Marcus Chen
How Can I Wait is a song from the musical Paint Your Wagon, which centres on a miner and his daughter and follows the lives and loves of the people in a mining camp in Gold Rush-era California. The musical debuted on Broadway in 1951 and in the West End in 1953. In 1969, a film adaptation was released, featuring a revised plot and new songs composed by Lerner and André Previn. The song How Can I Wait is featured in the film and is available as a piano backing track by The Accompanist UK.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | How Can I Wait |
| Show | Paint Your Wagon |
| Type | Piano accompaniment/backing track |
| Length | 00:58, 00:54, 01:59, 00:57, 02:00, 02:36 |
| Key | Ab, C, Bb |
| Price | $3.98, $5.98 |
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What You'll Learn
Plot summary of Paint Your Wagon
Paint Your Wagon is a 1969 American Western musical film starring Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, and Jean Seberg. It is an adaptation by Paddy Chayefsky of the 1951 musical of the same name by Lerner and Loewe. The film is set in a mining camp in Gold Rush-era California and was directed by Joshua Logan.
The story begins with a violent clash between a wagon and the harsh wilderness, which sends prospector Ben Rumson into chaos. He stumbles upon two adult brothers, one of whom is dead, while the other has a broken arm and leg. During the burial of the deceased brother, Ben discovers gold dust, marking the end of their suffering and the beginning of their pursuit of wealth. Ben claims the land and adopts the surviving brother, referring to him as 'Pardner', as he recuperates. Pardner aims to make a fortune in the gold rush to buy some land and is suspicious of Ben's impulsive nature. Despite their differences, they forge a rugged camaraderie in their quest for prosperity.
As the story unfolds, Ben and Pardner's adventures include drinking, gambling, singing, and innovative gold mining techniques. They transform their mining camp into a prosperous boomtown, attracting hundreds of men in search of their own fortune. Along the way, they engage in colourful exploits, such as hijacking a stagecoach, kidnapping six prostitutes, and navigating complex relationships. Ben's pursuit of fortune often leads him into morally questionable territory, while Pardner wrestles with the ethical complications of their partnership.
The film also explores the theme of romance, with Pardner hoping to buy the freedom of a woman named Elizabeth, who is the second wife of a passing Mormon. Ben, on the other hand, forms a relationship with Jennifer, who falls in love with a young Mexican prospector named Julio Valveras. The town's inhabitants struggle with the presence of women, demanding that Jennifer be sent away. As the story reaches its climax, No Name City lies in ruins, and Elizabeth and Pardner contemplate their future together.
Paint Your Wagon received mixed reviews from critics. While some praised the performances and musical numbers, others criticised the film's length and studio-produced music. The film faced challenges during production, including a bloated budget, delays, and heavy drinking by Marvin, contributing to numerous retakes. Despite these setbacks, the film has gained a following and is known for its memorable songs, including "They Call The Wind Maria".
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Critical reception of Paint Your Wagon
The 1969 film Paint Your Wagon received mixed critical reception. While some critics praised its bold storytelling, unforgettable performances, and innovative approach to the Western genre, others criticised its length, casting, and departure from traditional Hollywood conventions.
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 2 out of 4 stars, describing it as "loud and officially stereophonic, [...]
Other critics have also described the film as “flawed", but "not without its ample charms". The film has been praised for its story, scenery, comedy, and music. One reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes called it a “bawdy but funny story” that is “saved by the virtuoso performance of Lee J. Marvin”.
Despite its mixed reviews, Paint Your Wagon has gained a cult following and is considered a classic. It has been described as a “game-changer” that paved the way for a new era of Hollywood super-productions. The film's portrayal of rugged prospectors, polyamorous relationships, and the pursuit of fortune in the Wild West captured the imaginations of viewers worldwide.
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Cast of Paint Your Wagon
"Paint Your Wagon" is a 1969 American Western musical film starring Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, and Jean Seberg. The film was adapted by Paddy Chayefsky from the 1951 musical of the same name by Lerner and Loewe.
The film follows the story of a prospector, Ben Rumson, who finds a wrecked wagon containing a dead man and his surviving brother, Pardner, in the wilds of California during the Gold Rush. Ben stakes a claim on the land where they discover gold dust and adopts Pardner as his partner. The film features memorable songs, funny situations, and enjoyable characters, including the naive Horton Fenty, Mr. and Mrs. Fenty, Steve Bull, and Wong.
Lee Marvin played the lead role of Ben Rumson, a prospector with interesting ideas on morality. Marvin received $1 million for his performance, while Eastwood was paid $750,000. Jean Seberg played the role of Elizabeth, a wife auctioned off by a polygamist Mormon, which was initially offered to several other actresses, including Faye Dunaway, Mia Farrow, and Tuesday Weld.
Clint Eastwood played Pardner, Ben's partner, and Harve Presnell, Ray Walston, Tom Ligon, Alan Dexter, William O'Connell, Benny Baker, Alan Baxter, Paula Trueman, and Robert Easton also starred in the film. Eastwood and Marvin did their own singing, while Seberg's songs were dubbed by Anita Gordon.
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Songs from Paint Your Wagon
"Paint Your Wagon" is a musical with 26 tracks in its Broadway soundtrack, including "How Can I Wait", which is available as a piano backing track. The soundtrack was released in 1977 and features songs by Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin, such as "Best Things".
"How Can I Wait" is available as a piano backing track from multiple sources. The Accompanist UK offers the track in two versions: one lasting 00:58 and the other 00:54, both in the key of Ab. These tracks are available for $3.98 from Bandcamp. Piano Trax also offers the track in two versions: one lasting 00:57 and the other 02:00, also in the key of Ab. These tracks are available for $3.98 and $5.98 respectively.
The musical "Paint Your Wagon" is classified under the categories of Classic Broadway and Golden Age MT (40s-60s). The soundtrack, released in 1977, is a compilation of songs by various artists.
The song "How Can I Wait" appears to be a popular choice for piano accompaniment and backing tracks. It is available in partial and full versions, with some tracks focusing on the melody and others on the piano part. The track lengths vary slightly, offering options for singers and performers to choose the most suitable version for their needs.
The piano backing tracks of "How Can I Wait" have been described as having "dreamy vocals and colorful guitars against a shadowy coldwave backdrop." This atmospheric description showcases the emotional and musical depth of the song, making it a versatile choice for singers and performers to interpret and showcase their talents.
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Differences between stage and screen versions
The 1969 film version of *Paint Your Wagon* differs significantly from the original 1951 stage musical by Lerner and Loewe. The film is an adaptation by screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky, who was brought in to modernise the story. However, Chayefsky later disowned the script, claiming that the final product barely contained any of his writing.
The film's plot, which centres on mining for gold, polygamy, and the building of a town, differs from the stage version, which focused more on the character of Jennifer and her romance with Julio. The stage version also featured a greater number of songs, with only eight of the fifteen songs from the original Broadway production retained for the film. The film's score was also altered, with new songs added, such as "A Million Miles Away Beyond the Door".
The film version also featured a different cast, with Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, and Jean Seberg in the lead roles. The presence of these stars, particularly Eastwood, was a notable aspect of the film, although their singing abilities were questioned by some.
In terms of production, the film was known for its overblown budget and lengthy running time of nearly three hours, which became notorious in the press. The stage version, on the other hand, was presented as a more modest concert production.
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