The Happiest Millionaire (Disney) (1967)

Disney Songwriters Reveal Technique In Scoring Original Film Musicals Although there is no pat formula for writing a hit song, Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, Academy Award-winning tunesmiths, have found that writing lyrics first works best in developing original scores that move with and contribute to the story line of a film musical. With over 300 published and recorded songs to their credit, the two “Mary Poppins” music makers enjoy the unique opportunity of working directly with the Disney writers and producers through the first stages of script development. Their songs, therefore, become an integral part of the story, sometimes helping to develop a character, sometimes adding to the plot. “Of course, we run into certain limitations working this way,” says Dick. “We have to analyze the character performing the number within his environment and situation. “Generally the lyrics dictate the type of music that evolves for a scene. For instance, take Mr. Banks’ soliloquy in ‘Mary Poppins.’ Here is a very British gentleman who is most proper and extremely prompt and organized. This is evident even in the way he talks. I run my home precisely on schedule At six o’clock I march thru the door My slippers, sherry and pipe are due at six-o-two! Consistent is the life I lead. ‘When these words are set to music, one tempo, one style naturally becomes evident. “Another of our Disney musicals, ‘The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band,’ presents a flavor of western Americana. Its setting in the Dakota Territory of the 1880’s calls for big, broad passages, dynamic dances, and more lilting melodies like a song called ‘Westerin’.’ Night time comes, I hear the west wind blow Whisperin’ of places That I long to know Callin’ me away To where I wanna go Westerin’, Westerin’ “Here again, the lingo and accent the character uses establishes the musical approach.” “Probably our most difficult song to date is one of those in ‘The Happiest Millionaire,’ ’’ adds brother Bob. “It reveals the feelings of young Angier Duke, heir to the Duke tobacco fortune. In this one song, which John Davidson sings to Lesley Ann Warren, Angier had to say, ‘I don’t want my mother running my life; I don’t want to go into the tobacco business; I want to build automobiles; I want to be free to do as I please; and I love you.’ “All this wrapped into a song called ‘Detroit,’ a rather cold, impersonal title at best, gave us heartburn for over five weeks. Dealing in contrasts, we finally completed the song by romanticizing the auto industry through poetic words and phrases, like: It’s the land where golden chariots Are molded out of dreams Detroit” Dick and Bob Sherman have three complete film scores still unheard by movie fans, and are currently scoring several Walt Disney films that won’t be released for another two or three years. “The Happiest Millionaire,” for which they penned eleven new tunes, stars Fred MacMurray, Tommy Steele, Greer Garson and Geraldine Page, and introduces Miss Warren and Davidson. Norman Tokar directed from a screenplay by A J Carothers. Bill Anderson co-produced the Buena Vista release with Walt Disney. Radio’s “Henry Aldrich” Now A Veteran Walt Disney Director What radio fan of the 1940’s could ever forget that comically plaintive reply, “Coming mother!’’? Director Norman Tokar claims there have been times he wished that he could. When a young actor, he followed Ezra Stone in the role of radio’s crackle-voiced teen-age hero, Henry Aldrich. Today he is one of Hollywood’s fastest rising directors and the man at the helm of the expensive Walt Disney musical, “The Happiest Millionaire,”’ which stars Fred MacMurray, Tommy Steele, Greer Garson, Geraldine Page, and introduces Lesley Ann Warren and John Davidson. ‘“‘Aldrich used to be the bane of my existence when I was in the Army,” says Norman. “No matter where I was, even in Normandy, some wise guy always wanted me to answer our sergeant with ‘Coming Mother!’ It wasn’t long until I was hating the whole idea.” But after the war, Tokar went right back to Henry Aldrich, this time writing and directing the TV version of Page 14 the show. From that he went on to other shows like “Life With Luigi,” “The Alan Young Show,” “My Favorite Husband,” “The Bob Cummings Show,” “Leave It To Beaver” and “The Donna Reed Show,” after which Disney lured him with a term contract. “The Happiest Millionaire” is Tokar’s seventh movie for Disney Productions and his first musical comedy. “Basically, directing a musical is no different than any other production,” he says, ‘“‘When I got the assignment to do ‘Millionaire,’ I must have run thirty-five motion picture musicals at home and at the Studio. When finished, I came to the conclusion that there is no single way to direct a musical. You still are an interpreter and have a story to get on film. Primarily it is a matter of the director guiding the creativity of the choreographers within the framework of the story. I tell them what a certain number should say, and they originate a dance to say it. We make changes, refine our Mat HAP 2-G (Available in standard 2 col. width and coarse screen) © 1967 Walt Disney Productions Young Angier Duke (John Davidson) clinks glasses with the bruiser (Charles Horvath) in this Clancy’s Bar musical sequence from Walt Disney’s “The Happiest Millionaire.” Filmed in brilliant Technicolor, the film stars Fred MacMurray, Tommy Steele, Greer Garson and Geraldine Page, co-stars Gladys Cooper and Hermione Baddeley, and introduces Lesley Ann Warren and Davidson. Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, whose work on “Mary Poppins” brought them two Academy Awards, have written eleven new songs for the musical comedy. Writer’s Upbeat Approach Is The Key To Success At Disney Studios “Tt’s fine to do a message picture, but I think the message should be positive and inspiring. Urge people to solve problems rather than wallow in them.” That statement sums up the philosophy of one of the more successful young writers at Walt Disney Productions, A J Carothers, who wrote the screenplay for “The Happiest Millionaire.” And the initials are not an abbreviation. It’s simply A J, with no periods. Using initials as a name is a Texas custom, and the Carothers are Texans with a capital ‘“‘T.” “A writer, especially in the mass media, should encourage people to take a positive attitude toward the world, even if he deals with dark and depressing matters,” states A J. With upbeat thinking like that and a writing skill that has provided many scripts for top television programs, Carothers fit perfectly into the Disney operation when Walt asked him to write the screenplay for “The Miracle of the White Stallions” in 1961. He was 30 at the time and had credits with shows like “Studio One,” ‘“‘Playhouse 90,” “My Three Sons,” ‘The DuPont Show,” “‘The Investigators” and many others. A J first started writing scripts in the Army when he tired of a Private’s life in a fully automated radar station, and managed a transfer to the Caribbean Forces Network, which operated the first television station in Latin America. There he gained experience producing a program of dramatic readings and scenes from plays. Following military service, he continued writing on his own time while working as a typist for TV Guide, as a script reader for the story editor of “Playhouse 90,” as story editor of “Studio One,” and as an associate producer of ‘‘Playhouse 90.” Then, as a free lancer, he finally devoted all of his time to his craft. A family man with three boys, including identical twins, A J is married to former model Caryl Volkmann. They live in a country English stone house surrounded by two acres of landscaped grounds in Brentwood. The decor is ‘“‘friendly elegance.” ideas, look to the producer for his advice and approval, after which the cameras start rolling.” Other Tokar-directed Disney films have been “Big Red,” “Savage Sam,” “A Tiger Walks,” “Those Calloways,” “The Ugly Dachshund” and “Follow Me, Boys!”’ In between, he did a few episodes for “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color’ on NBC-TV. Originally he wanted to be an actor because, as he puts it, “that’s the most fun.’ But when he started writing part-time and selling television scripts, he became so successful that he quit acting. “Nothing is more demanding of the creative person than writing,” says Norman. “I found it a great strain and finally decided that I really couldn’t satisfy myself as a writer. That’s when I started directing. And I love it.” A family man, Tokar enjoys fishing and refinishing old furniture in his spare time. He also pilots his own plane on frequent trips to Mexico. “The Happiest Millionaire,” which co-stars Gladys Cooper and Hermione Baddeley, was based on a book and play by Cordelia Drexel Biddle and Kyle Crichton. A J Carothers wrote the screenplay, and the Oscar-winning Sherman Brothers wrote eleven new songs for the film. Bill Anderson coproduced with Walt Disney. Buena Vista releases.