How faithful is the film version of "Finian's Rainbow" to the stage show??
Not very. watch it anyway, because it is hysterical and trippy and awful.
It must be watched at least once.
Actually, the movie is very faithful - and that is part of its problem. It has some good moments. The recent revival carefully trimmed a few lines here and there so the show could make its plot points and zip along to the next number. If the movie had taken this approach it would have been a sparkling 2 hours instead of a plodding 2.5 hours.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
The recent staged revival, definitely. Quite different from the original film version.
I haven't seen the movie in a while but I remember it as being quite fun - Francis Ford Coppola makes a musical!
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
It is not at all faithful- there is a huge added subplot about developing mentholated tobacco and the police trying to burn everyone alive. It is not a alight-hearted romp like the stage show.
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