After enjoying long runs on both Broadway and in London, A Funny Thing made it to the screen in 1966. And with Richard (Help!, The Knack) Lester behind the camera it was inevitable that the show’s farcical elements would be broadened to encompass lampoons of not just film musicals but also the Roman epics that were running out of steam by then. As only five songs from Stephen Sondheim’s droll score were retained for the film, it is unlikely the soundtrack album will hold much appeal for devotees of the original show. Nevertheless, the two best numbers, “Comedy tonight” and the very funny “Everybody ought to have a maid”, are put over with style by an accomplished band of jesters that includes Zero Mostel and Jack Gilford from the Broadway production, plus Michael Hordern and Phil Silvers. Film music fans will also enjoy Ken Thorne’s Oscar-winning, pseudo-epic incidental score, complete with fanfares, marches and exotic dances all decked out in swinging 1960s orchestrations. The stereo is very 1960s too, with voices and orchestra emerging from alternate speakers, but this should not detract too much from the pleasures of this entertaining hybrid. –Robert Seeley
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD]
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Oscar Winning Score Yes, many of the songs are gone (Yes, for some reason they left “Free” out), and some of the notes by the singers are a bit off, but besides this score is actually more lively than the lethargic Broadway Recording (which is also excellent, but lacks the energy of this recording). Ken Thorne (Superman’s II and III and HELP!) adapts the music with verve and incredible energy, standouts in the songs include “Comedy Tonight,” “Everybody Ought to Have A Maid,” “Bring Me My Bride” and the finale version of “Comedy Tonight.” As for Thorne’s incidental music, it’s simply wonderful, ranging from the sort of Roman music stylings to a baroque version of “Comedy Tonight” for the final chariot chase. Yes, go ahead and complain that not all the songs are in it, but be glad the songs that were put in were done fantastically! Also, if you read the liner notes, you can see what Thorne had to go through to arrange the songs, which makes his accomplishment even more astounding. By the way, those who complain about this album often forget the fact that it won the Oscar for Best Original Score.
Don’t buy this version Sadly, this CD fails to live up to expectations. A film of an enormously sucessful Broadway and West End musical must have sounded like a good idea at the time, but as this CD testifies, it was not well executed. Many of the songs have been cut, and those that remain are poorly orchestrated. The highlight of the disc, and the reason for two stars is the instumental ‘Chase’ and playoff at the end, as well the signature number ‘Comedy Tonight!’, which are nice to listen to.
One of the more bizarre 1960′s film adaptations of a classic Broadway musical, this self-indulgent, completely original and absolutely adorable film version of “A Funny Thing Happened…” is a must see and/or listen. In addition to an amazingly All-Star cast shot on-location in Rome, the movie adds perfectly cast Phil Silvers as proprietor of Rome’s finest stable of “exotic woman flesh”, as well as Buster Keaton as…well, does it really matter? His beautifully aged face and movement says it all.If you’re looking for an Academy award winning “The Sound of Music” treatment, you will be dissapointed and quite probably outraged! This film is silly, sexy, outrageous and completely entertaining. You won’t hear all the Sondheim classic songs, but you will be treated to wonderfully composed incidental music that stands on its own as fantabulous soundtrack fare.OK, this will not stand out as a cornerstone in anyone’s “Original Cast Library”. Still, I have great affection for this recording and I think that it will make you smile as well. Enjoy!