Aladdin (1958 film)

Aladdin is a 1958 musical fantasy written especially for television with a book by S.J. Perelman and music and lyrics by Cole Porter, telecast in color on the DuPont Show of the Month by CBS. It was Porter's last musical score. Columbia Records issued both monophonic and stereophonic LP's of the songs with members of the original TV cast, which included Cyril Ritchard, Dennis King, Basil Rathbone, Anna Maria Alberghetti, Geoffrey Holder (as the Genie), Sal Mineo (as Aladdin,) and Una Merkel (as Aladdin's mother). Sony Records has digitally remastered the stereo recording for release on CD.

Aladdin
Written byS.J. Perelman
Directed byRalph Nelson
StarringSal Mineo
Geoffrey Holder
Anna Maria Alberghetti
Basil Rathbone
Cyril Ritchard
Theme music composerCole Porter
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerRichard Lewine
Running time90 min
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseFebruary 21, 1958 (1958-02-21)

As far as is known, the original telecast was never repeated (although videotape was in use by then), nor has it been issued on VHS or DVD. A kinescope of the 1958 broadcast survives and can be viewed at both the New York City and Beverly Hills, California, branches of The Paley Center For Media and in October 2014 was placed on YouTube.

The musical was later presented on stage in London, premiering on December 17, 1959, at the Coliseum. Bob Monkhouse, Doretta Morrow, Ian Wallace & Ronald Shiner starred. The Musical Director was Bobby Howell. The London stage production added to the score several songs that Cole Porter had originally written for other musicals.

Musical numbers

The musical numbers in Aladdin included the following:[1]

  • "Trust Your Destiny to Your Star"
  • "Aladdin"
  • "Come to the Supermarket in Old Peking"
  • "I Adore You"
  • "Make Way for the Emperor"
  • "No Wonder Taxes Are High"
  • "Opportunity Knocks but Once"
  • "Wouldn't it Be Fun?"
  • "Genie's Theme"

The London stage production also included:

"There Must Be Someone For Me" (from Mexican Hayride) "Cherry Pies Ought to Be You" (from Out of This World) "I Am Loved" (from Out of This World) "Ridin' High" (from Red, Hot and Blue!)

In 1963, Barbra Streisand recorded one of the songs, "Come to the Supermarket (In Old Peking)," for "The Barbra Streisand Album."[2] It was later recorded by John Inman for his first album Are You Being Served Sir?[3]

2012 Lost Musicals London revival

In 2012, as part of his Lost Musicals project, Ian Marshall-Fisher directed a stage revival at Sadler's Wells, London.[4] The cast included John Savident as The Magician, Richard Dempsey as Aladdin, Vivienne Martin as Aladdin's mother, Candy Ma as the Princess and Rhiannon Drake as Jade Bud.[5] The production garnered much media attention, due to the well-known cast.

References
  1. Kimball, Robert. (ed.) 1971. Cole. London: Michael Joseph Ltd
  2. http://barbra-archives.com/record/albums/barbra_streisand_album.html
  3. https://www.discogs.com/composition/1158770c-10c8-45d7-aab2-294d7cbcaa27-Come-To-The-Supermarket-In-Old-Peking
  4. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/stage/theatre/article3520721.ece The Times. 28 August 2012. Accessed 3 January 2015.
  5. http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/theatre/341515/Theatre-review-Aladdin-Lost-Musicals-Lilian-Baylis-Studio-Sadler-s-Wells Daily Express. 24 August 2012. Accessed 3 January 2015.


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