The shining target

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Movie
German title The shining target
Original title One night of love
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1934
length 83 minutes
Rod
Director Victor Schertzinger
script James Gow
S.K. Lauren
Edmund H. North
production Everett Riskin
Harry Cohn
music Alfred Newman
Victor Schertzinger
Louis Silvers
camera Joseph Walker
occupation

The shining target (original title: One Night of Love ) is an American musical film with the opera singer Grace Moore in the lead role directed by Victor Schertzinger from 1934 by Columbia Pictures . Grace Moore received an Academy Award nomination for best actress at the 1935 Academy Awards , and the film received five other nominations. The first performance in Germany took place in Bremen on May 3, 1935.

action

Young singer Mary Barrett reveals to her amazed parents that she is leaving New York City to study music and singing in Milan. Hardly having arrived in Milan, Mary meets Giulio Monteverdi, who hears her singing and recognizes her talent. Both agree to have a strictly professional relationship. Soon Mary is touring the several opera houses in the province. After a while, the young woman, who is now a well-known star, gets tired of the fact that her entire life is regulated by Giulio. During a guest performance in Vienna, they meet Lally, who had been Giulio's student a few years ago and tried in vain to seduce him. All sorts of misunderstandings lead Mary to believe that Lally will be more successful this time. Filled with jealousy, Mary meets with Bill Houston, a loyal suitor, and accepts his proposal.

In the evening there is a big gala in the Vienna State Opera . Mary is a sensation and her brilliant interpretation of the aria La Barrett from Georges Bizet's Carmen brings her the long-awaited engagement at the Metropolitan Opera . Giulio warns Mary that she is not yet ready for such an appearance. Both fight, and to make matters worse, Bill breaks the engagement. On the premiere night at the Met as Cho-Cho San from Madame Butterfly , Mary is so nervous that she almost faints. Just as she is about to cancel the performance, she discovers Giulio and takes heart. The evening is a great success and Mary finds happiness in Giulio's arms at the end.

background

Grace Moore was already a household name in the opera world. However, her fame was based more on her extraordinary beauty than on her soprano, which is a little insecure in the highs. With the advent of the talkie she got an engagement in Hollywood . MGM used it in two successful productions in 1930, Jenny Lind about the well-known Swedish soprano and New Moon , the film adaptation of the operetta of the same name by Sigmund Romberg alongside tenor Lawrence Tibbett . Her contract was canceled by the end of the year. In addition to the decline in public interest in operettas, Moore also developed a significant weight problem. The angry diva left the city in anger and made a brilliant comeback in New York City over the next three years, where she appeared in the 1932 American premiere of the Carl Millöcker / Theo Mackeben operetta Die Dubarry .

Harry Cohn , chairman of Columbia Pictures , had seen Moore at the premiere; When the singer gave a guest appearance in Los Angeles a few months later, he offered her a film contract with a fee of 25,000 US dollars per film. At the time, Moore was still in negotiations with MGM as a partner of Maurice Chevalier in the Ernst Lubitsch film adaptation of The Merry Widow . In the end, however, the two actors could not agree which of them should be announced first in the opening credits and the role went to Jeanette MacDonald . Moore signed with Columbia instead, and the problems started from day one. At first both sides could not agree on a suitable script. There was also great uncertainty as to whether a film with classical music would even find an audience. When an attempt to terminate Moore's contract failed, Harry Cohn finally ordered Everett Riskin to find a script. In addition, there were regular outbursts of temper from Moore, which did not always make the filming easy. The music for the film included arias from Carmen and the well-known Un Bel Di from Madame Butterfly . In addition, Moore sang the folk-inspired title Ciri Biri Bin for the first time , which was to become the signature tune for the rest of her career.

The cost to produce it ended up being $ 200,000, and despite initial concerns, One Night of Love turned out to be an unconditional financial hit for the studio. As the first Columbia film ever, the film was first released by the Loews cinema chain. Loews only marketed prestigious A-films and geared their programs more to the tastes of audiences in the country's major cities. The decision meant a significant boost to the image of Columbia, which was previously reputed to be only second choice among film studios. Grace Moore then made several other successful musicals, the success of which helped popularize classical music in films.

criticism

There was an enthusiastic review in the New York Times :

“Grace Moore presents herself not only as a successful Prima Donna, who sings a few opera arias, but also as a thoroughly qualified comedian. The film [...] is feather-light entertainment and appropriate to the charm and talent of the leading actress. "

Awards

The film went to the 1935 Academy Awards with six nominations and won two trophies and a special award.

Won:

The film also received the

  • Technical Merit Award: Columbia Pictures Corporation (for their application of the Vertical Cut Disc method (hill and dale recording) to actual studio production, with their recording of the sound on the picture One Night of Love )

Nominations:

  • Best film of 1934
  • Best Actress - Grace Moore
  • Best director - Victor Schertzinger
  • Best Editing - Gene Milford

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Fritz Peters: Bremen between 1933 and 1945. A chronicle. 2012, p. 78.
  2. ↑ Besides shining as a successful prima donna in the rendition of several opera arias, Grace Moore, in her new picture, "One Night of Love", also proves herself to be quite an expert comedienne. This film, […] is an enjoyable light diversion, one worthy of the charm and talent of its stellar performer.