A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack

Product description 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 From the Label The Tony Award® winning and much beloved comic musical A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM was the first Broadway play with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The 1966 film adaptation and its soundtrack album features a stellar cast of comedians including Zero Mostel, Phil Silvers, Jack Gilford, Buster Keaton, and Michael Crawford. The soundtrack includes the popular song "Comedy Tonight," and Academy Award® winning incidental music composed for the film by Musical Director Ken Thorne.First Time on CD!