Rodgers Hammerstein [Paperback]

Ethan Mordden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1999

A celebration of the legendary partnership of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, filled with original performance photographs, set and costume designs and lively anecdotes. The book covers the team's complete works, including "Oklahoma", "South Pacific" and "The Sound of Music".

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Musical theater lovers will rejoice upon discovering Rodgers & Hammerstein, the visually rich, musical-by-musical overview of one of Broadway's most creative duos. Ethan Mordden traces the output of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II from their first musical project together (Oklahoma) to their very last (The Sound of Music). With each of these, readers are given detailed (and sometimes critical) notes on the production processes and behind-the-scenes tidbits. The media backlash against Allegro--due to choreographer Agnes de Mille firing a cast dancer she had conflicts with--is explained, as is the opening night flop of Me and Juliet. And, though less remembered today, Mordden gives us detailed notes and pictures from Pipe Dream, the pair's ill-fated adaptation of John Steinbeck's Cannery Row. The real magic behind Rodgers & Hammerstein, though, isn't in these ephemeral notes but in the book's lavish illustrations. Backdrop designs, cast recording album covers, and production photos tell a story here that words simply cannot. There have been numerous books chronicling the genius of Rodgers & Hammerstein (and, truth be told, many serve as better introductions to the duo), but few capture and illustrate the pair's magic like this one. --Jason Verlinde

From Publishers Weekly

Beginning with the 1943 premiere of Oklahoma! , the collaboration of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II--the former's music, the latter's lyrics--epitomized the Broadway musical for nearly two decades. In this handsome book, New Yorker writer and prolific author Mordden ( Opera in the Twentieth Century , The Hollywood Studios , etc.) comprehensively surveys the duo's artistic achievements, from such much-loved works as The King and I and The Sound of Music to lesser-known shows like Allegro and Pipe Dream . He analyzes each musical's plot, details directorial and casting procedures, recounts anecdotes from Stephen Sondheim, Mary Martin and other Broadway notables. More than 200 backstage and promotional photographs, 67 in color, help make this volume an irresistible treat for those nostalgically drawn to the brightest moments in American musical theater history. Fireside Theatre Book Club and Movie/Entertainment Book Club alternates.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810929112
• ISBN-13: 978-0810929111
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,757,231 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful and fascinating book for those who love R&H, December 15, 2001

By 

Alan (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rodgers Hammerstein (Paperback)

This could have just been a coffee-table book with beautiful photos but a negligible text. Fortunately, someone had the excellent idea of asking Ethan Mordden to write the text.

The result is that a very informative, insightful, well-written text accompanies the beautiful photos.

If you love Rodgers and Hammerstein, you probably will get great pleasure from this book.

One tiny quibble: Mordden is wrong when he says that Hammerstein invented the lyric form used in "I Am Going to Like It Here." Hammerstein used a Malayan poetic form called the pantoum.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mordden on his best behavior., June 25, 2010

By 

Beregond (Longview, WA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rodgers Hammerstein (Paperback)

Interesting, especially about the less-known R & H shows. Mordden avoids his usual quirky opinions and weird attempts at humor, being almost reverential in his approach. My main disappointment is that the book was written before the spate of major R & H revivals, so it feels dated. A new edition is definitely called-for.