Lee Remick and Hal Linden take on the roles of Agnes and Michael in I DO! I DO!, the musical adaptation of THE FOURPOSTER, which follows 50 years of marriage of a couple and the bumps they encounter along the way in married life. Mary Martin and Robert Preston originated these roles on Broadway and made this two-person musical a unique and enjoyable musical experience and that is the problem with this adaptation...this musical was truly meant for the stage and it definitely looses something being transferred to the TV screen. The score by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt (THE FANTASTICKS) includes "I Love My Wife", "Love Isn't Everything", "Nobody's Perfect", and the classic "My Cup Runneth Over." Remick and Linden work hard in their roles. Remick shines especially when she lets loose on the showstopping number "Flaming Agnes". but this musical is definitely better suited for the stage.
5 Reviews
I do love I Do! I Do! I really do!
mark.waltz5 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Nothing can beat the impact of seeing a musical live on stage, but if the filming is done right, a filmed production can be thrilling. Since Mary Martin and Robert Preston only got to do snippets of the show on TV (most visibly the Tony Awards), a Los Angeles revival more than a decade later got the go ahead, starring the beautiful and sophisticated Lee Remick and everybody's favorite TV cop, Hal Linden. Both had musical experience, although Remick was best known for dramatic roles. Linden's experience was far more extensive, and I've seen him numerous times since 2000 still singing and clowning. Ripw for a Broadway revival with big stars in an era where marriages fail faster than TV shows, this has been seen Off Broadway successfully and continues to entertain audiences in community theaters and well known professional houses.
Like many musicals, this is based upon a play, "The Fourposter", and in having only two characters, perhaps off Broadway seemed more appropriate for the show. But for legendary talents like Martin and Preston, only a Broadway house could hold the audiences lining up to see them, especially with the big production planned by notorious producer David Merrick and legendary director Gower Champion. That lavishness is repeated here in telling the 50 year story of a marriage as seen through the eyes of the fourposter bed, pretty much a character of its own. The show goes from just before the wedding to the day they move out, covering their highs and lows, happiness and misery, the inner child in both and the wisdom that comes from life and experience. With no supporting cast or chorus, it's just the two leads, and they each get many moments to shine.
Showing the two go from idealistic and innocent to embittered at middle age to all knowing and still very much in love as they face a nearing final curtain, this represents the best and worst of every marriage that "makes "it". The romantic theme, "My Cup Runneth Over" has become a wedding standard, and the rest of the score combines the various moods of long term coupling, often funny and frequently poignant. It explodes with hysterical bitter anger between the two in the middle, where each of the actors gets a chance to breath as the other gets a fabulous showstopper. The ending is far from being a downer, and might have you wanting to reach out to elderly parents who managed to make it through the wilderness and come out of it all holding hands as they celebrate their golden anniversary.
Like many musicals, this is based upon a play, "The Fourposter", and in having only two characters, perhaps off Broadway seemed more appropriate for the show. But for legendary talents like Martin and Preston, only a Broadway house could hold the audiences lining up to see them, especially with the big production planned by notorious producer David Merrick and legendary director Gower Champion. That lavishness is repeated here in telling the 50 year story of a marriage as seen through the eyes of the fourposter bed, pretty much a character of its own. The show goes from just before the wedding to the day they move out, covering their highs and lows, happiness and misery, the inner child in both and the wisdom that comes from life and experience. With no supporting cast or chorus, it's just the two leads, and they each get many moments to shine.
Showing the two go from idealistic and innocent to embittered at middle age to all knowing and still very much in love as they face a nearing final curtain, this represents the best and worst of every marriage that "makes "it". The romantic theme, "My Cup Runneth Over" has become a wedding standard, and the rest of the score combines the various moods of long term coupling, often funny and frequently poignant. It explodes with hysterical bitter anger between the two in the middle, where each of the actors gets a chance to breath as the other gets a fabulous showstopper. The ending is far from being a downer, and might have you wanting to reach out to elderly parents who managed to make it through the wilderness and come out of it all holding hands as they celebrate their golden anniversary.
Wonderful
lzf03 March 2002
Linden and Remick recreate the roles originated by Robert Preston and Mary Martin in this musical adaptation of "The Fourposter". The music and lyrics of Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones are well written and memorable. The hit song "My Cup Runneth Over" was introduced in this show. Both Linden and Remick are acceptable musical comedy performers, but they lack the intense star qualities of Preston and Martin. This show is captivating when seen live, like most Schmidt-Jones shows. However, it loses a bit on the small screen. It could never have been a movie. It is too theatrical. What we have is a caught for posterity performance. The show is heart warming and sensitive. We are lucky to have a recording of it.
Very Poignant
cammyalex4 August 2022
My mother and her boyfriend performed this at the college I attended. A few years later she sent me this Version with Lee Remick and Hal Linden.
That was almost 40 years ago and I still love it and show it to my friends as often as I can it's just so sweet.
That was almost 40 years ago and I still love it and show it to my friends as often as I can it's just so sweet.
I Do! I Do!
Coxer9913 June 1999
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
