Ben Franklin in Paris [Soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
It's tempting to compare Ben Franklin in Paris with another musical from the late 1960s featuring the titular character, 1776. Hard to say why, exactly: they have little in common musically, and while 1776 won a Tony Award and remains popular despite--or perhaps because of--its quirks, Ben Franklin in Paris is remembered chiefly for being a flop. Not that it's unassailably bad. Robert Preston, as Franklin, does a capable job, though he does most of the show in Music Man mode. There are some good songs, particularly Jerry Herman's two contributions, "Too Charming" and "To Be Alone with You." It's arguable that this musical's failure was due not to its own weaknesses, but to the competition. Still, despite this reissue of the 1964 Broadway cast recording, it seems unlikely to experience a rebirth. --Genevieve Williams

Tracks:

Overture
We Sail The Seas
I Invented Myself
Too Charming
Whatever Became Of Old Temple?
Half The Battle
A Balloon Is Ascending
To Be Alone With You
You're In Paris
How Laughable It Is
Hic Haec Hoc
God Bless The Human Elbow
When I Dance With The Person I Love
Diane Is
Look For Small Pleasures
I Love The Ladies
Finale

Amazon.com

It's tempting to compare Ben Franklin in Paris with another musical from the late 1960s featuring the titular character, 1776. Hard to say why, exactly: they have little in common musically, and while 1776 won a Tony Award and remains popular despite--or perhaps because of--its quirks, Ben Franklin in Paris is remembered chiefly for being a flop. Not that it's unassailably bad. Robert Preston, as Franklin, does a capable job, though he does most of the show in Music Man mode. There are some good songs, particularly Jerry Herman's two contributions, "Too Charming" and "To Be Alone with You." It's arguable that this musical's failure was due not to its own weaknesses, but to the competition. Still, despite this reissue of the 1964 Broadway cast recording, it seems unlikely to experience a rebirth. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

Lost B'way Wonder.......2006-12-16

Robert Preston and Ulla Sallert's charm make this a fabulous example of magic musical theatre.
The energy and fun is a pleasure to hear. Jerry Herman's songs, "Too Charming" and "To Be Alone With You" should become classics. Where else can you hear tipsy monks sing so cheerfully? Do take a listen and enjoy the true Golden Age of Broadway with Phil Lang's brilliant orchestrations.

A Nostalgic Favorite--a delightful, almost flawless score........2006-08-27

Ben Franklin in Paris is a nostalgic favorite of mine, because my brother and I happened to be in Philadelphia on a family trip when it was previewing there, and I was excited to see a Broadway show before it made its way to Manhattan. I was thrilled by the show--including the score, Robert Preston's performance, and the stage effects involving a hot air balloon ride. Back home in New York, I eagerly awaited its opening--surprised to discover there had been a cast change (Susan Watson, who I had seen and loved in Carnival, replacing Jacqueline Mayo) and some number changes (including the elimination of a pretty ballad, "Tis Incredible As Love"). I was disappointed to see that it didn't open to rave reviews, but pleased that there were at least enough good quotes to fill a full-page ad in the New York Times (which I still have somewhere). I bought the LP the moment it came out, delighted to find that they had included a copy of the official souvenir program in the jacket--though worried that this might indicate they didn't expect the show to last long enough to need all the programs. I also got the sheet music as soon as it came out--it includes several songs which, to this day, are among the ones I most enjoy playing and singing, including "I Invented Myself," "To Be Alone With You," "You're in Paris," "When You Dance With the Person You Love," "How Laughable It Is," and "Look For Small Pleasures." (At the time, I thought the last song was the most beautiful song I had ever heard. I guess I hadn't yet heard a lot of Jerome Kern.") I was sure that "Half the Battle" was going to become a huge popular favorite. Someone even played it at a talent show at my Junior High. But, alas, it didn't. The show also has that rarity, a show tune in Latin--"Hic Haec Hoc." I tried to convince a teacher that the song's inclusion justified a school trip, but no dice. Listening to the score now on CD brings it all back--a delightful, almost flawless score; charming performances; an interesting book. And I love being able to tell people I saw Ulla Sallert live on stage. (Who? They know in Sweden.) And I love the fact that the non-English-speaking actress supposedly learned the entire role phonetically.(It certainly sounds as if she did.) I forgot to mention the opening, a sort of Prologue as I remember it, with sailors hanging from the ropes on a Tall Ship singing a song that included references to all 13 colonies. Quite stirring. Why doesn't Encores revive this show?

For Robert Prestons Voice, get this.......2006-08-01

The show is alright, the lyrics are fine, The music ia surprisingly good, but the best part of this CD is Robert Preston. He has a beautiful voice. I was never expecting such a great Ben Franklin. If you like musical theater, this is a good soundtrack. If you like clean male voices, this is a good soundtrack. Other than that, its not one that you should pick up to learn songs from, although it has some ballads. At any rate, it is at a great price, so its worth the listen. Favorite Song: "I Love The Ladies"

Robert Preston was always worth the price of admission.......2006-07-02

One of the many musicals of the 1964-5 Broadway year to run almost an entire season and yet not make back its profit (BAJOUR and WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN come to mind, among others), BEN FRANKLIN IN PARIS was actually literate, reasonably melodic and boasted one of Robert Preston's latter-day dazzling performances (yes, you could call it Harold Hill mode, but nobody did what he did and nobody did it better; for someone who had been around for nearly 20 years, in nondescript film roles, to burst forth on the scene in THE MUSIC MAN was no small feat, and for theatregoers it was heaven; if you never had the pleasure of seeing him do his thing live, just watch the film of THE MUSIC MAN, and I promise that you'll get it). Yes, it's true that Jerry Herman contributed two of the better songs (just as some others had done for him earlier that year in HELLO DOLLY!), but the score offered some other true gems; LOOK FOR SMALL PLEASURES is surely one of the loveliest ballads of its time, and the comic production numbers are equally delighful (I INVENTED MYSELF and GOD BLESS THE HUMAN ELBOW), and his eleven o'clock speech about the fly in the wine cask is quite wonderful (okay, it was a speech and not a song, but so what?) Regardless of who wrote what (the typical melange of many hands working on a Broadway musical), it was a delight to watch and a pleasure to listen to over again on the recording. The one problem: Ulla Sallert, the Swedish leading lady imported to sing the pivotal role of the courtesan; her voice is pretty enough, and I'm sure her Swedish Eliza Doolittle was charming (but only in Swedish), but her English is muddled to say the least. And there is the wonderful asset of Susan Watson, the best ingenue of the 1960s and arguably one of the best ever, as the coquettish maid. All told, Mr. Preston and company make this well worth a visit.

Robert Preston and Ulla Sallert in a lush prequel to 1776.......2004-06-09

BEN FRANKLIN IN PARIS can almost be seen as a prequel to 1776, with a fanciful score by Mark Sandrich Jr. and Sidney Michaels. With the reliable Robert Preston at the helm and featuring the renowned Swedish musical theatre diva Ulla Sallert in her only Broadway role, BEN FRANKLIN IN PARIS lasted for 215 performances, largely thanks to its strong cast.

Robert Preston (THE MUSIC MAN, MACK AND MABEL, I DO! I DO!) is perfect for the role of Ben Franklin, who journeys to Paris in order to attend to political matters and along the way rekindles his love affair with the beautiful Countess Diana (Ulla Sallert). Lovely ingenue Susan Watson (BYE BYE BIRDIE, NO NO NANETTE) impresses with 2 great numbers "You're in Paris" and "When I Dance with the Person I Love".

Jerry Herman penned 2 of the score's better numbers ("Too Charming" and "To Be Alone with You"), and Ulla Sallert has a full strong voice. One of the better cast albums of the early 60's.

Ben Franklin in Paris
Average customer rating:
Ben Franklin in Paris
Cast-Broadway
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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