Disney Presents The Music Man (2003 TV Film) [Soundtrack]

Meredith Willson, The Music Man (Related Recordings), Kristin Chenoweth, Matthew Broderick, Victor Garber | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 11, 2003)
• Original Release Date: February 16, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Buena Vista
• ASIN: B000088E62
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,378 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Rock Island - Matthew Broderick

2. Iowa Stubborn

3. Ya Got Trouble

4. Piano Lesson

5. Goodnight, My Someone

6. Ya Got Trouble (Reprise) / Seventy Six Trombones

7. Sincere

8. The Sadder but Wiser Girl

9. Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little / Goodnight Ladies

10. Marian the Librarian

11. Gary, Indian

12. My White Knight

13. The Wells Fargo Wagon

14. It's You

15. Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little (Reprise)

16. Lida Rose/Will I Ever Tell You

17. Gary, Indiana (Reprise)

18. Shipoopi

19. Till There Was You

20. Seventy Six Trombones (Reprise) / Goodnight, My Someone (Reprise)

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Fresh from his Broadway triumph as accountant-turned-con-man Leo Bloom in Mel Brooks's The Producers, Matthew Broderick next tackled another of the American musical theater's most lovable rogues, The Music Man's Professor Harold Hill. As shepherded by the producers of the multi-Oscar^®-nominated Chicago, this energetic TV adaptation of Meredith Willson's evergreen plays up its still-potent metaphors of middle-American hope and redemption via sparkling new arrangements, yet wisely grounds its credibility in the subtle dramatic shadings of stars Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth. Vocally, Broderick may lack the bigger-than-life bravado of the original's Robert Preston, but it's precisely that scaled-down sincerity that carries his Hill throughout. Even familiar set pieces like "Seventy Six Trombones," "Ya Got Trouble," "Gary, Indiana," and the show's enduring ballad, "Till There Was You," seem informed from within, rather than splashed with garish production overkill. It's a brisk, smart adaptation of a true American theater icon. -–Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Broderick shines, Chenoweth SPARKLES, February 16, 2003

By 

"broadwaybelter" (Chesapeake, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Disney Presents The Music Man (2003 TV Film) (Audio CD)

Oh, Meredith Wilson and the ever so famous "The Music Man"...i must admit it has never been one of my favorite musicals, but after having watched this performance on TV I definetly have a new opinion of it.
The classic Wilson marches (76 Trombones) and quick lyrics (Pick-a-little, talk-a-little and Shipoopie for example)keep your feet tapping and your head bobbing.
Matthew Broderick, although no where compares to Robert Preston (but then again who could??), still shines as Harold Hill in his own right. Broderick brings a refreshing, more realistic Hill to the screen and to the music. Whether it be "Trouble" "Marian the Librarian" or "'Til there was you" Broderick shows the comedy, light-hearted persona that he is known for, as well as a romantic tenderness that is just heart melting. Broderick however, does not have the vocal skill to stand up to a singer like Kristin Chenoweth...
....who is simply a DREAM! If you have never heard her sing before you should go check out her solo album, as well as the "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown"(revival cast...she won a Tony!) and "A New Brain" recordings because you will fall in love with her. Chenoweth creates the perfect Marian that captures your heart and your ears. She has such a phenomenal range and performative skill that she brings to her role that clearly distinguishes her from other Marians. She is not afraid to break away from the traditional soprano sound and use her chest voice a little in the lower ranges of the songs, which makes them so much more sincere and emotional.

It's a classic musical with some new twists and big names. How can you pass it up??

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good, April 25, 2003

By 

Michael J Edelman (Huntington Woods, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Disney Presents The Music Man (2003 TV Film) (Audio CD)

Anyone setting out to do a remake of The Music Man has a difficult task ahead of them- it's pretty hard to top Robert Preston's stunning performance in the original Broadway and movie versions. That being said, Broderick does an admirable job.

One difficulty is that Broderick doesn't immediately have that loveable rogue quality that Preston has; he comes across more like an amoral sociopath than a trickster. It takes a while to warm up to his version of the character. Both he and Chenoweth are playing characters significantly younger than usually portrayed in The Music Man. As written, Harold and Marian are middled aged people, pretty much settled into a life that's acceptible but not terribly joyful. The crux of the story is how each discovers, through the other, something about themselves. Harold discovers his humanity and desire for a normal life, and Marian discovers that she still needs romance.

This never quite comes across in the Broderick-Cheoweth production. Both Broderick's Hill and Chenoweth's Marian are far too young to have any sort of past life or regrets. The poignient realizations that both come to just aren't there; it's more of a quick decision without much motivgation. He suddenly decides to stay, and she suddenly decides to help him.

Chenoweth's singing is of course outstanding, and the CD is worth listening to for her performances alone. Broderick's are by comparison somewhat emotionless, and not helped by the production. The finale lacks the big sound of the original production as well, and it goes out on a rather low key note.

In retrospect it was nice to see a solid attempt at a remake or a classic, and particularly nice to see it done on television, particularly in a season full of terrible reality shows and worse. But I do wish they'd done it with a little more passion and perhaps a little older cast.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Chenoweth steals the show, makes soundtrack worth buying, May 22, 2005

By 

Ainsley White "broadway enthusiast" (Muskegon, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Disney Presents The Music Man (2003 TV Film) (Audio CD)

I became a fan of Kristin Chenoweth through her role as Galinda in the broadway musical WICKED. She possesses immense vocal control and an impressive range. I felt that this Disney version of the Music Man certainly showcases Chenoweth's talent; she does an outstanding job in her role as Marian. However, Disney could have done a better job casting the lead role of Professor Harold Hill. Matthew Broderick's performance seems lackluster, especially in comparison to Chenoweth's. Despite Broderick's unimpressive performance, the movie's choreography and costumes are wonderful, and Chenoweth's performance alone justifies this purchase.