White Christmas

[Myron]

Posted: 11/25/08 at 10:43am

I was always a big fan of the film "White Christmas". I am curious about something that was removed from the stage production. In the film, the cast does a Minstrel Show, which includes the song "Mandy". I think this is not in the show. Was the Minstrel Show removed because of its sensitive nature or for another reason? Also gone are the great numbers, "Choreography", "Heat Wave" and "Gee I Wish I Were Back in the Army". All great numbers. Since these songs are not on the soundtrack, I figure they were replaced by other tunes. Is it true that these numbers are not in the stage production? I haven't been able to get tickets yet myself.

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 11/25/08 at 11:06am

Yes, these numbers are not in the stage production.

I think the minstrel number was taken out as it now would be considered tasteless (and not in a good way).

I had a wonderful time at WHITE CHRISTMAS and didn't miss the deleted movie songs at all.

[Myron]

Posted: 11/25/08 at 11:38am

Yes, the reviews have also been very good for this production. I hope it re-appears every year like the Radio City Christmas Show. I was hoping that "Gee I Wish I Was Back in the Army" would be in the show as it had meaning in the film version.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 11/25/08 at 12:40pm

"Choreography" sung by Danny Kaye and "Gee I Wish I was Back in the Army" sung by Danny and Bing Crosby are both on the soundtrack album, though they are not actual soundtrack performances. They are studio recreations. (Rosemary Clooney's contract with Columbia Records prevented her from appearing on Decca's album so most of the score had to be re-recorded.)

Neither song is in the curent stage production and therefore not on the cast album.

[Trish2]

Posted: 11/25/08 at 4:11pm

"Yes, the reviews have also been very good for this production. I hope it re-appears every year like the Radio City Christmas Show. I was hoping that "Gee I Wish I Was Back in the Army" would be in the show as it had meaning in the film version.'


WHAT REVIEWS HAVE YOU BEEN READING?

[justme2]

Posted: 11/25/08 at 4:51pm

Maybe the poster was referring to every review about the show in SF, LA, Boston, Detroit, Toronto and St. Paul.

You know, every review outside of the New York ones? Makes me think the NY critics were determined to have a different opinion of the show, no matter what.

[monestere]

Posted: 11/26/08 at 12:01am

While it is true that most of the tracks on Decca DL-8083 are studio recreations of songs in “White Christmas”, these were recorded under the supervision of the film’s music director, Joseph J. Lilley at Paramount in 1954, after the film’s completion when it became apparent that Rosemary Clooney’s vocals would not be available to Decca for inclusion on a sound track album of the picture. Lilley used a reduced orchestra for these sessions of about 35 players in contrast to the 65 used for the film and the orchestrations were also reduced to accommodate this smaller ensemble. The orchestrations for “Sisters” & “Love, You Didn’t Do Right By Me” were completely different from those used in the film to better suit the vocal style of Peggy Lee, who took over Clooney’s songs for the album and a new arrangement combining “The Old Man” & “Gee I Wish I was Back in the Army” featuring stars Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye was also recorded specifically for the Decca LP as was “Choreography”. Danny Kaye’s vocal with chorus of “The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing”, “What Can You Do with A General”, “Mandy”, “Snow”, “Count Your Blessings” & “Blue Skies” were either re-edited or alternate versions of performances recorded for the sound track and if you listen carefully you will notice the larger orchestra used on these tracks. The “White Christmas” Finale on the LP is the actual sound track longer alternate recording of the finale with Peggy Lee’s voice replacing Clooney’s vocal track. This version was re-edited in the film as a slightly shorter finale with a different, much more dramatic orchestral ending.

Although Rosemary Clooney recorded her own studio album of songs from “White Christmas” for Columbia, several of her actual sound track performances from the film were included on a 2003 Bear Family multi CD Box Set entitled “Come On-A My House”. This marked the first time Clooney’s sound track vocals have ever been commercially released.

[Myron]

Posted: 11/26/08 at 10:31am

Actually, the NY Daily News, as well as AM NY and I believe Metro, all praised the show.One reviewer,I forgot which one, actually said that he hopes the show returns every holiday season and compares it to the Radio City Christmas Show. I don't know about the NY Times or the NY Post reviews as I don't read these publications.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 12/2/08 at 2:23pm

Thank you, Monestere for the fascinating background on Decca's WHITE CHRISTMAS album. (I have a CD from Japan released in the early 1990's - was it ever issued on CD in the US?)

I always suspected that the medley of "Blue Skies" and "Mandy" were actual soundtrack recordings, with "Mandy" edited to remove Rosemary Clooney's contribution. With the edit, they sing the verse that introduces a Minstrel Show, but we never hear the actual Minstrel show segment!