8legs: Robert kaplow

#1 out of 1

‘I Think Oklahoma! Is Corny and Embarrassing, Actually’

Kaplow explains the film centers on Lorenz Hart, using a voice that plausibly reflects his work while set in 1943 Broadway culture.
He notes Oklahoma! is beloved but also seen as corny, a tension Hart would have experienced while watching it.
Kaplow discusses Hart’s lyricism as witty, heartfelt, and sometimes self-loathing, shaping how the film treats gay life in 1943.
The interview reveals Elizabeth as a fictional anchor for Hart’s unrequited love, highlighting the personal in Hart’s story.
Kaplow explains the coatroom scene runs 14 minutes and demonstrates Linklater’s preference for intimate, word-driven cinema.
He compares Hart’s style to Noël Coward and notes Hart’s influence on later writers like Sondheim.
Kaplow acknowledges Oklahoma!’s innovation in character-driven song placement, even as he critiques its themes.
Sondheim is included in a cameo to reflect intergenerational views of Hart and to link Hart’s legacy to later Broadway minds.
Kaplow discusses the potential of Hart’s influence surviving in future works beyond his lifetime.
He reflects on the broader impact of Hart and Rodgers on American musical theater and the evolution of the form.

Vote 0