Episode 120: Further Adapting Broadway To Hollywood

This is the third part of my conversation with author Geoffrey Block regarding his recent book: A Fine Romance — Adapting Broadway To Hollywood In the Studio System Era. This very interesting new book takes an in-depth look at 12 Broadway stage musicals and their Hollywood movie musical adaptations. And today we discuss two of those shows — West Side Story and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s second to last musical, Flower Drum Song. When compared to their Broadway originals, these are two of the most faithful and complete film versions, but as you will hear, many changes still had to be made in bringing these shows to the screen and Block has captured them all in fascinating detail. If you missed the first two segments of this discussion you may want to catch up with those before listening to this one. Geoffrey Block is the editor of Oxford’s acclaimed Broadway Legacies Series and the author of eight previous books including Enchanted Evenings: The Broadway Musical from Show Boat to Sondheim and Lloyd-Weber and The Richard Rodgers Reader. Become A PATRON of Broadway Nation! This episode is made possible in part through the generous support of our Patron Club members Anne Welsh, Ruth Oberg, & Ellie Schaffer. 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