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| Julie Andrews and Bing Crosby |
Crosby plays Van Van Dorn, who owns High Tor (a real mountain along the Hudson). The character is very close to Bing's usual persona, an unassuming, unambitious, but wise and highly principled fellow - a type that was a common hero figure in those times, an idealized American Everyman.
I am fond of the music, and the background scoring by Joseph J. Lilley (who did a lot of work with Bing and Bob Hope, among other major stars) adds greatly to the mood. Crosby narrates the story in characteristic fashion. Also in the cast are Everett Sloane (who even sings), Nancy Olson and the ubiquitous character actors Hans Conried and Lloyd Corrigan.
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| Nancy Olson and Everett Sloane |
Here is an article on the production - thanks to noted musician Dana Countryman for the link.
This record was not reissued for many years, and may never have had an official reissue. It now (June 2023) has been remastered in very good ambient stereo.
This record was not reissued for many years, and may never have had an official reissue. It now (June 2023) has been remastered in very good ambient stereo.
I forget where and when I found this one, but I was surprised when I looked it up online and learned the history of it. I just thought it was another Bing Crosby LP. I hadn't even noticed the presence of Julie Andrews on it at first! Thanks for ripping and sharing it.
ReplyDeleteThis is generally considered to be the first made-for-television movie, though it plays more like a live installment of one of the many anthology programs from that era. It's a curious thing, with some excellent comic moments and a couple of decent tunes (John Barleycorn is my favorite) well sung. It was once available on vhs but may now be out of print. Julie is lovely and very properly ethereal as the ghost of a 17th-century Dutch girl lost in the mists of time. Despite some rather superficial line readings (which is, perhaps, understandable from a still fresh young 20 year-old playing opposite a man already well into his middle years) she has a warm and engaging presence. Crosby's patented charm and devil-may-care persona is also just right.
ReplyDeleteThey should've titled this "Everett Sloane Sings!". It's not a classic vocal moment to rival Max(I've got dogdirt on my spats)Adrian in "The Boyfriend" , but it's certainly a splendid addition to the genre. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you, two years later :-) !
ReplyDeleteOoops, THREE years!
ReplyDeleteAnother special share; thanxs so much!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteThe link to the Hi Tor article is dead.
It can be found at:
https://haverstrawlife.com/2010/08/20/julie-andrews-and-bing-crosby-in-high-tor/
dc
Ambient stereo version, Apple lossless format:
ReplyDeletehttps://mega.nz/file/PcFEmB7A#0fe2p3wzscKEmplj8gO_WN3MARn9qKMKOFLkD5JScmY