Irving Berlin - Mr President A Musical Comedy Original Broadway Cast (20 tracks) +Album Reviews

An old favorite

08/06/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Mr. President came out in the early 60's. It's the fun story of a ficticious president and his family in the White House. The story is more fluff than meat, but I like several of Irving Berlin's songs, especially the duet, "Empty Pockets Filled with Love." I'm afraid, though, that only those who knew it when, and may have an old LP in their collection, would buy the CD now to upgrade their collection as I did. If you're into Broadway show music, you may want to give it a try."

Mr. President

Robert J. Canning | 10/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was a great cd. I saw Nan Fabray on a rerun of What's My Line? and my interest was piqued by her mentioning starring in the show. Sadly the show seems to have closed due to the long newspaper strike of 62-63 and of course, the assassination of JFK (even though the show's is not based on the kennedy's as is stated in the first song, you feel they must have had some influence.) All in all a great show but sadly won't probably be revived since so much has changed about the presidency since 1962."

Loved it then -- I still do

Robert J. Canning | Petaluma, CA USA | 06/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I remember seeing this show on Broadway when I was a kid. I STILL remember the music and how much fun it was. It was Irving Berlin's last score -- not great, but sure close enough. So many unrelated things conspired like a Perfect Storm to close this show which was really very unfortunate.I wish this CD was more readily available because I would buy it in a flash."

One of those Columbia cast albums that make the show seem li

Mark Andrew Lawrence | Toronto | 07/19/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"But...it's not. The score by Berlin is pleasant enough, but lacks a really dynamic song or two. Robert Ryan was a fine actor but a poor singer and his "It Gets Lonely in the White House" is quite painful.

The original LP was packaged in a gatefold jacket with 4 pages of notes and pictures inside. The cover was a foil-like material that glittered.

This CD edition was withdrawn a few years after it was released and is quite scarce. Maybe Sony will make it availble again as a download. It's not an essential cast album, and the show will never be revived, but it has enough of Berlin's old-fashioned melodies (and Nanette Fabray) to make it worthwhile.

Update (March 2009): DRG has just reissued this title.Mr. President (1962 Original Broadway Cast) [CAST RECORDING] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]"

Good, but didn't quite gel

tenor fanatic | Florida | 03/26/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Being in the 70s myself, I resent the reviewers who downplay this show because Irving Berlin was in his 70s when he wrote it. I have never seen the show, and can review only from the original cast recording, which I have enjoyed since its lp days.

In my opinion, this show was as well cast as just about anything that has played on Broadway. Robert Ryan makes a believable president, especially since this one is so human. This is probably the best casting Nanette Fabray enjoyed in her entire career. And Anita Gillette is just right as the daughter, not enjoying her glass house life, but maturing to young womanhood.

The songs all seem to fit the story and move the plot along. And this may be the problem. Most successful musicals have at least one number that also fits outside the context. With the possible exception of "Pigtails and Freckles," none of these songs stands alone beyond "Mr. President." If there had been even one number that rated hit status, it would likely have called public attention to the show, which then could have run more than 265 performances.

The "big finish" closing number, "It's a Grand Country," is, to be sure a flag waver, but, "Can you think of a better flag to wave?" Perhaps we should revive it now, in a time when America's respect from the rest of the world is at an all-time low."

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