Florence Henderson from the Brady Bunch what a beautiful young thing you are, and a voice to match, she would have been perfect for the lead in the movie version of Oklahoma, and Gordon MacRae he always had a magnificent voice, love this clip of a beautiful duet.......
I was never a fan of the Brady bunch. My first experience of Florence Henderson was as Maria in the tour of the Sound of Music when I was in high school. Saw her often on television singing - once when she was pregnant with one of her kids.
Florence Henderson was Laurie in the 1953 Oklahoma revival with Raid Bond as Curly and Barbara Cook as Ado Annie All made auditions for the movie .The final choises as Laurie were Florence and Shirley Jones who was cast .
According to Shirley Jones (I believe the interview is here on YT someplace), she was auditioning for another R&H show on Broadway, when one of the assistants saw her, he took her over to meet Richard Rodgers (I believe - could have been Hammerstein - my memory is not 100% on this). It was said that they had been looking for the "right" Laurie for the movie and when they met her, that was it. They cast her in the other show until Oklahoma was ready for production. I don't know if after that Florence was seriously in consideration. I first saw Florence when I was about 16, she was in the tour of The Sound of Music. Your mention of Barbara Cook has me wonder why she wasn't in contention. Anyway, they liked Shirley enough to cast her in Carousel...so fate definitely stepped.
@@Makeji Barbara Cook made a screen test as Ado Annie not as Laurie. Rodgers and Hammerstein promised Laurie to Shirley Jones but other actresses made screen tests including Joan Woodward and Florence Henderson and Shirley was finally cast in.Oklahoma.. For Carousel.the studio wanted Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra but the composers wouldnt make the movie without Shirley Jones and she was cast with Sinatra who started filming. But he left the cast and Gordon Mc Rae was called to.replace him.as Billy
She also played Maria in the national tour of The Sound Of Music circa 1961 or 62. I worked with a musician who had played in the orchestra for the Chicago portion of the tour.
Which is why she was one of the top candidates in the late 1960s when Sherwood Schwartz was looking to cast for the role of Carol Brady. They wanted someone who worked well and believably with kids. Her rave reviews in TSOM from earlier in the decade had not been forgotten.
Never knew Florence did an unsurpassed version of this song! Gorgeous. Too bad it’s shortened. Gordon sounds good too - even though he’s not a good age match for this wonderful Laurie.
I agree - apparently R&H did as well. She was auditioning for another show they were doing, one of the casting people (I'm not sure who) heard her and took her to meet either R or H and when they met her and heard her sing, the decision was made.
MAKEJI Shirley Jones was one of South Pacific nurses in the revival when Janet Blair was Nellie .Rodgers and Hammerstein loved her and cast for Me and Juliet where she was in the chorus and Isabel Bigley understudy in.the tittie role .Shirley Florence Joan Woodward and other artists made screen tests for.Oklahoma.The director Fred Zimmerman locrd Woodward but they decided to cast singers só the choicr was between Henderson and Jones and the later who was Rodgers and Hammerstein private contractee was cast.Barbara Cook made her test as Ado Annie and could have been cast.But they didnt want another newcommer ingenue soprano and Gloria Grahame was cast For Carousel.the producers wanted Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra But the composers wouldnt make the movie without Shirley Jones and she played Julie.The only time that Rodgers and Hammerstein didnt want Shirley was in South Pacific because they prefered a dancer and a belter like was Mary Martin and Mitzi Gaynor was chosen. Shirley Jones would have made The Sound of music if Julie Andrews had made My Fair Lady because Disney would have waited her to make Mary Poppins and couldnt have played Maria. Rodgers wanted Shirley but Ernest Lehman prefered Julie and as Julie had played one of his musicals before Cinderella he also loved her and accepted and loved Julie as Maria .
@@dianaaljadeff2983 Wow, I am impressed with your knowledge about all this. I was 9 when Carousel came out as a movie. My mom took me to see it "downtown" Chicago. We both loved movies. I fell in love with Shirley and Gordon MacRae and the show itself. Still my favorite, with Phantom a close 2nd. I knew Shirley was R&H first choice for Laurie and a bit of that history. As for her voice, it's lovely. Same with Gordon's. That said, after finding this clip from the stage show with Jan Clayton and John Raitt, I like it better. I think Clayton captures Julie Jordon like no one else I've ever seen. Looking at the film itself, it's more direction and not doing "the bench scene" as it was on stage. Much of the dialogue was cut and the intimacy was lost in the staging of them standing in a grove of trees. The clip from 1954 was a revelation. I have also seen this with Pattie Lupone and Mandy Patinkin in concert - he's fine as Billy, but Patti would never be cast as Julie. The Lincoln Center was okay, but I mentioned elsewhere Kelli has a gorgeous voice, but her vibe is too worldly and I didn't care for the man's voice. I'm sorry Jan and John didn't get cast in the film, they would have been fine. I loved Jan as Ellen Miller in Lassie. I saw her as my own mom in many ways. Seeing her on stage was a revelation in my favorite show. You will have to forgive my prejudice in her favor.
She was in the 1970 film version of the musical "Song of Norway," and was featured as "Laurey" with John Raitt in a studio-recording from 1964 of the musical numbers from "Oklahoma!."
Whether or not you can call it good fortune, her role as Carol Brady sort of eclipsed the first 20 years of her work as a successful leading actress on Broadway and in touring companies.
I don't think Robert Reed or Shirley Jones would be too happy, lol. I didn’t know that Mrs. Brady had such a beautiful singing voice. Seeing Mary Martin, I also thought what I would give to have heard Gordon MacRae sing "Some Enchanted Evening" or "Younger than Springtime" from "South Pacific." Did he ever record them?
The greatest male singer for movie musicals to date. Let the legend on ❤
Yes !!!!!
without a doubt. Peerless voice and such technique.
Soo true! He along with Howard Keel were the best Male baritone to movie screen and stage.
Gordon had the looks, the voice and the charm of a leading actor, was perfect for the Rogers and Hammerstein musicals........
I don't know who I put on top, but Gordon, Howard Keel, and Mario Lanza all have my vote. Nelson Eddy is right there also.
Florence Henderson from the Brady Bunch what a beautiful young thing you are, and a voice to match, she would have been perfect for the lead in the movie version of Oklahoma, and Gordon MacRae he always had a magnificent voice, love this clip of a beautiful duet.......
Nope. She had a nice voice, but Shirley Jones was much less mannered.
Less mannered?
@@diedonner299 Plus, they needed someone who could sing in tune...
Love Gordon Macrae’s voice.
True professional......
I really love this rendition, Gordon and Florence have excellent chemistry, and playful banter.
Gordon's Voice was very Beautiful.
Look how young Florence Henderson is and how well she sings!! Oh my goodness a mere baby and so talented!
She was in the original Broadway cast of 'Fanny', with music and lyrics by Harold Rome.
When I was in high school back in the 60s, I saw her as Maria in The Sound of Music in Chicago.
She was 20 here! Her voice is gorgeous.
This televised tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein was aired on all four networks--ABC, CBS, NBC and the now-defunct Dumont network.
Aww, lovely! I only knew the movie version. This is adorable. 💜
Absolutely love Florence 's voice. A true diva
I had no idea Mrs. Brady could sing so beautifully. Bravo Florence and of course Gordon.
I was never a fan of the Brady bunch. My first experience of Florence Henderson was as Maria in the tour of the Sound of Music when I was in high school. Saw her often on television singing - once when she was pregnant with one of her kids.
Florence Henderson was Laurie in the 1953 Oklahoma revival with Raid Bond as Curly and Barbara Cook as Ado Annie All made auditions for the movie .The final choises as Laurie were Florence and Shirley Jones who was cast .
According to Shirley Jones (I believe the interview is here on YT someplace), she was auditioning for another R&H show on Broadway, when one of the assistants saw her, he took her over to meet Richard Rodgers (I believe - could have been Hammerstein - my memory is not 100% on this). It was said that they had been looking for the "right" Laurie for the movie and when they met her, that was it. They cast her in the other show until Oklahoma was ready for production. I don't know if after that Florence was seriously in consideration. I first saw Florence when I was about 16, she was in the tour of The Sound of Music. Your mention of Barbara Cook has me wonder why she wasn't in contention. Anyway, they liked Shirley enough to cast her in Carousel...so fate definitely stepped.
@@Makeji
Barbara Cook made a screen test as Ado Annie not as Laurie. Rodgers and Hammerstein promised Laurie to Shirley Jones but other actresses made screen tests including Joan Woodward and Florence Henderson and Shirley was finally cast in.Oklahoma..
For Carousel.the studio wanted Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra but the composers wouldnt make the movie without Shirley Jones and she was cast with Sinatra who started filming. But he left the cast and Gordon Mc Rae was called to.replace him.as Billy
Wow-she and Shirley jones sing great.
Florence Henderson the mother of the Brady Bunch and Shirley Jones the mother of the Partridge Family. Both sang this song with Gordon MacRae
Obviously. sheesh...
I was today-years-old when I learned Florence Henderson was a singer!
She started out in show business singing in musicals. She did that for years before she played Carol Brady on THE BRADY BUNCH.
Same here 😮😊!!
She also appeared in “The sound of music”.
She also played Maria in the national tour of The Sound Of Music circa 1961 or 62. I worked with a musician who had played in the orchestra for the Chicago portion of the tour.
Which is why she was one of the top candidates in the late 1960s when Sherwood Schwartz was looking to cast for the role of Carol Brady. They wanted someone who worked well and believably with kids. Her rave reviews in TSOM from earlier in the decade had not been forgotten.
The very best !!!!
Wow. Florence was a brilliant singer.
People Will Say... puts Oklahoma on the map!
Florence was 20 and Gordon was 34 when this was filmed in 1954
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Maybe if they hadn't let Mary Martin flap her jaws so long, they coulda presented the entire song without all those awful cuts
lmfao damn
😂
Florence Henderson was so much more than that dumb TV show from the '70's that caused her to become typecast. She was a musical theater goddess.
Never knew Florence did an unsurpassed version of this song! Gorgeous. Too bad it’s shortened. Gordon sounds good too - even though he’s not a good age match for this wonderful Laurie.
Love Gordon Macrae.
Shirley Jones was a better match for this song.
I disagree
I agree - apparently R&H did as well. She was auditioning for another show they were doing, one of the casting people (I'm not sure who) heard her and took her to meet either R or H and when they met her and heard her sing, the decision was made.
MAKEJI
Shirley Jones was one of South Pacific nurses in the revival when Janet Blair was Nellie .Rodgers and Hammerstein loved her and cast for Me and Juliet where she was in the chorus and Isabel Bigley understudy in.the tittie role .Shirley Florence Joan Woodward and other artists made screen tests for.Oklahoma.The director Fred Zimmerman locrd Woodward but they decided to cast singers só the choicr was between Henderson and Jones and the later who was Rodgers and Hammerstein private contractee was cast.Barbara Cook made her test as Ado Annie and could have been cast.But they didnt want another newcommer ingenue soprano and Gloria Grahame was cast
For Carousel.the producers wanted Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra
But the composers wouldnt make the movie without Shirley Jones and she played Julie.The only time that Rodgers and Hammerstein didnt want Shirley was in South Pacific because they prefered a dancer and a belter like was Mary Martin and Mitzi Gaynor was chosen. Shirley Jones would have made The Sound of music if Julie Andrews had made My Fair Lady because Disney would have waited her to make Mary Poppins and couldnt have played Maria.
Rodgers wanted Shirley but Ernest Lehman prefered Julie and as Julie had played one of his musicals before Cinderella he also loved her and accepted and loved Julie as Maria .
@@dianaaljadeff2983 Wow, I am impressed with your knowledge about all this. I was 9 when Carousel came out as a movie. My mom took me to see it "downtown" Chicago. We both loved movies. I fell in love with Shirley and Gordon MacRae and the show itself. Still my favorite, with Phantom a close 2nd. I knew Shirley was R&H first choice for Laurie and a bit of that history.
As for her voice, it's lovely. Same with Gordon's. That said, after finding this clip from the stage show with Jan Clayton and John Raitt, I like it better. I think Clayton captures Julie Jordon like no one else I've ever seen. Looking at the film itself, it's more direction and not doing "the bench scene" as it was on stage. Much of the dialogue was cut and the intimacy was lost in the staging of them standing in a grove of trees.
The clip from 1954 was a revelation. I have also seen this with Pattie Lupone and Mandy Patinkin in concert - he's fine as Billy, but Patti would never be cast as Julie. The Lincoln Center was okay, but I mentioned elsewhere Kelli has a gorgeous voice, but her vibe is too worldly and I didn't care for the man's voice.
I'm sorry Jan and John didn't get cast in the film, they would have been fine. I loved Jan as Ellen Miller in Lassie. I saw her as my own mom in many ways. Seeing her on stage was a revelation in my favorite show. You will have to forgive my prejudice in her favor.
I don’t recognize Florence with the later Florence!
Didn't know she sang
She was in the 1970 film version of the musical "Song of Norway," and was featured as "Laurey" with John Raitt in a studio-recording from 1964 of the musical numbers from "Oklahoma!."
Whether or not you can call it good fortune, her role as Carol Brady sort of eclipsed the first 20 years of her work as a successful leading actress on Broadway and in touring companies.
Go ahead, Mom Brady
I don't think Robert Reed or Shirley Jones would be too happy, lol. I didn’t know that Mrs. Brady had such a beautiful singing voice.
Seeing Mary Martin, I also thought what I would give to have heard Gordon MacRae sing "Some Enchanted Evening" or "Younger than Springtime" from "South Pacific." Did he ever record them?
She sings this VERY heavily with little nuance.
But it was early in her career Peter. She got much better.
@@diedonner299 I like it better watching it again now. It's a bit operatic but that's ok.