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‘The Music Man’: Secrets From Set of the 1962 Movie, Including How Robert Preston Got the Part


Closer has exclusive details and secrets from the set of the 1962 musical ‘The Music Man,’ including how star Robert Preston got the Golden Globe winning role.

Warner Bros. also considered Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Dean Martin and Cary Grant for the role of con man Harold Hill. The studio had more control over the other cast and hired Shirley, who had recently won an Oscar for 1960’s Elmer Gantry, over Barbara Cook, a previous Tony winner in the role of librarian Marian on Broadway. Ron began playing Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show shortly before being hired as Winthrop, Marian’s withdrawn little brother.

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