With today being the Judy Garland day on TCM, one of the movie musicals they're airing is The Harvey Girls. It just hit me, but Lansbury and Merman both appear in this movie....
I dunno, I'm GYPSY obsessive so I thought this was interesting.
Angela Lansbury is in it, yes...playing a bitch!
But Ethel Merman is NOT in THE HARVEY GIRLS. She made only one brief film appearance in the 1940s in STAGE DOOR CANTEEN. Otherwise she was kept busy on Broadway doing PANAMA HATTIE, SOMETHING FOR THE BOYS and ANNIE GET YOUR GUN.
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
I admire your willingness to correct my "faux pas", but it was actually a stunt meant for all the merman fans. a TRUE merman fan would know the controversy the one of the film's star's Virgina O'brien caused, because people felt that she looked and sang too much like merman for her not to be....
no no, in all honesty, lansbury is the only momma rose...but man, can she play a bitch well :)
People ACTUALLY thought that Virginia O'Brian and Ethel Merman looked and sounded alike??? I don't see that at all. As a matter of fact, I prefer O'Brian's brand of comedy and voice over Merman's any day. It's interesting to me that anyone could have ever mistaken one for the other!
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
That O'Brian/Merman joke is really quite out there. I enjoy la merman and know a bit about her professionaly but that one just went right over mi cabeza.
Updated On: 8/7/05 at 06:13 PM
OMG, she doesn't sound anything like Merman.
Although, while I was watching the movie today she really reminded me of Donna Murphy playing Ruth in Wonderful Town. Maybe it's an Ohio thing??
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/03
Virginia O'Brien had that glazed monotone used for comedic effect. I can't see the resemblance to Merman either. Was there really a controversy?
I dont mean to make it sound like it was on the front pages for months. Just kinda how if there were something about RENT or WICKED that not the WHOLE WORLD would know, but only those in the "community" that it would be of interest to.
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