The last song Conrad Salinger orchestrated with LITTLE GIRL BLUE.
He died from heart failure as the result of an overdose of barbituates, and it is not clearly known whether it was suicide.
There was a wonderful NPR radio documentary about him called REMEMBERING CONRAD SALINGER, made by a man named Stephen Paley (sp?), and it drew the conclusion that the overdose was accidental, not contemplated. This was backed up by several friends of Salinger who were interviewed, but it is doubtful that anyone will ever really know the whole truth.
It is not mentioned in Day's book, since Day had never worked with Salinger before, and had no prior relationship.
He was (IMHO) the finest orchestrator in the history of film musicals, and there is extra poignancy in listening to his work in JUMBO, knowing that it was his last....
I watched this last night (Love Me or Leave Me) and it is quite wonderful.
Did anybody else note a slight out-of-sync quality to the songs? Since the dialogue is perfectly in sync, I must assume this is from the remixing of the soundtrack, but of course, it could be my equipment.
I always hoped that someday the missing scene of the rape would be added back in. Doris talks about filming the scene in her book, but I guess it's safe to say it probably doesn't exist anymore. Sounded VERY intense, especially for the time. Plus, I wonder how many young people who have never seen the movie before won't get that from the scene as it exists in the film today.