WILLIAM CONRAD
III
Screwed
But Not Alone
William Conrad not being chosen to play Matt Dillon
in the television version of Gunsmoke,
fills fans of the radio original with indignation.
The originator of a role being rejected is not,
however, an exception; it is a commonplace.
THE LONE RANGER
Radio's Brace Beemer had been playing the Ranger for eight years, since 1941.
John Todd had been Tonto for almost twenty years, since 1933.
True, that put Todd in his early 60s.
Yet Beemer too, in his mid-40s, was considered too old.
When the television version premiered on September 15, 1949,
Clayton Moore had won the role of The Lone Ranger,
and Jay Silverheels that of Tonto.
MAN OF LA MANCHA
Richard Kiley had originated the role in 1964
and was playing Quixote again on stage in 1972,
when the movie appeared with Peter O'Toole instead.
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
Ethel Merman originated the role on stage in 1946;
Judy Garland was chosen for the 1950 movie,
but proved to be trouble and was replaced with Betty Hutton.
THE PAJAMA GAME
Janis Paige originated the role of Babe in 1954.
The entire cast made it to the movie in 1958,
except for Paige, who was replaced by Doris Day.
DAMN YANKEES
Stephen Douglas originated the role of Joe Hardy in 1955,
and was nominated for a Tony.
The entire cast made it to the movie in 1958,
except for Douglas, who was replaced by Tab Hunter.
MAME
Angela Lansbury was in the original musical production of 1966,
but Lucille Ball was chosen for the 1974 movie.
HELLO, DOLLY!
GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES
Carol Channing originated the leading roles of Dolly Levi and Lorelei Lee;
but Barbra Streisand and Marilyn Monroe filled the movie parts.
MY FAIR LADY
CAMELOT
Julie Andrews was first and foremost in playing Eliza Doolittle and Guenevere,
but movie producers went with Audrey Hepburn and Vanessa Redgrave.
WEST SIDE STORY
Carol Lawrence lost Maria to Natalie Wood.
COMMAND DECISION
James Whitmore played Sergeant Harold Evans onstage in 1947
but was forced to be AWOL from the 1948 movie version,
in which Van Johnson filled his boots.
No matter--Whitmore won a Tony award for his performance,
and went on to a long career both on stage and screen.
Copyright © 2009-2013 E. A. Villafranca, Jr.
All Rights Reserved