INTERLUDE
US, 1958, 89 minutes, Colour.
Rossano Brazzi, June Allyson, Francoise Rosay, Marianne Cooke, Keith Andes, Jane Wyatt.
Directed by Douglas Sirk.
Interlude is a romantic melodrama directed by Douglas Sirk. Sirk made many popular, lush romantic melodramas at Universal in the '50s including Magnificent Obsession, All That Heaven Allows, Imitation of Life. His reputation has increased over the decades as has his influence on many subsequent film-makers, especially Europeans like Rainer Werner Fassbinder.
This film is an adaptation of the '30s vehicle When Tomorrow Comes, based on a story by James M. Cain (The Postman Always Rings Twice). It is updated to the '50s to provide for Cinemascope locations in Germany and Austria. It is also a vehicle designed for June Allyson. The film was remade in the '60s by British film-maker Kevin Billington with Oskar Werner and Barbara Ferris.
1. A popular romantic melodrama? Given the romantic and lush treatment?
2. Cinemascope photography, European settings, the travelogue touch? The selection of classical music for Tonio Fischer? The romantic score?
3. The title and its focus on Helen Banning, her European experience, romance with Tonio? Her returning to America - and to her real life?
4. Helen Banning and her work in Europe, the encounters with Gertrude and the administration of the office? her friendship with Prue? her work, the chance encounter with Tonio? her fascination with his music, with him? His response to her, the outings, the social whirl? Being taken to see the countess? The discovery about Reni? Her dilemma? Her love for Tonio? His using her? The contrast with Morley and his American solidity, the prospect of returning to the United States? Helen's going off with Tonio? The encounter with Reni? The attempt to drown herself? Helen's saving Reni? The decision to return to the United States? The effect of this experience on her life?
5. Tonio as the celebrated conductor, the scenes of his rehearsals? The attraction towards Helen? Outings with her, social contacts? Outings, the tours of Salzburg? The contrast with Morley? His taking her home, the encounter with the countess? His concealing the truth about Reni? The possibility of marriage? The truth about Reni, the break-up?
6. The countess and her love for Tonio, her care for Reni? Concern about Helen? Reni and her madness, the history of the marriage, possessiveness? Erratic behaviour and outbursts? her rushing to crown herself? Her being saved?
7. Morley as the solid American doctor, knowing Helen, his love for her, the awkward and stolid style of his courting her compared with the romantic Tonio? His prevailing upon Helen to go home?
8. Popular ingredients of the love affair? The overtones of 19th. century novels (like Jane Eyre) with the dashing hero with the sinister secret? Credible in the '50s setting? Audiences enjoying this popular kind of romance?
