Ringing changes in music partners

BEFORE there was Rodgers and Hammerstein, there was Rodgers and Hart.

The duo behind songs such as Blue Moon, The Lady is a Tramp, Manhattan and My Funny Valentine, they collaborated on
28 musicals.

Director Richard Linklater has adapted Robert Kaplow’s screenplay, Blue Moon (15), out at the Regal Picturehouse in Henley, in a re-imagining of the leap Richard Rodgers took, creating the musical Oklahoma! with Oscar Hammerstein II and leaving Lorenzo Hart behind.

It is opening night, with Hart (played by Ethan Hawke) taking to drink and heading to Sardi’s restaurant for the celebrations. Bartender Eddie (Bobby Cannavale) lends a sympathetic ear, as Rodgers (Andrew Scott) and Hammerstein (Simon Delaney) are feted. Hart’s friend, confidante and idol, Elizabeth Weiland (Margaret Qualley), is a boost.

The film has a running time of an hour and
40 minutes.

Andrew Scott is also in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (12A).

Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is sent to upstate New York to solve a murder mystery in writer-director Rian Johnson’s threequel.

Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin) is killed midway through a church service. Newcomer, Rev Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), is a suspect, along with organ player Martha Delacroix (Glenn Close), author Lee Ross (Scott), Dr Nat Sharp (Jeremy Renner), lawyer Vera Draven (Kerry Washington), politician Cy Draven (Daryl McCormack), cellist Simone Vivane (Cailee Spaeny) and groundskeeper Samson Holt (Thomas Haden Church). Detective Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) steps in. The film has a running time of two hours and 24 minutes.

Continuing are Wicked: For Good (PG) and Zootropolis 2 (PG).