Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! (1999)
Hugh Jackman, Josefina Gabrielle, Shuler Hensley, Jimmy Johnston
When Mary Rodgers, daughter of the composer Richard Rodgers, was reported as saying she never wanted to see another Oklahoma!, it was her way of paying the highest tribute to Trevor Nunn's production at the Royal National Theatre which was subsequently taken into the studio and filmed. The ca...
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When Mary Rodgers, daughter of the composer Richard Rodgers, was reported as saying she never wanted to see another Oklahoma!, it was her way of paying the highest tribute to Trevor Nunn's production at the Royal National Theatre which was subsequently taken into the studio and filmed. The camera follows the playgoers into the auditorium of the Olivier where in their company we watch the show and applaud the numbers as the real thing. Nunn treats Rodgers and Hammerstein's first collaboration with the utmost seriousness, restoring the full text so that it comes across as a drama indebted to Eugene O'Neill. Although Oklahoma! unfolds at a leisurely pace, it is extraordinary how one is drawn into the drama under Nunn's direction. There's seldom a wish for true locations as the pace picks up and we move into the claustrophobic company of Judd Fry in his riveting encounter with the cowboy Curly. The close-up camera work affords an experience the theatre can't bring and also pays handsome dividends in appreciating Susan Stroman's intricate and lively choreography. Her dancers are a fine team, notably Jimmy Johnston who is outstanding as Will Parker leading the Kansas City ensemble. Hugh Jackman (X-Men) as Curly matches him in vocal prowess and looks, and Shuler Hensley sings the tricky role of Judd Fry very well. It's harder to place Peter Polycarpou's Pedlar, a considerably larger role than in the film version, whose accent strays from London's East End to the plains of Europe. Maureen Lipman, rightly deemed the lynchpin of the musical by Nunn, is a joy to watch as Aunt Eller. Laurey (Josefina Gabrielle) and Ado Annie (Vicki Simon) are good but not special. Aside from an abrupt start to Act Two and the occasional voice off microphone, the production sounds good with a larger orchestra present than in the theatre. An Oklahoma! on an epic scale. --Adrian Edwards
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Unrated, 180 min.
Directed by:
Trevor Nunn
Release Date: Jan 01, 1999
DVD Release Date: Nov 18, 2003
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Hugh is freakin amazing in this! when it started and hugh began to sing, *sigh* it was fabulous! Hugh has a great singing voice! I think if they do an actual remake of the movie they should cast Hugh as Curly!!!!! :)
I saw a community theatre production of this musical that I would place as my favorite overall production but this is a very close second. Hugh Jackman is amazing!!! He is the best Curly I've seen!
Man, I would have killed to see this live! Nevertheless, the film version is still fantastic, wonderfully choreographed and acted. Couldn't stop grinning like an idiot the whole way through. There are a few hiccups of course, but these are small de... (read more) Man, I would have killed to see this live! Nevertheless, the film version is still fantastic, wonderfully choreographed and acted. Couldn't stop grinning like an idiot the whole way through. There are a few hiccups of course, but these are small details to be overlooked - sure, I have to agree that the Pedlers accent was a bit off, and sometimes the cuts to the live audience were a bit disruptive to the flow of the film, but these things don't mar the overall quality of the production. Bravo.
I absolutely loved this! I had to watch the Shirley Jones/Gordon MacRae version in the fourth grade for my music class, and ever since, I've found it a little cheesy. But I thought the version was just perfect! Hugh Jackman, as always, was sensationa... (read more) I absolutely loved this! I had to watch the Shirley Jones/Gordon MacRae version in the fourth grade for my music class, and ever since, I've found it a little cheesy. But I thought the version was just perfect! Hugh Jackman, as always, was sensational, and I really liked Josefina Gabrielle, too.
Hugh Jackman is great. Who knew he could sing? haha The girl who plays Laurie, however, doesn't do it for my one bit!
Sometimes, the idea of taking a great stage play and translating it to film works really well. Other times, it is slightly off. This is one ofthe latter.
Whilst the stage play was fantastic, the movie fail to capture the full atmosphere of a liv... (read more) Sometimes, the idea of taking a great stage play and translating it to film works really well. Other times, it is slightly off. This is one ofthe latter.
Whilst the stage play was fantastic, the movie fail to capture the full atmosphere of a live perfomance. This is probably because they recreated the stage show in a studio rather than actualy filming a performance.
Overall though, this is classic R&H and the main cast - especially Maureen Lipman - are outstanding. Judd is very threatening and the dream sequence is probably one of the best you will ever see, with emotional changes from joy to despair happening in the blink of an eye. Worth seeing if you mised the show and a dammed sight better than the orignal movie.
Finally, if you are a sad OCD anorak like me, this movie is great for the number of mistakes and continuity errors in it.
I have not watched this DVD, but was lucky enough to attended one of the stage productions for this in London - Jackman was absolutely excellent.
Has a surprising amount of pathos for a Rogers & Hammerstein musical. The biggest flaw was constantly cutting to the audience. I didn't need to be reminded I was watching a show that was performed live. Especially since most of the scenes were fil... (read more) Has a surprising amount of pathos for a Rogers & Hammerstein musical. The biggest flaw was constantly cutting to the audience. I didn't need to be reminded I was watching a show that was performed live. Especially since most of the scenes were filmed in a studio without an audience.
Ohhh, Hugh Jackman...as Curly. I loved Curly when I was five. Just when I was five though. But Hugh Jackman... *sighhhhh*
Trevor Nunn has made this a classic. The songs actually communicate, Laurie actually has a personality and Curley actually does more than smile. The ballet is gorgeous, and the whole thing actually feels like it could really happen!
A brilliant (and possibly definitive) interpretation of this seminal musical, which laid the ground for today's musical theater to be what it is. Not just fluff... Laurey's not just a petulant spoiled brat... Jud is a complex and tortured character..... (read more) A brilliant (and possibly definitive) interpretation of this seminal musical, which laid the ground for today's musical theater to be what it is. Not just fluff... Laurey's not just a petulant spoiled brat... Jud is a complex and tortured character...and Jackman is dream Curly. If you actually pay attention, it will change your vision of this show forever.
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