Music for life
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Music for life |
| Original title | They Shall Have Music |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1939 |
| length | 100 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Archie Mayo |
| script |
Irma von Cube , John Howard Lawson |
| production | Samuel Goldwyn |
| music | Alfred Newman |
| camera | Gregg Toland |
| cut | Sherman Todd |
| occupation | |
| |
Music for Life is an American musical film made in 1939 by Archie Mayo .
action
Young Frankie lives in a shabby, poor neighborhood and indulges in his daydreams of being a brave hero. One day he heard a performance by the violin virtuoso Jascha Heifetz. Inspired by the performance, Frankie pulls out his old violin, which his father gave him as a little boy. But Frankie's stepfather destroys the instrument and sends Frankie to boarding school. Frankie is running away from home.
The boy meets Professor Lawson, a music teacher who runs a music school for underprivileged children with his daughter Ann. Lawson is impressed with Frankie's hearing and accepts him into his school and home. Little does the professor suspect that the school's financial situation is strained. The investor Flower wants the children's parents to pay school fees, otherwise the school will be closed.
Frankie overhears Ann and her boyfriend Peter McCarthy talking about this situation. Frankie organizes a demonstration on the street for his classmates to attend. The star violinist Heifetz heard one of the performances and expressed his interest in the school. Peter tells the donors that the star wants to give a concert with the children. On the eve of the planned concert, however, Flower realizes that Peter was only bluffing. He sends his men to confiscate the instruments. However, Peter and Frankie can reach Heifetz, who arrives at school just in time to perform with the children and save the school.
criticism
The lexicon of international films described the film as a somewhat sentimental family film.
The Time Magazine gave the film for the triumphant answer to the former Hollywood theory that it was impossible to make a good film about a great musician. The New York Times praised the crystal clear purity of Mr. Heifetz's playing, the expressive flow of melodies, and the dramatic rendering of the artist who masters his instrument. All of this contributes to an effect of outstanding beauty, which is almost unusual in this medium.
Awards
Alfred Newman received an Oscar nomination in 1940 for the category of best film music .
background
The film premiered on July 26, 1939 in New York. In Germany it was broadcast on German television on November 20, 1976.
Producer Goldwyn wanted to be the first to make a film with star violinist Jascha Heifetz. In the summer of 1938 Goldwyn was able to contact Heifetz and put him under contract for a few weeks. At this point there was no script for the film. Goldwyn decided to shoot the scenes with Heifetz before, despite everything. The performance with the students was staged by William Wyler .
Web links
- They Shall Have Music in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Music for life. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .
- ↑ Articles in Time Magazine and the New York Times on TCM (English)
- ↑ Andrea Passafiume at TCM (English)