This is an hour-long, full show tribute on the Merv Griffin Show dedicated to the great composer Jule Styne, one of my favorites. But since Ethel Merman participates (having had one of her great triumphs in one of Styne’s musicals, Gypsy), it seems a good way to end our Ethel Merman semi-Fest. (Okay, yes, I know his name is pronounced "Julie," but since it's spelled like it should be otherwise, I claim artistic license for the title here...) The tribute features a lot of interesting panel discussion by the guests and then goes him Jule Styne at the piano playing a medley of some of his wonderful songs. From there, the tribute features a wide range of wonderful performers: Sammy Davis (who has an odd song choice, given the Jule Styne songbook), Merman (who sings a wonderful rendition of “Some People” from Gypsy – however there’s no conversation with her, even though she’s on the panel, perhaps it was cut from this clip), Marvin Hamlisch (who was the rehearsal pianist for the Styne musical Funny Girl, and here plays the famous Gypsy overture), Betty Comden & Adolph Green (who wrote the books for Bells Are Ringing and Peter Pan” with Styne, but are wonderful, vibrant performers in their own right and are great here – note that Jule Styne himself serves as the piano accompanist for them), and Phyllis Newman (who is married to the aforementioned Adolph Green and starred in Styne’s Subways are for Sleeping). Throughout the show, they periodically refer to his autobiography Jule which I’ve read, and it’s quite good – pretty open about his gambling problem, that he discusses on the show here, and very entertaining stories. The tribute is extremely enjoyable, and even the lesser-known songs are fun…but SO MANY of his great Broadway classics – and classics in the true sense (including “The Party’s Over, “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,” big pop hits (like "Time After Time" and "Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"), and 10 Oscar-nominated songs (yes, 10) -- are all left out (other than the one he won for).and so much more. But it’s still a lot of fun. Which shows how truly talented he was, and underrated compared to the more legendary names.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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