A scene from “A Song to Remember” (1944), with Cornel Wilde as Chopin, Stephen Bekassy as Liszt, and Paul Muni as Chopin’s teacher, Prof. Joseph Elsner. I laughed out loud the first time I saw this, many years ago.
Halliwell’s capsule review of the film:
“Hilarious classical music biopic which was unexpectedly popular and provoked a flood of similar pieces. As a production, not at all bad, but the script …”
Jose Iturbi dubbed the piano playing.
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I vaguely remember that movie. I must have been 7 or 8. I was taking piano lessons, so it made quite an impression on me at the time.
I’ve always wanted to see this movie, along with “Song of Love” with Katherine Hepburn playing Clara Schumann. Alas, since Time-Warner replaced Turner Classic Movies with the Golf Channel on my cable system, this tantalizing morsel may be all I ever get.
“Chopin” looks more like Liberace. I dare say Liberace could play this polonaise better than Jose Iturbi…but then again, it was Liszt’s first read-through.
“…but then again, it was Liszt’s first read-through.” Yes, and he was playing the charming host as well.
The actors really did an atrocious job of pretending to play. The director probably cried out: just roll your arms!
Was this a documentary?
The handshake is the best.
Reblogged this on Classical Life and commented:
Another great moment in film music, brought to you by Classical Life.