Prince Talks A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC & Bergman Influence

Legendary director and producer Hal Prince discusses the film upon which his iconic musical A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC is based, Ingmar Bergman's adored SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT, as well as the director's heartfelt and insightful letter to the theatrical titan remarking upon the adaptation.

In describing A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC in comparison to FOLLIES and COMPANY, Prince's previous collaborations with composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim just prior to A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC in 1972, Prince recalls, "It was linear - it had a story. It followed two non-linear musicals, COMPANY and FOLLIES - they did not have plot as we are used to in musical theatre."

Of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, he says, "This one did - and, it was very audacious."

Prince adds that, as to the inspiration for the project, "Something that Steve, Hugh Wheeler and I wanted to do was something in the fashion of Renoir's RULES OF THE GAME; of Anouilh's plays; and, the one we finally settled on was SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT by Ingmar Bergman.

"I got a wonderful letter from its writer/director, Bergman. I put it on the wall and I went and looked at it the other night and he said [in the letter], 'I love your show. I really think you have done a marvelous job, Hal - but it's your show, it's not my movie.' And, I think he's dead right. I think they were very different - they would have to be," Prince says of Bergman's film versus his stage musical.

Additionally, check out my 2010 InDepth InterView with Hal Prince for more observations on his legendary legacy and the many musicals he had a hand in creating, available here.

View the video of Hal Prince discussing A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, Bergman and more below.