Jerome Robbins, Something to Dance About- Page 2

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 6:07pm

I'm paraphrasing Sheldon Harnick.

[marknyc]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 8:02pm

"You're saying that if the choreographer were straight, the documentary would have focused more on his sex life? [really?] It was a two-hour film; how much do you take away from the dance to give to the sexuality effect?"

It seems as though it's not possible to state this clearly. I did not want to hear more about his "sex life" - I thought my earlier posts made that clear. But I do think the fact that he was gay influenced his work, and that part of his personal life seemed to be deliberately obscured. After "On The Town" JR says, "Now I finally had enough money to afford analysis." I'm sure the issues he was struggling with were more than just being Jewish (which was covered in the doc).

I don't think discussing his relationships would have taken that much time away from the dance segments, and I don't think that's the reason it was avoided. I think it once again betrays the lie: "Oh, his being gay had no effect on his work, so let's just not talk about all that unpleasantness."

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 9:19pm

I think the film said just enough about Robbin's sexuality and how it influenced his work.
There are small hints throughout.
He was a self loathing Fag and Jew
(and I mean that in the nicest way)
You have to put it all in perspective, remember the line in THE BOYS IN THE BAND, "show me a happy homosexual and I'll show you a gay corpse"
The fact that he seemed to express his repression by doing a lot of work and trying to make things perfect, says so much.
His "love" life was probably A typical, not really being able to love anyone due to a hatred of one's self.
Unlike Moss Hart, he did not marry a "beard".
Many men who grew up gay in the 50's and before had to deal with secret longings and Robbins found a way to vent his confusion into work.
It would make an interesting film on how the creators of WEST SIDE STORY all delt with their sexual orientations.
Robbins, Sondheim, Bernstein, Laurents, Kert, Smith etc.
I think maybe not till HAIRSPRAY did so many gay men come together to make a Broadway Musical.
Updated On: 2/19/09 at 09:19 PM

[Polka Dot2]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 10:11pm

Anyone know if it's going to be aired again?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 1:18am

Unlike Moss Hart, he did not marry a "beard".

Well...he and Arthur had very intense romantic relationships with women. Arthur came very close to marrying Nora Kaye (who eventually married Herbert Ross.)

Lenny, of course, was married to Felicia Monteleagre, but she was not a beard. She was the love of his life, despite the fact that he was bisexual or gay in actual orientation.

If that makes sense.

Even Sondheim wanted to marry Lee Remick.

Being gay wasn't the same kind of option it is today.

[LadyDramaturg2]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 2:01am

I'm paraphrasing Sheldon Harnick.

No, PalJoey, I was addressing A Director: who seems to be setting up a quote, then contradicting it, twice. It was not clear to me.

Nothing unclear about your post.

Director, can you clarify your point?

[Went away to TSOML-ON, so many hours pass before this clarification]
Updated On: 2/20/09 at 02:01 AM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 11:13am

It's on again today, Sunday in New York PBS, noon.

Well the 13 web site said it was.
????? Updated On: 2/22/09 at 11:13 AM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 1:00pm

It is on now.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 7:21pm

Geez... check YOUR damn local listings, bud. Not all nationwide PBS stations air everything at the same time.

Check for AMERICAN MASTERS not JEROME ROBBINS... the documentary is part of their series. As with everything, I'm sure there will be more airings.

If you missed all the airings... that old addage holds true: ... you snooze, you loose!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 7:43pm

Is that shark picking his nose?

I said NYC in my post, sorry.