Monday, April 11, 2011

Radio review – TG – “Allegro” (1951) **1/2

Oscar and Hammerstein’s follow up to Oklahoma and Carousel was, if not a flop, then an under-performer at the box office. It’s not hard to see why – the book is very dull and the songs are unmemorable. It’s about a young doctor who is torn between wanting to do decent work and making lots of money. There’s a woman he marries who wants him to make money rather than Do the Right Thing. Didn’t Sidney Howard write this as Men in White? (Isn't every soapy treatment of doctors about this?) Apparently Oscar Hammerstein was inspired by his town torment as an artist – gee, poor Oscar. 
 
There’s some good moments, like when the doctor reads a file and finds out his wife has been cheating on him, and one good song. The rest was either boring and/or unmemorable. John Lund and Jane Powell play lead roles.

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