Just about everyone knows that Mary Martin was one of the biggest stars on Broadway. But did you know she made films as well?
Martin is, of course, renowned even today for her many performances on Broadway, most notably in the 1949 Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein musical “South Pacific.” But, as mentioned, she did also make movies.
Not many.
Of her some 20 movie and tv credits, 15 were features. Fact is that despite her towering accomplishments on the Broadway and London stage, she is at most an afterthought in Hollywood. Her obituary (she died in 1990) in The New York Times does not mention a single one of her films. That’s because none of her movies, light comedies and musicals for the most part, are especially memorable.
That should make our Mary Martin Quiz especially challenging. Questions today, answers tomorrow. Ok, without further ado, here we go:
1) Question: Although Mary Martin was a sensation on Broadway in South Pacific, she did NOT recreate her starring role in the subsequent movie version. Who did? a) Ethel Merman; b) Jane Powell; c) Mitzi Gaynor; or d) Debbie Reynolds.
2) Question: Martin did get top billing while in Hollywood, and which of the following were her costars? a) Don Ameche; b) Fred Allen; c) Brian Donlevy; or d) Akim Tamiroff.
3) Question: Actress Janet Gaynor and Martin, personal friends, shared a common experience offscreen that changed their lives. What was it? a) A near-fatal car crash; b) Bankruptcy; c) Working with director Otto Preminger; or d) Alcohol rehab.
4) Question: Martin’s early life was very difficult as her family was hardscrabble poor in rural Texas. a) True; or b) False.
5) Question: Which of the following titles did Martin NOT appear in? a) 1943’s True To Life; b) 1941’s New York Town; c) 1940’s Love Thy Neighbor; or d) 1948’s Easter Parade.
Well, let’s see if the recent computer glitch allows me to comment today…
MARY MARTIN – Long knowing of her famous stage reputation but not having seen any of her films or TV appearances…
1) C
2) All of them
3) A
4) B
5) D
Let’s Hope that glitch is fixed. Comment away.
When Martin replaced in Hello Dolly, there were plans to do a Soviet tour, but Martin told the company that she’d been approached by the State Department and asked to take the show to Vietnam, and idea which appealed to NONE of them.
A chorus girl from that production told me that, despite the fact that they’d all packed cold weather attire, the day before their scheduled departure, Martin made an impassioned plea to allow her to take them to VIetnam instead.
“If we’re in the trenches, I’ll be with you! If we’re in the foxholes, I’ll be with you! If we’re under open fire, I’ll be with you!”
They reached Vitenam in their woolens and scarves, and their sweat made the dye from the leis of flowers with which the Vietnamese welcomed them pour down their necks and onto their overly warm clothing.
They were then herded onto buses containing the sets, props, and costumes, and jostled over battle-torn roads to each stop, while Martin flew in an air conditioned military aircraft, prompting the chorus kids to compose the following (sung to the tune of “Bloody Mary Is The Girl I Love” from SOUTH PACIFIC);
Foxhole Mary said she’d stay with us! (clap, clap, clap, clap)
Foxhole Mary is not on this bus! (clap, clap, clap, clap)
Foxhole Mary’s hov’ring over us!
Now ain’t that PETER PAN!
The upshot was that upon their arrival they found that the servicemen had little interest in either Mary Martin OR Hello Dolly, and they ended up playing mostly to civilians, who were visibly perplexed by the waiters singing the praises of Dolly, particularly because they had no idea who Mary Martin was.
In response to Jeff’s comment… It just goes to show you what Peter Pan, what Alice In Wonderland VIETNAM and all the other wars were and continue to be, except for the death, destruction and misery.
Somehow Mary SOUTH PACIFIC/HELLO DOLLY Martin, was really out of place with the Pepsi generation raised on TV and fast food.
Every big movie musical bombed during VIETNAM… HELLO DOLLY, DARLING LILI, STAR, CAMELOT, SWEET CHARITY, PAINT YOUR WAGON, LOST HORIZON…
Mary would’ve been a hit with the GI’s if she’d brought along a plane load of Playboy bunnies, because didn’t she know she was going to a “Rock & Roll” war!