preston and Shirley Jones, as part of its July 4 TCM Party lineup. Posts circulating alongside the screening included behind-the-scenes screen-test photos of Barbara Cook and Jane Powell. Commenters noted the film contains references to July Fourth celebrations and praised its full Cinemascope presentation. Several responses singled out emotional moments in the story, called attention to Pert Kelton’s dancing in a scene, and argued the musical addresses themes including disability and racism. The Music Man screening ran alongside TCM’s customary Fourth of July programming such as Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) with James Cagney and Walter Huston, which appeared elsewhere in the lineup.

Benjamin Dreyer

@bcdreyer.social

The thing about having to name the Best This or the Best That is that one doesn't actually have to, but if one has to name the Best American Musical, you probably can't go wrong with The Music Man.

2133h ago

Benjamin Dreyer93

If lying your way to the truth isn't the quintessential American theme, I don't know what is. And the score is flawless. Flawless as in without flaw.

Benjamin Dreyer25

My favorite spoken line in American musical theater: “Excuse me for livin’, but I never read it.” Second favorite: “New York is the center of New York.” Third favorite: “That can’t be blocked.”

Dave Sikula12

Preston certainly gives The Best performance in a musical.

Hope Willard11

Especially the 2012 version starring my 8th grader!

Nathanael T. Booth (he/him)6

I called it the Great American Small-Town musical a while back, which got me looking to see how many small-town musicals there actually *are* (quite a few, as it turns out) This movie also made very clear to me which parent Shaun Cassidy took after, looks-wise.

Mara Novak6

Yes. Though Guys and Dolls is right up there for me

Kevin Daly

@kevinddaly.bsky.social

Since The Music Man is on, here are two fun pics: On the left, Barbara Cook, the Tony-winning original Marian, is in hair and makeup for her screen test. On the right, Jane Powell is having a one-on-one during hers. #TCMParty

Barbara Cook prepares for a screen test in front of a mirror.

383h ago

Shooti

@bambooshooti.bsky.social

Hollywood sanitized these flaws in the Cohan biopic Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), starring James Cagney. Cagney, a staunch union liberal and early Screen Actors Guild president, took the role as patriotic cover amid accusations of being a communist. He won an Academy Award for his performance. /end

James Cagney (center right) in the George M Cohan biopic Yankee Doodle Dandy. The making of Yankee Doodle Dandy is a story in and of itself. It’s worth reading about Cagney’s brilliant ad libs and improvisation, the on-set script rewrites, and the revisionist history used to protect Cagney’s union reputation and create a feel-good wartime morale booster.

27Yesterday

Christine Langhoff10

Cagney must have been a helluva actor to swallow the bile needed to portray Cohan.

Ken Goodman - PNW4

I didn't know that about Cagney. Thanks! (The rest about Cohan is good, too, of course. 💙)

Ponsonby Britt1

I remember reading an interview where Groucho talked about Cohan abusing his wife too. Real staunch guy.

Ellenⓥ🌱

@ennievegan.bsky.social

"The Music Man" (1962), starring Robert Preston and Shirley Jones

1810h ago

Alan Hait 🏳️‍🌈🏝️🍞✡️

@alanhait.bsky.social

BTW it’s a real joy to see Pert Kelton dancing on Joe McCarthy’s grave here #TheMusicMan #TCMParty

123h ago

Gregory Maupin

@gjmaupin.bsky.social

I don't know. I think the book is better. #TheMusicMan #TCMParty

95h ago

I had a pony!

@meghancolleen.bsky.social

The Music Man feel like a great July 4 movie The twilight zone marathon is almost too on the nose

1310h ago

meh

@mharvey816.bsky.social

I'll never fail to be wowed by #TheMusicMan in full glorious Cinemascope. You kids out there don't know how we had to suffer with faded pan and scan broadcasts for decades after its initial theatrical release. #TCMParty

115h ago

Cinefeast33 📽📺📚

@cinefeast33.bsky.social

#NowWatching YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942). Director: Michael Curtiz. James Cagney, Walter Huston. 🎶Born on the 4th of July🎶 Cagney won an Oscar as composer/showman George M. Cohan in this tune-filled piece of Americana. Rewatch. #filmsky 📽

116h ago

JackHokie

@jackhokie.bsky.social

Ok, watching "Yankee Doodle Dandy" on TCM today convinced me that whatever they may say, MAGA and Republicans are definitely not the brave as mentioned in our national anthem. Rather they are scared puppies who cower in the face of someone determined to destroy this country for his own gain!

75h ago

Plashing Vole

@plashingvole.bsky.social

A fine July 4th concert at @thecbso.bsky.social - great Copland and Towers, interesting Proce and an absolute banger - John Adams’s Harmonium.

Copland, Fanfare for the Common Man, 5mins Copland, Lincoln Portrait, 16mins
Joan Tower, Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, 5mins Price (orch. Lior Rosner), The Heart of a Woman, Ten Songs for Soprano and Orchestra (European Premiere)*, 20mins
I. Dream Ships
II. My Dream
III. To My Little Son IV. Beside the Sea
V. The Heart of a Woman
VI. The Poet and His Song VIl. Don't You Tell Me Now VIll. Songs to the Dark Virgin IX. Night
X. Travel's End
Interval
John Adams, Harmonium, 30mins
1. "Negative Love"
II. "Because I could not stop for Death"
III. "Wild Nights"
Kazuki Yamada, Conductor Janai Brugger, Narrator/Soprano
CBSO Chorus
Julian Wilkins, Chorus Master
*Supported by the ABO Sirens Fund.
FREE PRE-CONCERT1
Join us for a pre-c Jonathan James fol the music being pe evenina's concert

107h ago

Eric Pinder

@operahockeyguy.bsky.social

As a former Marcellus Washburne I can attest to how fucking difficult this number is #MusicMan #TCMParty

103h ago

Joel Williams

@joelrwilliams1.bsky.social

it's a TCM annual tradition...airing #YankeeDoodleDandy on July 4th #TCMParty

126h ago

philipfrankenfeld.bsky.social

@philipfrankenfeld.bsky.social

"The Music Man" contains references to July Fourth celebrations. Plus. The musical film "1776" has a certain vibe.

710h ago

🇲🇽🐸rustbelt rebel🐸🇲🇽

@rustbeltrebel.bsky.social

I don’t know why music man always catches me by surprise with its tender soft core. It’s got a ton of humor and cornet silliness and I don’t know- I always get all emotional when the parts start yelling out THATS MY KID as they badly play their instruments in their ugly outfits lol.

112h ago

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TCM Party screens The Music Man

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