Barbara Cook sings a medley from "The Music Man" on the Bell Telephone Hour, 1960.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ธ.ค. 2016
- Originally broadcast on February 26, 1960.
After several screentests, Barbara Cook was finally passed over for the 1962 film version of "The Music Man" in favor of Shirley Jones. Filmed in 1960, several years after debuting the role of Marian the Librarian on Broadway, Cook's 1960 performance on The Bell Telephone Hour offers us a glimpse of what might have been. - บันเทิง
This... this is the voice that Meredith Willson picked for his Marian in Music Man! There was one and only one Barbara Cook.
The Music Man, with Barbara Cook & Robert Preston, was the very first B'way show I ever saw! To say that it was magical, would be a huge understatement.
Wow. How was it live?
@@Adam-Epler the probably saw it on Broadway in the 60's
She was so incredible. What an artist.
This has to be one of the most perfect live performances on television.
She puts all her heart into the words and music. And I love her pure ooo sound in "til there was you". Most singers don't do that today. They sing yeeoo!
Most singers today can't even sing in tune!
@@randysills4418 Drives me nuts.
Find your 🔑!
Lol
Sadly many of today's opera singers haven't mastered vocal technique as well as Ms Cook did. Imagine, she was able to sing Cunegonde in Candide all week long, including twice on Wednesdays and Saturdays (matinee performances). Many of today's singers would be out with paralysed vocal cordes or nodes in a week or two.
That's the role I know her from. What a voice! How many times I sang along with her- I could hit those high notes then.
I remember the Bell Telephone hour back then. It's great that they had early color video tape back then, when most everyone had Black and White TV sets. We can see and hear a young Barbara when she was on top of Broadway.
RIP Ms Cook. You were the best Broadway soprano ever!
Got to agree with you kerryincolumbus.. she was truly the very best soprano EVER on Broadway.. certainly none can touch her today!
Barbara Cook would have taken "The Music Man" movie to the next level making her a film star as she deserved to be, too bad they went for name power instead of who was best for the role...one of the greatest ever, RIP Barbara Cook and thank you for decades of amazing performances...
Shirley Jones the best
@@wallaceb9120
She was fine, but she had already done Carousel and Oklahoma, did she have to do ALL the film musicals of the day?
Shirley Jjoes was born to that role.
@@frankiebowie6174 Well, the bankers who lend the $$ for the films, do want some sort of guarantee for their loans. Can you blame them if they want sure-fire, box-office names?
One of the terrible casting changes between Broadway and film. Not so bad as Julie Andrews to Marnie Nixon/Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady," or Larry Kert to some horrible singer/Richard Beymer, but bad enough. Those three break my heart.
Remarkable and effortless breath control and technique plus a gorgeous, pure tone add up to one of the most remarkable Broadway singers ever! Rest in peace- her son Adam is a great guy too(having known him for over 30 years since our USC days and later in New York).
The most beautiful soprano voice broadway has known. RIP
Richard Harrison Julie Andrews?
Just hopped on youtube to find this video, after seeing it for the first time tonight on a local Arts channel in NYC. I knew who Barbara Cook was, but had only heard her later cabaret stuff. How in the world she was passed over for the film is beyond me. Her phrasing, diction, warmth - just perfect.
Oh... such beautiful singing!! She won a Tony Award for this role.
What treat. Besides the peerless Barbara Cook, we see The Buffalo Bills who were the original quartet and also in the movie. Shirley Jones had won an Oscar in 1960, and they probably chose her as a bankable star. Warner Brothers had concerns that the amazing Robert Preston was a risky choice because he wasn’t a movie star. Through no fault of her own, Barbara Cook didn’t get the part. Her flawless singing here is a testament to her talent.
I’ve heard both Shirley Jones and Barbara Cook sing songs from The Music Man and as good a singer as Shirley Jones is (Oklahoma, anyone?) IMO Barbara Cook is the better singer. Everyone knows that for the movie Meredith Willson put his foot down as far as Robert Preston is concerned (best move he ever made), but he should have also done it for Barbara Cook also.
Shirley Jones sang the music well and the words nicely. Barbara Cook sang them both exquisitely.
Except Jones couldn't sing "My White Knight" at all and a different and far inferior song had to be written for her.
I thought noone else noticed, and since My White Knight was the apex of the plot, Shirley was very disappointing.
@@georgesoros6415 I agree.Shirley was good in the movie but not a real oposite to Preston.Cook played with him and they adored to work together .Barbara only didnt make the film because Jack Warner wanted a star to sell the movie. after Sinatra and Grant rejected the role because only Preston.a movie actor but not a popular star. Jon could play him .Jones wasn t better actress than Cook just different but she was a popular movie star ,a soprano and received the Oscar in 1960 for Elmer Gantry;..Meredith Willson said that My White knight was his favourite song of thescore and the most difficult to compos.Barbara sanga different song every performance until he chose tgh e final one;Listen to her My White knight performance in her1975 Carnegie Hall concert.
Yes.
Barbara could hit the high notes perfectly.
I hadn't seen this until today, the day of Barbara Cook's death. It was difficult to watch it through the tears. RIP Barabara Cook, you were--simply--the best!
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Over the years I have come back to this video again and again just to enjoy Barbara Cook’s exquisite singing. Thanks so very much for posting this, it’s a treasure ❤️.
RIP, I don't think we'll ever see someone with the combination of her talent and courage.
Fell in love with her and her voice when I first heard her in NYC back in the early 1950's. Along with Ella and Doris Day, she remains one of the great American soprano voices, and she always will be. How wonderful we still have recordings of her glorious young voice!
Doris and Ella werent sopranos only two great popular singers.Cook was a soprano like Jones ,Grayson,Durbin,Andrews,Blyth,Powell and Jeanette to name a few.
@@dianavictoriaaljadeff5302 Doris Day started out as a light lyric soprano, but by the mid 40s she grew into a full lyric soprano. She stayed that way throughout her vocal prime. Ella was a mezzo though.
For some odd reason certain people believe Doris and Ella are "contraltos".
I had no idea this existed. This is why I love You Tube. Thank you so much for posting.
Four years later, the tears still come. How wonderful to hear again !
Barbara Cook's singing commands admiration.
Barbara Cook's wonderful voice improved with age like fine wine! RIP
Rest In Peace, dear Barbara Cook. I'm sure you are up in heaven giving the angels a run for their money.
She was so wonderful...mesmerizing. RIP my Barbara.
What a treat! And a little glimpse into the past. The Music Man was still on B'way when they did this show. Ahhhh, to have been able to see it in 1957!
Completely sublime singing by Barbara Cook! What an exquisite voice she had.
The part of Marion Paroo in "The Music Man" is a dream role for a soprano thanks to the genius composer Meredith Wilson. The songs Marion gets to sing are so absolutely beautiful to listen to. Barbara Cook would have been phenomenal in the film version of the musical. The role seemed to fit her perfectly. I often wondered why the song "My White Knight" wasn't featured in the film. It's my personal favorite song and I love singing it.
I agree with you ; the song builds up like an operatic aria.You must listen to Patricia Lambert on the London Cast CD ; glorious !
@@davidallen508 So many incredible singers out there. Thanks for recommending listening to Patricia Lambert.
Reportedly, Shirley couldn’t regularly hit the high notes so Mr. Wilson compares her a new tune using the same bridge.
RIP to the most beautiful voice of the stage.
Such a lovely presence and voice.
We miss you dear lady.
Rest in Peace.. Prayers for the Family August the 8th 2017 ..She gave us a wonderful songs from Broadway ..
She really was an amazing talent. I wish I got to see more of while she lived.
Love to you Barbara Cook. I learned so much from you. Be at peace.
giggling a lil at the blocking, but man, what an injustice that i have never heard her sing these songs before. WOW
She should have gotten the film role. She’s so expressive and sings like an angel.
They didn't want an "unknown" for the film.. Julie Andrews had more of box-office draw at the time.. most likely still does.
@@hankaustin7091 Julie Andrews was not in the film.
@@hankaustin7091Shirley Jones played the role of Marian Paroo in the film of The Music Man. I believe that the powers-that-be were willing to have Robert Preston reprise his Broadway role of Harold Hill, but not have another "non-Hollywood" performer starring in the film.
Early television showcases like this one introduced popular Broadway musicals like ‘The Music Man’ and the ‘Sound of Music’ to wider American audiences. They also bridged the gap between the Broadway productions and the Big Screen releases.
One of my favorite songs from a musical. I never tire of it. Just a masterpiece of composing.
...and arranging, although not credited in the film.
What a treasure. Thanks for posting!
Barbara Cook won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for creating Marian in The Music Man.
RIP Barbara. you are truly marion the librarian
the illustrious voice and the buffalo bills ! thank you so much for sharing !
One of the best ever!
RIP a fine Anna, Sally, and a wonderful Marian
Rest nPeace marveleus singer,You ll be missed(1927-2017)
No one in the 50's or 60's can compare to Barbara in any way. Best soprano, so pretty and energetic.
She seems to have much more emotion and finess here than Shirley Jones did in the movie of two years later. They are both fine singers, but I prefer Ms. Cook....
Me too
Randall Sills Julie Andrews (Bernadette Peters?) are great contenders for that title.
True but Barbara had the luxury of doing 8 shows a week on Broadway which gives you much more opportunity dig deep and finess your performance. Shirley had one performance to give.
I would like to see Shirley Jones get some credit for the film version. I’m sure those who justifiably praise Barbara are not intending to discredit Shirley’s wonderful performance in the film.Both great singers
It’s absolutely true that Shirley Jones turned in a serviceable performance. Very appealing for the audiences in the flyover states.
Agree completely. Shirley was captivating and her voice was so rich and pure. Shirley’s beauty was much better suited for the big screen.
@@Anaxiphile People who use the term ‘flyover country’ and make ignorant assumptions of its tens of millions of amazing inhabitants have probably never ventured out of the dingy eastern cities and for that we are grateful.
Flyover states? You’re an asshole.
@@Anaxiphile ridiculous dig. I saw Barbara Cook at The Cafe Carlyle, and I now live in Illinois, Both women were sublimely talented.
Incredible singer ❤❤❤. Love listening to this lovely lady. What a voice.
Barbara Cook... the greatest!
Per newspaper TV listings for stations WOOD and WILX -- "The Bell Telephone Hour" -- broadcast on Friday, February 26, 1960... 8:30 PM EST.
May she Rest In Peace 😢
John Simon, the film and theater critic for New York magazine from 1968 to 2005 was *famous* for hating everything. He really wasn't completely hostile, but he created the paradigm of the hostile art critic. The only artist for whom he not only withheld his venom, but went crazy over, was Barbara Cook.
Beautiful lady, beautiful old times.Where did they go?
Beautiful inspiration! Rest in Peace!
Damn. Great voice.
One of the greats
Rest in peace 😢
I miss her so much
And no one’s gonna talk about the opt. up she did at the end of Will I Ever Tell You (D5). And not even on the sheet music - Patricia Lambert and Rebecca Luker did it too.
I like Shirley Jones. But, Barbara Cook was literally the finest Broadway soprano I have ever heard! I hear her and the Buffalo Bills and my blood pressure drops 15 points.
And she is singing with the Barbershop Harmony Society Hall of Famers "The Buffalo Bills" who did both the Broadway show and the movie plus being International Barbershop Champions! Barbara Cook did win a Tony Award but who knows what really went on behind the scenes at Warner Brothers. Some say Shirley Jones was better at acting and her timing was better. Several stars admitted turning down the part of Harold Hill saying only Robert Preston could be the "Music Man." He also won a Tony Award. Robert Preston was a very private man and died in his late sixties of lung cancer. He was an Army Air Corps Capt from 42-45 in WWII. Cook and Jones' voices are very different in timbre, and frankly, if I wanted a solo album I might prefer Barbara Cook. But Shirley Jones could carry the solos and blend oh so well.
Jim,Barbara would have made the movie if Sinatra ort Cary Grant had played Hill;But as only Preston could be Harold Hill they wanted a more famous movie star as Marian to sell the movie.Preston preferred Doris Day who rejected the role because she knew that the score wasnt for her voice and Shirley Jones who had received the Oscar the year before for Elmer Gantry was cast.Barbara was a better singer and Shirley was a good soprano and sang the songs very well.I would have wanted to see both Preston and Cook in the movie but Shirley was very good as Marian bur she couldnt sing My White knight so Willson composed Being in love to her a more popular and easier song
If Shirley Jones could "blend oh so well" then why did the movie version not have her and Preston dueting on that final line of Till There Was You, as the Broadway version with Cook and Preston had so memorably recorded for the ages? To use an analogy, Shirley Jones, like Being In Love is pleasant and pretty, while Barbara Cook, like My White Knight, has more depth and quality.
Great! I've seen other performances on The Bell Telephone Hour but didn't know this segment existed.
It's too bad she didn't also sing "My White Knight" on The Bell Telephone Hour, as that's my favorite song from THE MUSIC MAN.
Will be missed.
RIP Ms Cook.
There will never be another voice like hers
Wonderful, thanks for posting.
Rest in Peace, Barbara
Powerful yet angelic, such a treasure.
There are some wonderful master classes that Barbara Cook did which are on TH-cam...
Love The Buffalo Bills!
I could swear my ears are telling me that the barbershop quartet that sang the second part with Barbara were the same men who were used in the film adaptation of "The Music Man." Their vocal timbres more than anything strikes a very familiar note.
They are the same men. The Buffalo Bills.
Such a beat VOICE!
TIMELESS TALENT...SO INSPIRING...
This looks like an episode of the Lawrence Welk show. A whole lot of talent.
All love and respect to Shirley Jones, but Barbara Cook is inimitable.
miss her. She got better in every way with age. The last portion of Lyda Rose sounds like it was dubbed later.
I am sad to hear of her death today.
Damn Shirley Jones’s kneepads.
Nice to see the Buffalo Bills quartet reprising their performance as well.
In fact Barbara was acepted after the screen tests and shge would have made the film with Frank Sinatra or Cary Grant Jack Warner fist choices as Hill.But the composer Meredith Willson said that he wouldnt make the film without Preston and in fact he wanted both Preston and Cook in the movie.But Warner didnt want to make the movie without a famous movie star so Shirley Jones was cast, instead,]
Thanks for this info. I could sort of see Grant in the part, but not Sinatra. But Preston was really the only sensible choice.
Bing Crosby, I think, also wanted to do it. Jack Warner, for once, chose intelligently for the movie. Preston was the best choice. too bad he couldn't have been as intelligent for his movie version of My Fair Lady, and cast Julie Andrews as Eliza.
I'm surprised that Sinatra was even considered, after he walked away from Carousel when he saw the set, with two types of cameras, one for Todd AO, saying he agreed to make one movie, not two.
Cook made two tests, as a courtesy, i am sure. Preston wanted Doris Day. she didn't want to do it, even with first billing. he had to settle for Shirley Jones. some settling. they were very good together. Cook just didn't have it for movies, but she had a long, strong career on Broadway and in cabaret.
Imagine what would have happened had Danny Kaye, who was favored for the Broadway Show been cast instead of Preston. There was casting genius behind the show that wasn't Willson's and wasn't carried into in the film.
Obviously I grew up watching Shirley Jones' Marian. I wasn't alive when she was playing this role. Shirley was magnificent, had all the range needed, and not just in her voice. She had great chemistry with Preston.
And I still wonder how Cook felt when she learned she'd been passed up in favor of a movie star. Just like Julie Andrews was for Audrey Hepburn (who had a pleasant singing voice, not remotely up to the songs in My Fair Lady). Maybe she was too busy with stage work, but I suspect they said "Eh--pretty enough. Not movie star pretty"
They weren't even sure they were going to cast Robert Preston. They were talking about James Cagney, Bing Crosby, and Cary Grant (!!!).
Preston wasn't movie star handsome, though he had an extensive list of film credits before The Music Man--he was rarely playing the lead. He was a good looking guy with a decent voice (Harold Hill's part doesn't require a great tenor), and a real aptitude for comedy. He'll always be the best Harold Hill.
And Barbara Cook will always be the definitive Marian the Librarian. The bar every actress who gets cast has to clear, and some do. Never by quite as much.
i think it would have been a different movie with Barbara in it. i can't imagine frank sinatra being able to do the magic that robert preston performed in that role.
Robert Preson was born to sing Ya Got Trouble. Can't think of anyone to replace that charisma he had.
Barbara Cook passed away today...
Nice to see a video of her when she was slim (1960); she said she always pictured herself as heavy-set.
Not only Barbara Cook but also the Buffalo Bills!!!
I feel sorry for the guy who all he could do is look at Barbara sing to him with her super voice. Too bad he couldn't sing back to her with a super voice like that of John Raitt.
SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN IMPROVEMENT...MUCH BETTER SINGER AND PRETTIER...SADLY WE LOST HER THIS YEAR...
Is anybody ready for Sutton Foster?
If this shot in 1960, then this must've been one of the first pieces of American commercial TV shot in color -- and perhaps this was on film? Regular TV broadcasting in color did not really start until test footage at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo by NHK. In the USA, it started to show up on network TV around 1966-7 with the 3 major networks.
NBC began broadcasting every show on its primetime schedule in color in September of 1961. I was there. I remember it. Occasional color broadcasting had been frequent since the early 1950s at least. CBS was the last major American network to go all-color in primetime, beginning in the fall of 1966. ABC shifted over to all-color primetime broadcasting piecemeal, between 1960 and 1966.
NBC began color broadcasting (compatible with black-and-white sets) in December 1953, as did CBS. Since NBC was owned by color equipment and set manufacturer RCA, they pushed color more than CBS. Color videotape didn't come until mid-1958; a Milton Berle "Kraft Music Hall" show from October 1958 is now the earliest preserved color videotape of an entertainment show. The "Bell Telephone Hour" was on NBC from 1959-1968, was in color from the beginning, and they saved many of the show tapes.
It was so frustrating for Barbara who originated so many extraordinary roles who saw most of them when filmed go to Shirley Jones. Nothing wrong with Shirley but we were robbed of Barbara at her peak.
i was at opening night in la got Meredith Wilson autograph what is that worth to day?
She only sang two songs. Some people I have met in my lifetime would dispute the word medley because of that. As for the actual performance, it prompted me to think that not only was Ms. Cook cheated of a chance to become a movie star, we as an audience were cheated of the chance to see the very best possible person do this role; no disrespect to Ms. Jones, who was perfectly lovely in the role.
why didn't they choose her for the movie?
Unfortunately, they wanted someone with more "star-power" for the role, so they gave the recent Academy award winner Shirley Jones the role to draw more of an audience and more money in the box office. They were even reluctant to give Robert Preston the role of Harold Hill, and wanted Frank Sinatra to star in the role alongside Barbara Cook, but Meredith Willson would not give Warner Bros. the rights to the movie unless they casted Robert Preston. In my opinion, I think the movie would have been even better with Barbara Cook and she would have probably even been a huge audience draw because of her success as Marian and her prior theatre accomplishments. Nevertheless, the movie is still amazing with Shirley, but they missed a great opportunity by turning down the great Barbara Cook.
Shirley Jones was much hotter.
Proving that the movie producers made the wrong choice.
I think so, too. With all due respect to Ms. Jones.
Curse that Harold Hill , He done snuck away again . I will get his credentials .
Barbara Cook was a fantastic singer. I believe she was actually more talented than Shirley Jones in that regard. However, Ms. Jones had a stronger movie history and following and was therefore seen as the better choice to star. Movie musicals were very expensive to produce so considering that it is indeed called show BUSINESS for a reason, it was no surprise to me that Shirley Jones was chosen to play the part of Marion Paroo.
Shirley Jones was wonderful in the role, although I certainly admire Ms. Cook, who, unfortunately, just did not possess the movie star looks to make her a star.
She's Beautiful!
Were it not for Mary Poppins we would be saying the same thing about Julie Andrews upon her death.
The macabre david postmeiotically bore because railway traditionally saw beside a near carol. impolite, solid farmer
She is OK. Repressed emotion. Maybe because of the staging? The movie staging was more like it Thus, I prefer Shirley Jones in that role. She really belts it out!
Get the wax out of your ears
SORRY… SHIRLEY JONES’ VERSION IS THE BEST !!!
Peerless
understandable that she was passed over. two tests and out. she didn't have what Shirley Jones has. and that costume, even in 1960. some sabotage there, or just bad taste. it happens. that show is just too tiresomely corny for me, but Shirley and Preston at the end are really good. Miss Cook sings so well, and yet...
So, she's dead less than 24 hours, and you're giving your unsolicited bitchy assessment of an undeniably great talent?
Hear, hear!
You're a moron Richard!
oh, hardly. you're just a Cook acolyte. i am not.
Why not just keep your comments to yourself in this case? Considering she passed away today, and we are here to appreciate her, why must you act like a troll? De mortuis nihil nisi bonum.