Sony Pictures Classics
Sony Pictures Classics has premiered the first trailer for filmmaker Richard Linklaters new feature Blue Moon starring Ethan Hawke, Andrew Scott, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale, Simon Delaney, Patrick Kennedy, Jonah Lees and Cillian Sullivan.
The story ties to American songwriting duo Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart who created 28 stage musicals and more than 500 songs Rodgers doing the melodies, Hart the lyrics.
The pair collaborated between 1919 and the early 1940s with notable works including the musical A Connecticut Yankee and songs like My Funny Valentine.
Harts increasing struggles with alcoholism, being semi-closeted, and mental health issues made it challenging for him to work consistently, leading Rodgers to begin a new collaboration with Oscar Hammerstein II.
That first work, Oklahoma!, set a new standard for musical theater. Rodgers and Hammerstein went on to become one of the most successful duos in musical theater history with legendary works like South Pacific, Carousel, The King and I and The Sound of Music.
The film follows Hart as he attempts to save face while celebrating his former partner Rodgers great success on the Broadway opening night of Oklahoma! in March 1943. Hart ultimately died a few months later.
Most of the film takes place at the bar of New York Theater District institution Sardis.
The project boasts a script by Robert Kaplow (Me and Orson Welles). Linklater, Mike Blizzard and John Sloss produce. Blue Moon opens in cinemas on October 17th.
