 The pair continued to work on the preliminary ideas for a Liliom adaptation while pursuing other projects in late 1943 and early 1944 — writing the film musical State Fair and producing I Remember Mama on Broadway . Meanwhile , the Theatre Guild took Molnár to see Oklahoma ! Molnár stated that if Rodgers and Hammerstein could adapt Liliom as beautifully as they had modified Green Grow the Lilacs into Oklahoma ! , he would be pleased to have them do it . The Guild obtained the rights from Molnár in October 1943 . The playwright received one percent of the gross and $ 2 @,@ 500 for " personal services " . The duo insisted , as part of the contract , that Molnár permit them to make changes in the plot . At first , the playwright refused , but eventually yielded . Hammerstein later stated that if this point had not been won , " we could never have made Carousel . " 
