Symphony of the heart

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Movie
German title Symphony of the heart
Original title Rhapsody
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1954
length 115 minutes
Rod
Director Charles Vidor
script Ruth Goetz , based on a novel by Henry Handel Richardson
production Lawrence Weingarten for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
music Johnny Green
camera Robert H. Planck
cut John D. Dunning
occupation

Symphony of the Heart is an American feature film ( love story ) directed by Charles Vidor from 1954. The film is the adaptation of the 1908 novel Maurice Guest by Henry Handel Richardson and was produced for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer . Elizabeth Taylor plays a young woman between two men, the violinist Paul, played by Vittorio Gassman , and the pianist James, played by John Ericson .

action

The location of the action is initially southern France, the time the present. The assertive and spoiled young Louise explains to her rich father that she is determined to marry her admirer Paul, even if he doesn't know anything about it. Paul studies the violin in Zurich, where she follows him and enrolls as a piano student. Prof. Schuman, from whom her motives for studying and her lack of musical interest and talent did not go unnoticed, warns her not to marry a musician. How right he is is shown when Paul prepares for Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D major , which he is supposed to play as a soloist with the Zurich Philharmonic. Louise quickly realizes that music is more important to him and that he has little time for it during the practice periods. Her father, who met Paul while on vacation together in St. Moritz , warns her that Paul will never need her as much as she would like.

Further tensions and arguments follow. After the concert, which is a great success for Paul, Louise watches Paul kiss a fellow student and tries to commit suicide. James, an American piano student with whom she became friends in Zurich, saves her life. James loves her, and although she initially rejects him, she is moved by his behavior.

Time flies. Paul travels the world as a famous violinist, comes to Paris and, after a chance encounter with her father, makes an appointment with Louise at the bar of the Ritz . There he meets James, who tells him - unhappy and drunk - that he has meanwhile married Louise. Louise is ready to get a divorce for Paul, who still loves her, but is rejected by him.

After her father advised her to do more for her husband than before, as this would ultimately also make a favorable impression on Paul, Louise urged James to return to Zurich and the Conservatory, where she patiently supported him in the time that followed. When James' first concert is imminent, she gets in touch again with Paul, who - as she had intended - is moved by her change of character and is willing to live with her. When Louise James says before the concert that she will go with Paul after the event, he is deeply unhappy. Louise tries to explain to him why she had to speak to him before the concert. He must believe in himself, and he is also able to achieve great things without their help. It would have nothing to do with her. During the concert, which James plays brilliantly in spite of this impending tragedy, Louise thinks about it and decides to stay with her husband.

Production and reception

Part of the shooting for the Technicolor film took place in Pontresina , Grisons . Other locations in Switzerland were Zurich and St. Moritz as well as the French capital Paris . Filming began in early June and lasted until August 10, 1953.

Michael Rabin , who performs the violin solos in the film, was 17 years old at the time of the recording. The piano solos were played by Claudio Arrau . The film features music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky ( violin concerto ), Sergei Wassiljewitsch Rachmaninow ( 2nd piano concerto ) and Pablo de Sarasate .

The film premiered on March 11, 1954 in New York City and grossed $ 1.3 million in the United States alone. It was shown for the first time in Austria on September 10, 1954 and in the Federal Republic of Germany on September 17, 1955.

Reviews

The Newsweek ruled: "The Taylor floats beautifully to the sound of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky or Rachmaninov ... the perfect image of a woman in luxury." Otis Guernsey from the Herald Tribune was: "The story is really only intended Elizabeth Taylor in attractive Robes, in sobbing loneliness or beaming at a concert ... It is almost as if Miss Taylor had driven everyone crazy, so that the film actually only lives from her undeniable charm. "

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Symphony of the Heart in German synchronous files
  2. ↑ Rhapsody - Information
  3. ^ Rhapsody - Michael Rabin
  4. ^ Rhapsody - Music in Film
  5. ↑ Foster Hirsch: Elizabeth Taylor Her Films - Her Life. Heyne Film Library No. 32/2, Wilhelm Heyne Verlag, Munich, 1979, p. 86.