Episode 118: Adapting Broadway to Hollywood, part 1

This is the first part of my recent conversation with Geoffrey Block whose latest book is titled: A Fine Romance — Adapting Broadway To Hollywood In the Studio System Era. This fascinating new book explores the sometimes successful, but often very rocky relationship between Broadway musicals and the movie studios that brought them to the big screen. He does this by taking an in-depth look at 12 musicals and their film adaptations. These include very famous and familiar ones such as Show Boat, Oklahoma!, West Side Story, and Cabaret as well as several that are much less often discussed (or even seen!), but are no less interesting, such as The Cat And The Fiddle, Cabin In The Sky, and Flower Drum Song. Along the way he analyses exactly how and why these musicals were changed and revised — sometimes in disappointing and controversial ways, at least for fans of the stage versions. And he even suggests that a few of them were actually improved in the process! This is my favorite kind of a book — filled with new information and surprising insights, along with some strong opinions as well. Geoffrey Block is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Music History and Humanities at the University of Puget Sound and the author of nine books including Enchanted Evenings: The Broadway Musical from Show Boat to Sondheim and Lloyd-Weber and The Richard Rodgers Reader. He is also the editor of Oxford’s acclaimed Broadway Legacies Series. Become A PATRON of Broadway Nation! This episode is made possible in part through the generous support of our Patron Club members including our newest patron Larry Spinelli. If you would like to help support the work of Broadway Nation I will information at the end of the podcast about how you too can become a Patron. If you are a fan ofBroadway Nation, I invite you too to become a PATRON! For a just $7.00 a month you will receive exclusive access to never-before-heard, unedited versions of many of the discussions that I have with my guests — in fact I often record nearly twice as much conversation as ends up in the edited versions. You will also have access to additional in-depth conversations with my frequent co-host Albert Evans that have not been featured on the podcast. All patrons receive special “on-air” shout-outs and acknowledgement of your vital support of this podcast. And if you are very enthusiastic about Broadway Nation there are additional PATRON levels that come with even more benefits. If you would like to support the work of Broadway Nation and receive these exclusive member benefits, please just click on this link: https://broadwaynationpodcast.supercast.tech/ Thank you in advance for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices