February 3, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 27 Movie adaptation of Broadway classic now on Blu-ray by Dennis Seuling Hollywood is notorious for remaking Broadway hits with more “commercial” stars and bypassing the stage actors who originated the roles. Julie Andrews lost “My Fair Lady” to Audrey Hepburn; Lucille Ball was chosen over Angela Lansbury for “Mame;” and Rosalind Russell got the role of Mama Rose in “Gypsy” instead of powerhouse Ethel Merman. Occasionally, however, studio executives make intelligent casting choices when adapting a Broadway musical, as in “The Music Man.” “The Music Man” (Warner Home Video), newly available on Blu-ray, stars Robert Preston, from the original Broadway production, as con man Harold Hill. “Professor” Hill sweeps into River City, Iowa, to form a boys’ band, to the disapproval -- and later delight -- of the town librarian, Marian (Shirley Jones). Preston created his signature role of the charming stranger who stirs up a sleepy town. He transforms town skeptics into enthusiastic cheerleaders when he talk/sings “Ya Got Trouble,” noting the evils of ragtime, slang, and young men frittering away their time playing pool. Composer Meredith Willson based “The Music Man” on his own small-town Midwestern boyhood, around 1912. The score includes the standards “76 Trombones,” “Till There Was You,” “My White Night,” and “Goodnight, My Someone.” The cast includes Buddy Hackett, Hermione Gingold, Paul Ford, and seven-year-old Ronnie Howard, who lisps his way through the tune, “Gary, Indiana.” Opening on Broadway during its Golden Age of Musicals, “The Music Man” is an old-fashioned show, rich with comedy and melody, touching lightly on social commentary. Preston makes his charlatan charismatic with fast talk, razzmatazz, “think system” of music education, and abil- cal comedy’s foremost con man. Blu-ray extras include a making-of featurette, an introduction by Shirley Jones, and a theatrical trailer. “Amelia” (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment) is a biopic about the career of aviatrix Amelia Earhart (Hilary Swank), who broke many records in the early years of flying and was the first woman (and second person, after Charles Lindbergh) to fly solo across the Atlantic. Mira Nair has directed a routine biopic, when her subject calls for far more. Earhart was a feminist, a flier, a worldwide celebrity, an author, and a self-promoter, but the movie portrays her life in ho-hum, linear fashion. It relates the facts -- her championing of flying, and her relationships with publisher George Putnam (Richard Gere) and TWA founder Gene Vidal (Ewan McGregor) -- but never rises above a celluloid Wikipedia entry. Swank’s portrayal is curious. She employs a Katharine Hepburn-like accent and speech pattern despite the fact that Earhart was from Kansas, not New England. Blu-ray and DVD extras include deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes footage. Warner Home Video has issued three new collections in its TCM Greatest Classic Films series. The Marx Brothers DVD contains four feature films: “A Day at the Races,” “A Night in Casablanca,” “Room Service,” and “At the (continued on Crossword page) Robert Preston and Shirley Jones in ‘The Music Man.’ ity to make stodgy skeptics believe in the boys’ band. Hill is larger than life -- a lovable scoundrel who is ultimately tamed by the lovely Marian. The movie is an enjoyable record of Preston’s fiery, funny interpretation of musi- Greek City Family Restaurant TABBOULE Call For s Reservation Today! FINE LEBANESE CUISINE Prex fixe menu includes:  3 Appetizers  Entreé per person Only  Dessert per person Valentine’s Day Dinner for 2 $ Treat Yourself to a fine meal at one of the restaurants advertised in The Villadom TIMES Serving Lunch & Dinner Reservations for Friday & Saturday Evenings Take Out & Catering Available 1300 Rt. 17 N, Ramsey (Kohl’s Shopping Ctr.) 201-760-2500 • Fax: 201-760-2555 www.GreekCityRestaurant.com Traditional & Greek Dishes & Grilled Fish Hrs: M-Th 11:30am-10pm • Fri-Sat: 11:30am-10:30pm • Sun 1pm-9:30pm * Drinks, tax & tip not included in price. Offer good for February 13 - 14 • 5pm-close 35 * All New EARLY DIN ING SAV INGS! KIRKERS Including Our Bavarian Dishes, Fresh Seafood, Veal, Chicken, Beef & Pasta Includes: Soup or Salad, Potato & Vegetable 2-3-10 joan/janine Coffee or Tea OVER 35 ENTREES! Served Monday-Saturday, Noon-6pm Ask us about catering your next luncheon or special occasion! 90 N. Maple Ave., Ridgewood • KING’S Shopping Center 201-444-7044 • Fax: 201-444-7034 GreekCityRestaurant2x4(2-3-10) 2 x 4” ALL NIGHT THURSDAYS Rev1 $ 95 $ 95 8 14 www.kirkers.com • All Major Credit Cards Accepted • Dinner, Mon. - Sat. 11:30 am - 11:00 pm KIRKERS INN 237 Diamond Bridge Ave, Hawthorne 973-427-7700