FSM Readies Rare Astaire Musical and Two by Rosenthal

Film score collectors, don’t put those wallets away just yet.  Kritzerland announced a rare treat from Pino Donaggio, The Berlin Affair, on Friday.  Varese Sarabande’s CD Club makes its release announcement today, and Film Score Monthly has just confirmed another two titles including one unique surprise.  First up is a two-for-one CD from the pen of Laurence Rosenthal, 1966’s Hotel Paradiso and 1967’s The Comedians.  Second is a rare musical to be released on the Film Score Monthly label.  Until now, FSM’s releases have largely been dedicated to orchestral scores, including songs, of course, where applicable.  These titles have, of course, included some full-fledged musicals.  But The Belle of New York, a 1952 musical from MGM’s hallowed Arthur Freed unit, is primarily about the songs, with only a few instrumental themes courtesy musical director Adolph Deutsch and orchestrator Conrad Salinger.  But when that song score is by Harry Warren (42^nd Street) and the legendary Johnny Mercer, nobody’s complaining.

Laurence Rosenthal may be best-known to score fans for his Emmy Award-winning television work.  He boasts an impressive seven Emmys out of twelve nominations with credits like 1994’s The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.  Aficionados of Broadway musicals know him as the composer of the unsuccessful 1967 musical Sherry!, based on The Man Who Came To Dinner and featuring lyrics by James Lipton, long before Inside the Actor’s Studio.  Despite its short 72-performance run, its tuneful score has lived on.  Kritzerland’s Bruce Kimmel produced a Christine Baranski/Jonathan Freeman duet of its title song, and a starry studio cast recording featured Nathan Lane, Carol Burnett and Bernadette Peters.  Rosenthal’s cinematic C.V. is an accomplished one.  Rosenthal’s film collaborations with director Peter Glenville began with 1964’s Becket and continued with the two films that are the subjects of FSM’s new CD.  1966’s Hotel Paradiso, based on a French farce, starred Alec Guinness and Gina Lollobrigida as Parisian neighbors attempting to conduct an affair.  Rosenthal turned out a score for a 15-piece chamber orchestra that supported the film’s light-hearted tone.  The Comedians was a much different project, presenting Graham Greene’s story of foreigners caught in Haiti under the rule of Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier.  Guinness again appeared in the cast headlined by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor and also starring Peter Ustinov and James Earl Jones.  Rosenthal’s dark score is the match of the hard-hitting film.  FSM’s 2-disc set includes the MGM Records stereo album presentations of both films on Disc One and expands The Comedians on Disc Two.

The Belle of New York arrives courtesy of FSM’s relationship with Turner Classic Movies/Rhino Movie Music.  Musical collectors lamented the end of the stellar line of classic film reconstructions released under that banner, but this release gives reason to be hopeful that the series may continue.  The 1951 MGM musical was produced by Arthur Freed, the legendary producer of Meet Me in St. Louis, An American in Paris, Singin’ in the Rain and so many others.  The score was by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer, and production began on the very same day as Singin’ in the Rain.  Fred Astaire portrayed playboy Charles Hill, who vows to cast aside his womanizing ways when he meets Vera-Ellen’s Angela leading a Salvation Army band.  It’s love at first sight for Charles, but he still has a ways to go in convincing her!  Songs include “I Wanna Be a Dancin’ Man,” its lyrics penned by Mercer as a tribute to star Astaire.  The TCM/Rhino Belle of New York soundtrack was originally issued digitally, but the new CD edition includes a 24-page booklet by esteemed producer George Feltenstein and track-by-track notes by Frank K. DeWald.  While Belle was overshadowed by Singin’ at the time, its score is a delightful one.  All of the musical’s songs are included and a heaping helping of underscore, as well!

Hit the jump for pre-order links and track listings with discographical information!

Laurence Rosenthal, Hotel Paradiso / The Comedians: Original Motion Picture Soundtracks (Film Score Monthly Vol. 14, No. 9, 2011 – original films released 1966 and 1967)

Disc 1: Original MGM Records Soundtrack Recordings

1. Main Title
2. Friendly Neighbors
3. Visitors from the Country
4. Boniface Escapes
5. The Trapeze Waltz
6. Arrivals at the Hotel
7. The Nervous Tea Party
8. Chaos in the Corridors
9. The Police Arrive
10. Next Morning
11. Embarrassing Moments and Happy Surprises
12. Main Title
13. Madame l’Ambassadrice
14. Port-au-Prince
15. “I Am the Haitian Flag”
16. At the Columbus Statue
17. The Voodoo Temple
18. Arrest at Dawn
19. The Blue Guest-Room
20. The Tontons Macoute
21. Operation Jones
22. “In the Night Watches”
23. Departures
24. Main Title (Original – Bonus Track)

Disc 2: The Comedians – Expanded Score

1. Main Title (Revised)
2. Disembarking/Jones Arrested
3. Brown’s Arrival
4. Haitian Flag
5. Martha/Port-au-Prince
6. Trianon
7. Swimming Pool/Ministry
8. “Vierge Marie, Priez Pour Moi”
9. Duvalierville
10. Cabaña
11. Embassy Interior
12. The Blue Room
13. Philipot
14. Duvalier Drums/The Market
15. Wharf
16. The Priest/Ogou Fè (Traditional)/Ecstasy
17. Brown Awakened
18. The Bible (Original Version)
19. Patience/Jones as Cook
20. Martha’s Car
21. Magiot Asleep
22. Magiot’s Death
23. Hospital/Signals
24. Operation Jones
25. Fraulein Bridge/Highway/Slap Bridge
26. Shank’s Pony/Cemetery
27. Philipot and Jones
28. Rebels
29. Petit Pierre
30. End Title
31. Military Band (Source)
32. Chez la Mère Catherine Café (Source)

Disc 1, Tracks 1-12 released as Hotel Paradiso: The Original Sound Track Album (MGM SE-4419 ST, 1966)
Disc 1, Tracks 13-23 released as The Comedians: Music from the Original Sound Track (MGM Records SE-4494 ST, 1967)
Disc 1, Track 24 and all tracks on Disc 2 previously unreleased

Johnny Mercer, Harry Warren and Adolph Deutsch, The Belle of New York: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (TCM Music/Film Score Monthly Vol. 14, No. 10, 2011 – recorded 1952 – previously released digital-only)

1. Main Title (Outtake)
2. When I’m Out with the Belle of New York (Extended Version)
3. Fred Toasts the Girls
4. The Bachelor Dinner Song
5. Let a Little Love Come In
6. Love is Walking on Air & Intro to Roof Number/Seeing’s Believing
7. Fred Goes to the Mission/Baby Doll
8. Work Montage/Streetcar
9. Oops!
10. I’m Here
11. Currier and Ives Studio/Thank You, Mr. Currier, Thank You, Mr. Ives/When I’m Out with the Belle of New York
12. Fred Drinks to the Bride
13. Fred Misses the Wedding
14. Naughty but Nice
15. Naughty but Nice (Reprise)
16. Baby Doll (Reprise)
17. Café Webber 1
18. I Wanna Be a Dancin’ Man
19. Café Webber 2
20. Fight (Outtake)
21. Finale/End Title