Customer Reviews

The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1960 Original Broadway Cast)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I first became enamored with this musical when I saw an electrifying theatre performance by Jane Powell. Racing to the record store and hurrying home to hear my new LP, I fell hopelessly and happily under the spell of Meridith Wilson's "Molly Brown". The play is a love story of two bold and brassy bumpkins who strike gold in Colorado's Leadville. Coming from rags to riches, Molly is determined to make it big with the wealthy and beautiful people of Denver, but it is not until she travels Europe, gains a little class and returns "unsinkable" after surviving her return trip home on the Titanic that she is finally accepted by Denver's elect. Harve Presnell is Leadville Johnny Brown with his marvelous, rich voice and Tammy Grimes is his spunky wife, Molly. Her voice is throaty and warm and her characterization downright irresistable. Meredith Willson's score is spirited, tuneful and gives a powerful upbeat message with many singable, heartwarming songs. You'll catch Molly's spirit and determination in your own life as the words repeat in your mind, "I Ain't Down Yet". Truly upbeat!

While this score is not the classic that "The Music Man" is, it still has many delightful songs. It also stars the unique and delightful Tammy Grimes and the talented Harve Presnell. This show is an underappreciated gem.

THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN was composer-lyricist Meredith Willson's followup to his 1957 smash THE MUSIC MAN. It was another hit, albeit not as big, running a respectable 532 performances, thanks to the starpower of Tammy Grimes as the titular character.

The story recounts the "true story" of Molly Tobin, a girl from the backwoods who wins the heart and affections of Johnny 'Leadville' Brown. When Johnny strikes it rich, they move to well-to-do Denver. Encountering snobbery and hostility in their new circle of Denver society, Molly decides to tour the continent. It's only after Molly survives the maiden voyage of the Titanic that she earns the title of 'The Unsinkable Molly Brown'...

Tammy Grimes (42ND STREET) is perfectly-suited to the hyper-kinetic title role. Harve Presnell is wonderful as Johnny 'Leadville'( a role he repeated in the subsequent film version), with a supporting cast including Joseph Sirola, Sterling Clark and Mona Dalmes.

Meredith Willson wrote a honey of a score, which includes Molly's anthemic opening number "I Ain't Down Yet", and Johnny's soaring love ballad "I'll Never Say No". Other standouts include "My Own Brass Bed", "Chick-a-Pen", "If I Knew" and "Up Where the People Are".

Although the score is by no means as good as THE MUSIC MAN, it has its own special charms. A lovely cast album.

I enjoyed listening to The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Broadway version. The music is lively, and Tammy Grimes is a wonderful singer, and so is Harve Presnell. The words in all the songs are understandable and makes you want to sing along with them. I love it.

I was lucky enough to see this show on Broadway and Tammy Grimes was terrific. She is an original in a world of copies! Yes, I saw the movie but some of the rowdy songs were left out of the movie to make it more palatable for the families in the fly over land. I am also aware the story presented is pure fiction because the real Molly Brown was not that poor or lacking in education. In fact she was an extremely intelligent lady ahead of her time for women in America, especially Denver.

People became familiar with this show due to the movie with Debbie Reynolds, which is terrific and Reynolds received a well deserved Oscar nomination for it. However, the show made a star of Tammy Grimes on broadway, not to mention Harve Presnell (who recreated his role in the movie). But the broadway version is a well crafted example of the early 60's musical comedy, with an impressive star turn by Grimes. It has become overshadowed by Meredith Wilsons more popular The Music Man. But the score contains some gems, among them I Ain't Down Yet, Belly Up To the Bar and one of the most gorgeous soliliques ever written for a tenor, that Presnell delivers in both versions, heartbreakingly! A definite asset to any theater buffs collection.

The ORIGINAL. A MUST HAVE FOR MOLLY BROWN FANS!

This is a classic. The original does wonderful and takes you back to the time when musicals were light and told a good story. Many tunes from here are recognizable.

Broadway Angel has returned THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN to active duty.

The original Lp on Capitol was bestseller for years and even if the show is seldom given professional revivals, high schools and community theatres frequently do it. The score lacks the innovation of Willson's MUSIC MAN. At times he seems to simply Xeroxed the master plan. But much of it is downright entertaining.

Angel includes a detailed synopsis in the booklet and plenty of fascinating background stories about the creation of this musical.

Avoid the previous CD from Capitol. The sound is thin and loaded with tape hiss. The Broadway Angel edition (in their "Broadway Classics" series) has full rich sound.

Those familiar with the M-g-M film version will be amazed to discover how many songs in the show were not used in the movie. They are not all winners, but the do help flesh out the characters. Strangely, one song, "Colorado My Home" is in the movie, but was cut from the show in previews and is not on this cast recording.

What is on this cast recording are 15 songs and brief bits of dialogue to place each song in context. An enjoyable package.
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What a delight to hear Tammy Grimes again. Debbie Reynolds may be good in other shows, but the movie was awful and so was she. Tammy rules!