Why didn't Mary Martin get the role of Maria over Julie Andrews for the film version of THE SOUND OF MUSIC?

Discuss.

(a) Mary Martin was not a box office draw

(b) Mary Martin was already too old for the role when she did the original show, but in theater you can get away with that kind of casting, and besides she was a theater legend. In films with a Todd A-O camera being pointed at you and your image then being blown up on a 70mm movie screen you cannot.

(c) Repeat (a) and (b). Rinse. Repeat.

Well, the obvious answer was that she was too old for the part. Born in 1917, Martin was 47 in 1964. That's rather, um, mature, for a young postulant.

But one must also consider that, as big a star as she was on Broadway, Mary Martin was just not a big name in Hollywood. The last movie appearance she made was a cameo in MAIN STREET TO BROADWAY in 1953, and was more or less unknown to most of American moviegoers. The film's first director, William Wyler, had seen Julie Andrews on stage in MY FAIR LADY and thought she would be good in the part of Maria. He went to Walt Disney and asked to see the daily rushes from MARY POPPINS, which impressed him enough to sign Andrews for the movie version of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. It was a smart move, MARY POPPINS beacme a huge hit, no doubt helping pre-sell THE SOUND OF MUSIC to millions of families (mine included).

Lastly, listen to Mary Martin's voice. She has a pleasant, chirpy way of singing, but in no way comparable to Julie Andres soaring 4-octave soprano. Just compare their respective renditions of 'Do-Re-Mi'. Andrews' version ends on a exhilarating high note, while Martin's just sort of peters out. It may have been great on stage, but it wouldn't have impressed anyone sitting in the movie theatre.

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The real question is why didn't Julia Andrews play Eliza Doolittle in the film version of My fair lady.

Actually she was born in 1913, a 51 year old novice starting out in life would have been, to say the least, a stretch. And who would they have gotten as Georg, Spencer Tracy?

Andrews was a big up and coming star, notoriously passed over for My Fair Lady she was soon to be oscar winner Mary Poppins.

All of the above, but Mary Poppins hadn't come out when casting/filming was happening for Sound of Music.

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Don't weep for Mary Martin. She brought the property to Rodgers and Hammerstein so she owned a percentage. She made more money from the movie "The Sound of Music" than she did for any show she was in.

Not only did she get a cut of the film profits but also a percentage of the film soundtrack album sales! (This is noted in the recent book about Mary... She and her husband had to sue Rodgers and Hammerstein to get their share but they eventually did.)

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Mary Martin was too old. She was never even an option.

Julie Andrews was the top contender. Wise, Chaplin, and Lehman knew of her from the stage, but there were rumors that Julie wasn't photogenic. Therefore, Wise and co went to the Disney lot and saw rushes of the yet unreleased Mary Poppins, and they loved what they saw. Julie was officially cast 8 months before Mary Poppins premiered.

Actually, I heard that she could have done Mary Poppins if she did My Fair Lady, but she wouldn't have been able to do "The Americanization of Emily."

Updated On: 11/20/12 at 05:31 PM

I love how in the film of CAMELOT the "Lusty Month of May" sequence resembles a hippie love-in in the park. Every one has flowers in their long, flowing hair, running around barefoot...

Updated On: 11/20/12 at 08:31 PM

It is worth the price of the DVD to see Vanessa Redgrave perform "Take Me to the Fair" with the twinkle in her eyes as she sets her plan in motion.

Also, "Guenevere" where she does not say or sing a word. Her eyes do all of the brilliant acting.

Excuze-moi. Le post double.

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Updated On: 11/21/12 at 04:21 AM

According to Wikipedia, Camelot's out-of-town tryout was indeed at the O'Keefe Center in Toronto. It was also over four hours long!


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