Shirley Jones singer

Oklahoma! 1955 movie. This is the first Todd-AO production and the first of three such productions to be shot twice, first at 24 fps (to produce the general-release version in 35 mm) and finally at 30 fps (to produce the roadshow version in 70 mm). The 35 mm version is presented in CinemaScope; the 70 mm version is presented in Todd-AO. Although James Mitchell and Bambi Linn danced the parts of Curly and Laury in the Dream Ballet, Rod Steiger did his own dancing in that sequence because there was no one who looked enough like him from the back. Despite his initial uncertainties, and after considerable coaching from choreographer Agnes de Mille, Steiger actually did a credible job, later calling it one of the biggest challenges he ever had. The world premiere was preceded by a parade of fringed surreys, led by then-Oklahoma Gov. Raymond Gary (1908-1993, governor 1955-1959), which made its way from the St. James Theater, where the stage version of “Oklahoma” had opened 12 years earlier, to the Rivoli Theater for the film premiere. There, standing atop a carpet of transplanted Oklahoma soil, Gov. Gary helped raise the Oklahoma state flag from the theater staff and officially proclaimed the Rivoli to be Oklahoma territory. The musical that this film is based on was originally entitled “Away We Go!” The title was changed to “Oklahoma!” after the popularity of that song with the play’s initial audiences. It was the first Broadway musical in which every single song had a direct relation to the plot, and in which there were none that were simply musical interludes. (Even “Show Boat”, which actually is the first Broadway musical in which most of the songs have a direct relation to the plot, originally had one or two numbers which were simply thrown in so that something could be going on while the scenery was being changed, or even to suit certain cast members who perforned “specialties” in the original 1927 production. These specialties were deleted from later productions of “Show Boat”.) Gordon MacRae …
Curly
Gloria Grahame Gloria Grahame …
Ado Annie
Gene Nelson Gene Nelson …
Will Parker
Charlotte Greenwood Charlotte Greenwood …
Aunt Eller
Shirley Jones Shirley Jones …
Laurey
Eddie Albert Eddie Albert …
Ali Hakim
James Whitmore James Whitmore …
Mr. Carnes
Rod Steiger Rod Steiger …
Jud Fry
Barbara Lawrence Barbara Lawrence …
Gertie
Jay C. Flippen Jay C. Flippen …
Skidmore
Roy Barcroft Roy Barcroft …
Marshal