It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

This week’s musical:
Norwood (1970) – Musical #829

Studio:
Paramount Pictures

Director:
Jack Haley, Jr.

Starring:
Glen Campbell, Kim Darby, Joe Namath, Carol Lynley, Pat Hingle, Tisha Sterling, Dom DeLuise, Leigh French, Meredith MacRae, Jack Haley, Jimmy Boyd,

Plot:
After returning home from serving in Vietnam, Norwood (Campbell) lives an aimless existence as he determines what he will do now. Norwood decides to try to perform on a TV talent show. As he travels to perform on the show, he meets and befriends a girl, Rita Lee Chapman (Darby), who’s on her way to marry her military boyfriend. He also picks up Joann a talented chicken (herself), and meets up with military buddy Joe William Reese (Namath) and his girlfriend (MacRae).

Trivia:
• Directed by Jack Haley Jr., and his father, actor Jack Haley, appeared in the film.
• Filmed in filmed in Corona and Lake Elsinore, California.
• Based on the 1966 novel, “Norwood” by Charles Portis
• Hal B. Wallis’s last production for Paramount Pictures
• Joe Namatha’s first feature film.

Highlights:
• Jack Haley Sr.

Notable Songs:
• “Ol Norwood’s Coming Home” performed by Glen Campbell
• “Marie” performed by Glen Campbell
• “The Repo Man” performed by Glen Campbell
• “I’ll Paint You a Song” performed by Glen Campbell
• “Everything a Man Could Ever Need” performed by Glen Campbell

My review:
In the late 1960s and early 1970s was a time of change not only in films, but in the United States. With the Vietnam War, it was a period of unrest. In Hollywood, the production code and the studio system era had as well.

And during that change, the movie musical started to decline. NORWOOD (1970) is a rare exception where singer Glen Campbell’s singing is showcased. While it may not be considered a musical in the traditional sense (song and dance that carries the story along), the amount of songs and singing in the film, this is a musical in my book.

In the film, Norwood (Campbell) returns home from serving in Vietnam. He lives an aimless existence as he determines what he will do now. Norwood decides to try to perform on a TV talent show. As he travels to perform on the show, he meets and befriends a girl, Rita Lee Chapman (Darby), who’s on her way to marry her military boyfriend. He also picks up Joann a talented chicken (herself), and meets up with his Army buddy Joe William Reese (Namath) and his girlfriend (MacRae).

NORWOOD is a meandering story that goes in uncertain directions. This felt similar to how Vietnam veterans likely felt when they returned home – trying to find their way when they weren’t necessarily welcomed with open arms.

Glen Campbell does a great job in the film, though may feel a bit too happy-go-lucky for this era. It’s fun to see Campbell and Kim Darby reteamed after their pairing in TRUE GRIT (1969), though their dynamic is a bit different in this film than TRUE GRIT.

NORWOOD is also chock full of stars, from Carol Lynley to Tisha Sterling (daughter of Ann Sothern and Robert Sterling) to Jack Haley. Their characters don’t necessarily add anything to the final outcome of the film, but they add to this ODYSSEY-like journey.

It’s also interesting to see football player turned actor Joe Namath appear in his first feature film appearance.

In an interview with Earl Wilson, actress Meredith MacRae said that Namath kept saying “I’m really terrible, aren’t I?” but MacRae said she thought he did just beautifully. MacRae also told the N.Y Daily News that Namath was scared of the fast driving her character had to do. I adore MacRae and one of my only complaints is that she’s not in the film enough but she also has a great role.

It’s fun to see Jack Haley (the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz to most people) in a film directed by his son, Jack Haley, Jr.

I somehow missed that Jimmy Boyd was in this film, who I love as Howard on the show “Bachelor Father. I’ll have to rewatch to catch him.

NORWOOD (1970) is a bit of a strange film but also a hidden gem, especially because we get to see one of Glen Campbell’s few film performances.

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